Line Twelve: Eco tour to the villages in north Anhui
This route is perfect for people from the 1970s and 1980s who yearn to return to their villages. The route, with its simple style of northern villages, is guaranteed to bring back childhood memories to its visitors. The Ying River, which flows into Anhui, nourishes the plans of northwest Anhui. Its fertile soil and rivers mark an achievement of agricultural civilization. A great vitality and humanities can be found in Fuyang, as described by Su Dongpo in one of his poems.
Introduction of the spots
What's so special about the line
The reform and open-up policy has sped up the process of urbanization.
★ Bengbu Hequan Farm Villa ★
Located in the Tu Mountain tourism resort of Huaiyuan county, it boasts an area of 1500 mu, with green moutains and rivers as its backdrop. The villa is mainly for touring and leisure. Tourism products promoted are as one day trips or encouraging visitors to have their vegetable gardens or adopt a tree. Science tours are also organized for students in the spring and autumn periods, and special shows are put on for guests out enjoying cool air. All these various activities are organized to meet the needs of city dwellers that have come to escape their hectic lives. It allows them the joy of being close to nature as well as experiencing life in the country. Interactive projects such as deer breeding, fishing pond, pomegranate bonsai garden, fish-viewing pond, expanded training facilities and a small zoo are favored by tourists. It is a national and provincial agricultural tourism pilot and ranked as AAAA national tourism resort, as well as one of top ten leisure resorts in Anhui province.
★ Balihe Scenic Area ★
On the eastern side of Balihe Town Yingshan County, the Balihe Scenic Area is six km north of the county seat and 60 km northwest of Fuyang City, with an area of some 1,200 hectares. Known as Nanhu Park, the major tourist attractions include the World Scenic Area, Splendid China, Zoo on the Water and an amusement park.
The area is covered by slim willows and blooming flowers, and dotted with wonderful artificial hills. The long corridors zigzag along the Lotus Pond. Jiutian Waterfall in the Splendid China area, 90 meters wide and 20 meters high, looks so majestic and spectacular from a distance. The Nine Dragon Screen and White Sparrow Temple represent the unique oriental architectural style and pool together the best of traditional Chinese culture. All these landscapes are much admired by tourists.
★ Digou Ecological Park ★
Located in Tangdian Town, northeast of Yingshang county, it is a tourist destination merging ecotourism and Buddhist culture into one. The ecological park is composed of the Zhuyinsi Temple, Hall of 500 Arhats and an ecology garden.
The Zhuyin Temple was originally called the Avalokitesvara Temple. Legend has it that one night, a Buddhist light emerged and enveloped the temple while a breeze brought the wonderful rustling of bamboo trees; hence the name Zhuyin (Bamboo Sound) Temple. The Hall of 500 Arhats stands in the Zhuyin Temple. All arhat figures were carved from camphorwood. They broke away from the traditional pattern of Buddhist clay sculptures having a similar face, and melted the Buddhist culture into a modern art approach, also reflecting their social life. It is acclaimed as "a shining pearl in the treasure house of Chinese sculpture art".
★ Fuyang Ecology Park ★
Combining an agricultural model, ecological education, leisure and entertainment functions, the park has a demonstration area on fruit planting, a water park and fishing center in its central part, zoo, a cultural park, a golf practicing area and an agricultural technology demonstration garden , cattle garden and bonsai garden, tropical botanical garden area with precious trees from more than 20 countries and regions, a dinosaur exhibition site, with displays of tyrannosaurus rex, tyrannosaurus and long-necked dinosaurs, a leisure center with chess and card room, tea room, restaurants and other entertainment facilities. There is also a water music cafe on the other bank of the lake and a large-scale amusement park for tourists. With all these exciting features, you’ll never want to leave this park. Tel: 86-558-2616191
Editor: Li Jing
