Shangluo Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 商洛 (shāng luò)
Population: 2,510,300
Area: 19,292 square kilometers (7,448 square miles)
Location: in the southeast of Shaanxi Province, northwest China
Administrative Division: 1 district (Shangzhou); 6 counties (Luonan, Danfeng, Shangnan, Shanyang, Zhen'an, Zhashui)
Area Code: 0914
Zip Code: 726000
GDP (2019): CNY 83.721 billion (USD 12.135 billion)

Located in the southeast of Shaanxi Province, Shangluo lies in the southern ranges of Qinling Mountain (the dividing line between north China and south China) and is neighbor to Hubei and Henan provinces. With profound historical and cultural accumulation, Shangluo was a critical strategic point in ancient times and a transportation hub from the northwest to the southeast China. Many famous Chinese poets in history, such as Li Bai and Bai Juyi, once lived in Shangluo and wrote poems about Shangluo. Unique geographical and climatic conditions endow Shangluo with a good ecological environment and rich mineral, biological and tourism resources. Verdant mountains, rivers, waterfalls and canyons are scattered over the city with perfect facilities and thoughtful services.

The north of the city belongs to warm temperature zone while the south enjoys the subtropical climate. Four seasons are distinctive with dry and cold spring and wet and hot summer. The annual average temperature of Shangluo weather is from 7.8C (46F) to 13.9C (57F) at lowest and 37C (99F) to 40.8C (105F) at highest. The best time to visit this place is either spring or autumn that is March to May or September to October. 

 History: As early as the Paleolithic Age, human beings started to live in this area. The name of Shangluo came into being in the Warring States Period (476 BC-227 BC). It once was divided into two parts which belonged to different states in the history. In 1949, it was liberated and was then divided into two parts: a county-level city Shangzhou and Shangluo Area. In 2002, the two were combined into a prefecture-level city Shangluo.

 Physical Features: The area has quite complicate physical features. Six mountains form various valleys where two rivers the Yangtze and the Yellow River cross. The mountain area extends from high northwest to low southeast like a huge palm.

 Local Highlights: Shangluo is one of the most important wood production bases in Shaanxi. It is also called 'Natural Herb Storehouse' due to the thousands of herb varieties in the forests and mountains. Scenic beauty is most attractive to visitors. Danjiang River Cruise is called 'No.1 Cruise of Northwest China' while Zhashui Cave is honored as 'Wonder of North China'. The traditional culture is primitive and profound, such as Snatch Lantern, Sacrifice to King of Tree, Sisters' Song and other interesting marriage customs and various local operas. In addition, this place was once an important revolutionary base of Chinese community in the early 1990s.