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The mountains resemble Qiongdao, the clouds resemble the sea, the mountains are like jade, the river is like a belt. Everyone says Guilin is beautiful, but they have never been to Yangshan. The mountains and waters of Yangshan are the most beautiful in the world.
The "Yangshan" in "Classic of Mountains and Seas" refers to a place four hundred miles west of Xunwu Mountain. There is also a "Yangshan" with a long history in Qingyuan City, Guangdong.
Located at the southern foot of the Nanling Mountains and in the middle reaches of the Lianjiang River, Yangshan, established as a county during the Western Han Dynasty, boasts a history of over 2,200 years. Yangshan's picturesque scenery is also a time-honored tradition. In 803 AD, the renowned Tang Dynasty writer Han Yu, while demoted to magistrate of Yangshan County, praised the city, declaring, "The mountains and waters of our prefecture are renowned throughout the land." While Yangshan, located in northwestern Guangdong, lacks the economic development of first-tier cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as a key component of the Pearl River Delta's "two-hour living zone," it offers a wonderful weekend getaway to immerse yourself in nature.
Yangshancheck the details
Yangshan County is located in the central part of Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province. It boasts numerous cultural relics and beautiful natural scenery. Its karst topography lends Yangshan unique tourism resources. Major scenic spots include Guangdong's First Peak, Shenbi Mountain, Beishan Ancient Temple, the Lianjiang Scenic Belt, and Nanling National Forest Park. Guangdong's First Peak Scenic Area is renowned for its grandeur, uniqueness, danger, beauty, vastness, mystery, and seclusion.
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Yangshan is a strong tourist county in Guangdong Province. In the past, the scenic spots here mainly included Guangdong's No. 1 Peak, Shenfeng Pass, Beishan Ancient Temple, Lianjiang Scenic Belt and Nanling National Forest Park, but in 2020, a new "Gorge World" will be added!
The "Xiatianxia Scenic Area", which officially opened to the public during the May Day holiday this year, is currently the only martial arts theme park in Guangdong Province that is dedicated to the culture of "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils". Its main attractions include: Guangmingding, Piaomiao Peak, Xuantian Peak, Jinguang Peak, Chaoyuan Peak, Lingyun Peak, Jinding Peak, Lingjiu Palace, Broken Soul Cliff, Swallow Rock, and Butterfly Valley.
Geographical location
Kengkou Village, Lingbei Town, Yangshan County, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, is located at the intersection of Chengjia-Lingbei Grand Canyon and Wuyuankeng Grand Canyon (about 140 kilometers from Qingyuan City and about 20 kilometers from Yangshan County).
This karst canyon has a drop of about 1,000 meters and a bottom width of less than 500 meters. It is about 60 kilometers long and is so spectacular that it is rarely seen in Guangdong.
The scenic area boasts seven of China's bests: China's longest and highest glass pedestrian suspension bridge; China's glass observation platform with the highest relative height difference; China's only cliff glass hotel; Asia's highest cliff glass plank road; China's first cliff Ferris wheel; China's only Sansheng Cave wonder; and China's largest natural water and stone waterfall.
Xiatianxia Scenic Area is the only martial arts theme park in Guangdong Province that is dedicated to the culture of "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils". Currently, you can:
1. Experience China's largest extreme sports challenge base
2. Challenge Asia's first high-altitude glass suspension bridge
3. Visit the Lingjiu Palace, the home of Jin Yong's Tianshan Tonglao (Tianshan Child-Fairy).
4. Feel the speed and passion of the glass slide
5. Explore the wonders of China's only Sansheng Cave
6. Take a boat tour through the most poetic and picturesque landscapes of South China
Day 1: Nanling Water Village (lunch) → Xiatianxia Extreme Sports Challenge Base (Tianyundu Glass Suspension Bridge, Broken Heart Cliff, Lingjiu Palace, Tianlong Glass Slide) → Tianjing Mountain Scenic Area → Yangshan Hotel (dinner and overnight stay)
Day 2: Yangshan Hotel (Breakfast) → Qinglianshui → Shanmei Cambridge
The Xiatianxia Extreme Sports Challenge Base offers extreme sports such as via ferrata, aerial cable cars, flying magic carpets, time and space tunnels, zip lines, slides, bungee jumping, cliff swings, jungle crossings, rapid rafting, and barefoot river corridors. It is currently the only extreme sports challenge base in China.
