常德旅游景区英文

常德旅游景区英文 Huanshantou National Forest Park A unique scenic mountain with a 100-mile plain located on the border between the North of Hunan Province and the South of Hubei Province, Huangshantou National Forest Park in An’xiang County connects one-thousand-mile Jianghan Plain and the Dongting Lake. It has an area of 8,600 hectares and a population of 48,000. It is 60 km from Yueyang Tower to the East, 120 km from Taohuayuan to the South, 120 km from Zhangjiajie to the West, and 70 km from Jinzhou City (in Hubei Province) to the North. It is one of the first National Forest Parks ratified by the State Forestry Administration in 1992. Huangshantou National Forest Park enjoys convenient transportation links, 90 km from both Changde Railway Station and Airport, 70 km from Jingzhou Airport, 160 km from Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province and 170 km from Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province. It boasts both beautiful natural landscapes and historical relics. It is a harmonious combination of green mountains, clear water, unique stones and various trees. Liu Hong Tomb is located there and includes artifacts from a seven-thousand-year-old civilisation. Discovered in 1991, it is described as “One of the Ten Major Archaeological Discoveries of China”. There are calligraphies written by great historical names including Liu Zongyuan, the Hui Emperor in the Song Dynasty, Liu Yuxi, Pan Xiang and Duan Honggu. It ranks 52nd out of 72 Buddhism’s most ‘Blessed Lands’, and enjoys the perennial incense heyday through the ages. Scattered ancient monasteries and temples like Zhongji Temple, Nanchan Temple, Yunlu Palace, Bailian Monastery and the Temple of General Fubo etc., have been the ‘Holy Land’ for devout Buddhists both at home and abroad. In addition, there is the biggest national water conservancy project, and a Memorial Park devoted to the early years of the People’s Republic of China. It attracted great people, including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Li Xiannian, Song Qingling and the famous scholar Yu Sha, to write inscriptions and articles for it. There are five scenic zones, 48 scenic spots and 3 ecclesiastical buildings including Zhongji Temple, Nanchan Temple and Yunlu Palace. The scenic zones reveal unique customs, habits and building types. According to surveys, there are 166 species of arbors and shrubs, which are subordinated to 45 families and 72 genera. The park was at one time the revolutionary base for Marshals He Long and Peng Dehuai. Now, it is a tourist and leisure centre for a population of 300,000 in surrounding areas and aims at constructing a national AAAA tourism resort. Chengtoushan Cultural Relics Chengtoushan Cultural Relics stands in Chengtoushan Village of Chexi Town of Lixian County, an important county on the passage from Northwest Hunan to Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou. It is internationally well-known as “The First Ancient City in China”. From 1991 to 2001, the Hunan Archaeological Research Institute dug 11 times and discovered an archaeological area of 7,000 square kilometers and unearthed more than 1,600 artifacts. According to the research of experts, it is the earliest and best-preserved ancient city in China. It was twice awarded the title of “One of the Ten Major Archaeological Discoveries of China” in 1992 and 1997. On 25th March 1995, the former Secretary General Jiang Zemin inscribed for it “Chengtoushan Cultural Relics”. In 1996, the State Council announced it to be a “Key National Cultural Relics Protection Unit”. With its advantageous location and splendid culture, it will combine Three Gorges and Zhangjiajie to form a “cultural-natural” golden tourism route. It is about 10 km away from Lixian County, 70 km from Changde Railway Station, and 90 km from Taohuayuan Airport. It is near to Provincial Highway S302 (only 0.5 km) and is only 8 km from the National Highway G207. It faces Wulingyuan to the West (only 170 km) and the Three Gorges (only 200 km) to the North, with high-quality roads connecting them. Jiashan Mountain National Forest Park Jiashan Mountain is located at the southern ridge of Shimen’s Huping Mountain, and is the highest mountain in Hunan Province. It covers an area of 1,530 hectares and its surroundings include Shanban Village, Linli County to the Southeast, Jiashan Village to the Southwest, Erdu Village to the North, and Li River which connects with the Dongting Lake to the Northeast. It is a resort with attractions like Li Zicheng Mausoleum, various Buddhist temples, the place where tea ceremony originated. In 1993, it was established as a national forest park; in 1994, it was officially acknowledged as a Model of National Forest Parks; in 2001, it gained national AAA tourist scenic