### Ye Sanpo Bai Cao Pan Scenic Area Overview
Ye Sanpo Bai Cao Pan, also known as Bai Cao Pan, is nestled on the eastern side of Jiulong Town, Laishui County, Baoding City, Hebei Province, at the junction with Beijing. It forms part of the expansive Ye Sanpo Natural Scenic Area. The main peak soars to an altitude of 1983 meters, marking it as one of Ye Sanpo’s highest points. This area is a haven for nature enthusiasts, primarily for hiking and relishing the natural splendor.
### Natural Landscapes and Environment
The scenic area is renowned for its breathtaking peaks, peculiar rocks, verdant forests, and pristine springs and waterfalls. It offers a pleasant environment with highlights such as alpine meadows, aerial gardens, and birch forests, all waiting to be explored. Visitors can also witness the unique spectacle of experiencing four seasons on one mountain, alpine sea of clouds, and glacier rhododendrons, providing a rich tapestry of sights.
### Distinction from Other Scenic Areas
The Ye Sanpo Bai Cao Pan Scenic Area shares its name with the Bai Cao Pan Natural Scenic Area in Fangshan District, Beijing. It’s common for tourists to confuse Mentougou Baihua Mountain Nature Reserve and Fangshan Baihua Mountain Scenic Area with these two. All these areas are situated within the Baihua Mountain Range, featuring a main peak on both the Beijing and Hebei sides. The Fangshan Bai Cao Pan Natural Scenic Area is on the Beijing side, with Mentougou Baihua Mountain Nature Reserve and Fangshan Baihua Mountain Scenic Area also on this peak, creating three scenic areas on three sides of one mountain, all fee-charging and interconnected at the summit. Ye Sanpo Bai Cao Pan Scenic Area, however, is on the Hebei side and stands as a separate scenic area, not interconnected with the others. The Baihua Mountain alpine meadow on the Beijing side is accessible from the three scenic areas there, but not from Ye Sanpo Bai Cao Pan Scenic Area. It’s crucial to distinguish between them before visiting, as the alpine meadow in Ye Sanpo is a different concept.
### Exploring Ye Sanpo Bai Cao Pan Scenic Area
The Ye Sanpo Bai Cao Pan Scenic Area is vast, with numerous attractions accessible by walking along the mountain climbing plank roads. There are two sightseeing routes: the large loop and the small loop. The large loop, often chosen by visitors, starts from the west entrance, allowing for climbing by foot or cable car, and includes attractions such as Liangqing Valley, Ant Ridge, and Five Fingers Peak, leading to the aerial garden, piercing peak, and Bai Cao Pan main peak area for sightseeing, before descending from the east plank road to the east exit. The east plank road offers views of birch forests and glacier rhododendrons. The entire loop spans approximately 12.5 kilometers and takes about 5-6 hours. The small loop follows the same path as the large loop for the first half, with the option of walking or taking the cable car up the mountain. However, after visiting the summit area, visitors descend along the west side back to the west entrance. This route is about 5 kilometers and takes about 3 hours. There are two cable car sections, located at Ant Ridge and Piercing Peak, with each section taking approximately 15 minutes one way, saving nearly an hour of climbing. It is recommended to take the Piercing Peak cable car, as visitors are still energetic when climbing Ant Ridge and do not need it as much. The latter section saves more effort and offers a panoramic view of the forest.
### Western Area Attractions
The western area is a must-visit for both the big and small circuits, featuring attractions such as Qingliang Peak, Ant Ridge, Wind-moved Stone, Red Birch Forest, and Five Fingers Peak, with Ant Ridge and Wind-moved Stone being particularly notable. Ant Ridge is home to many large earth mounds about 1 meter above the ground, which are actually ant hills created by ants, a truly magical sight. The Wind-moved Stone is a doughnut-shaped boulder about 4 meters high, which appears to be balanced on a single point on its convex surface, giving the illusion that it might sway with a gust of wind. It is well worth a visit.
### Summit Area and Eastern Area
The summit area is the core of the scenic spot, offering views of hanging gardens and alpine meadows. However, it should be noted that the grass here is quite tall and there are few flowers, unlike the diverse flower meadows found in Beijing. The view from the top is very expansive, with sea of clouds spectacles on both sides, which is extremely magnificent. Moreover, the climate at the summit is highly variable, often allowing visitors to experience the magical phenomenon of ‘four seasons in one mountain, different weather every ten miles’. The eastern area is only accessible to those on the big circuit, featuring attractions such as the Ten Thousand Year Spring, White Birch Forest, Rhododendron Forest, waterfalls, Rooster’s Crow Valley, and Dripping Cliff. The White Birch Forest becomes a paradise for photographers in autumn with its beautiful yellow leaves.**Baicaopan Scenic Area: A Unique Natural Spectacle**
**Glacial Rhododendrons**
– A mesmerizing sight in the Baicaopan Scenic Area is the ‘Glacial Rhododendrons’. During April and May, while the glaciers at the base of the Rhododendron Forest are still frozen, the rhododendrons burst into full bloom, presenting a breathtaking natural phenomenon not to be missed.
**Accommodation and Dining Options**
1. **Farmhouses Outside the Scenic Area**
– **Accommodation**: Several farmhouses offer accommodation with room rates ranging from 50-100 yuan. Conditions vary; some rooms include showers and indoor bathrooms.
– **Dining**: Meals can be enjoyed at these farmhouses, which are slightly more expensive than dining outside the tourist area but remain reasonable compared to other tourist destinations.
2. **Sanpo Town for Ye Sanpo Scenic Area**
– **Accommodation**: For those planning to visit multiple attractions within the Ye Sanpo Scenic Area, staying in Sanpo Town is recommended. The town offers a variety of hotels and farmhouses at different price points.
– **Location**: Nestled by the mountains and rivers, Sanpo Town is conveniently close to all scenic spots.
– **Atmosphere**: Every summer evening, the town is lively with fireworks, sky lanterns, and bonfire parties by the river.
– **Dining**: Local farmhouse dishes, river fish, and whole roast lamb are specialties, all reasonably priced and worth trying.
**Opening Hours**
– The area is open all year round from 08:00 to 17:00.
**Preferential Policies**
– **Children**:
– Free for children under 1.2 meters (inclusive) with an accompanying guardian.
– Half price for children above 1.2 meters (exclusive) with an accompanying guardian.
– **Students**:
– Half price for full-time university undergraduate students and below (excluding adult colleges) under 18 years old with a valid student ID or ID card.
– **Elderly**:
– Free for seniors aged 70 years (inclusive) and above with a senior citizen card or ID card.
– Half price for those aged between 60 (inclusive) and 70 (exclusive) with a senior citizen card or ID card.
– **Military Personnel**:
– Free for active or retired military personnel (including armed police) with their ID card and valid military or retirement certificate.
– **Disabled**:
– Free for those with a disability certificate issued by the relevant national departments.
– **Journalists**:
– Free for those with a valid press card.
**Additional Information**
– The information provided is for reference only. Please verify the details with the scenic spot on the day of your visit for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
