The lyrics "The Yellow River is roaring" from the Yellow River Cantata are surely etched in everyone's memory. But where exactly does the Yellow River roar? This question remained a mystery until I visited the Hukou Waterfall. I used to only know Hukou as a waterfall, almost overlooking its full name, the Yellow River Hukou Waterfall. It's a part of the Yellow River, the place where it truly roars!
The Yellow River Hukou Waterfall marks the border between Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces. The scenic area is divided into Shaanxi and Shanxi sections, each charging a separate entrance fee. So, what's the difference, and which side should you choose? After much research, I found the main difference lies in the viewing angle. The Shaanxi side offers a long, narrow view, showcasing not only the waterfall but also a long stretch of the river. The Shanxi side features an underground viewing platform, providing a bottom-up perspective of the entire waterfall. Each has its own advantages. I prefer the long, narrow river view, so I chose the Shaanxi side.
🚌 Transportation:
There are only two round-trip buses from Yan'an to Hukou daily, one at 7:30 am and another at 8:20 am. It's recommended to buy tickets at the counter the day before. A round-trip ticket costs 85 yuan.
The distance from Yan'an to Hukou Waterfall is about 180 km. The bus stops at Nanniwan for a 10-minute visit, mainly to see the farmland. Rice paddies are cultivated in areas with water, reportedly because Chairman Mao enjoyed eating rice. The actual time spent at Hukou Waterfall is about an hour.
🎫 Tickets:
Entrance tickets are 100 yuan, and the shuttle bus within the scenic area costs 40 yuan. Tickets can be purchased on major online platforms.
The Hukou Waterfall scenic area is not large; you can see the whole view at a glance. Walking to the innermost part brings you to the waterfall itself. Experiencing the majestic and magnificent momentum of the Yellow River firsthand, the word "roaring" is no exaggeration.
Upstream of the waterfall, the water is relatively calm. Since it's not the high-water season, the river is relatively narrow. Downstream, the water flows rapidly, crashing against the rocks on both sides of the riverbed and rotating in reverse. This explains why there are many large, circular pits eroded by the water along the banks.
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