spot status. It has forest coverage of 93.6%. With fertile land and a warm climate, it is rich in different plants, including 204 kinds of plant species and more than 20 kinds of trees for sightseeing. Within this park, there are many rare trees under state protection, such as davidia, liriodendron and other precious species, and 18 old trees which are among the protection of ancient trees list. In the park can also be found the Li Zicheng Mausoleum, Lingquan Zen Temple, Ximo Pool (ink-washing pool), Yuxi Well (imperial jade seal well), Biyan Fountain (Green Stone Fountain), Building of Buddha’s Glory, Cemetery of Famous People including the Lingquan Zen Temple, and the holy land of Buddhism which has a history of more than 1,130 years and has been renovated by different emperors from three different dynasties. During the late Ming and the early Qing Dynasty, Li Zicheng, the leader of the peasant uprising, retreated here to live after defeat. Thanks to its profound cultural artifacts, and beautiful landscapes, it is a wonderful resort for people in surrounding areas. Shimen County enjoys convenient transportation links. Provincial Highways No. 1829, 1836 and 1848 run through the county. It is only 25 km away from National Highway 207 and 98 km from Changde. The Jiaozuo-Liuzhou, Xiangfan-Shimen, and Shimen-Changsha Railways all run through the county with three railway stations, namely, Shimen, Shimen South, and Shimen North Stations. Shimen County has an advanced network of roads to reach nearly every village in the country. At the Source of Peach Blossom Creek In the reign of Taiyuan of the Jin Dynasty, there was a man from Wuling who was a fisherman by trade. One day he was fishing from his boat in a stream, heedless of how far he had gone, when he suddenly came upon a forest of peach trees. On either bank for several hundred yards there were no other kinds of trees. The fragrant grass was beautiful to look at, all patterned with fallen blossoms. The fisherman was extremely surprised and went on further, determined to get to the end of this wood. He found the source of the stream and the foot of a cliff at the end of the wood, where there was a small cave in which there seemed to be a faint light. He left his boat and went in through the mouth of the cave. At first it was very narrow, only wide enough for a man, but after forty or fifty yards he suddenly found himself in the open. The place he had come to was level and spacious. There were houses and cottages arranged in a planned order; there were fine fields and beautiful pools; there were mulberry trees, bamboo groves, and many other kinds of trees as well. There were raised pathways around the fields; and he heard fowls crowing and dogs barking. Going to and fro in all this, and busied in working and planting, were people, both men and women. Their dress was not unlike that of people outside, and all of them, whether old people with white hair or children with their hair tied in a knot, were happy and content with themselves. Seeing the fisherman, they were amazed and asked him where he had come from. He answered all their questions, and then they invited him to their homes, where they put wine before him, killed chickens and prepared food in his honour. When the other people in the village heard about the visitor, they too all came to ask questions. They told him that their ancestors had escaped from the wars and confusion in the time of the Qin Dynasty. Bringing their wives and children, all the people of their area had reached this isolated place, and had stayed ever since. Thus they had lost all contact with the outside world. They asked what dynasty it was now. They had never heard of the Han, let alone the Wei and the Jin. Point by point the fisherman explained all he could of the world that he knew, and they all sighed in deep sorrow. Afterwards all the rest invited him to their homes, and all feasted him with wine and food. He stayed there several days and then bade them goodbye; before he departed these people said to him, “Never speak to anyone outside about this!” So, he went out, found his boat and went back by the same route as he had come, leaving marks all along the way. When he got to the provincial town he called on the prefect and told him all about his experience. The prefect at once sent men to go with him and follow the marks he had left, but they became completely confused over the marks and never found the place. Liu Ziji, a scholar of high reputation from Nanyang, heard of this and enthusiastically offered to go out with the fisherman to try again, but he fell ill and died before realising his plan. After that, no one went to look for the way again. Xidongting Wetland Public date: 2010-07-05 Xidongting Wetland is located in the eastern part of