Hukou Waterfall


The Hukou Waterfall, the second largest waterfall in China, is located 165 kilometers to the west of Fenxi
City, Shanxi Province, is formed when the river flows to the Hukou Mountains on the Shanxi-Shaanxi
border.

The width of the waterfall changes with the season, usually 30 meters wide but increasing to 50 meters
during flood season. It has a fall of over 20 meters. When the Yellow River surges towards the Hukou
Mountain, blocked by mountains on both sides, its width is abruptly narrowed down to 20-30 meters. The
water speeds up with increasing waterpower. Then it rushes down from the narrow mouth, forming a
grand waterfall of 15 meters high and 20 meters wide, as if water is pouring down from a huge teapot.
Hence it gets the name Hukou (kettle spout) Waterfall.

As a notable scenic spot in Shanxi Province, Hukou Waterfall, which covers an area of about 100 square kilometers, was listed as National Key
Scenic Spot in 1988 and now is graded as a 4A spot. 3,000 meters down the waterfall is a unique boulder called “Mengmeng Mount.” The waterfall
is divided into two with water falling through both sides of the boulder and then joining together again.

Standing on the bank of the Yellow River, people can see the roaring water rushing through mountains and then plunging into a deep pool, really
resembling the boiling water in a teapot. The waves stir up masses of smoke and clouds, rising higher up into the sky, with the color changes from
yellow to gray and then to blue. The local people call this marvelous scenery smoke rising from the water.   

Over history, a number of prominent poets and painters once traveled here. Wowing at the grand view, they left numerous works giving high honor
of the waterfall.

The Hukou waterfall is one of the most famous tourism attractions along the Yellow River in north China. It
is also regarded as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Tourists cannot only view the
"frozen" waterfall, but can cross a frozen bridge in several minutes from Shanxi to neighboring Shaanxi at
the other bank of the Yellow River.

The waterfall attracts millions of tourists every year as well as daredevils who attempt to motorcycle across
the waterfall. The festival will run for a month. Visitors can enjoy the splendid natural landscape and colorful
folk cultures and customs, said a local official.