Things to do in Anze

Hongtong · 43.1km from Anze

2.4k reviews

Guangsheng Temple is located at the southern foot of Huo Mountain in Hongtong County, Linfen, Shanxi. It is said to have been initially built during the Eastern Han Dynasty and renamed to its current name in the Tang Dynasty. Despite being repeatedly destroyed by wars, fires, and earthquakes over the centuries, the surviving halls are primarily structures from the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. The attraction consists of the upper temple on the mountain peak, the lower temple at the foot of the mountain, and the Water God Temple, forming a high-low connection that creates a natural upward visiting route. The Feihong Pagoda in the upper temple is the visual center of the entire complex. This octagonal thirteen-story brick pagoda, standing over forty meters tall, is adorned with glazed tiles in yellow, green, blue, white, and other colors from the second floor upwards. Figures of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, celestial beings, coiled dragons, and lion-like beasts protrude from the brick surfaces layer by layer. When sunlight hits it on clear days, the entire structure refracts rainbow-like brilliance, which is said to be the origin of its name "Feihong" (Flying Rainbow). The 1986 TV adaptation of *Journey to the West* filmed the episode where Tang Monk sweeps the pagoda to uncover an injustice here. In the 1930s, Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin also highly praised the quality and craftsmanship of the pagoda's glazed decorations during their survey. Behind the pagoda, a row of dark red sutra cabinets still stands in the Amitabha Hall, where the Buddhist canon "Zhaocheng Golden Tripitaka" was once stored. This engraved Tripitaka from the Jin Dynasty lay forgotten for centuries until its rediscovery in 1933. During the Anti-Japanese War, to prevent it from falling into Japanese hands, local soldiers and civilians risked their lives to transport it overnight. Now housed in the National Library of China, it is regarded as one of the library's most treasured collections. The sutra cabinets remain in the hall, and this legendary tale is worth pausing to hear. The Water God Temple at the foot of the mountain, the Mingying Wang Hall, is adjacent to the Huo Spring outlet. Its walls are adorned with over ten Yuan Dynasty murals centered around themes of praying for rain, rainfall, and giving thanks to deities. These murals depict water god worship and urban life rather than the typical Buddhist or Taoist subjects found in ordinary temples. The eastern section of the southern wall features "The grand performance troupe Zhongduxiu performing here," showcasing over ten actors and musicians representing various role types (sheng, dan, jing, mo, chou) on the same stage. This is a precious image for studying Yuan Dynasty zaju performances and, along with "The ball-hitting game," has been included in history textbooks. The adjacent Great Buddha Hall of the Lower Temple is a Yuan Dynasty wooden structure. Its original large-scale murals were stripped and sold overseas in the late 1920s, with the famous "Illustration of the Bhaisajyaguru Sutra" now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. To appreciate Yuan Dynasty murals, focus your attention on the Water God Temple. A bottom-up route is recommended: first visit the water god temple and lower monastery, then ascend via stone steps or the mountain road to see the Feihong pagoda at the summit. The glazed colors appear especially vibrant on sunny days, making it easier to capture great photos.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Longmen Grottoes

8.9

62.3k reviews

Longmen Grottoes are located in the southern suburbs of Luoyang, Henan Province, on the cliffs along both banks of the Yi River. As one of China's three major grotto art treasures, they were inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list in 2000. The grottoes were first carved when Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei moved the capital to Luoyang, and construction continued through the Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties, with the vast majority of niches and statues left from the Northern Wei and Tang periods. Today, more than 2,000 niches and over 100,000 statues remain, along with a large number of inscriptions and steles, making the site an important representative of Chinese stone carving art. The attraction is divided by the Yi River into two parts: West Hill and East Hill. The West Hill Grottoes are the essence of the site, carved from the Northern Dynasties through the Sui and Tang periods. Famous caves include Guyang Cave, Binyang Cave, Lotus Cave, Wanfo Cave, and Fengxian Temple. The Lushena Buddha at Fengxian Temple stands about 17 m tall, making it one of the larger Buddha statues at Longmen Grottoes. Its face is dignified and serene, with a faint smile, and legend holds that it was modeled on the appearance of Wu Zetian, earning it the name "Oriental Mona Lisa." The inner walls of Wanfo Cave are densely covered with about 15,000 small Buddha statues, each only a few cm tall, neatly arranged and finely crafted. Guyang Cave is the earliest cave carved at Longmen, and its inscription calligraphy is exquisite; the selected "Twenty Masterpieces of Longmen" are representative works of Wei stele calligraphy. Binyang Cave consists of the South, Middle, and North caves and took more than twenty years to complete. Its original reliefs depicting emperors and empresses worshipping the Buddha were looted and lost overseas in the 1930s. In Binyang North Cave, a Buddha statue has a distinctive hand gesture, with the right index and middle fingers raised in a shape resembling the modern "scissors hand," though it is actually a Buddhist mudra, and it once sparked heated discussion online. The East Hill Grottoes are mostly Tang dynasty works and are smaller in scale than those on West Hill, but from the opposite bank visitors can enjoy panoramic views of West Hill from different angles, especially distant views of the Lushena Buddha. The attraction also includes Xiangshan Temple and Bai Juyi Memorial Park (Bai Garden). The Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi lived in Luoyang in his later years and once praised it, saying, "Of the scenic splendors of Luoyang's surrounding mountains and waters, Longmen ranks first." When visiting, simply follow the route West Hill—East Hill—Xiangshan Temple—Bai Garden, proceeding in one direction without backtracking. The West Hill Grottoes are densely packed with content, so it is advisable to set aside ample time for a closer look; East Hill is quieter and more secluded, suitable for a brief visit and gazing across the river when energy is limited.

