Yangjiaxi is located within the territory of Yacheng Town, Xiapu County. It boasts one of the northernmost ancient banyan tree groups and the largest pure maple forest in Jiangnan. Notably, there is a ‘Banyan King’ with a history of over 800 years, a trunk circumference of 12.6 meters, a crown diameter of 51 meters, and a height of 30 meters. Its hollow trunk has seven openings, each large enough to accommodate several people. Every morning, as the sunlight filters through the forest at an angle, the dappled shadows create a magical, dreamlike atmosphere.
The Longting Waterfall is composed of two distinct falls: the Wen Waterfall, which drops vertically for 136 meters, and the Wu Waterfall, which cascades in two levels with a total drop of 135 meters. Surrounding the waterfall are more than ten scenic spots, including General’s Seal, Writing Rack, Rock Peak, Golden Lion at the Mouth, Jade Rabbit Leaping, General’s Salutation to the Seal, Immortal Seated on the Mountain, Jade Elephant Peak, Monkey Cave, and Dragon Cave.
About 1 kilometer downstream, one can take a bamboo raft from Nandou and drift downstream through the ‘Ten Bends and Twelve Shoals’, taking approximately two hours to reach Du Tou Village. Along the way, the green mountains and clear waters offer a view of 36 stone landscapes, such as Tang Seng’s Western Pilgrimage, Bodhidharma Facing the Wall, Golden Turtle Playing with Turtle, Wen Guang Breaking Ship, General’s Hat, and Three-tiered Stone, each vividly shaped.
In the downstream Du Tou Village, there are two nearby sweetgum forests covering an area of 250 acres with over 1100 maple trees. At the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the maple leaves turn a beautiful blend of yellow and red, resembling a crimson cloud. When spring arrives, the scenery becomes even more enchanting. The area is open year-round from 08:00 to 17:00.