I've walked and photographed many glass bridges over the years, exploring mountains and seas, but I was particularly struck by the "Yuntiandu" Glass Bridge in the Yangshanxia Tianxia Scenic Area in Qingyuan! Opened to the public just this year, this glass suspension bridge boasts a single span of 588 meters and a dramatic 488-meter height difference, earning it the title of "Asia's Highest Glass Suspension Bridge"!
I launched a small airplane from the viewing platform to experience the surrounding scenery, and found that the Tianmen of the Kengkou Canyon where "Tianyun Ferry" is located is majestic. The Guangmingding and Piaomiaofeng, which face each other at the entrance of the canyon (does it feel like a martial arts movie?), have a vertical drop of nearly 600 meters, but the straight-line distance is less than 300 meters.
And because the bridge deck is high and long enough, the view is super wide! Standing on the glass suspension bridge and looking around, you can see dark green peaks, flying clouds, and the river and road at the bottom of the canyon are like thin ribbons.
The transparent glass bridge deck and 3D shattered glass are perfect for taking photos and playing, and it’s definitely a popular check-in spot for internet celebrities!
Tips:
1. Ticket price: 150 yuan per person
2. The scenic area sightseeing bus costs 10 yuan per person (one way). Climbing the mountain is quite tiring, so it is strongly recommended to take the sightseeing bus to save time and effort to the greatest extent.
We first met at Fengling Ferry, and that first sight of Yang Guo ruined my life. I only regret that you were already old when I was born, remembering my old friend at the Heartbreak Cliff. From Guangmingding, the view of the Heartbreak Cliff in the Xiatianxia Scenic Area, 3,000 meters wide and with a vertical drop of over 600 meters, is truly spectacular. It is a masterpiece of eons of geological evolution.
In ancient times, a powerful surface stream from Tianjing Mountain at an altitude of 1,698 meters continuously eroded the base of the mountain, causing the rocks on the rock wall to collapse and fall continuously, eventually forming this rare cliff in Guangdong.
As a rock climbing enthusiast, I feel inexplicably excited when I see such a large rock wall. I hope that I can have the opportunity to try group climbing in the near future.
Remember the Tianshan Child-Grandma from the Xiaoyao Sect? In Jin Yong's novels, the Lingjiu Palace of the Tianshan Child-Grandma is the soul of Piaomiao Peak, situated atop the Broken Soul Cliff.
As the only martial arts theme park in Guangdong that is dedicated to the culture of Jin Yong's martial arts novel "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", there is also a Lingjiu Palace hidden in Piaomiao Peak in the Yangshan Gorge Tianxia Scenic Area in Qingyuan!
This karst cave located on the mountainside has its own "fairy air". Whenever the temperature drops sharply, a magical scene of clouds and mist will appear at the cave entrance. Legend has it that this is the true energy exhaled by the immortals who live in seclusion in the cave to cultivate immortality.
There are winding paths in Lingjiu Palace, where nature has created a group of stalagmites, stone pillars, stone curtains, stone waterfalls, and stone bells of various shapes and postures. They look like Guanyin, a beautiful woman, a general, terraced fields, peaks, golden bells, and silver hairpins... With the "blessing" of carefully arranged colored lights, the mysterious and colorful scene is so dazzling that you must use the night scene camera mode on your mobile phone to check it out!
The Broken Soul Cliff on Piaomiao Peak is so steep that it is difficult for flying monkeys to climb up. The Tianyundu Glass Suspension Bridge, Lingjiu Palace and Tianlong Glass Slide are connected by a cliff plank road. Looking down from the plank road, you can see lush forests, quiet canyons and magnificent scenery.
After experiencing the thrill of the Tianyundu Glass Suspension Bridge and being intoxicated by the colorful Lingjiu Palace, you can then go down the mountain along the winding trail of Piaomiao Peak.