China · Luoyang

2026 Asia 100 - Night Attractions

Millennium City Park

8.8

29k reviews

Millennium City Park is located by the shores of Longting Lake in Kaifeng. It is a large-scale historical and cultural theme park of the Song Dynasty, recreated one-to-one based on the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Song Dynasty painter Zhang Zeduan. The park is divided into two sections by the Shuangting Bridge: the South Garden recreates the bustling street life of the Bianjing city, with taverns, eateries, teahouses, and pharmacies lined up along the streets; the North Garden is an imperial garden, with waterside halls, the Sifang Courtyard, and other palace buildings standing by the lake. Performers and street vendors in the park mostly wear Song Dynasty costumes, with ancient music lingering and bells and drums sounding, so that after a few steps visitors can easily fall under the illusion of "stepping into a painting in one morning, dreaming back a thousand years in one day." Architecture is the intuitive and tangible highlight here: the Rainbow Bridge spanning the Bian River is a replica of the famous bridge in the painting, shaped like a long rainbow, and standing on the bridge watching the grain boats pass by feels much like being inside the painting; the Fuyun Pavilion towers above all the other pavilions in the garden, with its tiered red towers and golden tiles on all four eaves, inviting one to climb from afar; the Shangshan Gate is rebuilt after the Northern Song dynasty Dongjing city gate, tall and majestic with brilliant painted decorations, making it the most imposing gate tower in the garden; and the Shuixin Xie, Shuangting Bridge, Jiulong Bridge, and other pavilions and waterside structures are scattered among the blue waves. The main attraction of the day is the immersive performances staged throughout the park: "Bao Zheng Inspects the Bian River Grain Transport" unfolds on the water on both sides of the Rainbow Bridge; "Squire Wang Seeks a Son-in-Law" features a decorated tower erected in front of Squire Wang's house where a silk ball is tossed to choose a groom; "Yue Fei Challenges Prince Xiao Liang" raises dust on the Song dynasty parade ground as horses gallop; and folk performances such as cockfighting, stilt walking, and pan drumming are interspersed throughout. To step into the action yourself, head to the Four Directions Courtyard to don traditional costumes and enter the examination cells for a hands-on Song dynasty imperial exam experience; families with children can enjoy carousel rides, roller coasters, and other amusement facilities wrapped in Song dynasty storytelling at the Song Dynasty·Royal Pleasure Ground; and in the entertainment quarters, face-changing, qigong fire-breathing, ancient magic, and other Song dynasty variety acts take turns on stage, with intangible cultural heritage feats ready to break out at any moment right beside you. After nightfall, the park takes on a different face: red lanterns light up one after another, the market streets are brightly illuminated, and it feels like a completely different park from the daytime. The large-scale water-based live performance "The Great Song Dynasty's Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor" is staged on the surface of Jinglong Lake. The entire show is woven together from eight classic Song ci poems and the painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival, drawing the audience back to the Northern Song dynasty's Eastern Capital a thousand years ago. The performance runs about 70 minutes, and many visitors deliberately plan their itinerary to stay until the evening to catch this show. Dining in the park is also convenient: the snack street at Dongjing Food Court brings together Kaifeng snacks such as fried liangfen, tongzi chicken, and almond tea, perfect for eating while strolling; if you want to sit down for a proper meal, you can visit the reconstructed Sun Yang Zheng Dian in the park, which was originally one of the seventy-two official restaurants of Bianjing in the Northern Song Dynasty, where you can taste traditional Henan dishes such as soup dumplings and carp with baked noodles.

