Classic Zhangjiajie Landscapes (8)
Suoxiyu, a Fairyland on Earth: Suoxiyu National Nature Reserve lies in the northeast of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Hunan Province, covering 160 square km. In February 1982 it was designated a provincial nature reserve, and in January 1987 approved as a national nature reserve.
This article is compiled from the original travel notes on the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com); it is a record of trips from earlier years. Time-sensitive information such as ticket prices, schedules, and accommodation prices is subject to the latest announcements from scenic areas and transportation authorities; the itinerary ideas and attraction introductions still have reference value.
Suoxiyu, a Fairyland on Earth
Suoxiyu National Nature Reserve is located in the northeastern part of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area in Hunan Province, with a total area of 160 square kilometers. In February 1982, the Hunan Provincial People's Government designated Suoxiyu as a provincial-level nature reserve. In January 1987, with the approval of the State Planning Commission and the Ministry of Forestry, Suoxiyu was listed as a national nature reserve.
The Suoxiyu Scenic Area has its unique geological structure with complex origins. Bounded by the Suoxi Dam, the western and southern parts are quartz sandstone scenic areas, while the eastern and northern parts are limestone scenic areas. The quartz sandstone scenic area includes attractions such as Suoxiyu, Wangjiayu, Baizhangxia, Baofeng Lake, Baihutang, and Yixiantian. East of Wujiayu and north of Jundiping, from Quanjiapo and Huangtupo to Wenzhuang, Shuangfeng, Yanmen, Tianfu, Shuangxing, and Hekou, all are limestone scenic areas. These were deposited and formed under two different geological environments. Since the rock properties differ, the resulting landform landscapes also vary greatly. Quartz sandstone was deposited and formed in a coastal environment near an 'ancient land,' belonging to rocks with strong dissolution resistance; limestone was deposited and formed in a shallow sea environment, belonging to soluble rocks. Further analyzing the causes of the landscapes, quartz sandstone peaks were formed by water erosion of rock and gravitational collapse; limestone karst landscapes depend on the dissolution of rock by flowing water, forming over 140 karst caves including Huanglong Cave, Guanyin Cave, Xianhua Palace, and Xuansi Cave.
The name Suoxi first appeared in the early Northern Song Dynasty. According to the 'Republic of China Cili County Gazetteer': 'In the third year of Xiangfu of Emperor Zhenzong of Song (1010), the Man people of Cili killed each other in feud. An imperial edict was issued to Liu Renba, Prefect of Lizhou, to proclaim the imperial decree and mediate. Thereupon, five fortresses—Wukou, Anfu, Yangquan, Suoxi, and Xiniu—were built for control purposes.' Volume Four of the Ming Dynasty 'Wanli Cili County Gazetteer' also records: 'Suoxi is west of Jiuxi.' In the late Southern Song Dynasty, in the Suoxiyu area, the Xiang Long brothers led an uprising of the local people. According to the 'Republic of China Cili County Gazetteer': 'In the mountains there is Shentang Fort. It is said that at the end of the Southern Song, certain Xiang brothers took advantage of the terrain to raise troops, and after defeat and death became vengeful spirits. The local people built a shrine to appease them. Today, the Upper and Lower Tianzi Temples still stand majestically.' The 'Hunan Province Cili County Place Name Record' also states: 'At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Xiang Long brothers raised troops in rebellion and were suppressed by Song forces. After prolonged fierce fighting, the Xiang forces were defeated, and they jumped off the cliff to their deaths at Shentang Bay.' In the early Ming Dynasty, Qin Li, the Pacification Commissioner of Cili, united with the Tujia people and raised the banner of uprising. Emperor Taizu of Ming sent Zhou Dexing, Marquis of Jiangxia, to lead troops to suppress Qin Li, and used Qin Tianshun, the Thousand-Household Commander of Tianping Suo, as vanguard. The battle first unfolded at Baizhangxia in Suoxiyu. The Qing Dynasty 'Guangxu Yongding County Local Gazetteer' records: 'Baizhangxia is at the mouth of Chaqiyu, bordering Cili. Ten thousand peaks stand erect, dense as spears. Looking up at the blue sky, one sees only a thin line. When the Ming campaigned against Qin Li here, the three characters Baizhangxia were inscribed on the cliff.' In the twenty-second year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1389), another Tujia uprising led by Xia Dezhong broke out in Suoxiyu and other places. To strengthen control over the Tujia ancestors, the imperial court established the Jiuxi Guard in Jiangya in the twenty-third year of Hongwu (1390). The Suoxiyu area came under the jurisdiction of the Maliao Suo of the Jiuxi Guard. By the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty during the 'replacing native officials with central government-appointed officials' reform, Suoxiyu belonged to the Twentieth Du of Cili County. Feudal rulers once established military passes such as Zhakou Pass in Suoxiyu. According to the Qing Dynasty 'Jiaqing Cili County Gazetteer': 'Zhakou Pass is southwest of Jiuxi Guard, with high cliffs standing erect, originally one mountain. A path was split through the middle, with both sides steep as if cut, leading to Maogang, Sangzhi and the twenty-four offices of the southwest.' The 'Republic of China Cili County Gazetteer' also records: 'In the middle is Zhakou Pass, an old Ming garrison, one of the four passes of Jiuxi (Guard).' The Tujia ancestors living in the Jiuxi Guard area saw the swirling clouds and mist here, and therefore named this area 'Suoxiyu' according to the Tujia language. In Tujia, 'Suo' means fog, 'Xi' means big, and 'Yu' means mountain stronghold or mountain villa. Therefore, the Tujia scenic place name 'Suoxiyu' means 'the mountain stronghold of heavy fog' or 'the mountain villa of heavy fog' in Chinese.
