[2025 Shandan Attraction] Travel Guide for Yanzhi Mountain Forest Park (Updated May)

1. Overview of the scenic area 1. Geographical location and nicknames • Yanzhi Mountain is located in Shandan County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province. It is a famous mountain in the hinterland of the Hexi Corridor. It is known as the "Famous Mountain in China" and the "Big Huangshan" for its abundant water and grass and profound historical heritage. 2. Core attractions and features • The mountain is famous for its overlapping peaks. Climbing to the top, you can overlook the endless mountains and the vast land. The sea of ​​clouds is particularly spectacular. • The main peak, Baxian Peak, is named after the eight pine trees on the top of the peak, symbolizing the "Eight Immortals" culture and is one of the iconic landscapes in the scenic area. II. Historical and Humanistic Value 1. Military and political significance • In 121 BC, Huo Qubing defeated the Xiongnu here and subdued the Xiutu and Hunxie tribes. After the Xiongnu lost Yanzhi Mountain, they left behind the eternal lament: "The loss of Qilian Mountain has caused my livestock to stop breeding; the loss of Yanzhi Mountain has caused my married women to lose face." 2. Cultural and religious activities • In the fifth year of Emperor Yangdi of the Sui Dynasty (619 AD), the "World Expo" was held here, and envoys from 27 countries in the Western Regions were received. It became an important node for the reopening of the Silk Road. • The mountain name “Yanzhi” means “Queen of Heaven” in Xiongnu language, and together with Qilian (sky) forms the philosophical concept of “Heaven and Earth”, echoing the Dao of Qian and Kun in the Book of Changes. 3. Natural Landscape and Experience 1. Recommended core attractions • Baxian Peak: The eight pine trees on the top of the peak stand tall against all odds, symbolizing perseverance and protection. Climbing to the top, you can experience the magnificent sight of the vast sea of ​​clouds blending with the mountains and rivers. • Military Horse Farm Site: The military horse farm established by Huo Qubing in 121 BC has a history of more than 2,100 years and is an important witness to military culture. 2. Tour suggestions: The mountain road is quite steep, so you need to pay attention to your physical strength allocation. It is recommended to arrange half a day to a full day for an in-depth tour. IV. Cultural Connotation and Modern Significance 1. History and Openness • Yanzhi Mountain became the hub of the Silk Road due to Emperor Yang of Sui’s Fengshan ceremony, which promoted cultural exchanges between the East and the West and is recognized as the birthplace of the “World Expo”. 2. Ecology and Philosophy • The mountain combines natural beauty with philosophical symbolism. Its name contains cultural metaphors of “Queen of Heaven” and “Heaven”, which fits the traditional Chinese concept of “Qian Kun”. Precautions 1. Summer is the best season to visit, as you can experience the unique blend of summer heat and mountain scenery. 2. It is recommended to plan the itinerary in combination with the Shandan Military Horse Farm Ruins and other surrounding attractions to fully experience the historical context of the Hexi Corridor. Yanzhi Mountain is not only a natural wonder, but also an important carrier of Chinese civilization and the spirit of the Silk Road. It is suitable for history lovers and cultural explorers to have an in-depth experience.

Self-driving on the Qinghai-Tibet Ring Road passes by Yanzhi Mountain I didn't have high expectations for this scenic spot But when I got to the top of the mountain and went all the way down⛰️ I was still shocked by the depths of the misty forest The Yanzhi Mountain in late autumn has a detached tranquility🍃 This is probably the spiritual protection zone for outdoor people! - "Lost my Yanzhi Mountain, making my wife colorless..." Today's Yanzhi Mountain is like a natural oxygen bar🌲 There is green moss everywhere in the depths of the forest There are many wild mushrooms and small animals in autumn🐿️ Hiking all the way is to empty yourself close to nature! - ⚠️Play Tips: ✔️The main scenery of Yanzhi Mountain Forest Park is concentrated on the downhill section, and you can take the scenic bus up the mountain ✔️If you are purely hiking, you can walk up and down the mountain, which takes about 4 hours in total ✔️The temperature in the misty forest on the downhill section is lower, it is recommended to wear more, pay attention to warmth and cold protection ✔️There are many mushrooms in the woods, it is not recommended to pick them if you are not familiar with them, and the scenic spot has fresh picks for sale ✔️The road along the way is slippery, many sections are steep, it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes or bring trekking poles 📍

Day 6 in Hexi Corridor: Yanzhishan Forest Park First stop: Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon It takes about 44km from Zhangye to Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, which takes about 50 minutes. It was raining when we arrived at Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, so we could only look at it from the observation deck. The main reason for coming to the Grand Canyon was to go down into the canyon to experience it. However, due to the rain we couldn't go down to the bottom of the canyon, so we gave up on the Grand Canyon attractions. Regret is also part of the trip. The Grand Canyon also has a regular tour and an in-depth tour. The in-depth tour takes you down to the bottom of the canyon by off-road vehicle, and you can also ride camels and camel carts in the middle, and the scenery is also better. Next time I have the chance to come again, I will definitely experience an in-depth tour of the canyon 😊. Second stop: Yanzhishan Forest Park It is about 150km from Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon to Yanzhishan Forest Park, and it takes about 2.5 hours to walk. When we arrived at Yanzhi Mountain, we happened to catch the June 6th Temple Fair in Shandan County. There was no admission fee but there were a lot of people (there wouldn't be so many people at other times). After entering the door, you can queue up on the left to take the sightseeing bus. The sightseeing bus ticket is 10 yuan per person. Because there is only one way to go up and down the bus, you need to wait until all the buses are full before setting off, and then get off together after all the buses are full. The sightseeing bus can go to Yuhuang Temple. If you want to continue the tour, you can take the route to Zhongshan Temple, which is about 6.5km long. The most difficult part is that there are all steps when you come down from Zhongshan Temple. The rest of the way is easy to walk and the scenery is very good. The whole journey takes about 2.5 hours. If you don’t want to walk the whole way, you can take a sightseeing bus up, go around and then return to Yuhuang Temple and take the sightseeing bus down. Tips: If you have enough time, you can go directly to the military horse farm from Yanzhishan Forest Park. It takes about 60km and about 1 hour. Please note that the business hours of the military horse farm are 8:30-17:30. Accommodation: Shandan Xinyuan International Silk Road Culture Hotel, the hotel is in a separate courtyard, the environment is nice and quiet. It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to get from the hotel to the military horse farm, which is 100 km away. The main route here is the county road, and there is a speed limit.