Guifeng Mountain Scenic Area is located at the southern foot of the middle section of the Dabie Mountains at the junction of Hubei, Henan and Anhui provinces, and is subordinate to Guishan Town, Macheng City, Huanggang City, Hubei Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area, the core park of the Dabie Mountains Global Geopark, and a national ecological tourism demonstration area. The total planned area of the scenic area is 73.8 square kilometers. It is composed of nine peaks, including the magical Turtle Head, the majestic Turtle Back and the lifelike Turtle Tail. It is named after it looks like a divine turtle with its head raised and swallowing the sun, with the highest altitude of 1,320 meters. Here, the mountains are beautiful and the waters are clear, with a forest coverage rate as high as 95% and a high content of negative oxygen ions. It enjoys the reputation of the "Green Treasure House" and the "Natural Oxygen Bar".
History and Culture
Guifeng Mountain has a long history and profound cultural heritage. According to legend, Wu and Chu fought here at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, Cao Cao trained his troops here at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Niu Zhen set up camp here in the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty. This is also a revolutionary holy land. During the Agrarian Revolutionary War period and the Anti-Japanese War period, the Red Army and the New Fourth Army all carried out activities here. During the Liberation War period, the troops led by Li Xiannian and Zhang Tixue once stationed in the stone cave at the foot of the mountain.
Guifeng Mountain is rich in cultural resources. In ancient times, Cao Cao, a literary giant of a generation, personally visited the Turtle Head and inscribed famous sentences. In modern times, Dong Biwu inscribed a poem when he inspected Guifeng Mountain in 1958: "The guerrilla area in the past is now a tea-producing area. The name of Guifeng Mountain has been well-known for a long time, and Guling also has its own virtues. The brilliant red flowers are beautiful, and the fluffy green grass spreads out. This mountain hides treasures, so don't hesitate to move forward."
In addition, there are many folk legends about Guifeng Mountain, adding a mysterious color to it. For example, the Renji Stone is said to be the site where the eminent monk Zhenying of the Tang Dynasty "stood and transformed", and the Qipan Stone is said to be the site where the South Pole Old Man and the North Pole Old Man played chess.
Main Attractions
Turtle Head
The Turtle Head, also known as "Tiantou Ding", is a mountain formed by a huge exposed granite rock, with an altitude of 1,260 meters. Its appearance is very similar to an ancient giant turtle looking up at the sky, and it is known as the "No. 1 Turtle in the World". Those who often climb to the Turtle Head can absorb the spiritual energy of the divine turtle, double their courage, and prolong their lives. Overlooking the mountains from the Turtle Head, they are lofty and towering, the mountains are full of greenery, surrounded by mountains, and it has the momentum of swallowing the sky and chasing the sun.
Tens of Thousands of Mu of Rhododendron Sea
The Rhododendron Sea is located at Guibeiling in Guifeng Mountain Scenic Area, and the rhododendron is the city flower of Macheng City. There is an ancient rhododendron community with a continuous area of more than 100,000 mu and a growth cycle of millions of years, which is the largest ancient rhododendron (Yingshanhong) community in the world. Every April and May, the rhododendrons all over the mountains and plains are in full bloom, with gorgeous colors and beautiful postures, which is very shocking.
Rhododendron Expo Park
The park displays a rich variety of rhododendrons, which is a good place to learn about rhododendron culture and appreciate rhododendron fine products. It provides tourists with a platform to view rhododendrons up close, allowing people to have a deeper understanding of the types, growth habits and other knowledge of rhododendrons.
Guifeng Gorge
There are gurgling streams in the canyon, beautiful scenery on both sides, deep valleys and dense forests, which is a place full of natural wild interest. Walking along the canyon, you can feel the fresh air and the peaceful atmosphere, admire the unique canyon scenery, and experience the uncanny workmanship of nature.
Anti-Japanese War Victory Site
This is an important place for the Anti-Japanese War in those days, retaining many relics and stories related to the Anti-Japanese War. It is an important base for carrying out patriotic education and inheriting red culture, enabling people to remember history and pay tribute to the martyrs.
Dabie Mountains Spirit Red Culture Exhibition Hall
Through rich pictures, texts, objects and other materials, the exhibition hall displays the revolutionary history of the Dabie Mountains area and the profound connotation of the Dabie Mountains spirit, vividly reproducing the heroic deeds and arduous struggle process of the revolutionary predecessors, allowing tourists to have an in-depth understanding of red culture and receive a spiritual baptism.
Delicacies
Macheng Hanging Pot
It has a history of nearly a thousand years and is a characteristic delicacy of Macheng. In autumn and winter, people put various ingredients into the hanging pot and cook them. They sit around the pot, chatting while eating, and the atmosphere is lively. The ingredients usually include meat, vegetables, tofu, etc., with a rich taste and very suitable for serving with rice.
Macheng Meat Cake
It is a traditional famous dish. Remove the thorns and skin from fresh fish, and remove the bones and skin from pork, and chop them all into meat paste. Add bean powder, water, salt, etc. and stir, and then add seasonings such as ginger powder and chopped green onions to make it into a round or square shape and steam it. It can be eaten cooked or refrigerated, and it is delicious.
