Tourism flourishes after reforestation campaign

Located at the heart of the Taihang Mountains, Baquan Gorge is a popular attraction that represents the best of this largest mountain range in North China.

In the southeast of Huguan county and some 70 kilometers from the county seat, Baquan Gorge, with a total area of about 24 square kilometers, became a 5A scenic area－the highest-ranking destination rated by the national tourism authority－in 2020.

Baquan, which means eight springs, is so called because of eight springs that formed a torrential stream in the gorge.

With a length of 13 km and a width ranging from 3 to 20 meters, the narrow valley is surrounded by peaks rising up to 1,100 meters from the valley floor.

In addition to dozens of waterfalls and several karst caves, the destination's major attractions also include a reservoir, rising cliffs and dense forests.

The most impressive sight in the area is a huge vertical "cave" called Huxuedongtian－which literally means a kettle-like cave with a narrow section of sky visible. Although the site is called a cave, it is actually the narrowest part of the valley.

Li Yang, a tour guide in the scenic area, said Baquan Gorge is a destination of choice for tourists because of its four-season attractions and diversified landscapes.

"The area has its best to offer tourists across all four seasons, which includes myriad varieties of flowers by the stream in spring, lush forests in summer, colorful leaves in fall and snow-covered mountains in winter.

"As a popular Chinese saying goes, 'the benevolent favor mountains and the wise favor waters', Baquan can offer both to satisfy the diverse needs of tourists," Li said.

In Baquan Gorge, he said, tourists can have both spectacular mountains and beautiful waters to please their eyes and satisfy their aesthetic demands.

However, Baquan Gorge, as well as its vicinities, was not an appealing scenic area some 40 years ago, according to Li.

Four decades ago, Li recalled, the severely arid climate and land degradation left Baquan, as well as the rest Huguan county, barren.

"The landforms were the same as today, but there were rarely trees on mountain ridges and slopes, and the stream was dry for most of the year," Li said. "That environment was unpleasant to locals, and needless to say tourists."

However, since a mass tree planting campaign in 1978, the county of Huguan has witnessed its forest coverage grow from less than 7 percent to 52.6 percent today. And Baquan Gorge and its neighboring areas boast the densest forests in the county.

Growing vegetation coverage has also helped to prevent soil erosion and retain underground water, which leads to a steady increase in the runoff volume of streams and brooks.

"That environmental improvement campaign has eventually turned Baquan into an attractive tourist destination, offering an example of how 'green mountains and clear waters can turn into mountains of gold and silver'," Li said.

Peng Ke'er contributed to this story.