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In Dec 2010, four towns were enrolled in the second list of famous tourism towns and villages with distinctive landscapes in Henan province. The four towns include Yaozhuang Hui ethnic town and Ciba town in Jiaxian county, Yinji town in Wugang county and Xiatang town in Lushan county. Adding Yaoshan town in Lushan county , Guangkuotiandi town in Jiaxian county, and one village added to the first list in March 2010, there are now a total of six famous tourism towns and one village offering areas of outstanding beauty around Pingdingshan city.
In Xiatang town the most spectacular attraction are the hot springs, which enjoy great popularity. Four huge spa holliday villages and dozens of bath centers have been established in the area. Chaoyang Taoist Temple and Jiunv Cave, a natural stone cavern, are also a draw for visitors. Visitors come to the Temple to burn joss sticks and pray for good luck. According to the legend, Jiunv Cave was named after the ninth daughter of the Queen Mother of the West. She descended to the world to elope with a scholar she had fallen in love with, but the Queen Mother was against their marriage. Jiunv was abandoned and driven out of Heaven. In honor of her loyalty through thick and thin, local people named the beautiful cave after her.
Lotus Mountain, located in Baci town, is one of the three most famous Taoist Mountains. The three Su’s tombs located nearby have also drawn great attention from men of literature, high officials and noble lords since the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279). The three Su tombs include the resting place of the most famous man of letters and arts in the Song Dynasty Su Shi (also known as Su Dongpo), his brother Su Che, and his father Su Xun.
Yaozhuang Hui ethnic town is famous for its Muslim roast beef and tea water, which are known far and wide. The tea water is a high quality mineral water full of strontium and germanium. It is recorded that Su Dongpo and his father once sat drinking tea here whilst composing poetry. In addition, the area abounds with Arab style tapestries and artwares inlaid with gold and silver, and the detail and quality of these beautiful products makes them highly collectable.
Out of town, the Shimantan National forest Park located near Yinji town, boasts 27 historical sites, eight caves, 12 springs, and more than 180 scenic spots. Phonolite, also called clinkstone, is produced here. It sounds like singing when the rain drops on the stone. Yinji town abounds in different kinds of Chinese medicinal crops, such as honeysuckle.
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