Tonglu Tianzi Di: One of China’s Largest Wild Cherry Blossom Bases, Plus Tianzi Cave and Dinosaur Valley Await

Spring has arrived, the cherry blossoms are in bloom. My mountains are brimming with blossoms—why aren’t you here yet?

Right now is the Zhejiang Tonglu Tianzi Di Cherry Blossom Festival, and I hurried over by high-speed rail from Jiangxi. Those hillsides blanketed in blossoms are the most beautiful cherry blossoms I’ve ever seen!

Before even entering the scenic area, a 2-kilometer Love Flower Valley unfolds before you. Various flowers bloom here in their season. There are early and late cherry blossoms alone. The early ones have already passed their peak, but the late cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and now they are the stars of the show.

Looking around, rows upon rows of cherry trees, clusters of pink and white, form a canopy so dense it blocks out the sky. Together with the mountain stream, they create a Jiangnan sea of flowers.

When you come to Love Flower Valley, they say singles will find their match. Who’s going to step up, handsome?

Beautiful scenery always comes with good wishes. Legend has it there is a lovers’ cherry tree in the valley. If you walk under it with your beloved, you’ll stay together until old age. Hurry, bring your special someone and give it a try!

The most romantic and devoted couple in China is undoubtedly Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, and they occupy center stage in Love Flower Valley.

More important than hard work is the right choice in life, so we headed to Tianzi Di.

The one hundred thousand late cherry blossoms here vie to bloom, like pale pink clouds resting on the hilltops, making the whole spring splendid. No need for too much description—let the photos do the talking.

In other cherry blossom gardens, photos all look essentially the same. But at Tianzi Di, the cherry blossoms are highly recognizable; no one else can imitate them.

When I shoot cherry blossoms in Wuhan or Wuxi, I have to point my lens skyward, otherwise the picture won’t look like cherry blossoms at all. But here at Tianzi Di, there are no crowds.

A mountain breeze blows, and the faint fragrance of cherry blossoms lingers gently around you, barely there, carrying a transcendent, otherworldly grace.

Cherry blossoms fall at five centimeters per second.

At what speed should I meet you?

Wandering through the sea of flowers, your heart sways with the spring breeze, and a romantic encounter can happen at any moment.

Having a conversation with the cherry blossoms, everything awakens your girlish heart. Amid showers of petals, this is a place that makes you want to fall in love.

Passing under the trees, receive the blessing of a cherry blossom rain, reliving a scene straight out of an idol drama…

Every spring, as soon as the cherry blossoms bloom, they draw a large crowd of flower visitors eager to see their beauty.

If you come for the cherry blossoms, you also get a bonus of rapeseed flowers! Right by the roadside in Love Flower Valley, you can snap a gorgeous photo that might make people think you’re in Wuyuan.

Get a shot of a pavilion framed with cherry blossoms—this photo spot is just below the Tianzi Pavilion Restaurant. The couple rocking in the chair under the tree look so romantic.

On the way to the cable car, cherry trees lined up one after another without a break. We had to keep stopping—whenever we felt like it, we just clicked a picture.

I heard cherry trees go really well with ice cream. (Please ignore the people.)

Because of a warm winter and early spring, the blooming period came about half a month earlier this year. Early, middle, and late cherry blossoms bloom in succession from early March to early April. The Qingming holiday is your last chance to enjoy them. Miss it and you’ll have to wait another year, so plan your visit soon!

Hearing that there are ten thousand mu of wild cherry blossoms on the mountaintop, we rushed ahead eagerly. There are two ways up: climb on foot, or the lazy way. Impatient as we were, we chose the cable car.

Thanks to its great geographic location, the wild cherry blossoms on top of Tianzi Di are especially gorgeous. In recent years, it has become one of China’s largest wild cherry blossom bases, boasting over ten thousand mu of wild cherry trees.

A ten-minute walk from the cable car landing brings you to the “Mountain Summit View,” the best spot for admiring wild cherry blossoms.

