Summer Escape to Houhe River

On a hot summer day, our husband and wife took advantage of the public holiday to go to the beautiful and mysterious Houhe National Nature Reserve with a group of 8 people including Xie Dali, Chen Daiyuan, Zhang Wenying, Gong Nianrong, Han Qingxiu and other fellow villagers. Full of endless blessings and encounters.

The "National Nature Reserve", known as the "Mysterious Back River, Natural Oxygen Bar", is located in the central and southern part of Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County and belongs to the eastern section of Wuling Mountain at the junction of Hubei Province and Hunan Province. The mountainous area covers an area of ??40964.9 hectares, including 13108.6 hectares of core area, 8603.2 hectares of buffer zone and 19253.1 hectares of experimental area. It is a forest ecosystem type nature reserve. In April 2000, it was approved by the State Council as a national nature reserve.

The main protected objects of Houhe National Nature Reserve are the central subtropical forest ecosystem and rare and endangered wild animal and plant species, including involucrata, leopard, black muntjac and other internationally critically endangered animals and plants and their habitats . The reserve is adjacent to Hunan Hupingshan National Nature Reserve in the south, Wufeng Town in the northeast, and Wantan Town in the west. The longest length from north to south is 10.4km, and the longest width from east to west is 18km.

Tianmen Gorge Scenic Area is the core scenic area of ??Houhe Nature Reserve. The scenic area has a planned area of ??12.9 square kilometers. It is named after the natural majesty of Tianmen Gorge at the entrance. It is closely connected with Baixi River Wetland Park and Duling Outdoor Experience Area. Together they constitute the overall picture of Houhe eco-tourism. There are 33 large and small scenic spots distributed in the scenic area, mainly including Baibu Slope, Xianyuan Bridge, Bodaoling, Santiao Spring, etc.

Tianmenxia Scenic Area was established in March 1985 with the approval of the former Yichang District Administration. In June 1988, it was upgraded to a provincial nature reserve with the approval of the provincial government. In April 2000, it was upgraded to a national nature reserve with the approval of the State Council. The area was rated as a national AAAA-level scenic spot in 2014. The scenic area has diverse scenery and numerous attractions, mainly featuring natural landscapes such as steep peaks, deep mountains and valleys, and primeval forests. The Bodaoling climbing area is closely connected with the Xianyuan Bridge, Xianyuan Bridge, and Xianyuan Bridge, which are closely related to the legend of the five immortals surnamed Zhang. Yuan Bridge, Xianyuan Bridge and Xianyuan Bridge embody the humanistic essence of Houhe Scenic Area.

The scenic spot is 33 kilometers away from Wufeng Town, the old county seat, 85 kilometers away from Yuyangguan Town, the new county seat, 170 kilometers away from Shennongjia in the north, and 120 kilometers away from Zhangjiajie in the south. It is located in the 30th north latitude geographical circle with Hupingshan Nature Reserve and Shennongjia Nature Reserve in Hunan.

The beauty of Houhe Scenic Area is not only beautiful in image, beautiful in surface and beautiful in form, but more importantly, beautiful in nature, beautiful in primitiveness and beautiful in charm. It can be said that there is no makeup, no dressing up and no packaging required. In my eyes, it seems that the more this happens, the more she looks like the eighteen-year-old Zhaojun, slim, graceful, and charming. The primeval forests, primeval vegetation and authentic natural landscapes are so fascinating that people never want to return.

This is a geopark of natural plants. The formations in Houhe National Nature Reserve are all sedimentary rocks, among which carbonate rocks are particularly widely distributed and well exposed, belonging to the Jiangnan formation area. The geological structure shows folds and obvious faults. The peaks in the area are undulating, and all the mountains belong to the tail zone of the northern branch of the Wuling Mountains of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The terrain gradually slopes from west to east, with more than 20 peaks above 1,500 meters above sea level. The highest peak, Duling Mountain, is 2,252 meters above sea level.

