The Hukou Waterfall (), is the largest waterfall on the

Yellow River The Yellow River or Huang He (Chinese: , Mandarin: ''Huáng hé'' ) is the second-longest river in China, after the Yangtze River, and the sixth-longest river system in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Ha ...

, the second largest waterfall in China (after the

Huangguoshu Waterfall Huangguoshu Waterfall (), is one of the largest waterfalls in China and East Asia located on the Baishui River () in Anshun, Guizhou province. It is high and wide. The main waterfall is high and wide. Tourism Known as the Huangguoshu Wate ...

Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to the ...

), and the world's largest yellow waterfall. It is located at the intersection of the provinces of Shanxi and

Shaanxi Shaanxi (alternatively Shensi, see § Name) is a landlocked province of China. Officially part of Northwest China, it borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi (NE, E), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichuan (SW), Gansu (W), N ...

, to the west of Fenxi County, and to the east of Yichuan County where the middle reaches of the Yellow River flow through Jinxia Grand Canyon. The width of the waterfall changes with the season, usually wide but increasing to during

flood A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrol ...

season. It has a height of over . When the Yellow River approaches the Hukou Mountain, blocked by mountains on both sides, its width is abruptly narrowed down to . The water's velocity increases, and then plunges over a narrow opening on a cliff, forming a waterfall high and wide, as if water were pouring down from a huge teapot. Hence it gets the name ''Hukou'' (literally, "flask mouth") Waterfall. In the middle of the river, about 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 The Chinese Loess Plateau, or simply the Loess Plateau, is a plateau in north-central China formed of loess, a clastic silt-like sediment formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust. It is located southeast of the Gobi Desert and is surrounde ...

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 The renminbi (; symbol: ¥; ISO code: CNY; abbreviation: RMB) is the official currency of the People's Republic of China and one of the world's most traded currencies, ranking as the fifth most traded currency in the world as of April 2022. ...

banknote.

References

Hukou Waterfall at China.org.cnHukou Waterfall - Known to Elaborate Spirit of Chinese People
Foreigners are forbidden from visiting the falls.

External links

{{coord, 36.1314, N, 110.4508, E, type:river_region:CN-14_source:Gaode, format=dms, display=t Waterfalls of China Landforms of Shanxi Landforms of Shaanxi Tourist attractions in Shanxi Tourist attractions in Shaanxi