The wild cherry trees astonish the valley with pink and white blossoms. Tianzi Di holds a grand Cherry Blossom Festival every year. To make viewing easier, an observation deck was built, offering a 360-degree unobstructed view. Standing on it, you can’t help but recite Song Dynasty poet Fang Yue’s verse: “Deep in the mountains, spring may not be late; mountain cherry blossoms bend the branches everywhere.”

Unintentionally planted, yet they’ve grown into a landscape. Their wild beauty amazes everyone; their spirit is beyond words!

Wuxi’s Yuantouzhu, Nanjing’s Jiming Temple, and Wuhan University all have famous cherry blossoms, but do they have wild cherry blossoms like these?

1,600 years ago, the mother of Emperor Liu Yu of the Southern Song Dynasty knew how to pick a spot. She gave birth to such a distinguished son in Luoshan Village, and later generations called this place Tianzi Di (“Emperor’s Land”). It’s a culturally rich mountain with stories. If you want a child destined for greatness, come to Luoshan Village!

A thousand years pass in a flash; all the stories have faded. Today, Tianzi Di, with its mountains, lakes, and karst caves, has become an internet-famous destination.

Tonglu is Zhejiang’s ecological treasure trove, and Tianzi Di is Tonglu’s ecological gem. “Landscape on the Fuchun River, ecology at Tianzi Di.” Tianzi Di rivals the famed Fuchun River and features four sightseeing zones: folk customs and leisure, secluded valleys and waterfalls, underground karst caves, and mountain summit views.

After the ticket check, you’re greeted by a stunning wisteria flower corridor, completely covered in hanging wisteria blossoms. I was captivated instantly!

No woman can resist flowers—cue the various poses.

Even a little boy is no exception, enjoying his snacks and the blossoms at the same time. Young man, I see an extraordinary air about you; maybe you’re destined to be an emperor someday.

Passing through the wisteria corridor, you arrive at Tianzi Village. Modeled after Ming and Qing-style architecture, it’s an eco-village without original residents, but with white walls and dark tiles. A small stream runs through it, making it a true Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming.

The moment I stepped into Tianzi Village, all worries and noise seemed to fade away.

The Jiangnan-style gardens here are perfect for hanfu photos; every spot is highly photogenic.

Beyond Tianzi Village lies a turquoise lake nestled quietly amid the mountains—Tianzi Lake.

Two thick cherry trees grow by the shore, their branches stretching over the water. If you’re not in a rush, just stand quietly by the railing and lose yourself in the blossoms and shimmering reflections.

Let your companion snap a few photos for you to post on your social media, and you’ll surely win first prize in the WeChat photography contest.

There was a black swan on the lake. I tossed some grass that swans love into the water, but the swan just ate and ignored me. Seems it’s a foodie too.

When night falls, the lights around Tianzi Lake come on, transforming the scene into something dreamlike and magical.

At the other end of the shore is the cable car station—the only aerial ropeway in Tonglu County. We had taken it the day before, and today we rode up again to continue where we left off.

The upper station is at the “Mountain Summit View” spot. From the observation deck, the two mountain ranges to the east and west look just like two green dragons swimming toward Tianzi Lake, forming a spectacle of “Two Dragons Frolicking with Water.” It may not be as grand as famous mountains and rivers, but it has a charm all its own.

Leaving the observation deck, we continued along the mountain trail. Warning: bandits ahead! A female sentry hurriedly sounded the gong.

Of course, that’s not happening now. Today, Tianzi Mountain is a place of peace and prosperity. But in ancient times, because it sat at the junction of three counties—a remote, ungoverned spot—hold-ups did sometimes occur.

After sounding the gong, the curious little one moved on toward Tianzi Cave. On the way, we saw workers building a glass bridge suspended between two precipitous peaks of the “Cloud Ladder Ridge.” Soon, visitors to Tianzi Di will have a brand-new experience.

