Exploring Yushu, Jilin: Ten Stunning Places Await You

Here are ten places in Yushu, Jilin worth visiting: 1. Qingding Mountain Tourist Area: Located in Qingding Village, Xinli Town, 16 kilometers from Yushu City, the highest peak is 239.5 meters above sea level, with a total area of about 570 hectares. The mountain is lush with trees such as pines, oaks, birches, and maples, and is home to various wildlife including pheasants and squirrels. There is a Buddhist forest carved into the cliffs, three fish ponds, a lookout tower, and an anti-hail cannon on the mountain top. Visitors can climb the lookout tower or tour the 5-kilometer mountain road to enjoy the full view of Qingding Mountain. 2. Yushu City Museum: Established in 1973, originally as the Yushu County Exhibition Hall, it was renamed Yushu County Museum in 1981 with approval from the Jilin Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau. After Yushu County was upgraded to a city in 1990, it was renamed again. In September 2010, the Jilin Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau approved the addition of the "Jilin Agricultural Museum" sign. This is an important place to learn about the history and agricultural development of Yushu. 3. Wukeshu Riverside Tourist Area: Located 1.5 kilometers south of Wukeshu Town along the Songhua River, it stretches for 20 kilometers and includes attractions such as Zhanjiang Temple, Wukeshu Pier, and Songjiang Gorge. During the temple fairs on the 8th, 18th, and 28th of the lunar month, as well as holidays like the Dragon Boat Festival and National Day, tens of thousands of people come here to enjoy the unique natural scenery of mountains, forests, and water. 4. Huayuan Mountain Tourist Area: Located in the southeastern part of Tuqiao Town, on the edge of the Songliao Plain, it is a branch of the Changbai Mountains. It stretches 10 kilometers east to west and 4 kilometers north to south, with the highest peak at 302 meters. In spring and summer, the mountain is covered with wildflowers, resembling a natural garden, hence the name. The mountain is rich in flora and fauna, with 6,000 hectares of natural forest and 1,500 hectares of artificial forest. It is home to over 20 kinds of medicinal herbs, more than 30 protected animal species, over 10 kinds of wild vegetables, and over 10 types of fungi such as hazel mushrooms and pine mushrooms. There is a 35-meter-high lookout tower on the mountain top and a 15-hectare reservoir at the foot of the mountain. Visitors can tour Huayuan Mountain along the cement road around the mountain. 5. Xiaoxiang Tourist Area: Located in a small village in Piuxin Village, southeastern Tuqiao Town, it was a model of agricultural development in Jilin Province in the 1960s and 1970s. The slogan "Learn from Dazhai, Catch up with Xiaoxiang" was popular in Jilin at that time. The village covers an area of 150 hectares, with 100 hectares of mountainous land, five reservoirs, lush forests, and a serene environment. In 2006, the Yushu Municipal Government developed Xiaoxiang into a tourist area, building attractions such as the Xiaoxiang Memorial Hall, Qi Dianyun's Tomb, a water park, and an ecological park. 6. Xiangyang Reservoir: Located in the downstream valley of the Sanda River, east of the Kacha River highlands, with a top elevation of 195 meters and a valley bottom elevation of 181 meters. The valley is about 1 kilometer wide, mostly farmland, with the main geological formation being Quaternary loess-like soil. Xiangyang Reservoir is one of the five medium-sized reservoirs in Yushu City. It was initially named Fenjin Reservoir and later renamed due to its location in Xiangyang Village, Xiangyang Township. 7. Baha Lake Tourist Area: Located in Dongjia Village (formerly Wangjia Village) of Peiying Subdistrict, Yushu City, 3 kilometers from the city center and 0.5 kilometers from the Ke-Tie Highway. The Donggou Reservoir within the tourist area covers about 138 hectares, with open water and abundant aquatic plants. The eastern bank of the reservoir has a north-south slope about 1 kilometer long and 6 hectares in area, with over 10 tree species including elms, maples, poplars, and pines. There is a 100-year-old ancient tree on the slope, with a trunk circumference of about 3 meters, revered by locals as the "Mountain God Elm". 8. Leipi Mountain Tourist Area: Located in Xingnong Village, northern Daling Town, Yushu City, at the border of Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, about 45 kilometers from Yushu City. The highest point of Leipi Mountain is 210.5 meters above sea level, covering an area of over 100 hectares, with unique natural landscapes. 9. Yushu Man Site: Located in Zhoujia Village, Xiushui Town, Yushu City, human skeletal remains and ancient biological fossils have been discovered multiple times from 1951 to 1977. According to C14 dating, they date back 70,000 to 40,000 years, equivalent to the Upper Cave Man culture period. This site is an important witness to ancient human activities. 10. Shanquan City Site: Located in Xinsheng Village, Enyu Township, Yushu City, the city site is roughly square in shape, with a perimeter of 1,580 meters. The rammed earth walls are clearly visible, with alternating black and yellow soil layers. The black soil layer is 2-3 centimeters thick, and the yellow soil layer is 4-5 centimeters thick. The remaining foundation of the city wall is about 9 meters wide and 1.2-2 meters high. This site is of great value for studying the history and culture of the Liao and Jin periods.