Longsheng Hotspring

   

Longsheng Hot Spring National Park is located at the upper reach of Sangjiang River in the southern end of the Yuecheng Ridges, 129 kilometers from Guilin City and 29 kilometers from Longsheng County. Covering an area of 10 square kilometers, the park, with a high elevation, has become a favorable place for visitors. Standing in the park, one may be charmed by the wave-like ridges and peaks, queer rocks, luxuriant trees, deep gorges and clear creeks. Major rare flora and fauna there include such plants as gingko and long-stalk hairy beech, and such rare animals as black bear, rhesus monkey, deer, musk, civet, and giant salamander. Hot Spring National Park has many interesting sights; the most famous include Longshen Hot Spring, Yanmen Gorge, and Baiman "Queer" Rock. Most tourists come here for taking hot bath and the beautiful landscape.

 

Longsheng Hot Spring, reputed as "a heaven of peace and happiness" and "paradise on earth," is the centerpiece of the national park. Welling out from rock cracks halfway up the mountain, the hot spring water is colorless, tasteless, pure and clear, 54-58 degrees centigrade, and consists of many trace elements, such as lithium, strontium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper and other elements. The water is good for drinking and bathing. It also has curative effects for nerves, skin diseases, rheumatism, and arthritis. Since Longsheng Hot Spring is situated in a deep and tranquil valley and surrounded by mountains of dense vegetation, it is warm in winter and cool in summer. It is an agreeable resort for tourism, recuperation, health, relaxation and vacation.

 

Yanmen Gorge Rafting
Another spot that attracts much attention from tourists is Yanmen Gorge Rafting Course located in the national park. Roaring in between the breath-taking mountain ranges, the torrential currents make an ideal place for rafting throughout the course, which is a great experience, thrilling but dangerous, challenging but amusing. Ninety meters above the rafters, an iron-chain bridge 120 meters long and 1.5 meters wide spans the Yanmen Canyon. Those who ascend to such heights may enjoy an excellent view. Since this place is dangerous, not many foreign tourists will choose it except some Chinese who is very familiar with the route.

"Baimian" Queer Rock
Four kilometers away from Longsheng Hot Spring, there stands a grotesque rock "Baimian Queer Rock". Several meters long and sticking out of the slope of a mountain inhabited by the Yao people, the rock resembles the tongue of a dragon.
On the rock there are some Chinese inscriptions. There is a story to these inscriptions. On December 9, 1934, when the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army was passing through on its long march, the Yao chief in this region followed the advice of a commander of the Third Red Army and called on his people to adopt the path of revolution. Therefore, he wrote on the rock face, "Go on to fight, and fight for the bright future" and "The Red Army absolutely protects the Yao people". Later on, the sentences were carved by local people, using a Yao chief's writing as a model.