Lichuan Jiantianba Waterfall

Lichuan Jiantianba Waterfall

Jiantianba Waterfall is situated 21.5 kilometers north of Lichuan City and approximately 200 meters west of Jiantianba Village in Baiyangba Town. In ancient times, the essential pathway from Baiyangba to Jiantianba, known as "Maotiancao," was covered with lush forests and shaded by dense foliage, with sunlight only visible upon reaching the "head of Maotiancao," which gave the area its name. The waterfall features a powerful stream of water plunging down from the dripping rocks on steep cliffs, falling into Longtan Pool with tremendous force and spectacular grandeur. The waterfall originates from the foothills of Hanchi Mountain, covering a catchment area of 20 square kilometers. It flows through Jingshuwo and Wachangou, dropping at a rate of about 0.2 cubic meters per second into Longtan Pool. The pool is oval-shaped, covering an area of around 20 square meters, with clear water that is deeper in the center and shallower toward the edges. The overflow water travels through the Shimenkan, Yanjiao, and Guihuaqiao of the Jiantianba Hydropower Station, stretching 11.5 kilometers before joining the Qingjiang River.

Jiantianba Waterfall is one of the largest waterfalls in Lichuan. With a height of over 40 meters, it is especially magnificent during the rainy seasons of spring and summer when the water curtain hangs down and silver splashes dance, creating a breathtaking scene. In autumn and winter, mist envelops the area, with drizzle adding to the atmosphere. There are also many other fascinating landscapes nearby. At the mouth of the Maotiancao Gorge, there are numerous uniquely shaped peaks and rocks. One notable feature is the "Thunder Struck Stone," which, according to legend, once had two peaks that came together at night and separated during the day, competing in beauty, until one was struck and destroyed by lightning—hence the name. The current "Leidalei" Village in Baiyang Town is also named after this. As you enter the gorge, you can hear the roaring sound of the waterfall echoing through the valley and bouncing back from the mountains. Not far from the waterfall, in the Sanlu Brigade, stands an ancient ginkgo tree with a trunk several people could hug, standing tall and majestic with an umbrella-like canopy, truly a beautiful sight that captivates all who see it. A poem praises it:

Clouds veil the stone peaks high, Gazing at falls by ginkgo’s side.

Echoes in canyon strings do ring, A Milky Way hangs o’er Jiantian.

Address: 200 meters west of Jiantianba Village, Baiyangba Town, 21.5 kilometers north of Lichuan City, Enshi Prefecture

Type: Waterfall

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Baiyangba Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Lichuan City. Before 1949, it belonged to Baiyang District, Fengjie County, Sichuan Province. In 1952, it was incorporated into Lichuan County, Hubei Province. In 1980, it was renamed Baiyangba Commune, and in 1996, it was upgraded to a town. Located in the northern part of the city, it is 27 kilometers from downtown and 10 kilometers from National Highway 318. The road from Lichuan to Fengjie County runs east-west through the town. The town administers Baiyangba, Xiangshui, Streets Residential Area, Xiping, Yixin, Dayan, Xinmin, Matishui, Leijiaping, Xiangtan, Longfeng, Youhao, Shuangli, Yanhe, Qiyue, Shuangtang, Guihua, Qixin, Batai, Houhe, Wayaping, Luziping, Longxing, Longguan... Baiyangba Town detailed information++