Yellow River Xiaolangdi

Yellow River Xiaolangdi

Yellow River Xiaolangdi is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national water conservancy scenic area.

Spanning the cities of Luoyang, Sanmenxia, and Jiyuan, it covers a total area of 1,262 square kilometers (including 296 square kilometers of water surface), stretching 175 kilometers in length (from 9 kilometers upstream of the Sanmenxia Dam to 36 kilometers downstream of the Xiaolangdi Dam). The dam is located in Xiaolangdi Village, Mengjin County, Luoyang City, hence the project was named after Xiaolangdi. It consists of four sections—Xiaolangdi Dam, Jinci Mountain, Bali Gorge, and Sanmenxia Dam—13 scenic areas, and 113 individual sites. National Highways 310 and 207, as well as the Lianyungang–Khorgas and Erlianhot–Guangzhou expressways, pass near Xiaolangdi.

Data sourced from Baidu Maps; final results are subject to Baidu Map data.

The scenic area is bordered by the Longhai Railway, Jiaozhi Railway, and Luoyang Airport nearby, offering extremely convenient transportation. The scenic zone lies on Henan’s “0 One Line,” a premier golden tourism route. It spans both the northern and southern banks of the Yellow River—the southern bank being an extension of the northeastern Xiao Mountains, connecting to the Fenwei Basin to the west and bordering the North China Plain to the east; while the northern bank features the Taihang and Wangwu Mountains. The scenic area integrates Xiaolangdi Project culture, landscape culture, and historical culture.

Scenic Area Introduction

The Yellow River Xiaolangdi Water Conservancy Scenic Area is located at the exit of the final gorge section in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. It lies 40 kilometers south of Luoyang City, Henan Province (the Xiaolangdi Dam is situated in Xiaolangdi Village, Mengjin County, Luoyang City, 7 kilometers from Mengjin County seat), and 30 kilometers north of Jiyuan City, Henan Province. National Highways 310 and 207, the Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway, and the under-construction Taiyuan–Aomen Expressway run along the edge of the scenic area. The Longhai Railway, Jiaozhi Railway, and Luoyang Airport are also nearby, making transportation very convenient. The scenic area is centrally located along Henan’s national golden tourism route, the “0 One Line.” It spans both the northern and southern banks of the river—the southern bank being a northeastern extension of the Xiao Mountains, connected to the Fenwei Basin to the west and bordering the North China Plain to the east, while the northern bank features the Taihang and Wangwu Mountains. The scenic area is built around the Xiaolangdi Project and characterized by its mountains, waters, forests, and grasslands.

Ecological Garden. Huanglu Mountain on the southern bank is the highest point in the scenic area, offering a panoramic view of the dam and breathtaking natural scenery. The Xiaolangdi Scenic Area is majestic and spectacular in beauty.

The Xiaolangdi Water Control Project is a key initiative in the governance and development of the Yellow River, classified as a major project under China’s Eighth Five-Year Plan. The project began river closure in 1997 and was completed by the end of 2001. Located 40 kilometers north of Luoyang City, Henan Province, on the main course of the Yellow River, it sits 130 kilometers upstream of the Sanmenxia Reservoir and 115 kilometers downstream of Zhengzhou’s Huayuankou. It is the only control project on the Yellow River main stem below Sanmenxia capable of achieving substantial water storage capacity.

The Xiaolangdi Reservoir lies within the Shanxi–Henan Yellow River Gorge, which cuts through the Zhongtiao and Wangwu Mountains. The reservoir area stretches 130 kilometers in length and covers a total area of 278 square kilometers. After the Xiaolangdi Dam closure, the Shanxi–Henan Yellow River Gorge and over 20 scenic spots within the reservoir area—including Baiya Mountain, Hongya Mountain, and Huanglu Mountain—along with the majestic dam, create a stunning tableau of shimmering lakes, scattered islands, and “lofty gorges giving rise to tranquil waters.” This makes the Xiaolangdi Reservoir a large-scale tourist destination that combines natural landscape beauty with hydraulic engineering.

The reservoir contains numerous peninsulas, isolated islands, and rugged peaks, offering close-up views of winding river bends and distant sights of misty, vast lake surfaces. Boarding a boat from the dock, you can navigate the high gorges and tranquil waters, admire the surrounding mountain and water scenery, and fully experience the magnificence of the Mother River. The scenic beauty—graceful, serene, unique, spectacular, and classic—caters to refined tastes and the desire to reconnect with nature. Its style blends the rustic elegance of pastoral charm with the luxurious grandeur of modern fashion.

The Yellow River Three Gorges are the essence nurtured by Xiaolangdi and the Wangwu Mountains, located 20 kilometers upstream of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir Dam. Covering a total area of 40 square kilometers, they represent the highlight of the Xiaolangdi Scenic Area. Bali Gully is the narrowest section of the middle and lower Yellow River, with sheer cliffs on both sides and surging river water in between. The three gorges each have their own distinctive character: Gushan Gorge features precipitous cliffs carved by nature; Longfeng Gorge twists and turns like a coiling dragon or serpent; Dayu Gorge is expansive and open, presenting a magnificent scene. Notably, Jiudeng Lotus Plank Road consists of nine ascending levels resembling blooming lotus flowers or water lilies emerging from the water, earning it the title “Gunshan Yu Fu” (Gun’s Mountain, Yu’s Axe). Additionally, there are rich cultural sites such as ancient plank roads from the Sui and Tang dynasties and the Chenxie Army’s Yellow River crossing, with over 60 natural and cultural attractions. It is a rare riverscape in North China, rivaling the Yangtze River Three Gorges.