China · Kaifeng

2026 Asia 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Jinci Temple Museum

8.7

4.8/5

21k reviews

Jinci Temple Museum is located at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain by the banks of the Jin River. It is an ancestral temple built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founding feudal lord of the State of Jin, and is also one of the earlier surviving royal sacrificial gardens in China. There is a saying that "you have not truly visited Taiyuan until you have visited Jinci." The ancient buildings in the museum are arranged in sequence along the central axis, among which the Xian Hall, the Flying Bridge over the Fish Pond, and the Hall of the Holy Mother are known as the "three treasures," while the Zhou Cypress, the Never-Aging Spring, and the Song dynasty attendant statues are known as the "three wonders"—these are the core highlights of any visit. The "Three Treasures" are located on the central axis and can be visited together. Xian Hall is the place where sacrificial offerings are placed. The hall is surrounded by railings instead of walls, making it well-ventilated and bright, and its beam structure is simple and lightweight. The Flying Bridge Across Fish Pond is on the west side of Xian Hall. It is a cross-shaped ancient bridge built over a square pond, resembling a modern overpass in form, and this type of bridge structure is extremely rare among surviving ancient buildings. The west end of the bridge connects to Shengmu Hall, the oldest surviving building in the museum. Wooden carved dragons coil around the porch columns in front of the hall, making them relatively early surviving examples of wooden coiled dragons. The hall interior was built using the reduced-column method, creating a rather spacious interior. It houses dozens of Song Dynasty colored sculptures, with the main statue of Shengmu seated in the shrine and the remaining attendants arranged on both sides with varied expressions. One attendant statue is half joyful and half sorrowful, vividly lifelike and moving. With Shengmu Hall as the center, you can also seek out the "Three Wonders." The Zhou Cypress is located on the north side of Shengmu Hall. It is said to have been planted in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and its trunk leans south like a reclining dragon, full of ancient majesty. The Never-Aging Spring is located on the south side of Shengmu Hall and is the main source of the Jin River. The museum also houses the Stele of the Inscription and Preface to Jinci, composed and handwritten by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, whose running-script calligraphy is vigorous and forceful. In the southern part is the Shifang Fengsheng Zen Temple, said to have originally been the villa of the Tang Dynasty general Yuchi Gong. In the Futu Courtyard, the Sarira ShengSheng Pagoda can be climbed for a distant view. The Jinci temple fair has been passed down to the present day and has been included in the national-level intangible cultural heritage list. The Water Mirror Stage, an ancient theater stage in the museum, is an important venue for activities during the temple fair.

