Park of ChinaOverview
| Designation | National Park of China (fifth batch) |
| Province | Fujian |
| Location | Nantong town, Minhou County, near Fuzhou, Fujian |
| Latitude, longitude | 26.0, 119.3 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Streams, wildlife |
| Wildlife | Giant salamander, tree ferns, macaques |
| Highest point | 786 m |
| Nearby cities | Fuzhou |
| Nearby sites | Drum Mountain, Fuzhou 18km, Mount Qingyuan 123km, Mount Taimu 158km, Quanzhou 161km, Gulangyu 199km Search nearby |
| Themes | Stream, Wildlife, Plant, Small Waterfall, Forest |
About
Shibachong (“Eighteen-Fold”) Creek lies in Nantong town, Minhou County, about 20 km from Fuzhou, Fujian. Rising at the eastern foot of Guyashan, it is a south-bank tributary of the lower Dazhang Creek with a basin of about 62 km² and 24 streams more than 500 m long.
The main stream is about 10.8 km long, 5 to 40 m wide and 0.5 to 3 m deep. Dense evergreen broadleaf forest and secondary scrub line its banks, with nationally protected species such as the giant salamander and tree fern, and troops of macaques.
Peaks, rocks, cliffs, valleys, caves and boulders of volcanic rock are scattered through the area: the Xixi waterfall, the Black Dragon Playing with a Pearl, Damao Mountain, Wenbi and Baota peaks and the Three Immortals Cave.
It is in the fifth batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2004.
Travel tips
Getting there: the park is in Nantong town, Minhou county, Fuzhou, about 20 km from the city centre. You can take transport from Fuzhou to Nantong and go on to the park, though driving is the easiest.
Layout: the park is built around the stream, whose main course is about 10.8 km, with 24 longer tributaries, hence the name Eighteen Creeks. Along it are waterfalls, rock peaks and caves.
What to see: walk upstream to the Xixi Waterfall, Wulong Playing with a Pearl, Sanxian Cave and others. Most of the routes follow the stream, with plank paths and steps.
Wildlife: the forest has protected plants such as tree ferns, and macaques are often seen. Do not feed them.
Time: half a day to a day.
Season: summer has the most rain and full streams, and the mountains are cool, so it is the main season. Winter has less water and is less rewarding.
Where to stay: Fuzhou has the most convenient hotels, and Nantong and the park area have farmhouse inns.
Caution: rocks by the stream are slippery. In rain or after heavy rain take care with flash floods, and do not go into the water.
Nearby
| World Heritage | Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China 161km, Eryilou 189km, Gulangyu 199km, Mount Wuyi 230km |
| National parks of China | Wuyishan National Park 230km |
| National parks | Drum Mountain, Fuzhou 18km, Mount Qingyun 38km, Haitan Island 74km, Meizhou Island 99km |
| AAAAA attractions | Sanfang Qixiang Scenic Area 15km |
| AAAA attractions | Shangxiahang Culture Leisure Tourism Scenic Area 12km, Chuanzheng Culture Scenic Area 19km, Fuzhou National Forest Park (Fuzhou Botanical Garden) 24km, Minyue Water Town 24km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark 119km |
| Historic cities | Putian 63km |
| National key parks | Luoxingta Park 20km |
| Cities | Fuzhou 17km |
| Historical sites | Former Residence and Tomb of Yan Fu 5km, Cliff Inscriptions and Statues of Wushishan and Yushan 14km, Lingji Palace Stele 15km, Chongmiao Baosheng Jianlao Pagoda 15km |
| National geoparks | Baiyunshan National Geopark 75km, Pingnan Baishuiyang National Geopark 129km |
| Nature reserves | Daiyunshan National Nature Reserve 111km, Mangdangshan National Nature Reserve 141km |
| Historic villages | Linpu Village 13km, Min'an Village 23km, Qinjiang Village 25km |