Since the Xiaolangdi Reservoir closure, it has attracted numerous sightseers who marvel at its breathtaking scenery, dubbing it the “Little Thousand Island Lake.” They believe Xiaolangdi combines the grandeur of the Three Gorges with the elegance of the Li River, poised to become a rising star in tourism.

Visitors can access Xiaolangdi from either Shanxi or Henan. The reservoir area spans 278 square kilometers, involving three counties in Shanxi: Yuanqu, Xia County, and Pinglu. Among them, Yuanqu County lies in the midsection of the reservoir’s backwater area, accounting for 60% of the total water surface.

Xiaolangdi Reservoir Capacity

The Xiaolangdi Project dam site controls a drainage area of 694,200 square kilometers, representing 92.3% of the Yellow River basin. The reservoir has a total capacity of 12.65 billion cubic meters, including 1.05 billion cubic meters for sediment flushing and water regulation, 7.55 billion cubic meters of dead storage, and 5.10 billion cubic meters of effective storage. The development goals of the Xiaolangdi Project prioritize flood control, ice jam prevention, and sediment reduction, while also supporting water supply, irrigation, and power generation.

Xiaolangdi Project

The Yellow River Xiaolangdi Water Control Project is one of the most distinctive highlights within the Xiaolangdi Scenic Area. The Xiaolangdi Dam is located in Xiaolangdi Town, Mengjin County, Luoyang, 30 kilometers from Jiyuan City. The dam is not only a monumental achievement in China’s Yellow River management history but also one of the most challenging masterpieces in global hydraulic engineering, as well as China’s second-largest inter-century water conservancy project. With a total installed capacity of 1.8 million kilowatts (six 300,000-kilowatt Francis turbines), an underground power station, a 160-meter-high and 1,667-meter-long clay-core rockfill dam, towering intake towers, spectacular outlets, and 108 crisscrossing tunnel groups within less than one square kilometer, the Xiaolangdi Dam fulfills multiple functions such as flood control, ice jam prevention, power generation, and sediment discharge. It serves as a major attraction for tourists witnessing the dramatic changes of the Yellow River. The annual sediment-flushing operation is a majestic spectacle, rivaling the Qiantang River tidal bore. The vast water surface upstream of the dam, coupled with winding river channels and majestic mountain scenery, forms the “Magnificent Northern Landscape—Yellow River Xiaolangdi.”

The Yellow River Three Gorges integrate the landscape and historical culture of Xiaolangdi, the Wangwu Mountains, and the Jinci Mountains, forming one of the scenic area’s highlights. Located 20 kilometers upstream of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir Dam, the area covers 40 square kilometers. Each of the three gorges has its own charm: Bali Gorge, the narrowest section of the middle and lower Yellow River, features sheer cliffs and surging waters; Gushan Gorge showcases nature’s awe-inspiring craftsmanship with towering cliffs; Longfeng Gorge winds like a coiling dragon or serpent. Notably, Jiudeng Lotus Plank Road, with its nine ascending levels, resembles blooming lotuses or lotus flowers rising from water, earning the name “Gunshan Yu Fu.” The gorges present unique landscapes that embody both the “majestic south” and “graceful north” characteristics of China’s scenery.

Heluo Culture represents the Yellow River’s historical and cultural heritage within the Xiaolangdi Scenic Area. Located 15 kilometers downstream of the Xiaolangdi Dam, the Heluo Culture Scenic Area includes sites such as Emperor Guangwu’s Tomb, Dragon Horse Carrying the Map Temple, and Wang Duo’s Former Residence. Wang Duo’s Former Residence houses 90 stone carvings of his calligraphy masterpiece, “Nishan Garden Collection,” showcasing his artistic legacy. Dragon Horse Carrying the Map Temple, also known as “Fuxi Temple,” is the sacred site for Fuxi, the ancestor of Chinese civilization and humanity, and the origin of Heluo Culture. It attracts numerous visitors seeking their roots each year. Emperor Guangwu’s Tomb is the mausoleum of Emperor Liu Xiu, founder of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The site preserves 1,458 ancient cypresses from the Sui and Tang dynasties, renowned for its unique “Four Wonders and Three Rarities” that have fascinated visitors for centuries.

Xiaolangdi – The Yellow River Xiaolangdi Scenic Area is a large mountainous-lake-type scenic zone primarily characterized by hydraulic projects and gorges in the middle and lower Yellow River. It showcases the Yellow River’s landscape and historical culture, making it an ideal destination for sightseeing, leisure, and vacation.

A top-tier ecological tourism destination in China, a national water conservancy scenic area, one of Henan’s top ten tourist hotspots—“Magnificent Northern Landscape: Yellow River Xiaolangdi” warmly welcomes you.

Recommended Visiting Time

1–2 hours

Transportation

By chartered vehicle or self-driving, or take a bus to Xiaolangdi from the long-distance bus station opposite Luoyang Railway Station.

Ticket

Admission ticket

60 yuan

Attraction location

Mengjin County, Luoyang City, Henan Province

Xiaolangdi Town: Xiaolangdi Town is located in the northwest of Mengjin County and is part of a hilly and mountainous area. It borders Chengguan Town and Baihe Town to the east, connects with Changdai Township and Hengshui Town to the south, adjoins Xin'an County to the west, and faces Jiyuan City across the Yellow River to the north. The town stretches 16.4 kilometers from east to west and is 13 kilometers wide from north to south, covering a total area of 111 square kilometers. It has a population of 42,000, with 11,784 households, and arable land of 4,865 hectares, averaging 0.21 hectares of farmland per person. Xiaolangdi Town currently administers 28 administrative villages. There are 39 Party branches in the town, including 28 rural Party branches, 1 enterprise Party branch, and 10 directly-administered town Party branches... More detailed information about Xiaolangdi Town++