As of 2014, there are 226 species of vascular plants, 907 genera, 2,279 species and 156 varieties of vascular plants in Houhe National Nature Reserve, including bryophytes, 33 families, 90 genera, 192 species and 3 varieties; there are 31 ferns. There are 203 species and 8 varieties in 71 families; gymnosperms have 6 families, 18 genera, 24 species and 1 variety; angiosperms have 156 families, 728 genera, 1860 species and 144 varieties.

The national first-level protected plants include: Davidia involucrata, Davidia glabrata, Ginkgo biloba, southern yew, etc.; The national second-level protected plants include: Acer chinensis, Lingchun wood, Tianshi chestnut and red toon, etc. 18 species.

The "rare and precious tree community" located in Yangjiapo is one of the most important protection targets of Houhe National Nature Reserve. This community consists of more than 20 nationally protected plants and is known as "the only one in the country and rare in the world". Davidia involucrata is a deciduous tree that can grow to 20 to 25 meters tall. Its leaves are broadly ovate and have huge teeth on the edges. There are only two species of plants in this family, one with hairy leaves and one with smooth and hairless leaves. The flowers are beautiful and colorful. It is a relic plant left over from the Tertiary Period of the Cenozoic Era 10 million years ago. During the Quaternary Ice Age, Davidia involucrata in most areas became extinct one after another. Only some areas in southern my country survived, and it is known as the "big tree" in the plant world. "Panda" is a veritable "living fossil". Davidia involucrata has luxuriant branches and leaves, the leaves are as big as mulberry, and the flowers resemble doves spreading their wings, so it is commonly known as "dove flower". Its large white bracts are like dove wings, the dark red flower heads are like dove heads, and the green-yellow stigmas are like doves' beaks. Houhe is fortunate to have preserved the world's most primitive Davidia involucrata community, with more than 11,500 forests. Every time around May Day, the thousands of flying pigeon flowers provide Houhe Scenic Area with a rare and strange landscape.

This is a happy home for wild animals. By 2014, Houhe Scenic Area had 307 species of vertebrates from 4 classes, 25 orders, 74 families, including 5 species under national key protection and 20 species newly recorded in Hubei.

There are 87 species of various mammals in the reserve, 17 of which are listed as national key protected species. Among them, 5 species are South China tiger, golden leopard, clouded leopard, black tiger, forest muntjac and forest musk deer under national first-level protection; and 5 species under national second-level protection There are 13 species including black bears.

There are 125 species of various birds in the reserve, 33 of which are listed as national key protected species. Among them, the "Golden Eagle" is a first-level protected species; the "White-crowned Long-tailed Pheasant" is a second-level protected species. etc. 32 species.

There are 24 species of amphibians in the scenic area, belonging to 2 orders and 8 families. One species of giant salamander is listed as a national key protected species; there are 38 species of reptiles, belonging to 2 orders and 9 families. In particular, the flat-scaled blunt-headed snake is found in only a few areas in the country.

This is a paradise to escape the summer heat and enjoy the cool air. Houhe National Nature Reserve is located on the edge of Hunan and Hubei, and the river belongs to the Lishui water system of the Yangtze River Basin. The main river in the area, Baixi River, runs through the entire reserve from west to east. Baixi River originates from Tianshengqiao in Houhe Reserve, turns north from west to east, joins Xinben River, Huishaxi, and Yangjia River, flows through Houhe, Shuitantou and other villages, and flows into Lishui, Hunan Province at Leidaishi in Baixihe Village. From the source to the water beach is Houhe River, and below it is Baixi River, collectively called Baixi River.

The negative ions in the air in Tianmenxia Scenic Area in summer are as high as 12,800 per cubic centimeter, which is 10 times the negative oxygen ion standard for fresh air stipulated by the World Health Organization. It is a "fairy source on earth" for health and leisure, and a good place for living and longevity. preferred place. The vegetation here is lush, the rainfall is abundant, and the average temperature in the scenic area is much lower than other areas at this latitude. It is known as "the pure source of immortality and the refreshing back river".

Walking in the natural oxygen bar of the beautiful Houhe River, in addition to the visual sense of "God-given jasper, countless beauty and countless things", what is more important is the strong dynamic feeling of Aaron Kwok's "Move".

