# Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area on the Yellow River (黄河壶口瀑布旅游区)

Northern Shaanxi, Shaanxi Province · Northwest, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/hukou-waterfall-scenic-area-on-the-yellow-river
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** ¥100; sightseeing shuttle ¥40 (round trip)
- **Opening hours:** 7：00—18：00
- **Time needed:** 2–3 hours
- **Getting there:** Direct express bus from Xi'an East Bus Station to Hukou. Minibuses to Hukou run from Yan'an Baota District South Bus Station.
- **Good for:** Nature

## About Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area on the Yellow River

Hukou Waterfall lies in Yichuan County, Shaanxi Province, on the Qin-Jin Grand Canyon stretch of the Yellow River, and is known as the 'Golden Waterfall'. When the rolling Yellow River surges here, its banks suddenly narrow. A torrent more than 300 metres wide is abruptly squeezed into less than 50 metres, and the water rushes with even greater force before plunging from a cliff more than 20 metres high, like countless golden dragons leaping. The result is a thunderous spectacle and wonders such as the 'Thunder Head Rain Hole', the 'Ten-Thousand-Foot Dragon Trough' and the 'Rainbow Bridge to the Sky'.
Hukou Waterfall has two prime viewing seasons. The first is spring, April and May, when mountain peaches bloom and ice cliffs melt, known as the 'March Peach Blossom Flood'. The second is autumn, September to November, just after the rainy season, when the autumn breeze picks up and rainbows often appear, known as the 'Autumn Breeze at Hukou'. Both periods bring ample, steady water flow, and the waterfall is at its most magnificent. In winter the falls freeze into a landscape of silver and jade, which has its own distinct beauty.

## Tips from the guidebook

- Equipment: Hukou Waterfall is very windy and sandy, so take proper sand protection for your camera. If you shoot up close, such as from inside Dragon Cave, waterproofing for your camera is essential.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 673. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
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