Hanshou County, Hunan Province. It covers an area of 35,680 hectares and it is the entrance to the Dongting Lake, China’s second largest freshwater lake. It is the bridgehead of the golden tourist route of Changsha-Zhangjiajie, only a hundred kilometers east of Changsha, 40 km west of Changde, and about two-hours drive from Zhangjiajie. In 1998, as approved by the Hunan Provincial Government, it was established as a provincial nature reserve. In 2002, it was included by UNESCO on the “List of 30 Wetlands of International Importance”. In 2005, it was designated by the National Ministry of Construction as one of 9 National City Wetland Parks. In 2008, it was granted the title of National AAA Scenic Spot by the National Tourism Bureau. Xidongting Wetland is like a natural maze. There are abundant waterways and various islands with endless reeds together with a rich production of fish and rice. It is also known as a biological gene bank because it is the habitat for 416 different wet plants, 217 species of birds, and 118 species of fish. It also boasts a profound cultural influence as it is the birthplace of the Canglang Culture. Qu Yuan, the ancestor of Chinese Yongwu Poetry, once lived here and created many verses to honour the Dongting Lake, as did other men of letters, providing many local legends and a rich local mythology. Within the wetland there are more than 30 eco-tourism attractions and 4 cultural spots. It is becoming ever more popular among tourist agencies and travelers alike. The Changsha-Zhangjiajie Expressway passes through this area with two exits at Junshanpu and Taizimiao. There is a county level railway station at Taizimiao on the Shimen-Changsha Railway. The No.319 National Highway and S205 Provincial Highway run through this area eastward and southward respectively. It is also within easy reach of the Huanghua International Airport (1 hour away) and the Taohuayuan Airport (40 minutes away). It provides waterway transportation which can reach many other places via the Dongting Lake. Changde — A City in Taohuayuan Changde City is a “land flowing milk and honey”, near to the Dongting Lake it is a fairyland in Taohuayuan and is a charming city adjacent to Zhangjiajie City. Located in the northwestern part of Hunan Province, it connects the Wuling Ranges to the west and faces the Dongting Lake to the east. Historically it was variously named Wuling, Langzhou, and Dingzhou. Since its establishment, it has been called the “throat of Guizhou Province and Sichuan Province” and the “gate to Yunnan Province and Guizhou Province”. During its long history, it produced many outstanding people. It is a place resplendent in historical events. Here, the virtuous man Shan Juan once preached moral principles; the Lord Chunshen, a remarkable prime minister in the Chu Kingdom, once gathered talents for his country; the patriotic poet Qu Yuan in the Chu Kingdom once recited poems while walking; the studious scholar Che Yin once read by the light from fireflies in a bag; the famous literati Liu Yuxi was demoted to live here. Here the legends of Mengjiangnv crying down the Great Wall, and Liu Hai meeting the fox fairy when chopping wood were widespread. Here many outstanding figures were born, such as Song Jiaoren, Lin Boqu, Ding Ling and Jian Bozan. Changde City is located between the Wuling Ranges and the Dongting Lake Plate, with varied topographic features. There are many beautiful scenic spots and historical sites. There is 1 national AAAA scenic area, 4 national AAA scenic areas, 5 national forest parks, 1 national key scenic spot, 1 national nature reserve, 1 international key wetland, and more than 300 other scenic spots of various scales. Taohuayuan, a Shangri-la known by way of the Records of Peach Blossom Source by Tao Yuanming, a famous poet in the East Jin Dynasty, wins great fame both at home as well as abroad by virtue of its beautiful scenery and rich historical sites. The Jiashan Temple, built in the Tang Dynasty, is a sacred place of Buddhism and the origin of Japanese Tea Ceremony. Li Zicheng, a famous leader of the peasant uprising in the late Ming Dynasty, lived there after his failure. The Huping Mountain, known as the “Roof of Hunan”, is recognised by scientists abroad and at home as the “precious species gene bank in central China”. The Liuye Lake, famed as the “number one city lake in China”, is characterised by its shimmering waves and clear water, and is an important international aquatic sporting venue. The 3 km-long Changde Poem-engraved Wall is a perfect combination of poetry, calligraphy, painting and carving and got into the Guinness Book of World Records by its uniqueness as the longest poem-engraved wall in the world. Huayanxi, a resort with white egrets, vast woods and bamboos, also provides visitors