Cuihua Mountain

      翠华山

Cuihuashan Mountain National Geo-park lies in the northern Qinling Mountain of Chang'an District, Xian City, Shaanxi Province. The scenic spot is 12.43 miles (20km) from downtown Xian and covers an area of 12.36 square miles (32 square kilometers). The highest peak is 8543.31 feet (2604m).Cuihua Mountains landside scenery national Geopark is one of the first 11 Geoparks authorized by National Land Resources Department in March, 2001 and, one of the first unveiled national parks in China as well. In the park, the highest peak Zhongnan mountain elevates above sea level by 2604m with total area 32km2 and is one of the developed fullest from landslide. With its most complete diversity of landslide appearance, most typical structure, most intact, largest scale and highest tourism value, the park is the most unusual in China and abroad, as demonstrated with search by Shaanxi Sci-tech Information Research Institute, well-known as Chinese landslide miracle scenery and geological museum. Today it is a well developed national geo-park and Grade AAAA scenic spot. Renowned for its unique and unusual landslide topography, Cuihuashan Mountain is known as a natural geo-morphological museum. According to historical documents, the landslide occurred during a large earthquake in the year 780 B.C. during the Zhou dynasty. The fantastic landscape and its great size are unique at home and abroad. Designated Zhongnanshan National Forest Park in 1992, Cuihuashan Mountain has been recommended as one of the top ten tourist attractions in Xian since 1997.

It was recorded in records on kingdoms in the early stage of West Zhou Dynasty that at the second year (B.C.780) during the You King period of West Zhou Dynasty there had been a great earthquake in the three valleys in the middle part of Shaanxi. And in the year the earthquake resulted in rivers dried and Qishan plateau collapsed. The same record can also be found in 'On historical events' by Si Maqian, an ancient scholar of the Dynasty. It is by inference from literature records on kingdoms in the early stage of West Zhou Dynasty that the Cuihua landslide scenery was caused to from be the earthquakes following.

By classification in geological history the Cuihua Mountain belongs to Qin mountain chain, composed of diversity of metamorphic rock from middle geological Epoch, one billion years ago. The large fault from the earthquake formed in the north slope of Qin Mountain chain lowered to take shape of the plain in the middle of Shaanxi while the south slope raised to have Qin mountain peaks come to exist. For the past ten thousand years, Qin Mountain chain has been raising by 1.73-3.4 mm, that is the reason why the rock of Qin Mountain is solid with brittle properties. And this, together with long-term weathering, had accelerated the landslide to happen.

Landslide area in Cuihua mountain covers 5.2km2 with 300 million m3 rock collapsed. At present 1.5km2have been developed with distributions in low-lying land so called Shui Jiao Pond and Gan Jiao Pond and Da Ping. And the developed area is mainly composed of three pars such as survival peaks and remained cliff, stone sea from collapse and the lake formed from landslide.
　
The survival peaks and remained cliff are mainly meaning Yuan peak, Ganjiao peaks and Cuihua peak and other cliffs from landslide. As from the above three peaks on will be surprised at the scenery. The three peaks are piercing into the sky in heated competition with tripartite confrontation and unexpected towering. 'the Zhongnan peaks coming into sight far away from the south look like green screen; Going up into the sky with rose-tinted clouds woven' (from the memorandum to Qianlong by Shaanxi tour inspector, Qin Dynasty). The Yuan peak elevates above sea level by 1688m with half of itself split, the section looking like a jade board standing upright, surprisingly fantastic. Events on the middle part of Shaanxi had once recorded that "to the east of Taiyi Valley that the section of the peak was as smooth as a board with a Jinhua cave hidden in her waist. There were always clouds flowing out of the cave with the rain followed. And from the scenery there had been going the famous verse" from the top of Yuan peak clouds raise; from the Jinhua cave the rain falls.' " In summer clouds and mist change in the mountain, sometime into jade belt and, sometime into lowers rolling all over the mountain. With the clouds and mist drifting from place to place one can enjoy himself with the vast expanse of the space.

The Yuan clouds are as famous as Yanta morning bell and the bestow banquet in, being listed as wonderful sceneries of the middle part of Shaanxi. Ganjiao peaks, Apricot Garden more that 1500m long and 260-900m wide, the disparity between the highest and the lowest being 300m more, elevate the sea level by 2045m. Because of the collapse close to the south and north slope of the peaks, the stone sea had formed, looking fantastic.

