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Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River
No. 8 of Best Things to Do in Shaanxi

Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River

8.3
4.6/5
18.1k reviews
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.Yichuan · 26.6km from downtown
Baota Mountain
No. 19 of Best Things to Do in Shaanxi

Baota Mountain

7.4
4.5/5
5k reviews
Baota Mountain is located in the center of Yan'an city, by the side of the Yan River, and is named after the pagoda on the mountain. The pagoda was first built in the Tang Dynasty, and the existing structure is a pavilion-style brick pagoda rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. The pagoda, together with the mountain, the Yan River, and the bridge, forms the city skyline of Yan'an and is also a symbol of the revolutionary holy land in people's hearts. The poet He Jingzhi wrote in "Returning to Yan'an" the famous line, "How many times in my dreams have I returned to Yan'an, embracing Baota Mountain with both hands," adding emotional weight to this mountain. The mountain is densely scattered with historical sites, including Song dynasty cliff carvings, Fan Gong Well, beacon towers, Star-gazing Tower, Jialing Academy, ancient city walls, and the former site of the Japanese Workers' and Peasants' School. Among them, the inscriptions "Jialing Mountain" in clerical script and "My chest harbors tens of thousands of armored soldiers" by Fan Zhongyan of the Northern Song dynasty have long been renowned. An iron bell cast in the Ming dynasty still hangs beside the pagoda, which was used for timekeeping and alarms during the CPC Central Committee's Yan'an period. Ascending the mountain path to Star-gazing Tower and beacon tower areas offers panoramic views of Yan'an city and the Yan River. After nightfall, the mountain and pagoda illuminate, and gazing back at the lit pagoda from near Yan River Bridge remains a favorite photo spot for many travelers.Yan'an · 781m from downtown
Ganquan Canyon
No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Yan'an

Ganquan Canyon

7.2
4.7/5
2.8k reviews
Ganquan Canyon is located in Ganquan County, Yan'an, Shaanxi, and is also known as Yucha Canyon. It is a group of red sandstone fissures hidden deep in the ravines of the Loess Plateau, hailed as a "natural fissure wonder of the Loess Plateau." Legend has it that an ancient earthquake split the mountain, and years of rainwater and flash floods carved out the now winding and graceful ravines. Due to its striking resemblance to Antelope Canyon in the U.S., it is often called the "Chinese Antelope Canyon" by photography enthusiasts. The attraction consists of multiple ravines, including Huashu Gully, Longba Gully, Mudan Gully, and Thread of Sky Gully. Among them, Huashu Gully is renowned for its smooth, layered rock walls, offering both an easy hike and stunning photo opportunities, making it the highlight of the area. The true highlight of this canyon is its play of light and shadow. Around noon on sunny days, sunlight pours straight down through the narrow gap overhead, with warm hues of ochre and gold flowing slowly along the curves of the rock walls, while moss clinging to the surfaces adds a touch of emerald green. Standing at the canyon floor and looking up, the sky narrows into a bright, slender line—between the alternating light and shadow, every casual snapshot becomes strikingly picturesque. On overcast days or during early/late hours when light slants in, the rock walls appear noticeably duller, somewhat diminishing the visual impact. Here are a few tips for your visit: Huashu Gully is gentle and open, ideal for leisurely photography; Longba Gully alternates between wide and narrow sections, offering more adventurous fun; the narrowest part of Yixiantian is particularly cramped, so extra caution is needed when passing through. Some gullies occasionally have accumulated water and mud, making the paths slippery—wearing anti-slip shoes is advisable. If you're here for the light effects, try to schedule your gully visit around noon on sunny days.Ganquan · 39.9km from downtown
Yan'an Red Street
No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Yan'an

