Things to do in Yichuan

No. 8 of Best Things to Do in Shaanxi

Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River

The Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River is located on the riverbed of the Yellow River in the Qin-Jin Grand Canyon, where the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi face each other across the river. The main stream of the Yellow River, originally hundreds of m wide, suddenly narrows to dozens of m and plunges into a deep trough with a drop of 20–30 m, resembling water being poured from a giant pot—hence the name "Hukou" (Pot Mouth). Due to the large amount of sediment carried by the river, the waterfall presents a rare golden-yellow view: the turbid waves roar down with a sound like distant thunder rolling through the valley, while the rising mist lingers before the cliff, earning the nickname "smoke rising from the water." On sunny days, sunlight casts a rainbow over the waterfall, known as "a rainbow playing in the water." The mist may drench visitors even without wind or rain, creating the wonder called "rainfall under a clear sky." Hukou waterfall is regarded as the symbol of the "soul of the Yellow River" and the spirit of the Chinese nation. In 1938, when poet Guang Weiran crossed the Yellow River, he witnessed the roaring waves of Hukou and the boatmen's chants, which inspired him to create the now-legendary Yellow River Cantata. Liang Heng's essay of the same name was selected for middle school Chinese textbooks, and the back of the fourth series CNY 50 banknote also features this scene. Many first learned about it through textbooks and currency before visiting in person. In the past, cargo ships had to leave the water and bypass the waterfall here, leaving behind the maritime memory of "sailing on dry land." The scenery here varies with the seasons: In early spring, the upstream ice melts and the water level rises sharply, coinciding with the blooming of mountain peach blossoms on both banks, known as the "March peach blossom flood." In midsummer, the rainy season brings abundant water, with muddy waves towering into the sky. After fall begins, the rainy season subsides, and the water becomes high and steady. As the fall breeze sweeps by, rainbows often appear, earning the name "Hukou autumn breeze." In deep winter, layers of ice form along the banks, and overflow freezes into inverted ice peaks, glistening under the sunlight, creating the spectacular "upside-down ice peaks." The viewing platform on the Shaanxi side stretches along the cliff top on the western bank, offering a commanding view of the "thousand-mile Yellow River funneled into one pot" and the ten-mile-long Dragon Trough below the waterfall. During high-water seasons, the mist is heavy, and clothes get soaked quickly, so remember to protect your camera and phone; the boardwalk is slippery, so watch your step while walking and taking photos.

No. 2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Yan'an

Hukou Waterfall National Geopark

Hukou Waterfall National Geopark is located on the banks of the Yellow River, facing Ji County, Shanxi, across the river. The main stream of the Yellow River rushes here, suddenly narrowing from a riverbed hundreds of meters wide into a stone trough 40–50 m wide, before plunging from a cliff over 20 m high, resembling water being poured into a giant kettle—this is exactly what the saying "the thousand-mile Yellow River is gathered into one kettle" refers to. The geological highlights are hidden at the foot of the waterfall: the Ten-Mile Dragon Trough carved deep by the rapids winds downstream, and the waterfall itself is still slowly retreating upstream. It is one of the few mobile, latent large waterfalls in the world, and this long-term struggle between river water and rock is the unique foundation of its status as a geopark. The Eight Scenes of Hukou within the park each have their own unique appearance: during the summer and fall flood seasons, the water volume is abundant, and the rising mist creates the smoke rising from the water bottom scene; on sunny days, rainbows often span across the waterfall, creating the rainbow playing with water scene. In the dry winter season, the cliffs are covered with icicles, turning it into a silver-white world of inverted ice peaks. This place is also the inspiration for the Yellow River Cantata—in 1938, the poet Guang Weiran was deeply moved while crossing the river and watching the waterfall near Hukou, and the long poem he subsequently wrote was set to music by Xian Xinghai and has been sung ever since. Today, the park still uses the waterfall as a natural backdrop and regularly hosts a landscape performance of the same name, presenting chapters such as trackers, Hukou war drums, and Defend the Yellow River to the audience standing amidst the sound of the waves. The pattern on the back of the 50-yuan banknote of the fourth series of RMB is taken from Hukou Waterfall National Geopark. The viewing platform on the Shaanxi side offers an expansive view, suitable for taking panoramic photos; the scenic area on the opposite Shanxi side is closer to the main current, and both sides offer different perspectives of the same waterfall.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Shanxi

The Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area

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.

