Taining Scenic Area is located in Taining County, Sanming City, Fujian Province, China. It is a World Natural Heritage site, a World Geopark, and also a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The total area of the scenic area is 492.5 square kilometers, of which the Danxia landform area covers 252.7 square kilometers. Taining is dominated by young Danxia landform landscapes, and also features various geological relics such as volcanic rocks, granite, and structural landforms. It boasts main landscape characteristics including water Danxia, canyon communities, cave wonders, and primitive ecology. The ecosystem in the area is highly pristine, with abundant rare and endemic species.
History and Culture
Taining enjoys the reputation of "Ancient Town of the Han and Tang Dynasties, Famous City of the Two Song Dynasties". Humans have lived and multiplied here as early as the Neolithic Age. In the 6th year of Yuanyou in the Northern Song Dynasty (1086 AD), Taining County was established from Guihua County. Emperor Zhezong of the Song Dynasty conferred the mansion name "Taining" from Confucius' hometown in Qufu, implying "peace and prosperity of the country and people". Taining is the hometown of Zou Yinglong, the top scholar of the Song Dynasty. During the Two Song Dynasties, scholars from Taining created the imperial examination legend of "two top scholars across the river, four jinshi in one family, and nine juren in one alley". It also preserves ancient building complexes such as the Shangshu Mansion and the Ming and Qing Garden, as well as cultural relics such as cliff burial sites of ancient Yue ancestors in Danxia rock caves and the Millennium-old Ganlu Rock Temple.
Major Attractions
Da Jinhu Lake
Da Jinhu Lake is located in Shuiji Village, Meikou Township, Taining County, with a scenic area of 140 square kilometers, including a water area of 36 square kilometers. Known as "the best lake and mountain under heaven", the scattered Danxia peaks and vast lake water complement each other, creating the famous "Water Danxia" landscape. In addition, it preserves revolutionary historical sites such as the former site of the General Headquarters of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and the former site of the Eastern Army Command.
Shangqing Stream
Shangqing Stream Scenic Area is located in the northeastern part of Taining and the upper reaches of Da Jinhu Lake, known as "the first drift in East China". Its main attractions include "Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate", "Golden Bell Ringing", and "Five Elders Watching Immortals".
Zhaixia Grand Canyon
Zhaixia Grand Canyon Scenic Area is located in Ruanxi Village at the junction of Shancheng Town and Datian Township, about 16 kilometers away from Taining County seat. It is a key scenic area in the Da Jinhu Lake Park of Taining World Geopark, including three deep canyons: Xuantian Gorge, Tongtian Gorge and Yitian Gorge.
Zhuangyuan Rock
Zhuangyuan Rock Scenic Area is located in Changxing Village, northern suburb of Taining County seat, and the lower reaches of Shangqing Stream, about 12 kilometers away from Taining County seat. It got its name because Zou Yinglong, the top scholar in the 2nd year of Qingyuan in the Song Dynasty, studied here in his early years. The scenic area is divided into 5 districts including Zhuangyuan Valley, Hulu Tian and Wuzhi Mountain, and is known as "a Danxia resort with outstanding people and beautiful land".
Ganlu Rock Temple
Ganlu Rock Temple is located in the Da Jinhu Lake Scenic Area of Taining, first built in 1146 AD. It is built in an arched rock cave, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom in an inverted triangle shape, with ingenious design and craftsmanship: "one pillar inserted into the ground, without a single tile", which is a masterpiece in the history of Chinese temple architecture.
Mao'er Mountain
Mao'er Mountain is located in Meikou Township, Taining County, composed of the Three Sword Peaks of Jinhu Lake, and is part of the Wuyi Mountain Range. It was upgraded to a national forest park in China in February 2000, with a forest coverage rate of up to 90%.
Jiulongtan
Jiulongtan Scenic Area is located in the northern core area of Taining World Geopark, known as "the miniature pearl of Taining's Danxia mountains and rivers", and is a typical area where young Danxia landforms in Taining have developed. Its night tour project "Dreamland · Jiulongtan" provides tourists with an audio-visual experience integrating light, shadow and other effects.
Taining Ancient City
Taining Ancient City is located in the urban area of Taining County, with a history of more than 1,300 years, and is known as "Ancient Town of the Han and Tang Dynasties, Famous City of the Two Song Dynasties". The Shangshu Mansion, a national key cultural relic protection unit in the city, is the most exquisite and well-preserved treasure of Ming Dynasty residential architecture in the Jiangnan area of China.
Travel Routes
One-day tour: Da Jinhu Lake (admire Water Danxia) - Ganlu Rock Temple (visit the unique architecture) - Taining Ancient City (experience history and culture).
Two-day tour: On the first day, Shangqing Stream (experience bamboo raft drifting) - Zhuangyuan Rock (explore historical relics); On the second day, Zhaixia Grand Canyon (enjoy canyon scenery) - Jiulongtan (admire night view or Danxia mountains and rivers in the daytime).
Three-day tour: On the first day, Da Jinhu Lake - Ganlu Rock Temple - Taining Ancient City; On the second day, Shangqing Stream - Zhuangyuan Rock - Mao'er Mountain; On the third day, Zhaixia Grand Canyon - Jiulongtan - Geology Museum. Tourists can adjust according to their own time and interests.
Travel Suggestions
- The climate is relatively comfortable in spring and autumn, which are good times to visit; in summer, attention should be paid to sun protection and anti-mosquito measures; in winter, it is rather humid and cold, so keep warm.
- If time permits, you can arrange more days to visit each attraction slowly and deeply experience the beautiful scenery and culture of the scenic area.
- When participating in water projects, be sure to wear life jackets as required by the staff and pay attention to safety.
- When tasting local food, you can choose according to your own taste; if you can't eat spicy food very much, you can inform the restaurant staff in advance.
Notes
- There is much rainfall in Taining in spring, so prepare rain gear; the temperature difference between morning and evening is large in spring and winter, so pay attention to keeping warm.
- Take good care of personal belongings, especially when taking transportation and during the tour, to avoid loss.
- Travel in a civilized manner, do not randomly damage the flowers, plants, trees, cultural relics and historic sites in the scenic area, and do not carve or scribble randomly in the scenic area.
- Some scenic areas have requirements on the age and physical conditions of tourists. For example, when participating in strenuous activities or visiting high-altitude attractions, choose according to your own situation.
- Try to travel in groups during night or free time, do not trust strangers easily, and pay attention to personal and property safety.
Transportation
- Airplane: The nearest airport to Taining is Sanming Shaxian Airport, about 1.5 hours' drive from Taining. You can take a special line bus to Taining at the airport or transfer to Taining from Sanming urban area first.
- Train: There is a Taining Railway Station. You can take a train to Taining Station, and there are buses or taxis to the scenic area after getting off the train.
- Bus: There is a Taining Bus Station, and many cities inside and outside the province have long-distance buses directly to Taining.
- Self-driving: Starting from cities such as Fuzhou and Xiamen, you can go to Taining via highways such as Fuyin Expressway, and navigate to Taining Scenic Area.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours a day all year round. However, some attractions may adjust their opening hours due to special circumstances, such as severe weather or scenic area maintenance.
Tickets
Separate tickets are implemented for each attraction.
Da Jinhu Lake: starting from 80 yuan, Shangqing Stream: starting from 50 yuan, Zhaixia Grand Canyon: starting from 50 yuan, Shangshu Mansion: starting from 20 yuan.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "泰宁文旅" to get the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
