Longmen Xian Scenic Zone in beijing
2 min readYanjiatai Village was originallyknown as Erlongtai (Double DragonTerrace). The “Double Dragon” refersto the two deep valleys sprawling thevillage: East Dragon Gate Valley(West Beijing Great Gorge) and WestDragon Gate Valley (Ghost Valley)They were historically respected as thesoul of local mountains, lying here tosafeguard the village. Today, thevalleys and the peripheral areas,collectively known as Longmenjian(Dragon Gate Valley), are a famoustourist and scenic zone, and this hasbeen cited as a municipal—level scenicattraction of Beijing.
The vast range of mountainpeaks adjacent Longmenjian draw thevillagers closer to nature, and thesweet stream water has nourished many generations of locals.When spring approaches, the ice and snow melt and the mountains turn luxuriantgreen. The entire scenic zone comes to life, with streams rushing by stone roads, flowersbursting into bloom 0n cliffs, and the gentle, lazy sun kissing the land, the new sprouts, andeven one’s heart will be touched by nature.In summer, the torrential streams bring cool, and the dense forests thrive with life.Creeks kiss the emerald tree leaves and grasses, and the silver waterfalls turn into pearl—likeheads when splashing onto the cliffs. Warm winds softly touch the steep cliffs, wile thetrickling waters and one ’s soul are set free.Autumn is prime season in Longmenjian. Butterflies and swallows dance amongbeautiful flowers, the forests turn golden yellow and red, and the boundless sky isazure blue and clear.
All these elements add to the enchanting collective color ofLongmenjian.When winter falls, Longmenjian becomes peaceful and quiet. Without the shield oftree leaves, the mountains reveal their true faces, magnificent and precipitous. In the sunlightfrom different angles, the ice-clad rivers present varying fantastic ice patterns. Beneath thefrozen waterfalls, the small flowing water produces pleasing musical tones.To fully appreciate the mystery and beauty of Longmenjian, one should visit often, toenjoy the picturesque mountains and rivers in all the different seasons.Of the scenic spots in Longmenjian, many were formed by crustal movement.
Outsidethe scenic zone are majestic mountains, but upon entering the valley, one will be impressedby the stone columns, limestone caves, water pools, and grotesque rocks in various shapes,which contribute to a limestone landform that is rarely seen in North China. Longmenjian isthus dubbed by scholars as China’s “Northern Geological Museum.”
