From the majestic Taihang Mountain goes thousands of miles south along the border of Hebei, Shanxi and Henan Provinces, and from the Yanshan Mountain goes east along Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei region, here is comes Yesanpo, a famous tourist resort and national scenic spot in northern China. As summer has arrived, let’s go to the mountains to cool off.
Yesanpo is located in the west of Beijing, northwest of Hebei Province and in the Laishui County of Baoding City. It enjoys a good reputation as a paradise with its "magnificent, peculiar, beautiful and secluded" natural landscape and ancient historical relics. It is an extremely rare scenic spot in northern China, which integrates cultural relics, historic sites, old trees, and ancient zen, with a total area of 498.5 square kilometers.
Every part of the landscape of Yesanpo reveals the favor of nature and the harmony between heaven and earth. Besides the well-protected plant resources of more than 70 families and more than 2,000 species, there are hundreds of animals, large or small, quiet or noisy, shuttling through the mountains and flying between peaks: gray cranes, wild ducks, mandarin ducks, squirrels, herons... Here, visitors can deeply appreciate the intimacy between human and nature. Let’s visit Yesanpo with the following order: Juma River Scenic Area - Bailixia Scenic Area - Yugudong Scenic Area - Baicaopan Scenic Area - Longmen Tianguan Scenic Area.
In Juma River Scenic Area, you can experience a variety of water entertainment projects. Qingquanshan Water Park mainly deals with bamboo rafts, speedboats, electric boats and other projects. It is fun and cool to play with bamboo rafts in hot summer days.
Visitors can also experience the exciting rafting project. Riding a rubber boat down the river, watching the high sky and the shining sun, surrounded by green hills, visitors will feel a kind of "near miss" relaxation.
After playing the water, let's go forward and come to the "best gorge in the world" -- Bailixia. Bailixia is one of the unique scenic spots in Yesanpo. The ecological environment is primitive and natural, and the wonders are dazzling and shocking. (Bailixia admission: 100 RMB/person)
Tourism facilities in the canyon are in harmony with nature, safe and environmentally friendly. In the valley, the walking road turns with the mountain peak, while the stream flows around the walking road. The mountains and rivers depend on each other, with dense vegetation and fresh air. At the top of the head is the lofty mountains and the blue sky. Besides the mountain waterfalls and streams, there are forests, green sandalwood, and single-root grass; wild begonia and fern orchid are like painted in ink, as dense as green carpet.
Moving on, here comes to the "underground gallery" Fish Valley Cave. There are various stalactites wonders in the cave, such as stalactites, stalagmites, stone flags and stone curtains, which are criss-crossed and dazzling. (Fish Valley Cave admission: 65 RMB/person)
There is a spring hole and a spring on the south side of the Fish Valley Cave, which is a fissure spring. The spring water is clear and pollution-free. Every time before and after the Grain Rain (the 6th solar term) in the lunar calendar, many fish (scaly shovel-jaw fish) gush out from the spring cave, which is now concerned by fish experts, and the spring is listed as a strange spring in the world.
Going up, we come to Baicaopan (white grass bank), where there is an endless alpine meadow, as well as silvery pear flowers, orange-yellow flowers, bright red wild rose flowers, and golden lotus flowers competing with each other for beauty. Looking at the flowers and grass, smelling the fragrance of green fields, visitors will be very happy and relaxed. The blue sky above is pure and lofty, the mountains in the distance are magnificent, the flowers and plants are vibrant and lush, and the forest are waving with the wind like tides. At present, the Baicaopan Scenic Area is being upgraded and closed until further notice. Let's look forward to its reopening.
Finally, here is Longmen Tianguan Mountain. The magnificent main peak Tianzhu Peak is 1,099 meters above sea level, with lush vegetation, blooming flowers, chirping birds, and clear water. There is a natural cold air outlet with constant temperature throughout the year. Mountain springs gush out, like jade dragons flying in silver flowers. There are the natural magnificent scenery of nine waterfalls and eighteen pools, as well as many strange peaks in the canyon. The granite landscape is magnificent and peculiar. There is the basalt shaped with turtle body and snake head, stones with scale patterns and rocks with thousand layers, etc., forming a multi-step lowering waterfall landscape. The clear flow of waterfalls brings infinite vitality to the canyon. (Longmen Tianguan admission: 50 RMB/person)
Pingxi is the frontier of the Anti-Japanese War in North China, and it is a strategic defensive area for our party to persist in eastern Hebei and open up Pingbei area. Yesanpo, located in the heart of Pingxi, played a unique historical role in the Anti-Japanese War and was the forefront of Pingxi's Anti-Japanese War. In February 1938, the Deng Hua detachment of the Red Army opened Pingxi into Yesanpo. In May 1938, the Fanglaizhuo government moved to Zishikou of Yesanpo. In February 1939, in Shannan Village of Yesanpo, the Party Committee of Jirecha Tingjin Army and Jirecha District was established, and then many other institutions led by the military were built all over the area. Yeshanpo became the political, military, and cultural center of Pingxi's Anti-Japanese War.
The glorious footprints of Xiao Ke, Yao Yilin and other revolutionaries of the older generation were left in Yeshanpo. Cao Huoxing, a famous lyric writer, created the immortal song "No New China Without the Communist Party" in Yesanpo, and the prototype of the famous red opera "White-haired Girl" was born in Yesanpo.
Yesanpo has devoted manpower and material resources into the Anti-Japanese War. There were soldiers from every family which was like a fortress. In the long-term arduous and cruel revolutionary struggle, countless epic revolutionary deeds and a large number of heroes have emerged in Yeshanpo, such as the national hero Yang Huaiying, labor hero Yang Mingfu, arsenal martyr Wang Deyun, Li Jinrong who would rather die than lead the way for the Japanese army, Zhao Wencang who defended his military uniform with his life, the heroic food commissioner Tian Jingrong, the heroic scout Zheng Shouku and Zhao Jifu, underground intelligencer Lu Yuhua, and Wang Dianlong who would rather die than surrender. These heroes have inspired Yesanpo soldiers and civilians to defend national dignity and strive for national independence and liberation.
After learning the history and culture, let's taste the "best of the tongue" of Yesanpo: roast whole lamb. Lambs are picked by guests, and then are slaughtered and roasted. The whole processing takes 70 minutes. Processed in various special facilities, Yeshanpo roast whole lamb is bright in color and tender in meat. It is roasted in a fixed place with two layers of fire, different from the roast lamb in other places, so it is a must for visitors to have a taste.
Not only the roast whole lamb, but also gourment food like roast rainbow trout, fry river fish and shrimp, stew river fish with pancake, etc, will bring you a tongue feast. What are you waiting for? Come here and have a good time with your family and friends!
Tips: As the Baicaopan Scenic Area is being upgraded, the combo ticket of 150 RMB in Yesanpo Scenic Area is not available at present.