Tips:
1. Ticket price: 40 yuan per person
2. Special slide pants are divided into fast and slow types. It is more fun to choose fast pants directly!
Tianjing Mountain is one of the three major scenic spots in Xiatianxia Scenic Area. It is mainly composed of Xiaojing Lake, Feiyun Waterfall, Swallow Rock, Butterfly Valley and other highlights. In addition to taking the scenic sightseeing bus at 10 yuan per person for a one-way trip, you can also walk 2 kilometers from the visitor center to the wooden plank road along the river to reach it.
Visiting Tianjing Mountain during the dog days of summer is definitely an excellent experience! The moment you enter Tianjing Mountain, you'll feel a burst of coolness. The negative ion content here is particularly high, and because of the mountains, water, and trees, it is definitely a good place for health and wellness.
Tianjing Mountain is home to many beautiful legends: Fairies from the Celestial Palace once flew over Yangshan Mountain and stumbled upon a dazzling light glimmering on the ground amidst the peaks. Believing it to be the Queen Mother's bronze mirror, accidentally dropped to Earth, they ventured to investigate. Unexpectedly, they discovered a pool of emerald green water. Overjoyed, the fairies unbuttoned their skirts and leaped into the clear water to play. Later, people named this pool Xiaojing Lake.
Two rainbow-like waterfalls, known as Feiyun Waterfalls, cascade down the lake. Standing 46 meters high, they can reach a width of up to 100 meters during periods of abundant rainfall. Like a galaxy, they cascade into Xiaojing Lake, creating a thunderous, surging, and breathtaking spectacle. During the dry season, they scatter like pearls and jade, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The afternoon sun creates a unique spectacle of rainbow waterfalls, a truly spiritual experience. Watching and listening to the water's cascading waters is a truly refreshing experience.
In the days before plank roads, the only way to explore Swallow Rock was by swimming. The stream is crystal clear, with clean water flowing freely among the rocks, and you can see many small fish swimming in the water.
Walking along the wooden plank road, you'll find the massive Swallow Rock looming before you around a bend. The visual impact is truly breathtaking! Formed 20 million years ago, Swallow Rock is a natural cavern with an entrance approximately 200 meters high and 80 meters wide, creating a truly remarkable sight.
The swallows in Yanzi Cave aren't just any ordinary swallows; they're the golden swiftlets, known for producing exquisite bird's nests! Locals once ventured into the wild, using bamboo ladders to gather the birds, and you can still see many remnants of these ladders hanging from the cliffs.
A cool and clear underground river flows through the cave and falls into a jade-like deep pool at the entrance. This is Qinglongtan.
The source of the Lianjiang River flows through it, forming a huge underground river. This narrow cave, like a time tunnel, is mysterious and makes people unable to stop thinking.
There are caves in the Swallow Cave, which are divided into two large cave passages: the dry cave and the water cave, with a total of four huge cave entrances.
In addition, there are two narrow tunnels in the cave, about 500 meters long, which together constitute a rare and diverse cave wonder in Guangdong.
The cliffs on both sides of the cave are covered with stalactites formed over hundreds of thousands of years, with various shapes and a dazzling array of colors.
After walking along the plank road through the magnificent Swallow Rock Cave, the view suddenly opens up and what catches your eye is the beautiful and quiet Butterfly Valley.
Take off your shoes and soak your tired feet in the cool stream, enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by flying butterflies.
Tips:
1. Ticket price: 50 yuan per person
2. The scenic area sightseeing bus is 10 yuan per person (one way), or you can choose to walk 2 kilometers along the river wooden plank road to enter.
Qinglian River, also known as Chengjia River, originates from Guangdong's highest peak at an altitude of 1,902 meters. After entering the Chengjia-Lingbei Grand Canyon, Qinglian River meanders along the bottom of the Yangshan Grand Canyon, forming many S-shaped bends.