Elevated above sea level by 1414m, the Cuihua peak stands in Cuihua mountains, looking like a impregnable fortress. And with its south end cut down by a cliff up to 200m, a huge stone corridor, nearly a thousand meters long. 300 meters wide and 200 meters high had come to exist, having Taiyi valley-blocked up. The three peaks, clustering like bamboo shoot, may be rated as a marvelous natural phenomenon with its tremendous momentum. Especially to be mentioned is that the Taiyi Zhenren, the survival peak, looking like and old Taoist scholar fixing his eyes into the endless space, stands alone on the top of the mountain. When it is clear, the old Taoist scholar entertains himself with the view of ancient city Xi'an, receiving Buddhism light from Wutai South.

A huge quantity of big stones from collapse, total in 300 million m3 , are mainly distributed in Ganjiao peak and Daping. Crowded and piles up, the fantastic shapes of the stones arouse people endless imagination. It seems that some stones look like a lion gazing into the moon, others like tigers running down the mountain, or like a fairy maiden scattering flowers from the sky, or playing urchin. And it is that the countless stones form the stone sea with waving scenery spots in Cuihua mountain such as 'sword stones', 'the drunken rabbit', and the 'emperor's Tongling jade seal', etc. full of manly strength. Hundreds of caves had formed from piling up of the stones when collapsed, such as 'heaven cave', 'ice cave' and 'bat cave', etc. among which the 'ice cave' surprised tourists the most with the difference of temperature up to 230C between inner and outside in summer. And it is in summer that the cave can be found freezing, ice columns hanging from the top of the cave. And still more, the windy cave formed by two buge stones supported each other 20m high and 2-3m wide are always full of chilly wind in hot summer because of air exchange from the effect of narrow tube. The classified records of Chang'an indicates that, 'the ice well was located in Taiyi Yuan mountain to the north of Ting (Ningshan Ting). The well deep more than ten meters with ice frozen never melting even in hot summer and, so Chang'an people got ice from it in summer conveniently, getting rid of trouble from ice storage. Hence the ice well is known to the world' And now there is still a spring scenery spot even in summer, popularly called it little ice cave. When summer, the cold vapor is flowing out of the cave to cause drizzle falling and flowers coming into bloom. Although in summer it is only around the cave where grass shooting, flowers blooming, what a fantastic scenery! The bat cave, 100m long and the path into it winding and twisting, is just like a maze. And at the 30m far into the cave there are always more than a thousand bats clustering on the cave wall and with their wing shaking to be heard one can not help calling it a surprise found in Cuihua mountain. There was someone moved by the scenery making a pair of antithetical couplet saying 'Gan jiao, Shui jiao appearing one by one; ice cave, windy cave, more going deeper, more endless.' The countless caves scattered in Cuihua mountain are necessary to further probe into.

Xuanguan is the only way to tour to ice cave and windy cave where the two huge stones erecting only a foot apart with a small bridge connected on the top of them.
Stopping here to look upward, one can not help feeling arriving at the heaven gate, endless at a loss in endless mystery. Shibapan is located on the north borderline of the stone sea from collapse, 200m high, indistinct with huge stones scattered all over and, Yingya waterfall comes down in torrents, liking a silver belt hanging from the mountain to offer an impression of chinese landscape painting.
In Cuihua mountain there are three barrier lakes formed from the rivers that were blocked up by the mountain collapse. One is located in Ganjiao Pond under the foot of Ganjiao peak with area of 0.2km2. And because of short of water supply and long-term vast leakage added, the lake dried, being named Ganjiao Pond. The vast bottom of it was covered with exuberant grass, riding a horse in it can make one think of Mongolia prairie. The other is located in Daping where a level ground was formed by the silt, being called Dapiing, The last one is located in shuijiao pond, formed from Taiyi River blocked up by mountain collapse, being called Tianchi, or Chengyuan Chi, or Taiyi lake,etc. The barrier lake is the only one in Qin mountain with water area 0.14 km2, 600m long, 100-300m wide and depth of 5-12m. Tourists can have a boating and fishing on the lake. Mists and ripples raising above the lake, colorful and flourishing, fantastic huge stones and the lake adding radiance and beauty to each other, the lake is praised as Qin mountain jewel, or a earthly paradise.
As for geological diversity, particularity and completeness, Cuihua mountain expresses itself with survival peak and remained cliff, stone sea from collapse and the barrier lake. The geological structure of the collapse area is complicated, the geological layer belonging to sub-group to the group of wide level ground from Zhongyuan Paleozoic Era. The group is mainly composed of long black mica rock sheet in oblique shape, flaky rock and a mixture of pocked rock. Strongly affected by rockizing of mixtured rock, the group mainly consists of mixtured grantic rock with black mica and small amount of marble added. The rockizing period of the mixtured rock belongs to Yinzhi Period (by Shaanxi Geology Bureau, 1989). Cuihua mountain is one of the typical districts for mixtured rock development. It is a natural experiment laboratory on mixtured rockizing home and abroad with big size of stones rom collapse, taking shape in sawtooth and intestines, the biggest stone up to (60x40x30)m3. The traces of the collapse have a long history and its form had undergone long years. For a long-term under geological effect inside and outside, the huge rocks fall onto the bottom of valley with the rock veins enlarging and deepening. With the scratch and rubbing area easily seen, the cracks in the stones have been developing. At present one can take a view of the whole process of mountain collapse from its breeding, developing and happening. By overall plan the park ahs divided into three districts. One is a scenery district for science inspection and the other is Ganjiao Pond tourism district of Qin mountains forest, the last ecological holidaying area. Taking the geological collapse area as the main body and the barrier lake as the center to stress the characteristics of collapse traits, the unique scenery area for science research will be formed with features such as fantastic, precipitous, remote, beautiful and wild, the swimming facilities in ecological environment added.

