The Guifeng Mountain Scenic Area is located on the southern foothills of the middle section of the Dabie Mountains, at the junction of the three provinces of Hubei, Henan, and Anhui. It is 120 kilometers from downtown Wuhan and 27 kilometers from downtown Macheng, with a planned total area of 73.8 square kilometers and a core area of 23.6 square kilometers. The area consists of nine peaks, including the fantastical Turtle Head, the majestic Turtle Back, and the lifelike Turtle Tail. Stretching 16 kilometers from the Turtle Head to the Turtle Tail, it spans 7 kilometers in width, with the highest point, Xian Dao Peak, reaching an altitude of 1,320 meters.
The scenic area boasts picturesque mountains and clear waters, with an elegant environment and fresh air. The forest coverage rate reaches as high as 95%, and the negative oxygen ion concentration exceeds 20,000 per cubic centimeter. Renowned as the "Green Treasure" and "Natural Oxygen Bar," its ecological environment ranks among the best in the country, making it an ideal destination for sightseeing, leisure, and vacationing. Currently, the area is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national ecological tourism demonstration zone, and a key component of the Dabie Mountain World Geopark. It is also one of the top ten new tourism highlights in the enchanting Hubei.
The scenic area is composed of the North Gate and South Gate, one main and one auxiliary visitor center, the core attractions of Turtle Peak Sunrise, Azalea Flower Sea, and Dangerous Blade Peak, as well as the Guankou Valley leisure resort. It primarily features over 50 scenic spots or recreational activities, including the Enchanting Turtle Head, Longevity Worship Platform, Azalea Plaza, Azalea Flower Sea, Dangerous Blade Peak, Turtle Peak Lake, Azalea Expo Garden, Turtle Peak Stroll, Turtle Tower 1288, Sky Mirror, Blade Peak Turtle Ladder, International Outdoor Sports Turtle Valley, and the Red Cultural Exhibition Hall of the Dabie Mountain Spirit. These attractions cater to diverse tourism needs such as azalea flower sea exhibitions, geological wonders, mountain sports leisure, summer skiing retreats, as well as experiences in red culture and folk traditions, offering visitors a unique and memorable journey.
Mount Guifeng boasts five wonders:
——The wonder of "Gufeng" lies in its extraordinary tortoise. Macheng's Gufeng Mountain is the largest and most lifelike tortoise-shaped mountain in the world, renowned as the "Number One Tortoise Under Heaven" and the "Mountain of Longevity.".
——The wonder of "Gui Peak" lies in its exotic flowers. "In April, the world is in bloom, while in Macheng, the azaleas reign supreme" has earned nationwide fame. On Gui Peak Mountain, there stretches a contiguous 100,000-acre pristine ancient azalea forest, renowned as the most breathtaking in the world.
The "Wonder of Guifeng" lies in its peculiar pines (the "pine" here refers to pine trees). Guifeng Mountain is a natural ecological treasure trove that epitomizes biodiversity, hosting over 200,000 pine trees, primarily including the iconic Huangshan Pines and the exceptionally rare Dabie Mountain Rock Pines. These pines feature unique columnar forms and graceful shapes, with two Huangshan Pines over 500 years old among them.
—"The Wonder of Guifeng" lies in its frosty wonders (the "frost" here refers to rime). In early spring and during autumn and winter, Guifeng Mountain showcases vast stretches of breathtaking rime landscapes. Neither frost nor ice, these icy carvings and silver-encased wonders are exquisitely beautiful, beyond description.
The wonder of "Gulou Peak" lies in its misty clouds. The peak is perpetually shrouded in mist and ethereal vapors, creating a dreamlike, fairy-tale-like realm that resembles a celestial paradise.
On December 27, 2024, Macheng Guifeng Mountain was successfully designated as a national 5A-level tourist attraction. This achievement not only marks a new milestone in the high-level development and service standards of the scenic area but also fills the gap of national 5A-level attractions in the eastern Hubei region. It holds profound significance for promoting the revitalization and development of the Dabie Mountain revolutionary base area in Hubei and leading the joint prosperity of old revolutionary counties and cities across Hubei, Henan, and Anhui provinces.