A scenic view of Maotang (Photo/Khyati Shah)
Maotang scenic spot
Maotang is an ecologically bio-diverse spot consisting of high mountains, waterfalls and plateaus. The stone wall slope stream here is a great attraction.
The gradient of the slope has made the momentum of waterfalls sound absolutely imposing in the high water season, and in contrast during the low season, the water ripples with a sweet whispering flute like melody.
The length of this slope flow is more than 80 meters, which is quite rare in northern Zhejiang.
As one continues the hike through the bamboo trees that abound in the Maotang scenic area, sometimes you lose sight of the water but never will the sounds escape your ears.
The Double Sound cave -mentions this astounding fact. Inside this cave, it is very cool and the sound of the running water beyond your sight still reaches your ears, which is why it is called the Double Sound Cave.
As you explore this eco--tourism area further, you will reach the "Ape Man Stone."
Investigations by geological experts have revealed that this stone is more than 160 -million years old and got its name because its shape resembles the skull of an ape man.
Some unique species of flora abide here like the evergreen tree belonging to genus Fagaceae, known for its strong wood yet slim structure, graceful in posture and dense in foliage.
Toward the end of the hike in this area, comes a deep gorge which allows you to rest for a moment and take in a view of the entire region.
The vast expanse of the blue sky, the green cliffs, the bamboo forests and waterfalls made me feel at peace.
My favorite -attraction here is "The Rock of Lives." There are three huge rocks shadowing the gorges which represent a person's previous life, this life and their next life.
Tangkeng scenic spot
Tangkeng is another eco-tourism spot with an enormous gorge about two kilometers in length and more than 380 meters deep.
Tangkeng is much steeper than Maotang, so you are sure to find yourself out of breath a couple of times. There are about 18 waterfalls here and clean deep ponds scattered generously amid unique landscapes.
You can go rafting here depending on the season. A spot called "Welcoming Green Screen" at the entrance welcomes visitors with full mountains of green bamboo and lively streams with inverted reflections of tall stalks of bamboo.
You can find the "-Longest Bamboo Dragon" here. Built during the Beijing 2008 -Olympic Games, this bamboo-made dragon is 208 meters long.
Near a bridge with a cascading waterfall you can find the "Goban Stone." According to legend, the immortals Tianlong (a deaf god) and Diya (a mute god) played a game of Go here before they ascended to heaven.
Continuing ahead, you will come across the spellbinding sight of a gigantic waterfall cascading from the mouth of a lion. This lion-shaped rock supposedly blesses visitors with good fortune.
Next along the trail is the "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl." As the legend goes, two daughters of the Dragon King snuck out to have some fun one night. Enchanted by the bewitching scenery here, they were unwilling to return to the palace.
The furious Dragon King detained the daughters there, turning them into two dragon-shaped rocks.
The water ponds, unique rock formations and small and large waterfalls have given rise to other interesting spots along this grueling hike such as "Five Sages Pool" and the "Tangkeng Ape Man."
Five Sages Pool derives its name from a legend that says the five sages - Confucious, Mencius, Laozi, Mozi and Xunzi - once appeared in the dream of a woodcutter's son who was visiting the pool to teach him.
The Tangkeng Ape Man is a 170-million-year-old stone resembling the head of an ape man crying his eyes out since he misses his five daughters who left to learn Taoism.
Shangougou - the word itself means village in a deep valley in Chinese - is a rare pristine gem that shines with a special peaceful environment.
With its splendid combination of climate, culture and panoramic scenery, I discovered solace this Spring Festival at Shangougou.
Rules of thumb:
Getting there:
Shangougou is a 3.5-hour drive from Shanghai.
Food and -accommodation:
There are small grocery stores so -finding food and daily -convenience items will not be a hassle for travelers. Locally run -hostels and farmhouses provide good friendly accommodation options and a few restaurants can provide fresh food.