China · Taiyuan

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Mount Hua

8.7

55.6k reviews

Mount Hua, known as the "Western Great Mountain" in ancient times, is one of China's Five Great Mountains. Located in Huayin, Shaanxi Province, it is also elegantly called "Taihua Mountain." The "Hua" in both "Zhonghua" and "Huaxia" originates from this mountain. "Steep and perilous" are the essence of Mount Hua's scenery, and the saying "there has always been only one path up Mount Hua" precisely describes its steepness—the Plank Road in the Sky, the Sparrowhawk Turn, the Thousand-Foot Precipice, the Hundred-Foot Gorge, the Laojun Plow Ditch, and other perilous sights leave every visitor awestruck. The Mount Hua attraction covers a vast area, including the main peak attraction, the Western Great Mountain Temple attraction, and the Xianyu attraction, among which the main peak attraction is the core, encompassing the five main peaks—east, south, west, north, and center—as well as the classic "Mount Hua Valley" climbing trail. The five main peaks each have their own distinctive features. The East Peak, at an elevation of approx. 2,100 m, has the open and expansive Chaoyang Terrace at its summit, making it an excellent spot for watching the sunrise, and is therefore also known as Chaoyang Peak; the natural stone patterns on the cliff face along the side of the peak resemble a giant palm print—this is the Huayue Immortal Palm, listed since ancient times as one of the Eight Views of Guanzhong. The West Peak, at an elevation of approx. 2,080 m, is named Lotus Peak because the giant rock at its summit resembles a lotus flower; the Cuiyun Palace, the Axe-Split Rock, and the Self-Sacrifice Cliff are scattered across it, and the myth of Chenxiang splitting the mountain to save his mother is said to have originated here. The South Peak, at an elevation of over 2,150 m, was called the "head of Mount Hua" by the ancients; it consists of two summits—Songgui Peak and Luoyan Peak—with a sheer cliff dropping straight down on one side. The North Peak, at an elevation of approx. 1,600 m, is also known as Yuntai Peak; it stands isolated and towering with precipitous drops on all four sides, and the story of "Taking Mount Hua by Strategy" took place here; the peak features views such as the Zhenwu Hall and the Jiaogong Stone Chamber. The Central Peak lies at the center of the East, West, and South Peaks, with serene and lush vegetation; on the peak is the Jade Maiden Shrine, said to be the place where Nongyu, daughter of Duke Mu of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period, cultivated herself, hence it is also known as Jade Maiden Peak. The Plank Road in the Sky is located on the mountainside east of the South Peak. It was built by the Yuan Dynasty Taoist He Zhizhen, who embedded stone stakes into the cliff face and laid wooden planks. At the end of the plank road, visitors can see Hezu Cave, where he cultivated himself. Visitors must press close to the cliff, hold the iron chains, and step on the wooden planks while moving sideways slowly—an extremely thrilling experience. The ridge of Canglong Ridge is as narrow as a blade, flanked by bottomless chasms, and walking on it makes one's heart race and vision blur. Golden Lock Pass is the vital gateway to the East, West, South, and Central peaks. Taoists believe that passing through this pass marks entry into a fairyland, and there is a folk saying: "Once past Golden Lock Pass, you enter another realm."

China · Huayin

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Henan

Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot

8.6

16.6k reviews

It is said that Laojun Attraction is the place where Li Er (Laozi), the founder of Taoism, practiced in seclusion. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, a temple was built in the mountain to commemorate it. Later, it was named "the famous mountain in the world" and has always been popular. The mountain is lush with trees and picturesque, and mountain springs can be seen everywhere. In the golden autumn, this is the best choice for viewing red leaves in the Souvenir areas. After the rain, Laojun Mountain is surrounded by clouds and mist in each peak, like a fairyland in the sky. The Attraction area is huge and is mainly divided into the main Laojun Mountain Attraction in the center, the Dream Valley Attraction in the west, and the Zhaigou Attraction Area in the east. Generally, tourists will spend a day to visit the main Laojun Mountain Attraction, which is also the most developed area of the entire Attraction. If you go to the top of the mountain, you will also have the opportunity to see the beautiful sea of clouds, sunrise, and sunset. The main Attraction of Laojun Mountain includes Zhongtianmen, Jinding, Laojun Temple, Nantianmen, Yuhuangding and Mazongling. Since its construction in the Northern Wei Dynasty, Laojun Temple has been the center of worship for pilgrims from the Central Plains; the Taoist temple on Yuhuangding enshrines the Jade Emperor and is also a good place to view the scenery in the mountain; Jinding and Mazongling are good places to watch the sunrise and the sea of clouds. Recommended itinerary: Day Trips Most tourists choose to spend a day to visit the main Attraction of Laojun Mountain. Lingguan Hall - the statue of Laojun at the foot of the mountain - Lincu Hall - Zhongtianmen - tree-lined trail - Lying Yunsong - Bodhisattva Hall - Laojun Temple, Jinding - Yuhuangding, and then return along the original route. Tourists can choose to walk the whole way or take a "walk + cable car" tour of Laojun Mountain according to their own conditions. There is the Zhongling Cableway of the Attraction between the Lingguan Temple at the foot of the mountain and the Zhongtian Gate on the mountainside. Take the Zhongling Cableway and then walk from Zhongtian Gate to the top of the mountain, Yuhuang Peak. The road from Zhongtian Gate to the top of the mountain is not very steep and can usually be completed in about an hour. Two-day tour If you have enough time, you can spend two days to visit Laojun Mountain. The general route is: D1: Visit the main Attraction of Laojun Mountain and stay in the mountain that night. D2: From the top of Laojun Mountain, choose to go down the mountain to the Dream Valley in the west or the Zhaigou Attraction in the east, and arrive at the west gate and east gate of the Attraction respectively. In the main Attraction of Laojun Mountain, you can stay near Zhongtianmen on the mountainside and Laojun Temple on the top of the mountain. There are hotels near Zhongtianmen with better accommodation conditions, while the accommodation conditions Souvenir Laojun Temple are relatively poor. If you plan to go to the top of the mountain to watch the sunrise the next morning, you can stay Souvenir Laojun Temple. Compared with the Zhaigou Attraction in the east, the mountain roads in Dream Chasing Valley are smoother, and tourists can choose one of them to go down the mountain according to their preferences. There are many places in the Attraction that can provide Dining services for tourists, but the signboards on some sections of the road in the Attraction are not yet very complete, so tourists need to pay more attention when visiting.