with the opportunity to experience natural “farm tourism”, which makes it hard for them to tear themselves away. There are the Chengtoushan Sites with a city-building history of more than 8000 years, and the Xidongting Wetland Protection Area with various wetland landscapes and plentiful living things. There, hills undulate around the water, and fishing boats bob in the lake edged with green reeds; the water and sky blend into one colour; gulls and egrets fly freely in the sky. Different wonderful sceneries are revealed according to the seasons and different times of day. It is a typical representation of the magnificent and charming scenery of the Dongting Lake. Changde boasts such honoured titles as “International Award for Livable Communities”, “National Garden City”, “National Excellent Transportation Management City”, “National Hygienic City”, and “Top Tourism City in China”. It is one of 60 transportation junctions in China. In it there are the Changsha-Changde Expressway, the Changde-Zhangjiajie Expressway and the Changde-Jishou Expressway. In the near future, when a new expressway network is completed, the total will rise to six, including the Changde-Yueyang Expressway, the Changde-Shaoyang Expressway and the Changde-Jingzhou Expressway. 2009 also witnessed the start of the electrification and construction of double track line of the Shimen-Changsha Railway. The Guizhou-Zhangjiajie-Changde Railway, the Changde-Yueyang Railway, the Linli-Jinshi-An’xiang Railway and the Changde-Changsha Intercity Railway are currently under plan. The Taohuayuan Airport in Changde City has already opened routes to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, and Beijing. Huayanxi National Forest Park Huayanxi National Forest Park is a national AAA resort and a provincial nature reserve. It is also known as a national outdoor camp for the youth. It is composed of five major scenic spots, namely, the Central Area, Wuxi Lake, Longfeng Lake, Xianchi Mountain, Xifeng Mountain, with a total area of 45 square kilometers and a population of 4,000. On the mountains, there are two great lakes, Wuxi Lake and Longfeng Lake, with an area of 700 hectares and a storage capacity of more than 80 million cubic meters of water. These two lakes are connected by the twists and turns of various waterways. Crystal-clear water and green mountains look like a beautiful watercolour painting. It has well-protected vegetation. Its forest coverage is more than 95% and it is rich in animal and plant resources. There are 1,089 species of rare plants under national protection, like ginkgo biloba, bawen, and manglietia, and 326 species of rare animals, like leopard, otter, water viverra, and chrysolophus pictus. The dance of hundreds of thousands of egrets from March to October every year attracts many tourists to come here for sightseeing and leisurely vacations. Therefore, it is called the hometown of the egret in China. Far from the noisy city, it is also home to simple and honest people, and a harmonious and quiet environment. It is widely praised by tourists for its unique characteristics such as old-fashioned wooden houses with black tilts and tung-oiled plates, delicious local food like leicha (Mortared tea) and rice wine, as well as for the warm reception. It is 55 km south of Changde City, 30 km away from Taohuanyuan Airport, and 60 km from Changde Railway Station. It is only 30 km away from the Taohuayuan exit of the Changsha-Jishou Expressway. It can also be reached via the No.319 and No.207 National Highways. With the completion of the Taohua Road (a tourist highway from Taohuayuan to Huayanxi), it will be more convenient for tourists to visit Huayanxi. The Jiashan Mountain Scenic Area The Jiashan Mountain Scenic Area stands in Jinshi County located in the Northwest of Hunan Province. It consists of 4 sections, namely, Jiashan Mountain, Xujia Lake, Shiling-Qingshan Scenic Area and Gucheng Scenic Tourism Town, covering an area of 17.35 km2. As the core scenic spot, Jiashan Mountain is located at the edge of the Wuling Range, with the Dongting Lake to the East, Li River to the West and an idyllic countryside area to the South. Jiashan Mountain occupies an area of 2 km2 with a height of 147.07m. About 0.5 km South of Jiashan Mountain lies the birthplace of Mengjiangnv. According to accounts in the “Story of Mengjiang Mountian” written by Quo Qing in 1867 (the sixth year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign), Jiashan Mountain was called Cuilu before the Qin Dynasty. After a long trek searching for her husband (Fan Xi), Mengjiangnv failed and cried at the Great Wall. The Great Wall collapsed before her and Meng recognised her husband’s skeleton by shedding her blood. She decided to return to their hometown with the bones but died at