Yan'an Red Street

5.8
4.9/5
309 reviews
Yan'an Red Street is located at No. 1 Huanhu Road, Science and Technology City, High-tech Zone, Yan'an City. It is a super-large red tourism comprehensive project integrating patriotic education, folk culture experience, tourism, leisure and vacation. Red Street bids farewell to the single function of traditional red tourism. It not only has food, accommodation, travel, entertainment, shopping, intangible cultural heritage, and activities, but also has a complete range of land and water projects, which can greatly meet the comprehensive needs of tourists for red tourism. Yan'an Red Street covers an area of 26.76 hectares, with a total construction area of 74,900 square meters and a block length of 1.5 kilometers. Based on the historical context of Yan'an from 1935 to 1948, four red cultural blocks and five red themed squares are formed, namely "Red Journey", "Red Life", "Red Time" and "Red Age". With the planning and design of traditional ancient city buildings, historically restored buildings, northern Shaanxi residential buildings, and the landscape of the Long March Cultural Park, it reproduces the glorious journey of the Red Army's reunion in northern Shaanxi, the fiery years of Yan'an, and the great victory. Yan'an Red Street is planned according to the format of "food and beverage", "non-heritage specialties", "retail", "red training and experience", "main store paradise and homestay", attracting many tourists and opening on June 12, 2021 The number of tourists exceeded 2 million in the first month, and on the first day of opening, it also set a record of 260,000 passengers in a single day. Yan'an Red Street uses high-tech means to create an immersive experience. It has the domestic large-scale red indoor scene experience drama "Return to Yan'an", and the interactive military paradise "Training Ground" with 24 ballistic tracks, the largest shooting range in Northwest China, etc. Create multiple dynamic sensory experiences, combine education with travel, and entertain with education. Yan'an Red Street focuses on innovating a new model of red tourism and building a new brand of Chinese red culture.Yan'an · 3.4km from downtown

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What travellers say about Yan'an

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M29***2030 October 2026
5.0
Standing on the viewing platform, listening to the roaring Yellow River, I was deeply moved. The massive, brownish-yellow waves surged and cascaded, displaying the unique grandeur of the Mother River—a sight that photos can hardly capture. The mist was heavy, so you'll easily get wet, and the ground was slippery, so be careful. Try to come on a sunny day; the chances of seeing a rainbow are higher. It was a truly meaningful trip through the mountains and rivers.

Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River

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夜阑月色溶溶7 October 2026
5.0
Because we had children with us, we opted to take the sightseeing bus up and down, which was very relaxing. We got a close look at the pagoda, took photos, and learned about its history, especially the plaques at the north and south gates: "Soaring high above the heavens, overlooking the mortal world"—for over 1000 years, the pagoda has achieved this.

Baota Mountain

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M27***689 October 2026
5.0
I visited Ganquan Grand Canyon during the National Day holiday, avoiding the crowds at major cities and tourist attractions. It was a less crowded but still excellent experience! Recommended by China National Geographic magazine, definitely worth a visit! It's chilly and damp inside the canyon, so be sure to wear a thick coat. I wouldn't recommend coming in winter; it would probably be too cold.

Ganquan Canyon

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大洋咆哮者14 October 2026
4.0
The scenic area was larger than I expected. I went on the seventh day of the National Day holiday, and surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded, considering it's in a county town. But as descendants of the Yellow Emperor, having come all the way to Yan'an, I figured I should at least see it. The scenic area is half modern architecture and half historical sites, especially the several thousand-year-old cypress trees and some inscriptions by famous figures. The two Yellow Emperor Temples, one ancient and one modern, each have their own unique characteristics and are definitely worth seeing. However, there's one thing I really want to complain about: Didi (a ride-hailing app) is completely banned in Huangling County. You have to hail a taxi on the roadside, and the only ones you can find are very old-fashioned taxis—old and smelly. The drivers don't use meters and even share rides. But I don't want to complain about any of that because it's practically impossible to hail a taxi. It's impossible to find a car near the hotel or the scenic area entrance. I waited for over ten minutes before finally getting one, and I almost missed my train. You can't be picky. People say Didi disrupts market order, but in my opinion, it's precisely because there's no market competition that the travel experience in Huangling is so terrible. This problem really needs to be addressed.

The Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor

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博😘😘肖1 November 2025
5.0
From a historical perspective, both Yangjialing and Zaoyuan were important locations for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the Yan'an period, carrying profound historical memories. However, they differ in details. Yangjialing is renowned as the cradle of revolutionary spirit and a witness to many important historical events; while Zaoyuan is known for its garden-like environment and its status as an important base for national revolutionary tradition education. Furthermore, Yangjialing and Zaoyuan differed in the location of their administrative offices and the revolutionary tasks they undertook. Yangjialing was the former site of all the CPC Central Committee's administrative offices, undertaking the important tasks of commanding the anti-Japanese war and the War of Liberation behind enemy lines, leading the Great Production Movement and the Rectification Movement; while Zaoyuan was the former site where the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee moved from Yangjialing, primarily undertaking tasks such as leading the entire Party in the Rectification Movement and the Great Production Movement in the liberated areas, and preparing for the Seventh National Congress of the CPC.

Yangjialing Revolutionary Site

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西格玛 12318 July 2025
5.0
枣园革命旧址是国家5A级景区,位于陕西省延安市城西北,是一个园林式的革命纪念地。这里原来是一家地主的庄园,在中共中央进驻延安后,作为中央社会部驻地,并改名为“延园”。1944年至1947年3月,中共中央书记处成员由杨家岭迁驻此地,在这里领导全党开展了整风运动和解放区军民开展的大生产运动,筹备了中国共产党“七大”。

Zaoyuan Revolutionary Site

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非凡轶生15 July 2023
5.0
The Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall was founded in January 1950. The original site was at the Nanguan Exchange Office. It is one of the earliest revolutionary memorial halls established after the founding of the People's Republic of China. In 1954, it moved to the former site of the CPC Central Committee in Yangjialing and was named "Yan'an Museum". In 1955, it moved to the revolutionary site at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain in the city and was renamed "Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall". In June 1973, it moved to its current site in Wangjiaping. A red plaque hangs above the main entrance of the exhibition hall, with the name of the hall written by Guo Moruo when he visited Yan'an in 1971. The Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall is an important base for educating the masses on patriotism, revolutionary traditions and the Yan'an spirit. In December 2016, the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall was included in the list of national red tourism classic scenic spots.

Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall

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M84***9719 January 2025
5.0
This is the birthplace of China's military reclamation and agricultural reclamation. It is built by the mountains and rivers. The attractions here include the Thousand Mu Rice Field with a history of more than 70 years, the Party Emblem Square, Taobao Valley, the Wetland Park, the Great Production Memorial Hall, and the former site of the Central Administration Bureau Cadre Rest Home. [星R] We mainly went to the Thousand Mu Rice Field (Figures 1-3). The weather was very good today. The blue sky and white clouds matched the green rice fields and it was really a good photo! The Wetland Park (Figures 4-5) also has good scenery. There are some rafting and boating entertainment projects, which are more suitable for picnics and relaxation with friends on weekends. Due to time constraints, we could only visit the Great Production Memorial Hall in a hurry. It was the first time to experience viewing the exhibition in a wheelchair [笑泣R] Figures 9 and 10 are the scenes of Nanniwan last autumn.

Nanniwan Scenic Area

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M29***127 August 2026
4.0
Located in Qiankunwan Town, Yanchuan County, Yan'an City, with a core area of ​​27.4 square kilometers, it is the core area of ​​the Yellow River Meander National Geopark and has been rated as a national 5A-level tourist attraction.

Yanchuan Yellow river Qiankun Bay Scenic Area

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Anonymous user2 June 2025
5.0
The stay experience was great! The room was clean and tidy, the bedding was soft and comfortable, and the facilities were complete and new. The front desk service was warm and thoughtful, and the response was timely. The breakfast was rich and delicious, and the location was convenient. It was very cost-effective and highly recommended!

Yan'an Red Street

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