China · Luanchuan

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Henan

Wansuishan Martial Arts City

8.6

16.6k reviews

Wansuishan Martial Arts City is located in the northwest of Kaifeng's urban areaWansuishan Martial Arts City, it is a large-scale attraction built with Song Dynasty culture and wuxia culture as its backdrop. Within the attraction, there are quaint and charming Song Dynasty garden streets and alleys, year-round exciting wuxia and period costume performances, as well as a wealth of entertainment facilities, making it a great place for relaxation and entertainment in Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, and surrounding areas. When visiting Wansuishan Martial Arts City, the first thing you will notice is the beautiful scenery of the attraction. Wansuishan Martial Arts City as a whole creates an atmosphere of the Song Dynasty, among which many views are very eye-catching, such as Wansui Temple, which recreates the splendor of a thousand-year-old ancient temple from the Song Dynasty, the Dragon Altar, which embodies the spirit of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, the relatively well-preserved ancient city wall of Kaifeng in China, and the "Nine Dragons Waterfall," one of the large man-made stream and waterfall groups in China. What is rare is that the attraction also has a very large area of forest and green space, with a quiet environment, and flowers bloom in season, making it very suitable for photography. Afterward, visitors will notice the unique wuxia features within the attraction. Year-round, multiple wuxia-themed performances are staged here, with several themed shows such as "Cross Slope," "Wu Song Drunkenly Beats Jiang the Gatekeeper," and "Wild Boar Forest" being quite spectacular—definitely not to be missed when visiting. Interactive performances like the "Wuxia Film and Television Experience Hall," "Martial Arts Champion," and "Li Kui Judges a Case" also allow visitors to participate in wuxia stories, offering plenty of fun. In the architectural design of the attraction, there are also many wuxia elements: the Wuxia Road built with large-scale weapons such as the "Heaven-Reliant Sword" and "Overlord Blade," the "Gallant Heroes Portrait" at the Great Song Martial Arts Hall, the "Sword Altar" at Cross Slope, Juxian Manor, and the Martial Arts Arena—all are uniquely distinctive. Additionally, every year during the Spring Festival periodWansuishanLarge-scale temple fairs are held, featuring grand performances, a rich variety of specialty snacks, a dazzling array of handicrafts, and highly distinctive entertainment activities, creating a lively atmosphere. It has now become one of the most popular temple fairs in the Central Plains region.

China · Kaifeng

Song Du Huangcheng Cultural Tourism Resort

8.6

178 reviews

Song Du Huangcheng Cultural Tourism Resort is located in the northern part of the old city of Kaifeng, precisely on the site of the imperial palace of the Northern Song Dynasty's Dongjing city. The millennium-old central axis of Kaifeng runs through this area, making it the core zone of the royal culture of the Song Dynasty. Here, you can find the Song-style imperial architecture of the Longting attraction, the tales of the Yang Family Generals at Tianbo Yang's residence, and the calligraphic steles of Han Yuan Stele Forest. The Shuanglong Lane historical and cultural block, 960 Cultural and Creative Park, and Qisheng Corner have transformed old streets and courtyards into Song-style blocks perfect for leisurely exploration. The resort also connects a series of Song culture attractions: Wansui Mountain Great Song Martial Arts City stages year-round martial arts live shows and intangible cultural heritage iron fireworks, while historic sites like the Iron Pagoda, Kaifeng city wall, Zhouqiao and Bian River ruins, Shanshangan Guild Hall, Yanqing Taoist Temple, and Fan Pagoda are scattered across the old city, along with niche spots like the underground wartime grain storage. These places are hard to cover in one day, so we recommend focusing on two or three key sites. After dark, a different experience awaits as the attractions light up in unison. Boarding a painted pleasure boat on the Great Song Imperial River to watch the illuminated pavilions and towers sway with the rippling water is a popular nightlife option here.

