China's top 7 must-see tourist sights for Year of Tiger

We've entered the traditional Geng Yin Lunar New Year launched by the 2010 Spring Festival and referred to as "Year of the Tiger in China," prompting enthusiasts to visit scenic spots named after the Tiger. So which ones are most famous and where are they? The following places have the word "Hu" in the word, meaning "Tiger" in Chinese.

 

1. Hutiao Gorge

 

Hutiao Gorge in Yunnan Province.

 

Hutiao Gorge is located on the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, to the northeast of Lijiang, in southwest China's Yunnan Province. The narrowest stretch in the river is only about 30 meters across and carries the legend that a tiger could easily jump across the river. The river is about 29 km long, reaching 3,790 meters in depth between Jade Dragon and Haba Snow Mountains, creating one of the most spectacularly deep gorges in the world.

 

2. Weihu Mountain

 

Weihu Mountain in Heilongjiang Province

 

Weihu Mountain lies about 64 km northwest of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and is a well-known scenic spot and ski area. It's the place where one of China's great patriots, Yang Zirong (1917-1947) rounded up bandits during the initial post-Liberation period in China and you can still see the ruins that remain today. Weihu Mountain combines steepness and beauty. Initially, you will face a steep climb; but on the way down, the space is limitless. It marks one of the commemorative places of China's fight against the Japanese aggressors as well as China's liberation by the Chinese Communist Party.

 

3. Hupao Spring

 

Hupao Spring in Hangzhou West Lake, Zhejiang Province

 

Hupao Spring lies to the southwest of Hangzhou's West Lake in Zhejiang Province. The name stems from a legend that there were once two tigers making a cave here. The water from Hupao Spring tastes sweet and mellow, widely compared to Longjing Tea produced in the West Lake. The ancient Hupao Temple is nearby, famous for renowned Buddhists Xingkong, Jidian and Hongyi.

 

4. Huqiu Tower

 

Huqiu Tower in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province

 

Huqiu, originally name Haiyong Mountain, is located to the northwest of the old city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The name Huqiu comes with the story that in the Spring and Autumn period (770B.C.-221B.C.), Emperor Wu died in 496 B.C. and was buried here. For three days, a white tiger lay on his tomb. Huqiu is the No.1 scenic spot in Wuzhong; in this area, Huqiu Tower, Yunyan Si and Sword Pond are the most popular historical sites.

 

5. Hulao Pass

 

Hulao Pass in Cuanyang, Henan Province

 

Hulao Pass lies in Cuanyang City in central China's Henan Province, with a legend that says an Emperor liked to keep tigers in captivity. It's also the battlefield where military general and later Eastern Han Dynasty minor warlord Lü Bu fought with three other military generals.

 

6. Fuhu Temple

 

Fuhu Temple in Sichuan Province

 

Fuhu Temple is an important Buddhist Temple at the foot of Emei Mountain in Sichuan Province. It was built during the Tang Dynasty period of 618-907 A.D., originally named Shenlong Tong. Because there are always tigers on the mountain, it's been renamed Fuhu Temple. The temple is bright and is encircled by lofty trees; it was rebuilt in earlier times during the Qing Dynasty of 1636-1911 A.D.

 

7. Heihu Spring

 

Heihu Spring in Jinan, Shandong

 

Heihu Spring is one of the 72 most famous springs in Jinan City, Shandong Province, located on the south bank along the moat of Heihu Spring Street. The wind emits a terrifying roar as it rises through the cave. For this reason, it is known as "hei hu", or "black tiger". The spring water rises from the cave and cascades from stone animal heads from 28 meters high and into a stone pool 13 meters long and 9 meters wide.

 

SOURCE: news.xinhuanet.com

 

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