Tongguan, Shanxi. The local residents were so moved by her story that they decided to rename their town Mengjiang Mountain, commonly known as Mengjia Mountain. During the period of Emperor Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty (1488-1505), Li Rugui, the minister of two major departments at that time, was a Lizhou local. Mengjia Mountain was renamed Jiashan Mountain (the Chinese character Jia means “to praise”) by Li Rugui to honour Mengjiangnv. Jiangnv Temple, or Jiangnv Shrine, was built there by other people. It consists of more than 30 houses, with an Entrance Hall, Main Hall, Back Hall and Temple Hall. The Temple experienced destruction and underwent reconstruction many times. In January, 1954, it was laid in ruin after a fierce fire. In the front of the Temple, there was ‘Wangfu Platform’ (a platform used to long for Meng’s husband) and a ‘Mirror Stone’. The well on the Southern slope of Jiashan Mountain is also famed to be a spectacular scene, having existed for a thousand years with constant fresh water. It is said to be the place where Mengjiangnv was bathing as Fan Xi hid behind a tree and peeked at her, after which they became married. This well was thus named the ‘Bathing Well’. Legend has it that lovers can be blessed and have children if they drink water from it. Jiashan lies between Changsha and Wuhan and thus enjoys a unique advantage in terms of transportation links. The Xiangbei Expressway and Taiyuan-Macau Expressway (to be constructed) pass through Jinshi County. It connects the Shimen-Changsha Railway and Zhicheng-Liuzhou Railway. Taohuayuan Airport is also only 80 km away from Jinshi City. Near the city is the Li River, which runs eastward to the Dongting Lake and boasts one of the six major ports of Hunan Province. It is navigable for 500-ton vessels all year round to places as far as Changsha, Wuhan, and Shanghai. Lin Boqu’s Former Residence Lin Boqu, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary, was an important party and state leader and one of the founders of the People’s Republic of China. Lin Boqu’s former residence, built in the period of the Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, is a typical residential building of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the beautiful Liangshuijing Village, Xiumei Town, Linli County, where Lin spent his childhood and youth. Facing the South, it has 3 rows of rooms inside and a creek outside flowing more than 10 miles along the front garden of the house. Hung on the roof beam of the rear central room, there is a plaque with the inscription “Jiu Mu Shi jia” (The Noble Family of Lin) indicating the elegant and plain quality of this family. A bronze statue of Lin Boqu surrounded by old cypresses stands solemnly and stately in the front garden. Deng Xiaoping wrote “Former Residence of Comrade Lin Boqu”. Now the residence has been given the status of ‘Provincial Key Cultural Relic’, ‘Provincial Patriotic Education Base’ and ‘Red Scenic Tourist Attraction’. Lin Boqu’s Former Residence is 55 km away from Changde City. The No. 207 National Highway runs through Xiumei Town and a 5 km hardened road links the highway to Lin Boqu’s former residence. A 12 km tourist road connects it with the Jiashan Temple in Shimen and a 10 km tourist road connects it with the Chengtoushan Relics in Lixian County. Reshi Hot Spring Resort Reshi Hot Spring Resort lies in Reshi Town, Taoyuan County. It boasts 5 hot springs with a temperature of 47?, the amount of flowing water being 0.5 m3 per second, and 1,800 m3 per hour. The spring water is of a high-quality calcium metasilicate type and contains various useful microelements like bromium, iodium, radium, etc. It meets the No. GB8537-87 State Standard for safe drinking water and is good for bathing. In this resort there is Xingdeshan Mountain, which is a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. It boasts a marvelous natural beauty and profound culture. The elevation of its major peak reaches 843.5 meters at the summit. The tectonic setting is of the Danxia Landform with a bright red colour, which makes for a glorious lustre. The neighbouring regions are of typical karst topography, silver in colour and shaped like bamboo nodes. Between the mountain peaks, there are mysterious canyons and gigantic old trees. It is noted for its Taoist culture, with the ancient Xingzi Palace, having a 638-year history, standing at the top of grotesque and fantastic stone peaks. Xingzi Palace is made of stones, and has a unique architectural style, built by delicate carving skills and fine craftsmanship. There are altogether 72 scenic spots in Xingdeshan Mountain, which is a good place for climbing, worshiping, and sightseeing. It enjoys convenient transportation links, 50 km away from Taohuayuan Airport