Taiping National Forest Park

Situated in Taiping Valley of Qinling Mountains, 44 kilometers (about 27 miles) southeast to Xi'an City, Taiping Forest Park is known as 'the Jiuzhaigou in the north China'. With a total area of 2,117 hectares (about 5,231 acres), it invites visitors to refresh themselves in its natural beauty.

Taiping Valley is so named because an emperor of Sui Dynasty (581-618) built the Taiping Palace there. With an average annual temperature ranging between 7 and 10 degrees Celsius, this park is gorgeous with its natural scenery, and served itself as a summer resort during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
 

Plants and Animals

Taiping Forest Park is abundant in natural resources. With nearly one hundred spots, it is mainly divided into five scenic areas: Qinling Ridge Scenic Area, Moon Palace Pond Scenic Area, Yellow Goat Dam Scenic Area, Stone Gate Scenic Area and Birch Woods Bay Scenic Area. Visitors can see the pure forests of larches and red birches, which are either stately or sturdy. In addition, there are wild bauhinias at the range of 900 to 1,500 meters (about 2,950 to 4,920 feet) above the sea level, which cover an area of over 10,000 hectares (about 24,710 acres). The Bauhinia Festival is held in April every year.

Besides, the forest park has more than 30 kinds of animals that under national first and second-class protection, such as the golden monkeys, takins and syrmaticus mikados. Visitors can easily see them among the trees, by the streams and roadsides. It creates a kind of bright scenery for this park.

Traveling in the park, visitors cannot help admiring the group of waterfalls and ponds. It is unique because this type of landscape is not usually found in the northern part of China. Twelve waterfalls have been found in the park so far. All of them were found within 2.5 kilometers radius.

With the biggest drop height of more than one hundred meters, the most notable waterfalls are the Caihong (Rainbow) Waterfall, the Xianheqiao (the Bridge of Cranes) Waterfall, the Yanxia (Mist and Clouds in the Twilight) Waterfall and the Longkou Waterfall. The cable car is available between the Longkou Waterfall and the Caihong Waterfall. The famous ponds are the Fengxian Pond, the Bell Pond and the Moon Palace Pond.

In addition, there are cliff faces that are engraved with works of many famous Chinese ancient calligraphers, for example, works from Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi and Yanzhenqing. Walking through the park, visitors are more likely entranced with the poetic scenery.

College students march to Taiping Valley.

Hiking the Taiping Forest Park

Good quality hotels are available in the park and can be found in the areas of Changfeng Tourist Centre, Taikui Garden, Liushui Camp and the Reception Center of Taiping Forest Park. There are many places to eat, commonly referred to as Pleasure-in-Farmhouses, which offer local delicacies. Many visitors enjoy these facilities.
 

1. Xi'an Huanshan Tourist Line: The Huanshan tourist line 1 can be taken from 08:30 to 11:30 at the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It returns from 13:30 to 17:30. It costs CNY 8 for bus with air-conditioner.

2. The no. 921 bus from Xi'an Coach Station located on Fengqing Road is avaiable from 5:30 to 18:00.

3. The special tourist buses at Xi'an South and West Bus Stations are avaiable from April 1 to October 7.
Take the special tourist bus from Xi'an South Bus Station. It leaves at 08:00-09:00 and returns at 16:00-17:00.
Take the special tourist bus from Xi'an West Bus Station. It departs at 07:30-08:30 and returns at 16:00.
Take the special tourist bus from Xi'an North Bus Station. It departs at 08:30 on Saturday and Sunday. The bus fare is CNY 35 for a single trip and CNY 60 for a round trip.
  For transportation to the above bus stations, you can refer to Xi'an Long Distance Bus.
 

Take the special tourist bus from Xianyang South Bus Station. The bus departs at 08:00-09:00 and returns at 16:00-17:00.
 The bus is available from April 26 to October 7.
 

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Further Reading:
Zhuque National Forest Park
Zhongnan Mountains