Mangshan Yellow River Tourist Zone, Henan China

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Mangshan Yellow River Tourist Zone

After passing Sanmenxia (Gorge of Three Gates) and running eastwards through a 130-kilometer-long valley, the Yellow River suddenly becomes wide. Mengjin is the place where her lower reaches starts. Mangshan Yellow River Tourist Zone is located in this area.

Mangshan Mountain (also called Northern Mangshan) lies in the north of Luoyang City and reaches to northwestern suburb of Zhengzhou City. It is the end of Qinling Mountain Range.

On this barren soil hill side ancient tombs are here and there. Yet climbing Northern Mangshan, you will be amazed at the whole magnificent view. Yellow River rushes down in torrent from west to east. The spectacular that water and sky are unified as a whole makes us understand why "The water of Yellow River comes from the heaven".

Mangshan Yellow River tourism zone covers an area of 17 square kilometers. Wulongfeng (Peak of Five Dragons) is the major scenic spot in the tourism zone. Yinluxuan (Guiding Corridor), Kaijinxuan (Corridor of Broadening the Mind) and Zijinge (Purple and Golden Pavilion), Shanheyilanxuan (Corridor of Overlooking the Mountain and River) were partly hidden and partly visible under the shadow of green trees.

Various ancient buildings in distinctive styles were scattered here and there. On the half waist of the mountain stands a lifelike statue of Yellow River - Mother, signifying that Yellow River is the cradle of the Chinese nation.

In the east of Wulongfeng lies an antique building - Futiange (Pavilion of Floating Sky), which is 32 meters high and has three stories. In the west flank is Luotoling (Camel Ridge). A 10-meter-high statue of Dayu (2276~2177B.C.) stands on top of the ridge. It reminds us that only Dayu could harness the Yellow River and resolve the problem of flood.

Yellow River has been regards as the Mother River of China for a long time. It has been caring the Chinese culture for thousands of years. While you are touring in the Mangshan Yellow River Tourist Zone, you not only can admire the cultural relics but also make an point-to-point stop to visit the origin of Chinese culture.

History:

In ancient times, local people described Mangshan with such words, "Though Mangshan is 50 miles long, there is no room for a cow to lie on". Many poems were about scenery around the Mangshan. Wangjian, a poet in Tang Dynasty, wrote:

"There is no idle ground on Mangshan.
Ancient tombs are all over the slope.
There buried too many people,
Even gold is nowhere placed on the mountain."

Because many high officials and members of imperial families in the feudal dynasties have buried here, you can find plenty of grand tombs on the mountain. This unique scene were described in a line:

"The tombs on the Northern Mangshan are high and momentous."

Three famous ancient cities lie at the southern bank of Yellow River in Mangshan area. They are Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Kaifeng. Luoyang City was built in Western Zhou Dynasty (10th century B.C.) and it successively became the capital of Eastern Zhou, Eastern Han, Wei, Northern Wei, Western Jin, Sui, Tang, Late-Liang Dynasty, and Late-Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, it enjoys the reputation of "Ancient Capital of Nine Dynasties". Zhengzhou City was the capital of Shang Dynasty 3000 years ago. The Shang site leaves the trace for us to date back the ancient Shang Dynasty. As to Kaifeng, was the capital of Northern Song and Jin Dynasties. Besides there are a lot of legends attached to it. It is often on everybody's lips because of the story of Lord Boa, ("Baozheng") who enforced the law strictly and impartially in Northern Song Dynasty.