Hejing Beishan Park is located in Hejing Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Once a sand and gravel plant mined for many years, it was the main source of wind and sand in the county. In 2013, Hejing County proposed the development concept of "abandoning mines and planting greenery", launching a 50-square-kilometer Beishan greening project. After years of efforts, with a cumulative investment of nearly 200 million yuan, more than 5.5 million seedlings have been planted, and a forest park with a green area of 30 square kilometers has been built, transforming the once barren Gobi desert into an oasis.
The park covers a planned area of 25,000 mu, including 16,000 mu of ecological fruit picking gardens, 3,000 mu of tourist sightseeing gardens, 4,000 mu of ecological leisure gardens, and 2,000 mu of Mongolian cemeteries. The park is planted with a large number of ecological tree species such as Populus euphratica, sea buckthorn, white elm, green poplar, elm, and Boston ivy, among which Populus euphratica is the most widely planted. The park has also built more than 30 scenic spots such as picking gardens and zoos, and created training bases for national defense education, party spirit education, and outdoor sports, forming a comprehensive ecological civilization construction experimental zone integrating ecological construction, tourism development, patriotic education, cultural construction, employment bases, and national unity.
Historical Culture
Hejing Beishan Park carries special historical memories. It was once the main dust source of the county, witnessing the arduous journey of local ecological governance. Since 2013, cadres and masses of all ethnic groups in Hejing County have worked together to carry out the greening project. In 10 years, the county has organized 10 large-scale voluntary tree plantings for party members, cadres, and workers, with 193,000 person-times participating in afforestation, interpreting the spirit of "uniting forces to lock the yellow dragon" with practical actions.
The patriotic education base in the park is built with a locomotive and six carriages. Starting from the locomotive, it successively includes a screening hall, a military reclamation culture exhibition hall, a third-line construction culture exhibition hall, an industrial and mining culture exhibition hall, a military culture exhibition hall, a railway soldier culture exhibition hall, and the last section is the Shuxiang Hejing Hall. It displays items with a sense of age, vividly showing the scenes of military reclamation soldiers reclaiming land, digging channels, spring planting and autumn harvesting, as well as the glorious years of building and supporting the border. It carries the memories of several generations and has become an important position for inheriting red genes and promoting the spirit of patriotism.
Main Attractions
Butterfly Spring
Butterfly Spring is the most spirituality scenic spot in Beishan Park, formed by the convergence of water from more than 100 springs, creating two large and small pools shaped like butterfly wings. The spring water seeps from the rock cracks and sand layers, with clear water quality. Flowers and seedlings are planted around, and small waterfalls are added. Flocks of swans rest here, presenting a very beautiful landscape.
Patriotic Education Base
The patriotic education base transformed from a "Fuxinghao" locomotive is a revolutionary history and culture exhibition area. Through a locomotive and six carriages, it sets up multiple exhibition halls, displaying a large number of items with a sense of age, vividly reproducing historical scenes such as military reclamation, third-line construction, industrial and mining development, military life, and railway soldier construction, allowing visitors to deeply understand the development process of Hejing and the fighting spirit of revolutionary ancestors.
Zoo
The zoo is home to a large number of poultry such as mallard geese, pearl chickens, reed chickens, wild pheasants, black-bone chickens, turkeys, fighting cocks, geese, ducks, rabbits, peacocks, and ostriches. These animals have become a new scenery of Beishan Ecological Forest Park, providing visitors with opportunities to watch and get close to animals.
Tropical Botanical Garden
The tropical botanical garden is planted with various tropical plants, allowing visitors to feel the unique charm of tropical plants in the northwestern border, as if they were in a tropical rainforest. It is a good place to understand tropical plant ecology and enjoy tropical scenery.
Antique Small Great Wall
The antique small Great Wall winds along the mountain, like a giant dragon coiled on Beishan. Visitors can walk along the Great Wall, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the park, feel the charm of historical culture, and at the same time experience the fun of climbing and appreciate the magnificent scenery of Beishan.
Baihua Valley
The valley is full of flowers, with dozens of types of flowers in bloom. Each gully is built with a trail, planted with elm, apple, crabapple, and mulberry trees. Standing on the pavilion at the end of Baihua Valley, you can watch the magnificent scene of the sunrise rising from Beishan and the glorious sunset falling on Beishan.
Delicacies
Cold Noodles
The cold noodles in Hejing Beishan Park are one of the local specialties, usually made from pea flour or mung bean flour. They have a smooth and delicate taste. Paired with seasonings such as chili oil, vinegar, mashed garlic, and scallions, they are sour, spicy, and delicious, making them a good product for relieving summer heat and quenching thirst. They can be tasted at snack stalls and restaurants around the park.
Barbecued Meat
Barbecued meat is one of the representative cuisines of Xinjiang. The barbecued meat around Hejing Beishan Park uses fresh mutton, cut into small pieces and skewered on iron sticks, roasted over charcoal fire until the skin is golden and crispy, and the inside is tender and juicy. Sprinkled with seasonings such as cumin and chili powder, it is fragrant and delicious, making people unforgettable.
Hand-Grabbed Meat
Hand-grabbed meat is a traditional food of ethnic minorities such as the Mongolian people. It usually selects fat and tender mutton, cuts it into large pieces with bones, and cooks it in clear water. When eating, grab the meat with your hands and dip it in seasonings such as leek flower sauce and mashed garlic. The meat is tender, fat but not greasy, and has a rich taste, with a strong national characteristic. You can taste authentic hand-grabbed meat in the Mongolian style restaurants around the park.