- Stone were falling from mountain collapsing,
- Cuddling up together in happy sleeping;
- Diversity of shape out of conventional pattern,
- Provide poets and writers with so much inspiration.

In Oct.,2000, the master scenery area of mountain collapse had completed with famous scenery spots called mother and his son, huge rock containing gold and dinosaur, showing fantastic and beautiful glamour of collapsed mountain. There are 13 observing spots for science education, area preservation spots 195. In the science education spots there are rock veins seeped in intestine structure and eye ball structure and a diversity of mixtured rock. And with new born rift and sawtooth rift still existing, some sliding friction tracks can be clearly seen. The process of mountain collapse can easily be observed. The shibapan collapsed shape and the barrier lake was formed during the first stage, leaving a overhanging cliff on Cuihua peak which is black and smooth. The stone sea from mountain collapse was formed in the master scenery during the second stage. And the place of it is just opposite to the overhanging cliff formed in the first stage in Cuihua peak. The south overhanging slope with smaller collapse quantity formed in the first stage in Cuihua peak. The south overhanging slope with smaller collapse quantity formed in the third stage has already been covered by vegetation.

The collapsed scenery of Cuihua mountain has attracted many specialists and scholars home and abroad with its fantastic cave and stones. In 9/17/2000, Zhang Zongyou had inspected the collapse tracks, who is an academician of academy of science of China, an academician of Engineering Academy of China, director of Appzaising Committee of Geopark in Asia. After their inspection, the geologist J.T Weidenge Dr from Saepizibal University of Austria and H.J Aibeisge Dr. commented: 'you Chinese has already found a scenery spot for geological inspection, attracting geologists home and abroad intensely. This is the toppist one of what we have inspected in more that 50countries. Such a large-scale accumulation from mountain collapse is really a miracle' And still, there was a poet by them like this,
- Cuihua shows the world with her beauty,
- Attraction makes her enough for competition;
- Famous all over China.
- To tour in Cuhua is better than in paradise.
By the aim of the geopark: While in doing well the tracks preservation and supporting the local economy, culture and environment development we'll provide people with a good place4 of higher science level for tourism, holiday, health care, science education and cultural entertainment. Cuihua Geopark, as the only geopark in northwest, China, will be developed in preservation and will be preserved in development with comprehensive plan, abiding by the principle of promoting geological scenery development and preservation, putting together tourism, science research, education, to give impetus to the local economy. From the landslide was formed many sceneries such as overhanging cliff, stone sea from collapse, caves from, piling up of mountain collapse, barrier lakes from collapse and waterfall from collapse, etc. They possess not only tourism value but also science inspection value, being an experimenting site for machinery of mountain collapse for studying by scholars home and abroad, a base for science inspection on geological movement and existing fossil for mankind to understand landslide movement.
'Beautiful mountains add glory to the ancient city,while white clouds move over the green water'.
The minister of National land Resource Department Shou Jiahau once said in his address for ceremony of unveiling for Cuihua National Geopark, 'Cuihua mountain is a tourism scenic spot. With unique advantages of geology, nature and culture, to set up a district geopark here will bring economical efficiency on various aspects.' In the development of Cuihua scenic area it is stressed to combine the tracks preservation of mountain collapse with human culture and to combine construction of the park with development of local economy, especially with the local peoples employment.

