Qixian Ridge 七仙岭

About Qixian Ridge

The rainforest paths, buttress roots and changing views on the ascent are as important as the summit silhouette. Choose the route according to fitness and weather, because the upper mountain is substantially more demanding than the lower visitor areas. A hot-spring soak is normally arranged through a separate resort or facility, not automatically included with a forest-park visit.

The park covers 2200 hectares in a basin surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a highest peak of about 1126 metres, and comprises a forest area and a hot-spring area. Within the forest grows a cluster of tree ferns (桫椤) with stems over 9 metres tall, a plant given first-class state protection whose lineage is described as dating back to the dinosaur era. Surveys have recorded more than 5000 plant species and over 800 animal species within the park.

The site became a national forest park (国家级森林公园) in March 1988 and was approved as a national 4A tourist attraction (国家4A级旅游景区) on 29 December 2016. Its hot-spring area is fed by 47 springs, with water temperatures reaching 93 degrees Celsius across a distribution area of 1.72 square kilometres.

The hot spring is used for health maintenance, therapeutic bathing, leisure and resort stays. Its water is a sodium-bicarbonate, metasilicate-type high-temperature mineral spring containing trace elements said to have medical value, and the area is described as having the highest water temperature and the greatest number of springs of any hot-spring area on Hainan Island.

What to look for

• The seven-peak granite skyline above the rainforest.
• Large roots, climbing plants and forest scenery on the designated ascent.

Location & getting there

Getting to Qixian Ridge

Navigate to Qixianling Hot Spring National Forest Park northeast of Baoting’s county town. Specify the forest-park entrance rather than a similarly named hot-spring hotel.