Big Plate Chicken
Big Plate Chicken is a classic food in Xinjiang. Cut the chicken into pieces, stir-fry with ingredients such as potatoes, green peppers, and onions, then add appropriate amount of chili and pepper and other seasonings, and stew until the chicken is flavored and the potatoes are soft and waxy, with a rich soup. Finally, pour the prepared Big Plate Chicken over hand-pulled noodles. The noodles absorb the flavor of the chicken and soup, with a smooth and chewy texture. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the potatoes are soft and sweet. It is a popular food among visitors and can be ordered in restaurants near the park.
Roast Whole Lamb
Roast whole lamb is a traditional famous dish used to entertain distinguished guests in Xinjiang. It selects fat and strong sheep, and after slaughtering, scalding, dehairing, pickling, and seasoning, it is roasted in a special nang pit with fruit charcoal fire. The roasted whole lamb has golden and crispy skin, tender and juicy meat, and a fragrant smell. It is usually served with onions, cucumbers, nang, etc. You can order roast whole lamb in some large restaurants or farmhouses.
Tickets
Admission is free. Visitors can enter the park for free to visit and experience various recreational facilities and cultural activities.
Opening Hours
Open throughout the year, generally from 9:00 in the morning to 21:00 in the evening. The specific opening hours may be adjusted according to seasons and weather conditions.
Tour Route
The following is a recommended one-day tour route for visitors:
Morning: After entering the park from the main gate, first go to the Patriotic Education Base to visit the revolutionary history and culture exhibition area, and understand the development process of Hejing and the fighting spirit of revolutionary ancestors; then go to Butterfly Spring to enjoy the beautiful spring scenery and the scene of swans playing, and take photos as souvenirs.
Noon: Taste local delicacies such as cold noodles, barbecued meat, and hand-grabbed meat in the picnic area of the park or nearby restaurants to replenish energy.
Afternoon: Go to the zoo to watch various poultry and animals and get close to them; then go to the tropical botanical garden to feel the unique charm of tropical plants; then walk along the antique small Great Wall to enjoy the panoramic view of the park; finally come to Baihua Valley, walk among the flowers, enjoy the beautiful flowers, rest in the pavilion, and enjoy the sunset.
Transportation
- By Air: You can first take a flight to Korla Airport, then take a car from Korla to Hejing County. After arriving in Hejing County, you can choose to take a taxi or bus to Beishan Park.
- By Train: You can take a train to Hejing Railway Station, and after exiting the station, you can take a taxi to Beishan Park. The drive is short and the transportation is convenient.
- By Bus: There are long-distance buses from various counties and cities in Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture to Hejing County. After arriving in Hejing County, you can take a bus to the Beishan direction in the county or choose to take a taxi to Beishan Park.
- By Car: If you choose to drive, you can go to Hejing County via national highways and provincial highways. Beishan Park is located north of Hejing County. Set the navigation to "Hejing Beishan Park" to reach smoothly. There is a parking lot in the park for visitors to park.
Must-See Attractions
- Patriotic Education Base: As an important window for displaying red culture, it carries rich historical memories. By visiting each exhibition hall, you can deeply understand the revolutionary history and construction process of Hejing, feel the great spirit of the ancestors, and have profound educational significance and historical value.
- Butterfly Spring: One of the most characteristic natural landscapes in the park. The butterfly-shaped pool formed by the convergence of springs is very unique. Together with the surrounding flowers, seedlings, and playing swans, it constitutes a picturesque beautiful scenery. It is an excellent place for photo check-ins, allowing visitors to feel the magic and beauty of nature.
- Antique Small Great Wall: The antique small Great Wall built along the mountain not only allows visitors to exercise during the climbing process but also enjoy the magnificent scenery of the park and its surroundings. It is like traveling back to ancient times, experiencing the sense of historical weight, and is a good place to feel the park's scenery and historical and cultural atmosphere.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes or casual shoes. Because the park is large, you need to walk a long distance. Comfortable shoes can make the tour more relaxed.
- The ultraviolet rays in Xinjiang are strong. Even on cloudy days, you need to take sun protection measures. Carry sun protection products such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun hats to avoid sunburn.
- There are many natural landscapes and ecological areas in the park. During the tour, you should take good care of the environment, do not spit or litter, and keep the park clean and beautiful.
- If you want to experience the fun of the picking garden, you can understand the fruiting season in advance, choose the right time to go, and enjoy the happiness of picking fresh fruits by yourself.
- You can bring your own water and snacks to replenish water and energy during the tour. Although there are some snack bars in the park, bringing your own food can be more convenient and cost-effective.
Notes
- When visiting the Patriotic Education Base and other places, keep quiet, follow the order, do not make loud noises or touch the exhibits, and respect history and culture.
- When visiting the zoo, do not feed the animals to avoid affecting the health of the animals. Do not cross the fence or enter the animal area to ensure your own safety.
- If you carry out activities such as camping and picnicking in the park, pay attention to fire safety, comply with the relevant regulations of the park, use open fire in the designated area, and avoid causing fires.
- When visiting the park in summer, pay attention to preventing mosquito bites. You can carry mosquito repellent and other anti-mosquito supplies.
- Some areas in the park may have complex terrain. When walking, pay attention to foot safety, especially in places such as Baihua Valley and the antique small Great Wall. Do not deviate from the trail to avoid accidents.