Located at the northeast of Guizhou Province,
the ancient city of Tongren is the capital city of Tongren Region
that covers an area of 18,000 square kilometers (about 6,950 square
miles). There are many tour resources in Tongren Region including Mt.
Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve,
Jinjiang River and Nine-dragon Cave Scenic Area.
In Tongren City, tourists can visit the thousand years old architecture,
Dongshan Temple and Statue of Zhou Yiqun Martyr (one of the well-known
generals of Chinese Red Army).
Natural Scenery
Perhaps the biggest and most famous scenic area in Tongren Region
is the Mt. Fanjingshan National
Nature Reserve. It has a rich biological heritage and
famously known as being sacred to Chinese Buddhism. It is highly
popular with tourists during summer and autumn, which are without
doubt the best seasons for a visit here. Rising from Mt. Fanjingshan,
the Jinjiang River traverses
Tongren City from west to east where it joins the mighty Yangtze.
Green ranges cluster on both banks of the Jinjiang and pavilions
are studded jewel-like among these ranges forming the approximately
three-mile long 'Ten-li Jinjiaing Gallery'. Tourist destinations
along the Jinjiang are: 'Wuling Small Suzhou'
which describes the characteristics of Tongren City - mountain
city and city on water, 'Jinjiang Twelve Scenes'
which refers to the beautiful scenery on the river banks, and Jinjiang Park where tourists will find a white marble statue of
Zhou Yiqun Martyr who was a well known general in the Red Army.
Liulongshan Zhuhai (Sea of Bamboo) Park lies
to the southeast of Tongren adjacent to Liulongshan Village. It
is a natural park boasting of a sea of bamboo. There are many trees
and a variety of wild animals in the park, which make it a tourist
attraction in summer as well as winter. When winter comes, the
park becomes an immense and very beautiful snow-white bamboo sea.
The well-known Nine-dragon Cave Scenic Area is in this park. Nine-dragon
Cave Scenic Area is perhaps the second most popular tourist
attraction in Tongren Region. It includes many scenic spots such
as the resplendent Nine-dragon Caves Scenic Spot,
the grand Jinjiang Gorge and the meandering Jinjiang Reservoir
Area near the town of Yangtou, etc.
Human Cultural Landscape
There are perhaps more than six historic sites in Tongren City: Old
City Site located on the north bank of Jinjiang River
is well known for its ancient architecture and city wall; Dongshan Temple located
in the east of Tongren is a Buddhist sacred place dating from
the Song Dynasty (960-1279). China Nuo Opera and Nuo
Mask Museum located in the Temple is one of Tongren's
must-see features. Nuo Opera has come to be recognized everywhere
as a vivid folk art. Elaborate Nuo masks, costumes, libretto
and other items used in Nuo Opera are displayed in the museum.
Another historic site is Moujiapo Hanging Coffin,
said to have been buried among the crags 80 meters (about 262
feet) high above the horizon years ago. It is known from textual
research that this was a burial custom of the Gelao Minority
during Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is considered a mysterious
site located in Moujiapo Village of Daping Town west of Tongren
City.
In addition, some other scenic spots around Jinjiang River are
worthy of a visit: Lianchi Nunnery located on
the south bank of Jinjiang River has a temple and pavilion site. Dongping Mountain at
Yangtou Town on the east bank of Jinjiang River is one of the three
sacred Buddhist places. One of two further historic sites that
are attractive to those who are interested in archaeology is the Dujiayuan
Neolithic Cultural Relic. This is located on the lower
reaches of the river, about 12 kilometers (about 7.46 miles) from
Nine-dragon Caves Scenic Spot. The second is the Yandong
Neolithic Cultural Relic which can be found alongside
the river some 4 kilometers (about 2.49 miles) from the Nine-dragon
Caves.