Along the route, we passed many spots: Listening Spring Pavilion, Cloud Ladder Ridge, Red Maple Forest… Though you can’t see red maples in spring. Come autumn, the red maples up on this mountain will surely be as breathtakingly beautiful as the wild cherry blossoms.

Going further, we reached Tianzi Cave. Right at the entrance, a cold draft hit us—if this were midsummer, it would feel absolutely amazing.

The first thing you see inside Tianzi Cave is a colorful light tunnel. With the changing lights, it feels like walking through a time-travel corridor.

Tianzi Cave is different from many other karst caves. It’s unique because it’s China’s largest shaft-type karst cave, with an entrance and exit that have an elevation difference of over 100 meters. The terrain rises from low to high. Bathed in colorful lights, it’s like a fairyland. It’s called Tianzi Cave because Emperor Liu Yu once roamed, rested, and studied here.

The cave has three chambers connected to each other, each with different scenic spots. The first chamber features the East Sea Dragon Palace, Crystal Palace, Sea-Stabilizing Needle, Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, Dragon Sons and Daughters, and Flowery Canopy. The second chamber shows the Emperor’s Former Residence, Emperor Watching the Waterfall, Gathering of Elephants, Jade Terrace Immortal Pool, Four Pillars Propping the Sky, and Vast Forest and Snowfield. The third chamber includes Immortals Playing Chess, an Upside-Down Sword, and a Jade Buddha Pagoda. I just wondered: what means did nature use to create these cave wonders?

The second chamber is known for its underground rivers and waterfalls. Before you even reach it, you hear the sound of rushing water. The entrance to the “Emperor’s Former Residence” is a smooth, flat stone slab with water constantly flowing over it year-round. I was eager to explore the residence but had to stop short at the water.

I guess I’m not sharp-eyed. At the “Emperor Watching the Waterfall,” I saw the waterfall but not the emperor—it’s a brain-teaser. Hey, where’s the flashlight and the guide?

At “Jade Terrace Immortal Pool,” the stalactites are crystal clear. When the light hits the pool, it turns parts of it blue and others red, making you exclaim: This scene must belong only to heaven; rarely is it seen in the mortal world.

The “Lingzhi Immortal Mountain” is easy to recognize with the naked eye, but when you look at a photo, it really tests your eyesight and imagination.

“Vast Forest and Snowfield” reminded me of the story Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy, stirring and heroic.

Slowly climbing the stone steps to the third chamber, you find the essence of Tianzi Cave. Two immortals in yellow robes are seated, concentrating intently on a chess game, with onlookers nearby. The “Immortals Playing Chess” scene is truly masterful.

Exiting Tianzi Cave and heading downward leads to the Ecological Gorge. The forest here is lush, the negative oxygen ions are off the charts, and you might meet some little animals unexpectedly. Surprises are always waiting.

A Purple Dragon Gorge glass drift slide is being built in the gorge. At 3 kilometers long, it will be the world’s longest fully transparent glass slide. It winds down from the mountaintop to the base like a giant dragon.

Construction is nearly finished. In a few more days, the glass slide drift will open. Then visitors can enjoy both thrills and a relaxing ride all the way down.

The whole slide is purple except for the glass parts—very eye-catching.

Before the Purple Dragon Gorge glass slide is completed, there is already a slide here called the Rainbow Slide. You whoosh down through the forest in about five minutes. We sat on mats and slid off.

At the foot of the mountain, you come face to face with Dinosaur Valley. The king of dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex, the fierce Stegosaurus… scenes from Jurassic Park appear right before your eyes, making you feel like you’re in a Hollywood blockbuster.

We walked under two Brachiosauruses shaped like a heart. They had long necks, huge bodies, and bird-like beaks. Their teeth were straight and sharp, big enough to swallow chunks of food whole.

Allosaurus and Brontosaurus are not best friends—look at how they’ve clawed each other’s bellies bloody.

