Located at the northeast of Guizhou Province, the ancient city of
Tongren is the capital city of Tongren Region that covers an area
of 18,000 square kilometers (about 6,950 square miles). There are
many tour resources in Tongren Region including Mt. Fanjingshan
National Nature Reserve, Jinjiang River and Nine-dragon Cave
Scenic Area. In Tongren City, tourists can visit the thousand
years old architecture, Dongshan Temple and Statue of Zhou Yiqun
Martyr (one of the well-known generals of Chinese Red Army). |
Natural Scenery
Perhaps the biggest and most famous scenic area in Tongren Region
is the Mt. Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve.
It has a rich biological heritage and famously known as being sacred
to Chinese Buddhism. It is highly popular with tourists during summer
and autumn, which are without doubt the best seasons for a visit here.
Rising from Mt. Fanjingshan, the Jinjiang River
traverses Tongren City from west to east where it joins the mighty
Yangtze. Green ranges cluster on both banks of the Jinjiang and
pavilions are studded jewel-like among these ranges forming the
approximately three-mile long 'Ten-li Jinjiaing Gallery'. Tourist
destinations along the Jinjiang are: 'Wuling Small
Suzhou' which describes the characteristics of Tongren City -
mountain city and city on water, 'Jinjiang Twelve
Scenes' which refers to the beautiful scenery on the river
banks, and Jinjiang Park where tourists will
find a white marble statue of Zhou Yiqun Martyr who was a well known
general in the Red Army.
Liulongshan Zhuhai (Sea of Bamboo) Park
lies to the southeast of Tongren adjacent to Liulongshan Village. It
is a natural park boasting of a sea of bamboo. There are many trees
and a variety of wild animals in the park, which make it a tourist
attraction in summer as well as winter. When winter comes, the park
becomes an immense and very beautiful snow-white bamboo sea. The
well-known Nine-dragon Cave Scenic Area is in this park.
Nine-dragon Cave Scenic Area is perhaps the
second most popular tourist attraction in Tongren Region. It includes
many scenic spots such as the resplendent
Nine-dragon Caves Scenic Spot, the grand
Jinjiang Gorge and the meandering Jinjiang
Reservoir Area near the town of Yangtou, etc.
Human Cultural Landscape
There are perhaps more than six historic sites in Tongren City:
Old City Site located on the north bank of
Jinjiang River is well known for its ancient architecture and city
wall; Dongshan Temple located in the east of
Tongren is a Buddhist sacred place dating from the Song Dynasty
(960-1279). China Nuo Opera and Nuo Mask Museum
located in the Temple is one of Tongren's must-see features. Nuo Opera
has come to be recognized everywhere as a vivid folk art. Elaborate
Nuo masks, costumes, libretto and other items used in Nuo Opera are
displayed in the museum. Another historic site is
Moujiapo Hanging Coffin, said to have been buried among the
crags 80 meters (about 262 feet) high above the horizon years ago. It
is known from textual research that this was a burial custom of the
Gelao Minority during Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is considered a
mysterious site located in Moujiapo Village of Daping Town west of
Tongren City.
In addition, some other scenic spots around Jinjiang River are
worthy of a visit: Lianchi Nunnery located
on the south bank of Jinjiang River has a temple and pavilion site.
Dongping Mountain at Yangtou Town on the
east bank of Jinjiang River is one of the three sacred Buddhist places.
One of two further historic sites that are attractive to those who are
interested in archaeology is the Dujiayuan
Neolithic Cultural Relic. This is located on the lower reaches
of the river, about 12 kilometers (about 7.46 miles) from Nine-dragon
Caves Scenic Spot. The second is the Yandong
Neolithic Cultural Relic which can be found alongside the river
some 4 kilometers (about 2.49 miles) from the Nine-dragon Caves.
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