Introduction to Xi’an Jingyugou Bamboo Sea Scenic Area
Xi’an Jingyugou Bamboo Sea Scenic Area, a National AAA-level Tourist Attraction, is located in Che Village (a Beautiful Rural Village) of Fengguang Road, Dizhai Street, Baqiao District, Xi’an. Situated 5 kilometers away from Bailu Cang and 20 kilometers from downtown Xi’an, this panoramic negative oxygen ion leisure scenic area captivates visitors with its splendid natural landscapes that vary across seasons. The Guanzhong Bamboo Sea Scenic Area is renowned for its “Three Wonders of Guanzhong”: Whale Lake, Guanzhong Bamboo Sea, and Bao’en Temple.
Spanning 3 kilometers, Whale Lake enchants visitors with its vast expanse of shimmering blue waters, exuding mystery and tranquility. The Guanzhong Bamboo Sea features nearly a thousand acres of pristine bamboo forests, where lush emerald canopies create a “natural oxygen bar” with negative oxygen ion levels 5-10 times higher than urban areas, perfect for relaxation and wellness. The Bao’en Temple, serving as the branch temple of Xiangji Temple, impresses with its solemn and majestic architecture.
Strolling through the scenic area, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of lakes and mountains while discovering landmarks like the Medicine Buddha Hall, Unique Stone Forest, Taohua Island, Whale Leaping Waterfall, and Bamboo Fragrance River. The destination offers outdoor camping experiences for immersive nature stays, along with stargazing-friendly homestays nestled among bamboo groves – ideal for cloud-watching and celestial observations under open skies.
Jinyugou Introduction
Jingyugou, colloquially known as “Whale Valley,” is a deep V-shaped gorge cutting through the heart of the White Deer Plateau (Bailuyuan) along its natural terrain. Originally named Jingyu Gou (荆峪沟), this massive erosional gully, formed by centuries of surface water erosion, stretches 30 kilometers in length. Its upper reaches feature vertical cuts of 80-100 meters, while its lower reaches near the valley mouth deepen dramatically to 210 meters.
The gorge acts like a surgical incision laid bare across the plateau’s “belly,” revealing the inner geological secrets of the White Deer Plateau. Within its depths, visitors can observe the plateau’s internal structure—layers of rock, natural springs, and soil formations—displayed with striking clarity. To truly understand the White Deer Plateau, a journey into Jingyugou is essential.
Dividing the White Deer Plateau into two distinct regions—Nan Yuan (Southern Plateau) and Bei Yuan (Northern Plateau)—Jingyugou holds historical significance. Nan Yuan, historically called “Baoli” (鲍里), later earned the name Paoli Yuan (炮里原, “Gunpowder Plateau”) as locals harvested timber to produce charcoal for gunpowder. Bei Yuan, once known as Baling Yuan (霸陵原), was renamed Dizhai Yuan (狄寨原, “General Di’s Garrison Plateau”) during the Tiansheng era of the Song Dynasty (1023-1032 CE) after General Di Qing (狄青) established a military encampment there.
Jingyugou is a steep, narrow gorge with pristine landscapes and untouched wilderness. Its slopes are densely vegetated with lush forests, crisscrossed by winding streams and dramatic cascades that sparkle like scattered jade. The valley transforms across seasons: blanketed in wildflowers, shaded by emerald canopies, ablaze with autumn foliage, or draped in winter snow—each scene uniquely breathtaking.
This gorge carves a vibrant, water-rich oasis into the arid expanse of the White Deer Plateau (Bailuyuan), where dense foliage, murmuring streams, and thriving wildlife create an ecological haven starkly contrasting the surrounding loess highlands. Locals fish for crabs, cultivate reeds and rice, irrigate terraced fields, and escape summer heat here, weaving a lifestyle distinct from typical plateau farming. The proverb “Listen to deer calls on Bailuyuan, watch fish leap by Jingyugou” captures the harmony between rugged terrain and serene vitality.
Waterways & History
Water defines Jingyugou. The Jingyu River, historically calledChangshui (“Long River”), traces its origins to Jiangshuaigeta (Jing Mountain) 8 kilometers south of Lantian County. Multiple springs feed its U-shaped upper valley, forming the source of the Jing River. The river flows year-round, merging at Luzou Gully before becoming Jingyu Gou—the largest tributary of the Chan River’s eastern bank.
In ancient times, this area housed the Han Dynasty’s Changshui Colonel Garrison (长水校尉), a strategic military outpost. Today, a dammed reservoir creates the 3-kilometer-long Jingyu Lake, extending the waterway’s reach. The lake contrasts sharply with the plateau’s stark loess cliffs: bamboo groves fringe its shores like “two rugged guardians shielding a jade-green maiden” or “emerald hidden within golden earth.”
Experiencing Jingyugou
Visitors can hike its trails, kayak its glassy waters, and explore its labyrinth of gullies and cave dwellings. The lake reflects the plateau’s layered cliffs, revealing millennia of geological history. Whether gazing at distant horizons, tracing ancient riverbeds, or simply breathing in the crisp air, Jingyugou offers a portal to both nature’s grandeur and the region’s cultural legacy
Jingyugou: The Pulse of Bailuyuan
Stretching across the vast expanse of Bailuyuan (White Deer Plateau, Jingyugou cuts through the land like flowing veins, dividing the plateau into two halves. This rugged network of gullies and slopes breathes life into the terrain—where desolation and vitality intertwine.
Jingyugou is the heart of Bailuyuan, throbbing with the pulse of nature. Its murmuring streams nourish the soil, transforming barren slopes into lush greenery. Walking through the gorge, one hears the earth’s hidden heartbeat—a melody whispered by Jingyugou’s waters. With each season, the valley stages miracles of life: wildflowers erupt in spring, summer cloaks the cliffs in emerald, autumn ignites fiery hues, and winter veils the land in crystalline silence.
Here, the plateau’s stark loess cliffs cradle a hidden world of vitality. Jingyugou’s eternal flow carves not just landscapes but a soul for Bailuyuan, proving that even in the harshest terrains, life finds its rhythm.
Jingyugou Bamboo Sea Scenic Area Map