to the South, 104 km away from the Hehua Airport in Zhangjiajie to the north, and 35 km away from Shimen Railway Station to the east. The Changde-Zhangjiajie Expressway and No. 306 Provincial Highway pass through it. Taohuayuan Tourism Resort Location: Taohuayuan Tourism Resort is located in the lower reach of the Yuan River and in the southwestern part of Taoyuan County. It includes Taohua Mountain, Taoyuan Mountain, Qin Dynasty Village, Taoxian Mountain, the Lingjintan Scenic Spot, the Yiwangxi Scenic Spot, and the 69 km Yuan River Tourist Line. It has a total area of 157.55 km2. Its scenic area incorporates five villages and towns: Qinglin Village, Zhangjiang Town, Taohuayuan Town, Lingjintan Village and Xinglongjie Village. History: Taohuayuan is the prototype of a wonderful place far from the cruel reign of the Qin Dynasty described in Records of Peach Blossom Source by Tao Yuanming, a famous poet in the East Jin Dynasty. It has a 1,600-year history and has been regarded as a Shangri-la by later generations. Taohuayuan was first built in the Jin Dynasty (256-439 A.D), began to take shape in the Tang Dynasty (618-709), 1297), and went to ruin in the Yuan Dynasty flourished in the Song Dynasty (960- (1297-1368). With ups and downs through the Ming Dynasty (1368-1911), it was almost abandoned in the times of the Republic of China (1912-1949). Its restoration began in 1949 and a large-scale expansion and development began in 1990. Even 5,000-6,000 years ago, fishermen lived in the Taohuayan Scenic Area. It belonged to the Chu Kingdom in the Warring States Period, Qianzhong Shire in the Qin Dynasty, Yuannan County of Wuling Shire in the Han Dynasty, and Yuannan County of Jingzhou Wuling Shire in the Jin Dynasty. In the early Tang Dynasty, the government defined the range of the Taohuayuan Mountain. Liu Yuxi, a famous litterateur in the Tang Dynasty, often went sight-seeing in Taohuayuan and wrote Beautiful Scene of Taoyuan when he was demoted here. In the first year of the Qiande Period of the Song Dynasty (963), the government Pided the area into the middle and lower reaches of the Yuan River in Taohuayuan, and it established a new county called “Taoyuan” where there were scenic spots and historical sites. In the first year of Zhenghe, Emperor Hui of the Song Dynasty wrote “Taochuan Longevity Palace” on a stele and sent it to Taoyuanyuan. After that, it became even more famous. Even in the Yuan and Qing Dynasties and during China’s Republican Period when the area found itself intermittently in either prosperity or depression, Taohuayuan was still of great charm. Culture: Since the birth of Records of Peach Blossom Source by Tao Yuanming in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, later generations have continually praised Taohuayuan in writing. As a result, both its scenery and the writings about it became famous. The wonderful place far from the cruel reign of the Qin Dynasty described in Records of Peach Blossom Source by Tao Yuanming was admired and praised by the later litterateurs as the prototype of “Shi Wai Tao Yuan (remote retreat)”. Many famous poets, litterateurs, officials and Taoists since the Tang Dynasty have had a special longing for it and tried their best to praise it. Such famous litterateurs as Meng Haoran, Wang Changling, Wang Wei, Li Bai, Du Mu, Liu Yuxi, Han Yu, Lu You, and Su Shi have left a legacy of many valuable poems and proses. There are now 45 volumes of various Collections of Writings about Taohuayuan and Annals of Taohuayuan from different periods, more than 2000 verses, more than 130 thousand characters of prose, 107 horizontal inscribed boards and couplets, 108 pieces of inscribed and engraved stone tablets, more than 600 paintings and more than 40 folklores about Taohuayuan. Brand: In 1959, Taohuayuan was placed on the list of “Provincial-level Key Cultural Relics Under Protection by the Hunan Provincial Government”. In 1987, it was listed as one of the “Top Ten Scenic Spots of Hunan by the Hunan Provincial Government”; in 1992, it was approved as a National Forest Park by the Forestry Ministry of China. In 2001, it was approved to be a National AAAA Grade Scenic Spot by the National Tourism Administration of China; and in 2004, it was approved to be a Key National Scenic Spot by the State Council. On the 24th of March 1995, President Jiang Zemin came to Taohuayuan. After making an inspection tour of cultural relics and natural landscapes, he said “This is the real Taohuayuan described by Tao Yuanming” and he wrote an inscription as a memento. It was also appraised continually for 4 years as one of “the Best Scenic Spots of Hunan” and as a “Civilised Forest Park of Hunan”. In 2000, Taohuayuan was recognised as one of the 50 scenic spots you have to visit in your lifetime. On the 