The cruise ship sails through a natural river channel where the scenery is clearly reflected. In the distance, there are endless peaks on both sides of the river, and in the near distance are lush bamboo forests and idyllic villages. The occasional encounter with fishermen casting nets and unnamed birds flying by inadvertently paint this most poetic and picturesque landscape painting in South China.
Tips:
Ticket price: 50 yuan/person
The Xiatianxia Extreme Challenge Base is 50 yuan, the Tianjing Mountain Scenic Area is 50 yuan, the Tianyundu Glass Suspension Bridge is 150 yuan, the Tianlong Glass Slide is 40 yuan, and the Shanying River Cruise is 50 yuan. It is more cost-effective to buy a combination package!
The Yingmingshanmei Kangqiao, which is 88.8 meters long and 8 meters wide and was completed in June 2019, is a bridge that cannot be found in various navigation software. If you want to reach it accurately, you can use the "Yangshan Scale Bridge" next to it for positioning.
This is a wind and rain bridge built according to the traditional folk architectural techniques of northern Guangxi. It includes five bridge pavilions and 28 bridge corridors.
The lower part of the bridge is a reinforced concrete structure, and the upper part is an all-fir structure. The entire building does not use any metal attachments and is connected entirely with mortise and tenon joints.
The bridge's wooden structure includes 204 floor-standing columns, 386 long and short melons, 178 carved hanging melons, 68 carved dragon heads, 38 raised beams, 1,288 large and small string beams, and 1,088 stringers. The central pavilion stands 10.08 meters tall, with five stories and a hexagonal peaked roof. The other two side pavilions are 8 meters tall, with four stories and four corners, each with a peaked roof. The pavilions at the ends are 8 meters tall, with four stories and a hip roof. The roof features 80 cornices, three strings of gourds, and 218,000 small green tiles.
Guangdong Xiatianxia Scenic Area is about 165 kilometers away from Guangzhou city, about 110 kilometers away from Qingyuan city, about 25 kilometers away from Yangshan County, only 8 kilometers away from the Lingbei exit of Guanglian Expressway, and only 30 kilometers away from the Yangshan exit of Xuguan Expressway. G323 National Highway passes through the scenic area, and transportation is very convenient.
Departing from Guangzhou:
Xuguang Expressway-Yangshan Toll Station-S260-Guangdong Xiatianxia Scenic Area
Depart from Shaoguan:
Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway - Ruyuan Toll Station - Ruilin Line - Guangdong Xiatianxia Scenic Area
Although Yangshan is merely a county under the jurisdiction of Qingyuan City, it offers a wealth of accommodation options. The Yangshan Hotel, located in the heart of the county, is a top choice. Serving as the Yangshan County People's Government's external reception base, this four-star hotel, spanning over 120 acres, boasts comprehensive amenities, including Chinese and Western restaurants, a KTV, a luxury club, a leisure center, a chess and card room, a tea house, a business conference center, a shopping mall, and a fitness center. Best of all, the hotel boasts over 10,000 square meters of parking, making it a favorite for road trippers!
As for the room, it is recommended to stay in the main building A, which was renovated in 2019. It can be booked for less than 300 yuan on weekends during the peak summer season, which is super cost-effective!
Yangshan is the "vegetable basket" of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Various mountain products from northern Guangdong are not only worth tasting locally, but also suitable for taking home!
corn
Yangshan is the main corn producing area in Guangdong Province. The corn kernels produced here are fat, golden and have a strong corn aroma. Locals call it "baomai". The corn flour produced here is ground very finely, and it is really first-class for cooking corn soup and corn porridge.
Yangshan Chicken
Yangshan chicken, with an annual sales volume of over 1.5 million, is one of the eight fine chicken breeds in Guangdong. Its meat is tender and delicious, its skin is golden and attractive, and its skin is crispy, sweet and tasty.
Tofu
Yangshan is rich in soybeans and boasts pristine mountain springs, resulting in a particularly tender and smooth tofu. Both its sour tofu and gypsum tofu are fresh and white, making them delicious whether braised, boiled, stewed, or fried.
China's Tianjing Mountain, the world's most beautiful gorge, and the intoxicatingly beautiful Xingyue Lake make every day as picturesque as a painting.
