Hukou Waterfall located at the intersection of Shanxi Province and Shaanxi Province, some 400 kilometers from Xian, is the second largest waterfall in China.
The mighty Yellow River, the second largest river in China, surges its way from Qinghai Province to the border of Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces where it suddenly finds its way through a narrow valley, blocked in by mountains. The riverbed abruptly narrows down from 300 meters to 50 meters, turning the placid water into rapids. The tremendous weight of water splashes onto the rocks, forming a magnificent waterfall, 15 meters high and 20 meters wide, as if the water is pouring down from a huge teapot, hence the name Hukou(‘mouth of teapot’). The scene can be overwhelming, water stiring up masses of smoke and cloud, colors turning from yellow to grey, grey to blue. The locals call this awesome scenery ”smoke from the river”.
The Hukou Waterfall has for years attracted visitors from all over the world. You can have a better understanding of natural wonder if you come here in person.
Smoke upraising from the water
Water pours down into the pool at the bottom of the waterfall, and stirs great water mist, which is like strong smoke and can be seen miles away. In winter, the water was frozen into thick ice while in summer the fall is too small to view the scenery. In spring and autumn, it is the best time for viewing the scenery of “smoke upraising from the water”.
Ships moving ahead on Land
In the past, the Hukou waterfall was so arduous and dangerous that it was not suitable for sailing. So whenever they passed the Hukou waterfall, they would drag the boat on to bank, and pulled the ship and moved forward. As the modern transportation becoming more popular, we cannot see the scenery anymore.
Hukou waterfall in winter
In winter, the Hukou waterfall shows another kind of beauty---different from its common fierce and magnificent, the water of yellow river frozen into various shapes of ice. White ice with peculiar shapes makes the waterfall wears an unique beauty.
Admission fee: RMB 91/person
Opening hours: 08:00~18:00
Transportation: Take a train from Beijing, Taiyuan, Xian, or Chengdu to Linfen, then transfer to a bus to there.