1 Day in Yongren: Earth Forest & Hot Springs

Yongren Fangshan is located in the northeast of Yongren County, Chuxiong Prefecture, 16 kilometers away from Yongren County and about 280 kilometers away from Chuxiong City. Fangshan has a unique shape, with a wide and gentle top and steep cliffs on the edges. It is flat and square from all four sides, hence the name "Fangshan".

Fangshan is a good place to escape the summer heat. Besides being "square", it is also "cool". The annual average temperature here is 12℃, and the high temperature does not exceed 24℃, which is especially cool in summer. Fangshan is located on the main transportation route between Yunnan and Sichuan. It was once a place where monks chanted scriptures when traveling between Jizu Mountain and Emei Mountain, so it was once a Buddhist place in history.

Fangshan is a strategic point between Sichuan and Yunnan and a crossing point on the Jinsha River. It has become a battleground for military strategists due to its high altitude, easy to defend and difficult to attack terrain. From the Three Kingdoms period to the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty more than 1,400 years later, Fangshan was a military stronghold with continuous improvement of fortifications. Nearly 100,000 troops were stationed there. The ruins of Zhugeying, located on the eastern foot of Fangshan, and the remains of the camps on the southern top and west side of Fangshan are still there.

Looking into the distance from Wangjiang Ridge, you can see continuous mountains and rivers, the Shu River is like a silk thread, and clouds and mist are rising; standing on Xiangguqing and stomping your feet, you can faintly hear the "dong dong" sound of drums. It is said that Zhuge Liang buried bronze drums here to repel the enemy, so the ground here has always made the sound of bronze drums; Kuqiaoqing is a collection of strange rocks, ancient trees, and cliff carvings; Xianren Valley brings together many attractions such as Pearl Cascade Waterfall, Seven Star Leaking Sky, Deep Stream Mingquan, Fairy Pond, Fairy Turtle Coming Out of the Cave, Yixiantai, Dengxian Cliff, etc.; Pearl Dripping Rock is the main outlet of Fangshan Water Source. Spring water gushes out from the rocks and rushes down. If it is the rainy season, the water flow will increase greatly and pour into the deep pool with a roaring sound.

Tip: The temperature in Yongren Fangshan is lower than that in the Souvenir cities and towns, so you should bring a warmer jacket when climbing.

Yuanmou Earth and Forest Scenic Resort is located in Yuanmou County, Chuxiangzhou and features a number of tall stone pillars. Be amazed by the beautiful quartz, agate and other substances shimmering in the sunshine. The resort is a solid choice for shutterbugs. Get accommodation and shoot the marvelous sunrise and sunset. At night, looking up at the array of stars glittering in the boundless sky is a wonderful experience.

Hutiaoxia (Tiger Leaping Beach) is located on the west side of Luomaole Village, Wumao Township, about 32 kilometers to the northwest of Yuanmou County, Chuxiong Prefecture. It is also known as the Wumao Rock Forest. The rock columns here are scattered around the landscape and form a majestic view, featuring various shapes that resemble castles, screens, curtains, and pillars, as well as sundry colors such as red, yellow, white, and brown. Attractions here are mostly located by the main ravine and its branches. The main ravine is a dry riverbed in an east-west direction, the surface of which is made of fine yellow sand and colorful gravel. The ravine’s branches are found on its northern and southern sides. On the north side there are three branches, including the “Marshal’s House,” the “Ancient Castle,” and the “Camel Peak.” On the south side there are two branches, including the “Nameless Ravine” and the “Eurasian Wonder.”

The Jinsha River Grand Canyon is a scenic spot with canyon scenery as its theme. It is located in southwest China and attracts many tourists with its magnificent natural scenery and unique landforms. The cliffs on both sides of the canyon are thousands of feet high and are composed of hard basalt and sandstone. The texture of the rock layers is clearly visible, recording billions of years of geological changes. The mountains on both sides have formed many unique landscapes due to weathering and water erosion: some peaks are like swords piercing the sky, and some rocks are like giant beasts squatting on the riverside, with various shapes, which are breathtaking. In addition to the stunning natural landscape, the Jinsha River Grand Canyon also contains rich cultural customs. There are ethnic minority villages such as the Yi and Lisu along the coast, and the unique folk culture blends with the canyon scenery. Tourists can walk into the villages, taste the special food, enjoy the ethnic songs and dances, and feel the hospitality of the ethnic minorities.