Xiangshui River

Xiangshui River

Xiangshui River is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Located 38 kilometers southwest of Nanzhang County, Hubei Province, it consists of the Xiangshui River Gorge, Sanjingzhuang, and Bore Temple. The Xiangshui River Scenic Area is 60 kilometers from Xiangfan City. The scenic area stretches 21.5 kilometers from east to west and 5 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 110 square kilometers. In addition to the Xiangshui River Scenic Area, the region also includes the Putuo’an Scenic Area, Ganjing Cave Scenic Area, Bore Temple Scenic Area, and Sanjingzhuang Scenic Area.

The river valley was formed by fallen rocks, with karst caves scattered throughout. The Arhat Cave, Golden Ox Cave, Lion Cave, Back Arrow Cave, Large and Small Pincer Middle Caves, Chule Cave, and others form a highly refined underground world. The caves also feature karst sinkholes and skylights such as the East and West Tiankeng and Dashan Tianxuanyan. Additionally, the steep cliffs and fractured mountain formations are another major highlight of the scenic area. The region is covered with diverse shrubs and intact vegetation. The valleys are home to precious wild plants such as wintersweet, crape myrtle, yew, and magnolia. Seasonal changes bring colorful foliage trees like smoke tree, black locust, and maple, along with a wealth of vividly colored herbaceous and woody flowering plants, creating ever-changing beauty throughout the seasons. The area is also inhabited by small wild animals such as deer, civets, badgers, foxes, macaques, giant otters, and voles, as well as a variety of bird species including pheasants, golden pheasants, and parakeets, adding liveliness and novelty to the landscape and enriching the sightseeing experience. Originally named Chenjia River, Xiangshui River is one of the three tributaries of the upper reaches of the Man River, with its upstream being Mao Mountain River (west of Chuanshan Cave). The main highlight of this scenic area is its waterfall clusters.

The scenic area features uniquely shaped and iconic rock formations, caves, waterfall clusters, streams, ancient and famous trees, as well as ruins of mountain strongholds and temples. The most remarkable features are the waterfalls, with dozens of them distributed along a relatively short stretch, including the Three-Tiered Waterfall, Seven-Colored Waterfall, and Eagle Waterfall. The most extraordinary is the “Seven-Colored Waterfall,” which has a drop of over 100 meters and is formed by the convergence of five springs. Between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on sunny days, sunlight filters through the forest and reflects off the misty spray of the falls at just the right angle, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—like a rainbow in the sky, shimmering brilliantly and filling the mountains with an auspicious glow.

The waterfalls in the Xiangshui River Scenic Area include: Three-Tiered Spring Waterfall, Seven-Colored Waterfall, Eagle Waterfall, Yaoshen Waterfall, Zhinv Waterfall, Tears Waterfall, and Hand-Pulled Rock Waterfall.

The caves in the Xiangshui River Scenic Area are typical karst landforms with well-developed karst features, numerous caves, mineral springs, and underground rivers. Representative karst caves include: Xiangshui Cave: One of the sources of the Xiangshui River (Chenjia River), it was formed when a mountain fracture allowed water to flow through a crack. The exit is flanked by vertical cliffs only 1–2 meters apart, extending over 100 meters into the mountain and reaching heights of several dozen meters. Looking upward through the fissure feels like gazing at a thread of sky—an awe-inspiring sight. In the middle of the cave, the dissolution of the mountain rock forms a “skylight,” locally called the “Dashan Tianxuanyan.” When rocks are dropped from above, they produce a clear clanging sound but no thud upon landing—a unique feature of this cave.

Inside Chule Cave, the space is flat and dry. At the entrance, the cave ceiling features karst formations resembling a vivid blue dragon. Upon entering the back hall through a smaller passage, one finds well-developed stalactites, stone waterfalls, and draperies hanging from the walls, with pendant stalactite tongues that produce rhythmic sounds when struck, capable of mimicking different melodies. This is a standout feature of the cave, and it is recommended to name it Chule Cave or choose an even more elegant title.

Golden Ox Cave is located in Xujia Gully. Its entrance resembles a bull’s head. The cave descends vertically and is divided into multiple chambers, with caves within caves. The karst features are well-developed, though some parts have been damaged. Due to the difficulty of entry, the interior sights remain unclear.

The Big Pincer Mouth Cave and Small Pincer Mouth Cave are located on Zhoujiashan. The elevation difference from the riverbed to the cave entrance exceeds 350 meters. The Big Pincer Mouth Cave has a spacious interior with stone draperies hanging from the walls and is divided into two levels. The Small Pincer Mouth Cave is situated above the Big Pincer Mouth Cave. Access is extremely perilous due to the need to climb sheer cliffs, making it very difficult to explore.

Other caves include the Arhat Cave, Stone Forest Cave, Lion Cave, and Dicui Cave. There are also two adjacent sinkholes in Liushuping.

The mountain formations in the scenic area are striking. At the Eagle Waterfall, there are sheer cliffs with a vertical drop of 100 meters, creating a spectacular sight. The mountaintop is dotted with abrupt rocky peaks that resemble the treacherous journey of Tang Sanzang to the West to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, evoking deep reflection—hence the poetic name “The Perilous Road to the West.” Other notable features include the reclining lion in Goushu’ao, the “Stone Monk” formed by karst erosion, and the dressing table in Yabatan.

Address: 4 kilometers east of Xueping Town, Nanzhang County, Xiangyang City

Type: Waterfalls, Lakes, Rivers

Recommended Visit Duration: 3–4 hours

Phone: 0710-5381882

Opening Hours: 7:00–17:00

Ticket Price: 40 RMB

Xueping Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Nanzhang County, it serves as the county’s sericulture base and a major producer of black fungus and “zao pi” (a type of medicinal bark). Established as Xueping District in 1952, it became a commune in 1975 and was upgraded to a town in 1987. Located in the central part of the county, it covers an area of 228 square kilometers with a population of 30,000. The Nan (Zhang) Ban (Qiao) and Xiao (Yan) Long (Ping) highways intersect within the town. It borders the Mingyangdong River to the west, has the Luoyu River running through it, and is the source of the Wumiao River to the north. The town administers Xuejiaping, Bore Temple, Gushuya, Jiujiahe, Duchong, Quanhua Ping, Xiashiqu, Zhangjiagou, Fenlubei, Gouyan, Shiqiao, Yiwanshui, Maojianghe, Shunliu, Songjia… More detailed information about Xueping Town++