12th of June 1998, in the Fifth International Conference for the Grammy Awards for the Golden Tourism Lines co-held by Tourism Weeks and the Japanese Writers Association in Osaka, Japan, the tourism line of Changsha—Taohuayuan—Zhangjiajie was awarded the “Destination Special Development Award”, being one of the two awarded golden tourism lines of China. Transportation: Taohuayuan, located in the northwestern part of Hunan Province, is the gateway to the western part of China. It is surrounded by Changsha, Shaoshan, Zhangjiajie, Three Gorges, and Western Hunan Autonomous Prefecture and has a distance of about 200 km to each of them. It has convenient air, water and land links, with the National Highway 319 running through the area, the National Highway 207 passing by its eastern part 30 km away, and is 40 km away from the Changsha-Changde Expressway, 20 km away from the Taoyuan Toll Gate on the Changde-Zhangjiajie Expressway, the Changde-Jishou Expressway and the Changde-Shaoyang Expressway, Changde-Yueyang Expressway, Changde-Jingzhou (Hubei Province) Expressway. The Yuan River, a main waterway of Hunan Province, can directly reach Yueyang and the Yangtze River by passing through the Dongting Lake. The Shimen-Changsha Railway (from Shimen to Taoyuan to Changde to Yiyang to Changsha) has a main railway station in Changde which is only 50 km away from Taohuayuan and provides a convenient connection between Taohuayan and the cities along the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and the Jiaozuo-Liuzhou Railway. Taohuayuan Airport, a National Second Level Civil Airport, is only 34 km away from the scenic spot and has already opened airlines to Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Haikou, Kunming, Chongqing and so on. Animals and plants: Taohuayuan has a favourable environment for animals to live and has a complex food chain. It has a rich resource of animals and plants. There are 255 kinds of beautiful exhibiting animals, among which 230 are wild, forming 90% of the total, and 25 are tamed, 446 kinds of woody plants, among which 63 are peach species, forming 13.8% of the total, more than 740 kinds of herbs, among which 238 are beautiful and fragrant group plants. Service facilities: In the Taohuayuan Tourism Resort there are more than 10 hotels and more than 30 restaurants, with a reception capacity of more than 2,000 tourists per day; there is a national primary-level power supply line, a waterworks with a production capacity of 40 thousand tons per day, Changqing Gas Station, a petrol station co-managed with the Changling Refinery, a post office, two China Mobile micro receiving towers and two China Unicom micro receiving towers and 2,000 programmed control telephone exchangers. Taifushan Mountain Resort Taifushan Mountain Resort is located in Taifu Town, Linli County, and is 30 km away from Changde City. It covers an area of 4,300 hectares and lies 604.5 meters above sea level. The mountain consists of grotesque peaks, range upon range of hills, dells and cliffs, and at the foot of the mountain is scattered with reservoirs and lakes. There are 24 scenic spots on the scenic islands which are immersed with the twitter of birds and the fragrance of flowers all year round. Belonging to the Cathysian folding tectonic system, there are many natural caves and wonderful stones, and the whole area is endowed with a veritable eye-feast of residual landscapes. It holds a unique charm with its forest coverage rate of 99.8%. There are 16 kinds of national first-grade and second-grade plant species including ginkgo and rosewood and 23 species of national first-grade and second-grade animals like pangolin and wild boar, etc. It boasts a deep-rooted Buddhist culture, and it is also well known as a Taoist Mountain where the ancient Tao Immortal Fu Chuzi succeeded in immortalising himself. As famous as Hengshan Mountain in Taoism, it has enjoyed the perennial incense heyday for 2000 years with nine monasteries, two Taoist temples, two palaces, five nunneries and eight temples on the mountain. With beautiful natural scenery and deep-rooted culture, it is a strong attraction to numerous famous figures, men of letters as well as many tourists over the millennia. It boasts convenient transportation links. It is 30 km away from Changde City. The No. 207 National Highway passes through it from south to north, and the S304 Provincial Highway traverses it from east to west. Zhicheng-Liuzhou and Shimen-Changsha Railways also run through it. Linli-Gangshi Road and Shimen-Changsha Railway pass by the foot of its southeastern hills. Shimen-Zoushi Road passes by it from west to north and connects it with Taohuayuan and Jiashan Temple; it is also linked to Penghushan Mountain and Zhangjiajie via the Changde-Zhangjiajie Expressway.