Hukou Waterfall
Encyclopedia
The Hukou Waterfall the largest waterfall on the Yellow River
, China
, the “second largest” waterfall in China (after the Huangguoshu Waterfall, Detian – Ban Gioc Falls, etc.), is located at the intersection of Shanxi Province and Shaanxi Province, 165 km (103 mi) to the west of Fenxi City, and 50 km (31 mi) to the east of Yichuan
. The Hukou Waterfall is naturally formed when water in the middle reaches of the Yellow River flows through Jinxia Grand Canyon. The width of the waterfall changes with the season, usually 30 metres (98 ft) wide but increasing to 50 m (164 ft) during flood
season. It has a fall of over 20 m (66 ft). When the Yellow River surges towards the Hukou Mountain, blocked by mountains on both sides, its width is abruptly narrowed down to 20 m (66 ft) - 30 m (98 ft). The water speeds up with increasing water power. Then it rushes down from the narrow mouth, forming a grand waterfall 15 m (49 ft) high and 20 m (66 ft) wide, as if water were pouring down from a huge teapot. Hence it gets the name Hukou (literally, Flask Mouth) Waterfall.
Just below the waterfall, there is a shining stone called guishi (鬼石). What makes the stone mysterious is that it moves up and down according to the water level. No matter how large the water volume, it is still at least partly visible.
In the middle of the river, about 3000 m (9,843 ft) from the Hukou Waterfall, an enormous rock catches the attention of visitors. When the Yellow River flows to this point, divides into two, rolling and roaring on and on from both sides of the rock before reconverging.
Beneath the waterfall is the Qilangwo Bridge which connects the two provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi. In the sunshine, the mist is refracted by sunlight to create a rainbow spanning the water like a colorful bridge. In 1991, Hukou Waterfall was named one of the "40 Best" national scenic spots.
Due to its awkward location in the Loess Plateau
hinterlands, Hukou was once very difficult to access. After the local government improved transport and tourist facilities, the number of tourists rose from 20,000 in 1994 to 47,000 in 1995. The figure for 1996 reached 100,000 tourists.
An image of the Hukou Waterfall can be seen on the older fourth series of the renminbi
50 RMB banknote.
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, the “second largest” waterfall in China (after the Huangguoshu Waterfall, Detian – Ban Gioc Falls, etc.), is located at the intersection of Shanxi Province and Shaanxi Province, 165 km (103 mi) to the west of Fenxi City, and 50 km (31 mi) to the east of Yichuan
Yichuan County, Shaanxi
Yichuan County is a county of Yan'an, Shaanxi, China.-See also:* Hukou Waterfall...
. The Hukou Waterfall is naturally formed when water in the middle reaches of the Yellow River flows through Jinxia Grand Canyon. The width of the waterfall changes with the season, usually 30 metres (98 ft) wide but increasing to 50 m (164 ft) during flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
season. It has a fall of over 20 m (66 ft). When the Yellow River surges towards the Hukou Mountain, blocked by mountains on both sides, its width is abruptly narrowed down to 20 m (66 ft) - 30 m (98 ft). The water speeds up with increasing water power. Then it rushes down from the narrow mouth, forming a grand waterfall 15 m (49 ft) high and 20 m (66 ft) wide, as if water were pouring down from a huge teapot. Hence it gets the name Hukou (literally, Flask Mouth) Waterfall.
Just below the waterfall, there is a shining stone called guishi (鬼石). What makes the stone mysterious is that it moves up and down according to the water level. No matter how large the water volume, it is still at least partly visible.
In the middle of the river, about 3000 m (9,843 ft) from the Hukou Waterfall, an enormous rock catches the attention of visitors. When the Yellow River flows to this point, divides into two, rolling and roaring on and on from both sides of the rock before reconverging.
Beneath the waterfall is the Qilangwo Bridge which connects the two provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi. In the sunshine, the mist is refracted by sunlight to create a rainbow spanning the water like a colorful bridge. In 1991, Hukou Waterfall was named one of the "40 Best" national scenic spots.
Due to its awkward location in the Loess Plateau
Loess Plateau
The Loess Plateau , also known as the Huangtu Plateau, is a plateau that covers an area of some 640,000 km² in the upper and middle reaches of China's Yellow River. Loess is the name for the silty sediment that has been deposited by wind storms on the plateau over the ages...
hinterlands, Hukou was once very difficult to access. After the local government improved transport and tourist facilities, the number of tourists rose from 20,000 in 1994 to 47,000 in 1995. The figure for 1996 reached 100,000 tourists.
An image of the Hukou Waterfall can be seen on the older fourth series of the renminbi
Fourth series of the renminbi
The fourth series of the renminbi was the series introduced between 1987 and 1997, although the banknotes were dated 1980, 1990, or 1996. Unlike the second and the third series, they are still legal tender.-Banknotes:Banknotes are available in :*First edition**¥0.1 ,**¥0.2...
50 RMB banknote.