The Balihe Scenic Area is located in Balihe Town, Yingshang County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a provincial-level nature reserve, a provincial-level research and study travel base, and a kite-flying base in Anhui Province. It has been awarded the environmental "Global 500 Roll of Honour" by the United Nations Environment Programme. The total area of the scenic area is 3,600 mu, known as the "Number One Farmer's Park in the World". Its characteristic lies in the ingenious integration of natural scenery and cultural landscapes, making it a popular destination for sightseeing, praying, and health preservation tourism. The scenic area features many unique buildings, such as exotic structures like the Temple of Zeus in Greece, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris, and the Arc de Triomphe in France, as well as Chinese-style buildings like blue stone archways, thousand-year-old temples, and Su-style gardens.
History and Culture
Balihe has a long history and has undergone numerous changes. According to legend, in the 43rd year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, a lawsuit was triggered by the debate over whether Balihe was a "river" or a "lake". Eventually, the government ruled it as a lake, but due to historical reasons and people's habitual calling, it is still known as Balihe. It is also related to Dayu's water control. The Liugou River (the predecessor of Balihe) was once a shelter for the Huaihe River. In the Sui and Tang dynasties, sluices were built to control the river water. By the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, due to wars and floods, it became a desolate swamp, leaving many magical legends and historical sites such as Miao Sanjie becoming a nun, Siwang Terrace, and Waizui Well. In modern times, Balihe also went through hardships. In 1938, the Huayuankou embankment of the Yellow River burst, and the yellow water flooded into Balihe, causing disasters. The severe flood in 1954 also heavily hit the two banks of Balihe. Later, through continuous governance and development by the government and the people, the current Balihe Scenic Area was formed.
Main Attractions
Birds' Jungle
It is home to nearly a hundred species of national first-class birds such as peacocks, white cranes, red-crowned cranes, and Steller's sea eagles, as well as second-class birds like swans, mandarin ducks, white-naped cranes, swan geese, and vultures.
Exotic Sceneries
It includes buildings such as the Temple of Zeus in Greece, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe in France, the German Country Church, the Grand Canyon in the United States, the Dutch Windmill, Colorful Fountains, and the Calligraphy and Painting Corridor, making visitors feel as if they are in a foreign land.
Splendid China
The blue stone archway is magnificent, the thousand-year-old temple has imposing halls, the Su-style garden is of classic beauty, the Jiutian Waterfall is like flying curtains splashing jade, the Nine-Dragon Jade Wall is the treasure of the garden, and the People's Monument is of majestic momentum.
Blue Lake and Green Islands
The vast blue lake is misty, and the twelve green islands are named after the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. Soft bridges and corridor bridges connect the islands. Each island has different flowers that bloom all year round. The Bird Island is beautiful and has been reported by CCTV.
Delicacies
Secret Recipe Fried Fish
Organic fish from Balihe is selected. After washing the fish pieces, marinate them for 15 minutes, and fry them in an oil pan at about 80°C until golden and crispy. The outer skin is crispy, and the inside is tender, making it an excellent dish to go with wine. The fried fish pieces can also be boiled in water for a different delicious taste.
Clear Soup Fish Balls
Remove the bones and skin from the fish, chop it into fish paste, add scallion and ginger water, egg white, etc., and stir to let the fish paste fully absorb the flavor of the seasonings. Then roll it into fish balls of moderate size or squeeze out the shape of fish balls with the space between the thumb and index finger. Put them into a pot where the water has boiled and turn to low heat. Cook until the fish balls float, and then cook for 1-2 more minutes. Sprinkle with coriander when serving. It is refreshing, smooth, and tender without fishy smell.
Secret Recipe Fish Head Soup
Put the processed fish head into the pot and fry it until golden, then put it into the secret recipe soup base and stew. Add salt to taste according to personal preference, and finally sprinkle with chopped green onions to enhance the fragrance and color. The soup is fresh and delicious.
Tickets
The ticket price is 90 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "安徽八里河旅游区" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Peak season: 8:00 - 18:00; Off-season: 8:00 - 17:30.
Tour Routes
If you visit the scenic area in the morning and take a sightseeing car, it is recommended to start from the East Area. The route is: Splendid China in the East Area - World Sceneries in the West Area - Birds' Forest; if you visit in the afternoon, it is recommended to start from the Birds' Forest. The route is: Birds' Forest - World Sceneries in the West Area - Splendid China in the East Area, so that you may see a beautiful sunset at the Iron Rope Soft Bridge in the East Area.
Transportation
- Take a bus from Fuyang Bus Station to Yingshang County, with a frequency of 15 minutes per shift.
- Take the scenic area special line at Yingshang Bus Station, 8 yuan per person.
- The battery car in the scenic area costs 10 yuan per person for a one-way trip.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Splendid China: It centrally demonstrates the charm of traditional Chinese architecture and culture, with magnificent blue stone archways, solemn thousand-year-old temples, exquisite and elegant Su-style gardens, etc., allowing visitors to appreciate the broad and profound traditional Chinese culture.
- World Sceneries: It gathers miniature landscapes of many world-famous buildings, such as the Temple of Zeus in Greece and the Arc de Triomphe in France, as if allowing people to travel around the world and experience the architectural styles and cultural characteristics of different countries.
- Blue Lake and Green Islands: It has vast blue waves and twelve green islands named after the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. The islands are connected by soft bridges and corridor bridges. The scenery is beautiful, with flowers blooming in all seasons. The Bird Island is particularly unique, making it a good place to get close to nature and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Tour Tips
- You can choose a suitable tour route according to your time and preferences. If you have enough time, you can visit each attraction in detail, which takes about 5 hours; if you are short of time, you can choose key attractions to visit, and you can basically finish visiting in 3-4 hours.
- The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
- During Saturdays, Sundays, and other holidays, the scenic area has rich performing arts programs, so you can arrange your time reasonably to watch them.
Notes
- There are four ticket offices in the scenic area, respectively in the Tourist Center, Birds' Forest, West Area, and East Area. The ticket is valid for one purchase, so do not buy it repeatedly.
- Take care of the environment of the scenic area, do not litter, and do not damage the flowers, trees, and public facilities in the scenic area.
- When playing by the lake and on the bridge, pay attention to safety, abide by the regulations of the scenic area, and do not climb over the railing at will.
- Take sun protection and mosquito prevention measures when playing in summer; keep warm in winter.