China · Kaifeng

2026 Asia 100 - Night Attractions

Pingyao Ancient City

8.4

27.3k reviews

Pingyao Ancient City is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China and, along with Lijiang Ancient City, is one of the two ancient cities in China to have successfully been designated as a World Cultural Heritage site in its entirety. Pingyao was once the financial center of China during the late Qing dynasty. Walking into this once-prosperous ancient city, you can feel the atmosphere of Shanxi merchant culture everywhere. The streets, shops, and residences within the ancient city still maintain their traditional layout and appearance. The overall street pattern is in the shape of the Chinese character 'tu', consisting of four main streets, eight small streets, and seventy-two lanes. The ancient city has six city gates in total, and the areas around the south gate and west gate are where visitors are concentrated. When touring, you usually enter the city through the lower west gate and walk along West Street to Rishengchang Exchange Shop, where you can learn about the development history of ancient banking and experience the legend of Shanxi merchants conducting business across the world. South Street, which runs north-south through the city, is the central axis of the ancient city. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, South Street gathered more than half of the country's financial institutions and was known as the "Wall Street of China" at the time. Today this street is called the Ming and Qing Ancient Street, and most of the ancient city's attractions are concentrated here. Centered on the landmark Market Tower, attractions such as Xietongqing Exchange Shop, Weitaihou Exchange Shop Museum, and the Chinese Escort Agency Museum are distributed around it, and a large number of shop buildings from the Ming and Qing periods are preserved along the street. At the Pingyao County Government Office in the south of the ancient city, you can see a large number of ancient documents and instruments of torture, and there is a daily performance of the county magistrate holding court; the City God Temple and the Confucian Temple in the east of the city have grand and refined architecture. The ancient city wall is very well preserved, and climbing the wall offers a panoramic view of the ancient city. The gate tower of Yingxun Gate at the south gate is especially exquisite, and watching the sunset from the city wall in the evening is a magnificent sight. In addition to the ancient city itself, the Zhenguo Temple and Shuanglin Temple outside the city are also part of the World Cultural Heritage. The Ten Thousand Buddha Hall of Zhenguo Temple is entirely made of wood, assembled with mortise and tenon joints without a single nail; Shuanglin Temple preserves painted sculptures from the Yuan to Ming dynasties, which are exquisite in form and renowned as a "treasure house of Eastern painted sculpture art."

China · Pingyao County

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Shanxi

The Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area

8.5

22.7k reviews

The Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area is located in the Jin-Shaan Grand Canyon in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and is the Shanxi-side section for viewing Hukou Waterfall. As the Yellow River rushes here, its surface suddenly narrows from several hundred meters wide to just a few dozen meters. The water, laden with silt, churns and pours down like water being poured into a giant kettle, which is how the name "Hukou" (Kettle Mouth) came to be. This is a rare yellow waterfall on the Yellow River, with muddy waves surging skyward and a roar like thunder, displaying magnificent momentum. The attraction is located on the east side of the waterfall, where the bank is relatively low, allowing visitors to look up and take in the full panorama of the Yellow River plunging downward. Below the waterfall, mist rises and fills the air, appearing like smoke or clouds from afar and creating the wondrous sight known as "smoke rising from the water"; on clear days, sunlight refracts through the mist to form a rainbow arching across the river, called "rainbow reaching the heavens." Within the attraction, Dragon Cave is a natural stone cave; following the stone steps down leads to a viewing platform close to the waterfall, where you can look up as the river pours down from above—an ideal spot to feel the force of the waterfall up close. Downstream from the waterfall, the Ten-Mile Dragon Trough is a deep channel formed by the river's long-term erosion of the riverbed; in the dry season, the trough floor is wide and flat, and ancients once used this terrain to haul boats along the bank, leaving behind the unique scene known as "sailing on dry land." Further downstream is Mengmen Mountain, where two huge rocks in the river split the Yellow River in two before the streams merge again; carved on the rock face are the four characters "Wo Zhen Kuang Liu" (Resting Here, Quelling the Raging Flow). The view of Hukou Waterfall is distinctive in each of the four seasons. Every year between April and May, peach blossoms bloom and the ice melts, coinciding with the "March peach blossom flood," when the abundant water volume makes the waterfall particularly spectacular. From September to November, the air is crisp in fall, and rainbows often appear in the mist, a phenomenon known as the "Hukou fall wind." Water volume is greater in spring and fall, and the sound of the water striking the rocks is like thunder, making these the best periods to admire the waterfall. The image of Hukou Waterfall once appeared on the CNY 50 banknote of the fourth series of the renminbi, making it a widely recognized classic symbol of Yellow River culture.

China · Ji County