Beijing Educated Youth Former Residence

The former residence of Beijing educated youth is located in the cave group on the north side of the Zaoyuan Revolutionary Site, which completely preserves the living scenes in 1969. In the existing 12-hole stone cave, the kang, kerosene lamps and handwritten quotation walls restore the details of collective household life. The display cabinet displays more than 300 items such as work points and homemade musical instruments. There is an agricultural tool experience area in the front yard of the cave, where you can try spinning and weaving. The scenic area provides AR guide glasses with positioning. Scan the cave number to watch the oral images of the educated youth. Take K6 bus from the city to Zaoyuan Station, and walk along the stone slab road on the back mountain. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes in the rainy season.   The adjacent educated youth memory hall holds a Shaanxi folk song learning activity every Wednesday, which needs to be booked by phone one day in advance. After the visit, you can experience a simple meal of cornmeal steamed bread with sauerkraut soup in the "educated youth canteen" at the foot of the mountain, with an average per capita consumption of about 25 yuan. It is recommended to reserve 2 hours for the tour. There is no heating equipment in the cave in winter, so please add clothes to keep warm.

Shaanxi Hukou Waterfall 50 RMB Viewpoint

In Yichuan, Shaanxi, Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River is renowned for its majestic power, and one spot there has become the viewpoint featured on the 50 RMB banknote, carrying special significance.Hukou Waterfall National Geoparkgets its name from its shape: at this point the Yellow River is channeled by cliffs on both banks, and the wide river suddenly narrows to only 20–30m, forming a waterfall up to 15m high that pours like a giant pot, hence the name Hukou. The waterfall's volume changes with the seasons; during the high-water season the flow can reach up to 700 cubic meters per second, creating an imposing sight with a thunderous roar.Hukou Waterfall scenic areais divided into Shaanxi and Shanxi sides, and the viewing point on the Shaanxi side is considered the ideal location for the 50 RMB scene. Visitors can experience the waterfall's power up close, especially when the water is abundant and both the main and secondary falls are running, making the scene especially spectacular. Standing at Shaanxi Hukou Waterfall 50 RMB Viewpoint, you can truly feel nature's masterful handiwork and understand why it became the classic image on the banknote, drawing countless visitors to visit and admire the majesty of the Yellow River, the mother river.

Shaanxi Gudukou Town Scenic Area

The Shaanxi Ancient Ferry Town Scenic Area is located in the southern part of a section of the core scenic area of ​​Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River in Shaanxi Province. Built on the site of the ancient market town of Gezhentan, it features a terraced layout of traditional Shaanxi cave dwellings, preserving the original village fabric and layout to the greatest extent possible, and recreating the once bustling market town of the Yellow River ferry. The Shaanxi Ancient Ferry Town Scenic Area enjoys a superior geographical location, approximately 5 kilometers north of Hukou Waterfall. To the north lies Mengmen Mountain, to the west is the G309 National Highway, to the east is the Yellow River, and to the south is the Yellow River Hotel. The layout is designed with two entrances for reception and service (north and south), a central village for leisure and vacation, and an eastern riverside sightseeing area. The overall space is divided into a reception and service area, a themed inn area, and a riverside experience area, providing tourists with local specialty dining, boutique guesthouses, unique souvenirs, and folk experience services. It is an important part of the Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area, effectively diverting peak tourist traffic and further enriching and deepening the cultural significance of the Hukou Waterfall's main landscape. In early summer, the scenic area is lush with flowers and trees. Standing at the "Ancient Ferry Pavilion", you can enjoy the scenery of the Yellow River, the original appearance of the Qin-Jin Grand Canyon, the wonder of the Ten-Mile Dragon Gorge, the ancient ferry site, the Mengmen Strange Stones in the close view, and the distant view of Nüjiao waiting for her husband. You can truly feel the love of Nüjiao, the wife of Yu the Great, who leaned on the ferry and longed for her husband's return.

Mengmen Mountain

In the riverbed at the bottom of the Yellow River valley, there are two spindle-shaped boulders, standing tall in the mighty current, forming two river islands. They are the Mengmen Mountain, which was called "the stepping stone of the nine rivers" in ancient times, also called Mengmen Island. Mengmen Mountain is not only charming, with the beauty of "Mengmen Night Moon", but also has important scientific value in studying the development history of the Yellow River. It is said that the two islands were originally a mountain, which blocked the river and caused floods. When Dayu was controlling the flood, he split the mountain into two to guide the water to flow freely. The two islands look like boats from a distance, like mountains from a close distance, and like gates from a distance. The Great Mengmen Island is about 300 meters long and about 10 meters above the water. On the cliff to the south, there are four characters "Lying to suppress the raging flow" inscribed during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty. The Small Mengmen Island is more than 10 meters upstream of the Great Mengmen Island and is only 50 to 60 meters long. Mengmen faces the surging water of the Yellow River and never submerges all year round. Its majestic appearance, Longmen and Hukou form the three wonders of the Yellow River, and it is famous for its unique style. There is a beautiful sentence in ancient poetry: "Fog and rain confuse Hukou in all seasons, and waves on both sides shake Mengmen".

Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum is a large site museum built on the site of the Terracotta Army pits, which are located approx. 1.5 km east of the mound of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum. In March 1974, farmers from Xiyang Village accidentally unearthed fragments of terracotta figures while digging a well, and archaeological exploration confirmed Pit 1; in 1976, Pits 2 and 3 were successively discovered to the north of Pit 1. This army, which had slumbered for over 2,000 years, was thus brought back to light, and the discovery of the Terracotta Army has been hailed as "one of the great discoveries in the history of 20th-century archaeology." Pit 1 is the main military formation among the three pits, stretching over 200 m from east to west, with an estimated 6,000 pottery figurines and horses buried inside. Standing at the edge and looking down, armored warrior figurines, war chariots, and pottery horses are arrayed eastward in battle formation. A closer look at each figure reveals different facial shapes, hairstyles, beards, and even hand gestures. The figurines were originally painted all over, but most of the paint has peeled off and discolored due to fire and long burial. Pit 2 is L-shaped, with crossbowmen, cavalry, and charioteers arranged in a mixed formation; the vividly expressive kneeling archer was unearthed here. Pit 3 is small in scale, and scholars believe the ceremonial guard figurines and war chariots unearthed there indicate it served as the command center—known in ancient times as a "military tent"—directing the formations in Pits 1 and 2. The bronze swords, pi halberds, spears, crossbow triggers, and large quantities of arrowheads unearthed from the pits—many still sharp after more than 2,000 years—demonstrate the sophistication of Qin dynasty metallurgy. The Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum at the foot of Mount Li were originally one integrated whole. After Qin Shi Huang ascended the throne at the age of 13, he began constructing the mausoleum, conscripting hundreds of thousands of laborers over a period spanning more than 30 years; the terracotta army, which replaced human sacrifice with figurines, served as the underground guard for this imperial mausoleum. To avoid the crowds during your visit, you might want to see Pit 3 and Pit 2 first, and then take your time to experience the awe-inspiring scene of Pit 1 last. After viewing the terracotta pits, you can also take the attraction's shuttle bus to Lishan Garden, where Emperor Qinshihuang's mausoleum is located; the Acrobats Pit, the Civil Officials Pit, and the Bronze Chariots and Horses Museum are all within the garden. The two painted bronze chariots and horses, cast at half the scale of real chariots, are exquisitely crafted with brilliantly gleaming gold and silver fittings, and are well worth a special trip to see.

2026 Asia 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Shaanxi History Museum

Shaanxi History Museum is a large modern museum built after China's reform and opening up and officially opened in 1991. The building was designed by architect Zhang Jinqiu and adopts a Tang-style architectural layout of "central hall and four corner towers," with a symmetrical central axis and a clear hierarchy of primary and secondary structures; in 2016 it was included in the first batch of the "Chinese Architectural Heritage of the 20th Century" list. Shaanxi was once the political center of dynasties such as the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang, and the museum's collection spans a million years of history, covering categories such as Shang and Zhou bronzes, pottery figurines of successive dynasties, Han and Tang gold and silver wares, and Tang tomb murals, with a total of over one million items. The permanent exhibition "Ancient Civilization of Shaanxi" follows a chronological main line and presents the historical process from prehistoric Lantian Man to the eve of the Opium War across three galleries, with the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang periods as the focus. The east and west sides of the central hall each host a thematic exhibition: on the west side, "Treasures of the Great Tang: Hejiacun Hoard Unearthed Artifacts Exhibition" concentrates on fine gold and silver wares of the High Tang, while on the east side, the "Tang Dynasty Mural Treasures Gallery" displays authentic murals removed from Tang tombs, with subjects covering figures, architecture, ceremonial guards, and more, making it a uniquely distinctive category of the museum's collection. Among the many artifacts in the museum, several are particularly notable. The agate cup with gold-inlaid beast head, from the Hejiacun hoard, is carved from a single piece of banded agate into the form of a curved-horn beast head, resembling Central Asian rhyton cups, and is one of the first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad. The tri-color glazed camel carrying musicians figurine vividly recreates the lively scene of musicians playing and singers performing on a camel's back, with bright glaze colors and figures with distinct expressions. The Empress's Seal is made of Western Han Hetian mutton-fat jade and carved with a chi-tiger knob, and is the only known actual jade seal of a Han dynasty empress discovered to date. In addition, the gilt silver flask with a dancing horse holding a cup design, the celadon ewer with an overhead handle and bottom-filling design, and the black-glazed oil-spot bowl each have their own distinctive features. The gold and silver wares unearthed from the Hejiacun hoard are concentrated in the thematic gallery and are a highlight of any visit; visitors are advised to allow time to examine them closely.