Longtan Bay

The sixteenth stop of the Northeast China tour introduced by Northeasterners is the Longtan Bay Scenic Area in Xiuyan, Anshan, Liaoning. Located within the territory of Longtan Town, Xiuyan County, Anshan City, the scenic area covers 17.8 square kilometers. Not only is it a provincial-level forest park and nature reserve, but it is also a national AAA-rated tourist attraction. Longtan Mountain was anciently known as 'Suhulu Mountain', named after the legend of the deep water stone pools in the area, especially the legend of the azure pool hiding a dragon. Poets from the Jin Dynasty, Wang Ji, and from the Qing Dynasty, Wang Dezhi, have both made clear records in their poetry, showing its profound historical and cultural heritage. The core attractions of Longtan Bay Scenic Area include Longtan Bay, Longtan Eighteen Bays, etc. Longtan Bay is peach-shaped, with a huge stone ridge at the bottom of the pool, and the upstream water gushes from the canyon's crevices to the peach pit, swirling in the pool before spilling out from the peach tip. The pool is 8.2 meters deep, with clear and sweet water containing various elements beneficial to the human body, making it one of the best-preserved areas for forest species, vegetation, and environmental conservation in southern Liaoning. There are more than 1,200 species of herbs in the area, including more than 300 kinds of wild medicinal materials, over 80 kinds of wild vegetables, and more than 30 kinds of wild fungi such as Hericium erinaceus. According to professional departments, the air in the mountains contains 20,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic meter, making it a natural oxygen bar. Longtan Bay has a long history. The Hongshi site belongs to the Warring States period, with two stone shelters to the east of the site belonging to the Bronze Age. In the second year of Mingchang of the Jin Dynasty, Wang Ji, the criminal prosecutor of Xianping Road in Liaodong, composed a poem here, praising the natural beauty of the place. In addition, Longtan Bay is rich in folk legends and stories, such as the story of the Little Dragon King, which add a strong cultural color and tourist attraction to the scenic area.