Historically, although official histories rarely mentioned Suoxiyu, local gazetteers contain many records of its scenic spots and historic sites. As early as the Ming Dynasty, Baizhangxia had become a pass between the Jiuxi Guard and Yongding Guard. Civil and military officials, enchanted by the scenery here, composed poems and essays in succession. The Ming Dynasty 'Hongzhi Yuezhou Prefecture Gazetteer' was the first to describe the Baizhangxia Scenic Area: 'Baizhang Cliff, also called Baizhangxia, is 160 li west of (Cili) County and 70 li southwest of Jiuxi Guard. Mountain cliffs face each other, over a hundred zhang high. In the middle is a small gorge, 30 li long. Flowing springs rush steeply, ancient trees are gnarled. Beside the gorge is a path, the most perilous in Yongding.' The 'Republic of China Cili County Gazetteer' also records: '(Baizhang) Gorge extends 30 li, with two cliffs interlocking, dividing the county boundary. On the west cliff's flying wall are the three characters Baizhangxia, each character about a zhang in size, on a ten-thousand-ren precipice, deeply carved in large characters, suspected to be the work of ghosts.' This gazetteer describes the mountains of Suoxiyu as: 'Ten thousand stone shoots stand erect, tall and elegant reaching the clouds, the rocks all reddish-brown, connected peaks high and low, spreading everywhere, striking to the eye, their wonder foremost under heaven.' During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many literati wrote poems and essays praising Suoxiyu. For example, the Ming Dynasty 'Longqing Yuezhou Prefecture Gazetteer' records a poem 'Baizhangxia' written by Xia Ziyun, the Tongpan of Yongding Guard, during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. Suoxiyu's long history has left behind numerous cultural relics and historic sites. Jundiping, Shentang Bay, Baizhangxia, Chaqiyu, Jiehuo Bridge, and Yuxi Rock are all related to ancient warfare. According to statistics from cultural relics departments, Suoxiyu has over 20 cultural relics and historic sites listed for protection at or above the county level. At the confluence of the Chaqiyu Stream and the Banli Mountain Stream stands Zhenjiang Temple, built during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. On Fanzeng Mountain on the south bank of Suoxiyu stands Chaoyang Temple, whose gate has a couplet: 'Baizhang stands majestic, towering opposite; Nine streams branch apart, embracing the temple in winding flow.' On Baofeng Mountain there are also relics of Baofeng Temple, with steles standing like a forest inside. In July 1984, Nanjing female writer Su Ye, after participating in the 'Wuling Pen Meeting,' wrote a famous poem: 'Though a thousand miles apart, my heart returns with the moonlight; in my next life I would gladly be a poem, and marry the Suoxi waters.' In June 1986, the famous writer Wei Wei wrote a poem praising: 'The summer breeze sends me west of Wuling, where the landscape is called wondrous; the Ten-Mile Gallery I never tire of seeing, but alas my old friend has not been to Suoxi.'
Suoxiyu National Nature Reserve is located at the junction of quartz sandstone and limestone, with diverse terrain and special landforms. It is high on all sides and low in the middle, forming a basin shape. The highest peak, Baofeng Mountain, reaches 1,212.8 meters. Here the mountains are wondrous, the waters beautiful, the caves secluded, and the bridges perilous. Based on natural features, it is divided into six tour routes: Xihai, Ten-Mile Gallery, Baizhangxia, Baofeng Lake, Huanglong Cave, and Guanyin Cave, with over 200 scenic spots in total. Located below the Suoxi Lake Dam, the Zhangjiajie Whitewater Slalom Base is designated by the State General Administration of Sports as the '2008 Beijing Olympic Games Canoe Slalom Training Base' and has been listed as a special tour route of Zhangjiajie City.