Yellow River Danxia Gorge Scenic Area
Yellow River Danxia Gorge Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.
Yellow River Danxia Gorge Scenic Area: Located 21 kilometers north of Mianchi in Sanmenxia City along the banks of the Yellow River, at the junction of five counties across Henan and Shanxi provinces. It is a provincial-level geological park. The entire gorge is composed of red quartz sandstone, presenting a reddish-brown hue from the valley floor to the cliffs. 1.2 billion years ago, this area was once an ocean, and Danxia serves as powerful evidence of the earth’s dramatic transformation, now the gorge still displays stone imprints left by ancient ocean waves. The gorge is V-shaped, stretching 8 kilometers in length with widths of 2–30 meters, and an elevation difference of 200–600 meters. The valley features grotesque rocks, sheer cliffs, towering ancient trees, rushing waterfalls, a stable climate, and spring-like conditions throughout the year. Key attractions include Natural Murals, Twin Dragons Playing with a Pearl, Seven-Star Stone, Monkey Gazing at the Moon, Guardian Lion of the Valley, Stone Mountain, Fairy Maiden Pool, One-Line Sky, Thousand-Layer Cliff, Stalactites, Pillar Supporting the Sky, Camel Peak, Lovers’ Valley, Fairy Cave, Water Curtain Cave, Official Seal Platform, Geological Scripture, as well as natural sights like the Eight Pools and Eight Waterfalls formed by Black Tiger Pool and Yellow Dragon Waterfall. There are also rare fossils such as Ripple Stone and Tree Mold Stone. Recreational activities include Yellow River rafting, boat tours, zip lines, aerial cable cars, and fishing in the Yellow River. Yellow River Danxia combines a diversity of unique natural landscapes—majestic mountains, peculiar rocks, perilous valleys, clear streams, deep pools, and dense woods—making it a striking scenic gem in North China. In early spring, the mountains are covered with vibrant wildflowers, offering opportunities for both boat rides to view peach blossoms along the shores and water activities to enjoy the gentle ripples of spring. In peak summer, the cool and tranquil valley with babbling brooks allows for thrilling waterfall jumps and rafting adventures, as well as a cool retreat for relaxation. In autumn, the mountains glow with fiery maple leaves and the air is filled with the scent of wild fruits, perfect for hiking to admire the colorful foliage or tasting wild game in the forests. In deep winter, the land is draped in silvery white, resembling a scene of racing wax sculptures, where visitors can explore snowy landscapes and observe the cycle of the seasons, or fish alone in the cold river while savoring a poetic life. In January 2013, it was announced as a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction by the National Tourism Attractions Evaluation Committee, and the official designation was unveiled on April 18. From 2014 to the end of 2015, with the goal of achieving a 5A rating, Yellow River Danxia invested more than 500 million yuan to develop high-standard ecological boardwalks, themed trails, tourist roads, and related service facilities for Shenxian Gorge and Shaoshan Gorge. The Yellow River cruise experience was further enhanced, expanding the scenic area’s offerings. The layout of “One River, Three Gorges” began to take shape. Comprehensive service areas, visitor centers, and other facilities were further upgraded. The construction of walking paths in Shenxian Gorge and the landscape transformation of the riverside road were completed, with 30 tourist sightseeing buses and coaches acquired, greatly enhancing the scenic area’s reception capacity. The tourism construction project of Yellow River Danxia Scenic Area was successfully included in the 2015 National Preferred Tourism Projects Database, and it is one of the 16 projects selected from Henan Province.
Address: Potou Township, Mianchi County, Sanmenxia City
Type: Gorge Geological Landform
Rating: AAAA
Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours
Opening Hours:
8:00-17:30
Ticket
Ticket: 50 RMB
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