Macheng Fish Noodles
Commonly known as Hammered Fish, it is refined from fresh fish, sweet potato powder, egg white, salt, etc. It is a low-cholesterol, pure natural green food. It can be stewed in soup, fried, or stir-fried, and there are various ways to eat it.
Stir-fried Wild Cauliflower with Free-range Chicken Eggs
Wild cauliflower is a characteristic wild vegetable in the local area, with a unique fragrance. Stir-fried with free-range chicken eggs, the eggs absorb the fragrance of the wild cauliflower, and the taste is delicious and the nutrition is rich.
Wild Lotus Root
Also known as Snail Vegetable, it is produced in Guifeng Mountain. It contains rich nutrients such as protein and amino acids. Its nature and flavor are sweet and flat, and it has the effects of moistening the spleen and strengthening the stomach, nourishing the liver and kidney, etc. It can be cooked into a variety of delicious dishes.
Admission Tickets
The admission ticket price of Guifeng Mountain Scenic Area is 110 yuan per person in the peak season and 70 yuan per person in the off-season. Specifically, it may be adjusted according to different holidays, activities, etc. You can pay attention to the official website of the scenic area or relevant tourism platforms to get the latest information.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is usually open from 08:30 to 17:30. However, the specific opening hours may also change due to factors such as seasons and weather. In case of bad weather or special circumstances, the scenic area may temporarily adjust the opening hours. It is recommended that tourists consult the scenic area in advance before traveling.
Itinerary for Visiting
One-day Tour: Tourist Center → Rhododendron Square → Rhododendron Sea → Turtle Head → Guifeng Lake → Return Trip. This itinerary allows tourists to appreciate the main attractions of Guifeng Mountain within a day, admire the magnificent Rhododendron Sea and the unique Turtle Head landscape, and at the same time enjoy the beautiful scenery of Guifeng Lake.
Two-day Tour: On the first day, Tourist Center → Rhododendron Expo Park → Guifeng Gorge → Anti-Japanese War Victory Site → Check in at Guifeng Inn and experience the characteristic homestay; on the second day, Turtle Head → Tens of Thousands of Mu of Rhododendron Sea → Dabie Mountains Spirit Red Culture Exhibition Hall → Guigu Valley of International Outdoor Sports. Such an arrangement allows for a more in-depth tour of the scenic area. Not only can you enjoy the natural scenery, but you can also fully understand the red culture and history of the scenic area, and at the same time have more time to enjoy the leisure facilities and services of the scenic area.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Wuhan, you can reach Guifeng Mountain Scenic Area via Wuying Expressway, Huwu Expressway, Wuma Expressway, etc.; starting from Shanghai, you can go there via Wuning Road, Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, Huwu Expressway, etc.; starting from Nanchang, you can arrive via Changjiu Expressway, Hangrui Expressway, etc.; starting from Zhengzhou, you can reach there via Airport Expressway, Shangdeng Expressway, Anluo Expressway, etc.
- By Train: You can first arrive at Macheng North Station or Macheng Station, and then transfer to a special passenger bus in Macheng City to go to the scenic area.
- By Plane: You can first arrive at Wuhan Tianhe Airport, and then take a special shuttle bus to Guifeng Mountain Scenic Area, which needs to be reserved in advance.
Must-visit Attractions
- Turtle Head: A landmark landscape of the scenic area, the "No. 1 Turtle in the World", with an altitude of 1,260 meters. It looks very similar to an ancient giant turtle looking up at the sky and can overlook the mountains.
- Tens of Thousands of Mu of Rhododendron Sea: The largest ancient rhododendron community in the world, with a continuous area of more than 100,000 mu and a growth cycle of millions of years. Every April and May, the flowers are gorgeous and the mountains are covered with red.
- Dabie Mountains Spirit Red Culture Exhibition Hall: With rich pictures, texts and objects, it displays the revolutionary history and spirit of the Dabie Mountains and is an important place for receiving red culture education.
Suggestions for Visiting
- If you want to enjoy the Rhododendron Sea, it is recommended to go from mid-April to mid-May, when the rhododendrons are in full bloom and the scenery is the most spectacular.
- There are many mountain roads in the scenic area, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes, which is convenient for climbing and visiting.
- When going to the scenic area in summer, take sun protection and mosquito prevention measures. At the same time, because the temperature on the mountain is relatively low, it is best to bring a coat.
- You can choose a suitable itinerary according to your own time and physical strength to avoid a too tight schedule. If you have enough time, you might as well stay in a homestay in the scenic area for one night to feel the tranquility and beauty of the mountains.
Notes
- Comply with the regulations of the scenic area and do not casually damage the environment and facilities of the scenic area.
- Pay attention to safety when climbing the mountain, walk along the designated route, and do not deviate from the road to avoid danger.
- When enjoying the Rhododendron Sea, do not trample on the flowers, take photos in a civilized manner, and cherish the natural landscape.
- The signal in some areas of the scenic area may not be very good. Inform your family or friends of your itinerary in advance for easy contact.
- Pay attention to the opening hours and closing hours of the scenic area, arrange the visiting time reasonably, and avoid missing the visiting items.