Songmingyan Scenic Area
松鸣岩
A forested mountain scenic area at the foot of Taizi Mountain where the pines sing in the wind; it is one of the birthplaces of northwest China's hua'er festivals, and it has a ski resort in winter.
Songmingyan lies on the northern foot of Taizi Mountain in southern Hezheng County. Its peaks are tall and its pine forests are dense, and the name comes from the sound of wind through the pines. The scenic area has an old temple, plank walkways and alpine meadows, and it is cool in summer. Every year in late April of the lunar calendar, the Songmingyan Hua'er Festival is held, an important occasion for the national-level intangible heritage 'Hezhou Hua'er.' The Songmingyan International Ski Resort opens nearby in winter. Admission follows the scenic area's published price. It is about 50 km from Linxia city center, so plan for most of a day.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Hezheng Paleozoological Museum
- Donggongguan Mansion
- Bafang Thirteen Lanes
- Butterfly Tower (Hudie Lou)
- Linxia Prefecture Museum
- Hongyuan Garden
- Wanshou Guan Taoist Temple
- Bingling Temple Grottoes