Shennong Altar Scenic Area [Jiaozuo]

Shennong Altar Scenic Area is located at the south foot of Taihang Mountain, 25 kilometers northwest of Qinyang city, Jiaozuo, Henan Province. The total area is 50.2 square kilometers. It is the provincial scenic area. Yan Emperor, Shengnong (in the 30th century B.C.), cultivated grains and tried various herbs here. This is how it gains its name. It consists of eight main scenic spots, they are, Zijin Peak, Yunyang River, Xianshen River, Heilong Pond, Baisong Ridge, Linchuan Temple, Xuangu Mountain, and Yaoshun Road.

Shennong Altar Scenic Area integrates spaciousness, mystery, peace, and beauty into a whole. It is bold, unrestrained, and vigorous typically in the North; beautiful and meek typically in the South. It gathers the cream of Taihang Mountain. With peeks upon peaks, tranquil caves and green woods, various herbs, all-encapsulating scene of sublimity, and macaques playing among hills, it is a paradise on earth. Shennong Altar Scenic Area is a part of the ancient culture of the Central Plain. It has many cultural relics of Yingshao, Longshan, and Xiashang. It underwent many dynasties, such as Sui (581 - 618A.D.), Tang (618 - 907A.D.), Five Dynasties (907 - 960A.D), Song (960 - 1279A.D.), Yuan (1206 - 1368A.D.), Ming (1368 - 1644A.D.), and Qing (1616 - 1911A.D.), etc. and crystallized the civilization in several millennia of the Central Plain. It has the good reputation as “the Center of Taoism, the Holy Land of Buddhism”. These make it a lofty and steep scenic area comprised of natural scenery and cultural scene. Taipingmo Cliff Statue is a distinguishing spectacle from time immemorial. There are over 1,300 statues with Buddha’s name carved at each statue’s side. The figures are sedate and plump and comparable with Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang. Zijin Peak is the highest peak in Shennong Altar Scenic Area with an altitude of 1,028 meters. It stands erectly there like a jade post sticking into cloud. It is imposing, unique, beautiful, and magical. It is unique because of its high scenes, long traveling distance, and peculiar meteorological phenomena. “Xiaobei Peak” is the nickname of Zijin Peak. The peak is always enveloped in purple smog with gold light overflowing. Together with “Nanding”, Wudang Mountain, they are enjoying great fames both at home and abroad. When you reach the peak of it, you will have the feeling of “Looking around, the world is so small; dare not to speak loudly for fear of being heard by deity.”