Zhihutao Scenic Area

Zhihutao Scenic Area is characterized by its rugged and steep mountains, featuring a variety of geological landscapes, including standard "shaped valleys, terraces, cliff corridors, and vertical fissures." The area is also home to the ancient Huaiquan Temple, Dawangtai, Qishiyuan, the Zhonghua Zhangshiyan Stele Forest, the General Stone Stele Pavilion, the geological landscape of Yushi Huaping, and the world's largest natural echo wall. The fissure spring, Huaiquan, is the source of the Huai River. The name of the scenic area comes from the late Ming Dynasty when Li Zicheng's rebel army attacked Beijing. A group of rebels crossed the Taihang Mountains from Shanxi and reached Zhigutao, waiting for orders. After Li Zicheng's defeat and retreat from Beijing, this group of rebels settled here, building camps and fortresses, defending against the government, and repeatedly attacking Zhaohua County, killing two county magistrates. In the 37th year of the Kangxi reign (1698), the Governor of Zhili, Yu Chenglong, led the Qing army to suppress the rebels. Unable to attack directly, he resorted to persuasion, eventually incorporating the rebels into the army and later disbanding them.