The "beauty of music" and "beauty of dance" of cicadas singing in the trees and birds flying in the sky not only make people feel relaxed and happy, but also make them happy. And let us share the unique natural "feast" again and again. Here, we seem to understand the deep meaning of "birds singing, flowers fragrant, natural oxygen bar and green ocean".

The dynamic images of fish dancing in the water and snakes "flying to their heart's content" on the roadside suddenly reminded me of what a gurgling stream is, what a primitive ecology is, and what an animal paradise is.

When we were enthusiastically intoxicated in the picturesque natural oxygen bar, the "Bodaoling", "Yuhu Pavilion", "Yingzi Rock" and "Fishing and Listening to Cicadas" were one by one. The breathtakingly beautiful scenic spot took us into a paradise full of vitality and surprises; it made squad leader Zhang Wenying exclaim "Oxygen bar, oxygen bar, natural oxygen bar" one after another; it made classmate Chen Daiyuan couldn't help but hum. "I saw mountains, mountains and rivers, mountains and rivers connected..."; the little beauty Peizi shouted loudly, "Grandma, take a photo with me at Yuhu Pavilion"... The cheers and The sweet singing made us ecstatic and climaxed continuously.

The maternal water of Hou River and countless "Nongfu Mountain Spring" are criss-crossed, embracing each other, relying on each other, and sharing the same boat through thick and thin. They vividly interpret the natural water system of Hou River and the life of Hou River. The source is displayed at a glance. The beautiful natural waterfalls and colorful natural "baths" naturally brought us into the magical "Little Jiuzhaigou".

Walking in the beautiful scenery of Houhe, in addition to the infinite beauty and endless dynamic, what is unforgettable and surprising is the lingering sense of mystery. The uncanny "Tianmen Gorge" and the unique "Xianyuan Bridge" are both mysterious and magical. The mystery is unfathomable, the magic is unbelievable.

Majestic and spectacular, it is a major feature of Tianmen Gorge Scenic Area. In the Tianmen Gorge Canyon, many places form a "line of sky" landform. The widest place is no more than 20 meters, and the narrowest place is less than 10 meters. Like a natural door made by heaven, it separates the inside and outside of the door into two worlds: heaven and earth.

Xianyuan Bridge is one of the Five Immortal Bridges in Houhe River. It is located in the Huishaxi Grand Canyon in the Bodaoling Tourist Area of ??the Tianmen Gorge Scenic Area. Because there is a place name called Zhangjiawan near the bridge, it is related to the legend. The name of the village where the Jade Emperor Zhang Youren lived before he was elected to the Heavenly Court as emperor was the same, so the saying "Xianyuan" came into being, which meant connecting to the fairy world and expressed people's yearning for a better life. Xianyuan Suspension Bridge has a total length of 148 meters, a clear span of 118 meters, and a clear height of 98 meters. Its span ranks the longest among single-hole bridges of its type in Hubei, second only to the Yalong Bay Suspension Bridge in Hainan.

The "Tianmen Gorge", "Xianyuan Bridge" and "Yingzi Rock" are all full of mystery and magic.

The feeling of Tianmen Gorge as a "genius of a generation" and the feeling of Xianyuan Bridge as "one bridge flying to the north and south" allow us to indulge ourselves in a colorful world that is both mysterious and magical. Here, I know what is unique in the world, what is flying over cliffs and walking over cliffs, and what is mysterious and mysterious; here, I seem to hear Tengger's "Paradise"; I seem to hear Rong Zhongerjia's "" "Magic Jiuzhai"; I seemed to hear Han Lei's "Borrow from Heaven for Another Five Hundred Years".

Houhe, the Houhe where the scenery is endless, you will always be passionate in my blood.

Zhou Gongxu, member of Hubei Yichang Writers Association.

Nearly a hundred essays have been published in "Chinese Writers", "Cultural Travel China", "Hubei Writers", "Native Writers", "Yichang Writers", "Three Gorges Daily", "Three Gorges Literature", "New Three Gorges", "Yiling Collection", etc.