Shi Zao Scenic Area is located 12 kilometers away from the park hotel, at an altitude of over 800 meters. It is a paradise on earth and a summer retreat. In spring and summer, flowers compete for beauty, mountain breezes blow gently, birds chirp and cicadas sing, with wisps of clouds floating by, creating a picturesque scene. The area is named after a natural stone stove found here. It boasts a 16,000-acre primeval secondary forest, known as an oasis on the Tropic of Cancer (International Forest Bathing Site), which complements the more than 300-acre Shi Zao Tianchi.
Strolling on the plank road by the sea of flowers at Tianchi, one can look back to see a ‘big umbrella’ made up of trees that rival those in the primeval secondary forest; this is the Ancient Tree Garden. As the name suggests, the trees in this area are quite ancient, with many having a history of over a hundred years. In the Ancient Tree Garden, there is a bluestone path that leads directly to the forest trails in the International Forest Bathing Site.The ‘Colorful Tianchi’ is situated within the Shi Zao Scenic Area, covering nearly a hundred acres and stretching two kilometers along Tianchi, facing the 16,000-acre primeval secondary forest across the water. The ‘Colorful Tianchi’ is composed of a variety of colored flowers. Bright red salvia, golden硫化菊 (sulfur cosmos), purple echinacea, orange zinnia, dark red cockscomb, light yellow panicle grass, and pink salvia come together to form a vibrant display. Surrounding this seven-colored flower sea, there are also cosmos and butterfly flowers. Red, pink, purple, and white flowers together embellish this beautiful canvas.
The maple forest in Shi Zao Scenic Area is characterized by uniform tree species and bright colors, covering nearly a thousand acres. The trees are all sweetgum, and from a distance, they appear as a uniform red, especially in late autumn when they take on a golden hue. The entire area is open from November 1st to April 30th from 09:00 to 18:00; and from May 1st to October 31st from 09:00 to 19:00.