The collapsed area of Cuihua mountain is located on the north foot of Qin mountains with famous scenery spots such as Waterfall Green Peak, Fantastic Scenery from Mountain Collapse and Cuihua Inverted Reflection in Water, resulted in geography location of Qin mountains and changeable climate. And still Cuihua mountain is also a gathering area of vegetation, having a diversity of plant and mineral deposit.

There are 8 woody plants and 10 herb, which are a part of valuable and rare classification under national focus protection. From Cuihua mountain to Zhongnan peak of Qin mountains the layers of the forest are in clear disparity with season changing. In the south slope there is shrub growing, the rest meadow. And the north slope is covered with azalea woods, offering beautiful scenery with azalea flowers in spring. It is the most miraculous that one will be surprised at the exuberant forest on the slope, in south branch towering and north luxuriant. One can thoroughly relax himself into nature to entertain himself with wonderful feeling from the beautiful scenery with takin and gazelle sometimes haunting. While standing on the top of Qin Mountain one returns to have a look at Changan, feeling, so high to feel nearer to the sun and, under the foot the Wei River running by Changan. By this, what a heroic spirit to comment native land with poetic words!

Cuihua Mountain National Geopark has a long history with culture background, a transitional area to natural reservation area for takin in Niubei mountain ridge, Grade No.I Developing Zone and characteristic component of national forest park in Zhongnan mountain and, also a famous scenery district. By picture records of famous tracks of Xi' jing, from Qin, Han and Tang Dynasty Cuihua mountain was granted by emperor of Han Dynasty, always said that' the clouds moving out of mountain forest, river and valley all makes rain with ghosts appearing, really miraculous.' And so, in te year 112, B.C. Han Wudi went to pay homage to Taiyi God and, from this Cuihua mountain was also called Taiyi mountain which is still popularized in overseas Chinese districts in south and east Asia, and somewhere else in the world. To memorize the legend of Lu Dongbing Who withdrew from society and lived in solitude and then followed Han Zhongli to study Taoism, becoming a deity later. And in the sixth year in Jingtai period of Ming Dynasty, i.e. Sept. Chinese traditional Yihai year, selecting a good day, a Taoism service boy Ma Deyun discovered 'eight deities cave'. In Tang Dynasty the story goes that a dragon originally hiding in Xingshen Fang Pond on Shenhe plateau, Chang'an. And tater it moved to Tianchi. Hanyu (a scholar of Tang Dynasty) made a poem to say that the dragon is too tired to live in the shallow water so that to move to have his den in Tianshan.' Today there is still 'platform to meet sages' 'Taiyi Palace' in Taiyi valley, Laojun temple and 'Qing Shen Palace' etc., It has been a good place for Taoist to cultivate the heart and nature culture. And now the remained stele from Song Dynasty has the record about the prosperous statement then.

In the morning 'the sun provide the mountain with radiance while the rocks in the valley beautify themselves with mist'. Cuihua culture still expresses itself in Moya stone inscription and other calligraphy art. In the stone sea calligraphy schools have themselves combined with huge rocks harmoniously. And one can feel broad and profound Chinese culture with various traditional dishes full of local custom.

The famous scholar, professor Cao lengquan once wrote like this in his essay 'Cuihua Eulogy', 'Cuighua mountain is located in south-east to Xi'an, 25km away from the ancient capital. And it got its name from a girl called Cuihua from the legend. And now, there is a lake called Cuihua luo with area of 2-3km2 with windy cave and ice cave near it. In the scenery spot huge stones support each other because of collapse. Those who were moved by the scenery always beautify Cuihua girl with the geological diversity, famous mountain and beauty giving radiance to each other. There was originally an inscription 'Cuihua study' on the Zhisheng temple, having great influence in Qing Dynasty. In 1898 when the 'Constutional Reform and Modernization' was promoting in Qing Dynasty, there was a story going that 'South Kang and North Liu'.('Kang' means Kang Youwei who was a scholar in Qing Dynasty, famous in south of China and Liu in north). Liu Guyu was then inspired by the beautiful scenery of Cuihua mountain to decide setting up a 'Cuihua school'. And later Liu's follower Jiang Guan had once taught in the school. 'Shaanxi general record' said that in the period of Guangxu, an emperor of Qin Dynasty, the eight nations invasion troops were impending to Beijing so that Cixi (the emperor's mother) fled to Xi'an with Guangxu accompanied. It was said that then Cixi had once sent for Jiang Guan to have a chat. And later, Kang Youwei failed to find Jiang Guan who had been murdered by the bandit.

