Shangqiu Forest Park lies on the eastern plains of Henan Province and is a rare ecological green lung on the city’s outskirts, renowned for its unique landscape where primeval forests intertwine with wetlands. In spring, ten thousand acres of cherry blossoms bloom like clouds and snow; in autumn, layered forests blaze in golden and crimson hues—seasonal transformations that compose a symphony of nature. Winding through hills and waters, a 15-kilometer ecological trail connects eight cultural sites, including Cloud-Viewing Platform and Wave-Listening Pavilion. Morning exercisers stroll along streams, while photographers capture shifting light and shadow, making it a natural oxygen haven for urban dwellers seeking closeness to nature.
At the heart of the park lies “Yunxi Valley,” centered around a 2,000-acre reed marsh. At dawn, mist envelops the valley like an ink-wash scroll, and during migratory seasons, visitors may encounter rare birds such as red-crowned cranes and egrets. The “Millennium Cypress Grove” preserves ancient trees dating back to the Tang and Song dynasties, their gnarled branches still bearing faint traces of historical inscriptions. Also within the park stands the Wenfeng Pagoda ruins, a Song-dynasty architectural relic; from its summit, one can overlook the entire forest park. Bronze artifacts unearthed from the pagoda’s foundation testify to Shangqiu’s glorious past as the capital of the ancient Han-Liang Kingdom.
This land carries profound historical memories: King Zhou of Shang [the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty] once built the city of Chaoge here, and Confucius [the philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period] paused to teach during his travels among the states. The park also contains the “Quebo Terrace,” an ancestral Shang tribal sacrificial site, where an annual spring equinox ceremony continues a 3,000-year-old tradition. Today, nature and culture coexist harmoniously here, allowing visitors to sense the passage of time amidst seas of flowers and feel the pulse of civilization among ancient trees.
