Listening to a Love Song of Mountains and Waters: A Soul-Stirring Journey
On our second day in Ningde, we visited the renowned local mountain and water scenic area. Despite having done thorough research and preparation, the sight of the Jiulongji Waterfall Cluster still stunned me—it was far more beautiful than I had imagined.
The scenic area is filled with layered peaks,奇特 stones, and deep canyons. As you step into Jiulongji, rare waterfall wonders cascade everywhere, one waterfall after another creating endless surprises. Everywhere you look, extraordinary mountain and water landscapes unfold, leaving me in awe and enchantment, feeling the symphony of life and nature.
Among the waterfall cluster, the first-level waterfall is the most spectacular, with a height of 46.7 meters and a width of 76 meters. The water plummets down steep cliffs as if the Milky Way in the heavens is spraying out from the clouds. The entire pool's surface rolls with mist like clouds and smoke. Even during the non-flood season, the rhythm of the high mountain flowing water is dreamlike.
Below the first-level waterfall lies a flat, expansive stone beach, named 'Baitian Beach' for its length and width of about a hundred steps. Strolling there, a cool breeze caresses your face. Look up, and a white silk ribbon hangs before you, with water mist dancing overhead. You might feel as if you are walking through a stunning landscape painting. Jiulongji Waterfall Cluster, known as the 'Number One Waterfall in Western Fujian,' is not only one of Fujian Province's first batch of provincial-level scenic spots and the core area of the Ningde World Geopark but also one of the largest waterfall clusters in the country. Walking through, you encounter extraordinary mountain and water wonders at every turn—each scene tells a story, each element exudes charm.
Baishuiyang, hailed as 'a peerless scenic wonder and a cosmic mystery,' sparkles under the sunlight with a brilliant white sheen. The flat rock riverbed is a single slab of stone, clean and sand-free, stretching smoothly amidst the lofty mountains. The river flows evenly, year-round, with water deep enough to cover the ankles, perfect for wading.
Among its three shallow water squares, the central one is the largest, covering 40,000 square meters with a maximum width of 182 meters. Baishuiyang is even more fun in summer, as there is a 'natural slide' downstream for surfing and swimming. Many water amusement facilities have been built around it, making it ideal for families with children.
Baishuiyang Geopark houses the world's only macaque nature reserve, where lush forests, babbling streams, and green mountains provide a habitat for generations of monkeys. That day, I was lucky to spot several monkeys—like spirits, they chased each other, hung upside down from branches, or scratched their heads, looking incredibly cute.
Shuanglong Bridge is a wooden arch bridge located upstream of Baishuiyang, spanning the river like a white dragon. The bridge exudes a rustic beauty, radiating a vast and atmospheric presence amidst the mountains and waters, filled with poetry from inside out, breathtakingly beautiful.
According to the Daoguang edition of the 'Pingnan County Annals,' Shuanglong Bridge was built in the third year of Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty and was destroyed at the end of the Republic of China. The current bridge was rebuilt in 2005, stretching 66 meters. Standing on it, you can not only appreciate the unique art of covered bridges but also view the wonders of Baishuiyang, as described in the verse: 'The window contains a thousand years of white water, the door anchors ten miles of water street.'
Downstream from Baishuiyang, there is a place known as the 'Lovers' Sanctuary,' and because hundreds or even thousands of mandarin ducks migrate thousands of miles from the north every autumn and winter to spend the winter, it is also called Yuanyang Creek.
'Better to envy mandarin ducks than to envy immortals'—the habitat of mandarin ducks must be a place that is no less than a fairyland. However, as I climbed and searched for a long time, I saw no ducks. Wild mandarin ducks are shy and often hide, so it takes good luck to encounter them. Although it was a bit regretful, the scenery here was truly extraordinary.
Ascending the 2,000-meter-long Lingyun Plank Road and moving forward, the path winds and turns. From above, you can overlook the entire canyon of Yuanyang Creek—the torrent gallops powerfully, the quiet valley floor roils with white waves and thunderous sounds, stirring a sense of grandeur in everyone's heart. Looking up, steep cliffs soar into the clouds; gazing into the distance, continuous mountains offer boundless beauty. One deeply feels how nature's craftsmanship and human artistry are perfectly integrated.