Cuihua mountain was still a cradle for Chinese revolution by Communist Party of China. Li Xiannian was once leading his troop fighting here. In the past Cuihua mountain was the only passage from Xi'an to Zhashui, now almost wasted although it still be through to Hongyan temple in Zhashui County. With effective reservation in Cuihua mountain full of cultural accumulation with beautiful scenery is not only a new result in geological tracks protection of Shaanxi but also a good example to promote geological protection in China. In 1997, Cuihua scenery area was awarded as 'one of the ten scenery spots of Xi'an' with tourists amount being increased by 10% per year. To strengthen protection, two ranks plan in protection has been carried out (one is protection for sub-areas to the master area, and the other is the protection for the master area). Shujiao Pond village and Jincha village were focused in transferring. To give impetus to local economy helping poor with tourism engineering will be implemented, realizing the unified in economical development, ecological preservation and environment protection. To set up a geopark with world grade is our goal.

The quality of underground water, air and environment of Cuihua mountain has been tested in conforming with National Grade No. I, which was monitored by Xi'an branch -Institute to Coal Science Research Institute of China. And still with complete facilities, the geopark is a wonderful place for holiday, spending a holiday at a summer resort.
Si maguang, A scholar in ancient Song Dynasty had once ventured in Taiyi valley and after finishing it he had inscribed 28 Chinese characters in calligraphy art of Lishu on the huge rock in his climbing halfway, 'Being a path for climbing, not tired if not haste; But because of too precipitous, Carefully to look for a stable stone to place one's foot, And yet one cannot avoid stumbling. Everyone knows the case and, nobody can be careful enough'. From this, one can get a glimpse to Cuihua mountains precipitous situation, being existed since ancient time. Now the geopark of Cuihua mountain has already been provided with advanced traffic facilities, the tourism lines divided into: adventure line, sightseeing line, ling for science inspection, etc., which has riched content of tourism. With item of climbing rock wall developed, tourists can challenge life's limit, having a taste of superman.

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'Facing the wonderful scenery of Zhongnan and getting inspiration from Taiyi Valley, to make it clear at last why Han Wudi (an emperor of Han Dynasty) was attracted by Cuihua mountain; and from ice column and clear water from Ganjiao Pond, fantastic scenery of Changan is found.'The national geopark with collapse scenery of Cuihua mountain, Shaanxi has not only landslide fantastic scenery with wonderful lake and stones from collapse grand enough but also abundant culture rooted in Chinese history, broad nature background and first-rate service. Cuihua scenic are has been under protection and sustainable development. While in entertaining oneself in the beauty of the miracle scenery, one will be surprised at the characteristics of the geopark and the harmony from geological tracks and natural culture.

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Adimission Fee:	CNY 70 (from Mar. to Nov.); CNY 45 (from Dec. to Feb.)
Opening Hours:	08:00 to 19:00
Transportation:	Getting There: 1. From Xian Airport, take shuttle bus to Xian and then use Bus No.905 or Huan Shan Tourism Bus No. 2 to Cuihuashan Mountain. 2. From Xian Railway Station,  take Bus No.600 or 603 to Dianshitai (TV tower) station and then transfer to Bus No.905 to Cuihuashan station.  Or take Bus No.5, 30, 41, 500, Tourism Bus Line 6 or Tourism Bus Line 8 (610) to get from the railway station to Dayanta (Big Wild Goose Pagoda) station and then change to Huan Shan Tourism Bus No. 2 to Cuihuashan station. 3. From downtown Xian,  take Bus No.905 or Huan Shan Tourism Bus No. 2 to Cuihuashan station, or take a taxi. Getting Around: There are 16 sightseeing buses and 3 minibuses in Cuihuashan Scenic Area serving 3 routes.  Minibus Fare: CNY6 per person for per trip. Sightseeing Bus Fare: CNY11 per person per trip.