[Photo: zhiyou.co]

Located in the eastern part of Checun township, Song county, Luoyang city, the Crouching Dragon Valley Ecological Scenic Zone is 130 kilometers away from downtown Luoyang.

Crouching Dragon Valley lies in the center of the Funiu Mountain Geological Park, which is part of the Funiu Mountain scenic resources belt. To the west, it borders Baiyun Mountain, known as a “Fairyland on Earth.” To the east, Shiren Mountain and Muzhaling Mountain are only a mountain away. To the north, tourist attractions such as the Yihe River, Tianchi Mountain and Luhun Reservoir are connected by a high-quality tourist highway. With the No 311 National Highway running through the adjacent area, the scenic zone is conveniently located.

As the legend goes, Emperor Hanwu, or Liu Xiu, spent one night and recruited soldiers here, winning support of the people. Crouching Dragon Valley is named after this event. The whole valley features a granite topography formed in the crustal movement in the Late Yansan Epoch. More than 30 kilometers of the scenic zone are accessible to tourists. There are more than 200 scenic spots. The scenic zone is located on the transitional zone between the subtropical zone and the north temperate zone, so it has a warm and damp climate, with plentiful rainfall and four distinct seasons. The forest coverage rate is as high as 95 percent. The whole scenic zone is covered with thick grass and forests. The whole scenic zone, covered with primeval vegetation, is home to more than 1,900 kinds of plants, 1,400 kinds of traditional Chinese medicinal plants and more than 200 rare birds. With gurgling streams, majestic mountains, steep cliffs, strange-looking rocks, wonderful clouds, high waterfalls and deep pools, the whole scenic zone is a comprehensive system of scenery with deep cultural significance resulting from the legendary story of Wang Mang chasing Liu Xiu and the myth about a dragon benefiting the masses. It is known as the “Art Gallery of Mountains and Waters in Western Henan.”