The most formidable is Stegosaurus. Its body is as big as an elephant, with two rows of triangular bony plates on its back, like sharp knives stuck in, as if ready to battle an opponent at any moment.

Two dinosaurs laying eggs—a new generation is about to be born.

Therizinosaurus feeding its young, full of motherly love.

The most domineering is, of course, Tyrannosaurus rex, one of the most ferocious carnivores in history. With its razor-sharp teeth, it could bite through the bone of any animal in one snap. Just thinking about it is a bit scary.

Staying at Tianzi Di for cherry blossom viewing and fun, you don’t need to worry about running out of time. There are over a dozen hillside villa guest rooms here, a five-star-level National Forest Wellness Resort Hotel. A hotel and a holiday destination in one, many Hangzhou locals and even Shanghainese stay for two days, seeking to recapture the essence of life amid daily routines.

Stay in a springtime hotel, stay in the most beautiful spring scenery. Open the curtains, and a soothing mountain view fills the room.

The resort is styled like a classical Chinese garden, with a beautiful view from every angle. Holiday lovers will adore it, and it hit my own weakness too. Sleeping in a landscape is never an empty phrase at Tianzi Di.

If I said this is a Suzhou garden, who would disagree?

The hotel has over 60 rooms of various types. There are courtyard compounds and two-story standalone villas. If you’re traveling with family or friends, choosing one of those courtyard-style buildings is a great deal.

In the elegant courtyard, flowers and stones are artfully placed, with sweet osmanthus, privet, and small bamboo intermingled. In such a serene setting, the heart finds its warmest encounter.

The world is too noisy; I need a mountain courtyard. Discuss poetry and philosophy by day, gaze at stars and the moon by night—as carefree as an immortal.

The rooms use warm tones and feel very cozy.

Hide away here for a night, set down your heavy burdens, and let yourself start the next day with a fresh, cheerful spirit, then head back to the city to hustle.

You don’t even need to leave Tianzi Di to enjoy natural, organic, healthful cuisine. Tianzi Pavilion Restaurant has several private rooms of different sizes and both indoor and outdoor dining areas, comfortably seating over 300 guests at once.

Zhejiang cuisine is generally not spicy, but Tonglu is an exception. Tonglu is a bit like Jiangxi—some dishes include chili peppers, which delighted me, coming from Jiangxi. My favorite was the braised fish: the meat was tender and fresh, with red chilies, and went wonderfully with rice.

In March, you can eat fresh bamboo shoots, crisp and refreshing.

Braised pork with preserved mustard greens was so delicious you had to snatch it before it was gone!

Soybean-stewed pig skin is a characteristic dish, with a flavor far from simple.

The people of Tianzi Mountain have a soft spot for free-range, locally raised chickens. The free-range chicken is one of Tianzi Pavilion’s signature dishes. The chickens raised here are tastier than those sold outside the mountain. Simmered with spring water, the moment you lift the lid, the rich aroma of chicken hits you. The meat is golden and enticing, exceptionally tender, and even the skin is delicious.

【How to get there】:

High-Speed Rail Route 1:

Take the high-speed train to Qiandaohu Station (Wenchang Town). Wenchang Town is next to Bai Jiang Town where Tianzi Di is located. Then take a bus to Tonglu Tianzi Di Eco-Scenic Area.

High-Speed Rail Route 2:

Take the high-speed train to Tonglu High-Speed Railway Station, then transfer to a bus to Tonglu Tianzi Di Eco-Scenic Area.

By car: Hangzhou-Xin’an River Expressway → Qiandao Lake Branch → Turn to Provincial Road 16 → Arrive at Tonglu Tianzi Di Eco-Scenic Area.

【Useful Info】:

Full-price admission: 100 yuan, half-price: 50 yuan (hotel guests do not need to buy admission tickets).

Cable car one-way: 35 yuan, Rainbow Slide: 30 yuan.