MaoYan River Rafting

MaoYan River Rafting

MaoYan River Rafting is located within the MaoYan River Scenic Area, downstream from the MaoYan River Flat Lake Cruise. It is 32 kilometers west of Zhangjiajie City, with a rafting course of 28 kilometers and a total drop of 66 meters. The route features 55 thrilling yet safe rapids.

The MaoYan River is blessed with beautiful mountains and clear waters, offering picturesque landscapes, deep canyons, abundant rapids and waves. Along the riverbanks, there are towering cliffs, dangerous peaks, cascading waterfalls, flowing springs, rugged mountain formations, dense forests, and an ancient, wild charm. The river rushes like an arrow, with fierce waves surging forward, cutting through rocks and valleys, twisting around peaks — truly “not the Three Gorges, yet mightier than the Three Gorges.”

MaoYan River Rafting has now become China’s largest and safest tourist rafting destination, and is the most thrilling among Zhangjiajie’s premier “mountain, water, and cave” tourism experiences.

Dancing with the waves, an unforgettable ride — drift down the MaoYan River in a rubber raft as towering stone walls rush toward you. Play with the jade-like river, admire the boundless pastoral scenery, and take in the layered green mountains and radiant valleys. With numerous rapids and fast currents, you’ll tackle thrilling rapids, engage in water fights, sing mountain songs, savor wild flavors, drink fresh spring water, and dance with the waves — all thrilling yet safe. After navigating through winding paths and emerging into bright, blooming scenes, the resulting sense of ease is simply indescribably delightful.

The Conghuai Shoal, also known as the First Shoal of the MaoYan River, may not have the most violent waves, but it offers the ambiance of an explorer’s adventure — thrilling yet safe. About 100 meters downstream from this shoal lies the Mandarin Duck Shoal. This is a pair of small islands standing in the middle of the river, less than 1 kilometer apart. The upstream island is slightly larger, about 200 meters long and 50 meters wide, covered with shrubs, reeds, and rugged rocks. It’s astonishing that two midstream islands exist in such a narrow canyon, leaving visitors in awe of nature’s wonders. The Mandarin Duck Shoal is the ideal spot for camping. Spending the night here is a rare and unforgettable experience — listening to the waves all night is something you’ll never forget.

Five Horse Heads: Downstream from the Mandarin Duck Shoal, on a rock in the river, there are five stones that resemble five horses about to gallop, hence the name Five Horse Heads. This spot, along with a small village on the opposite bank downstream, is tied to a magical legend: during the Northern Song Dynasty, the Yang family generals fought battles across the land for the emperor. When they came to suppress the southern “barbarians” led by the so-called King Xiang, they passed through the small village on the opposite bank with their soldiers.

No one knows how long they stayed, but when they were withdrawing, in order to move quickly, a dark-skinned, black-faced man led five black warhorses and left them in the care of a local farming family. Unexpectedly, the general never returned. After a very long time, no one came to retrieve the five black steeds. Perhaps because they missed their master too much after being away for so long, the horses stopped eating anything and spent their days neighing loudly toward the north by the river. Then, one night during a thunderstorm, after several loud whinnies were heard, the villagers found the next morning that the five horses that had been neighing were gone, and on the rocks across the river were several stones resembling the five horses they used to see every day. Some say the horses were moved by the gods and turned into stone to reunite with their master. Others say they had offended the mountain gods and were turned into stone to guard the river shoal — it’s unclear which story is true.

HeWu Shoal: After passing the Horse-Tying Post, you’ll reach another calm, deep pool called HeWu Shoal. As the name suggests, it was formed by the confluence of five smaller streams upstream.

The outlet of HeWu Stream connects directly to the MaoYan River. All year round, its winding, intestine-like riverbed and the deep, elongated canyon complement each other beautifully. Drifting further downstream, you’ll soon arrive at a small village. Just as the saying goes, “lost in a mountain valley with no way out, then suddenly a village appears in a grove of willows and bright flowers.” This village is called HeiShe Village. Nestled against the mountain and by the water, the dozen or so households are built in a modern Tujia architectural style. Closely clustered along the right bank’s rocky bend, the houses face south with their backs to the north, yet don’t feel cramped or oppressive. The riverbank is lined with bamboo forests, and natural black slate is exposed along the shore, where a few small wooden boats are often moored. Children play naked in the shallows, and downstream from the village lie continuous rapid shoals with pleasant roaring sounds. One kilometer downstream is the entrance to the Yanhe Canyon, where the towering MiaoWang Mountain stands majestically at the mouth of the gorge. The stunning mountain-water village scenery is truly captivating. The Yanhe Canyon boasts the most spectacular and perilous scenery along the MaoYan River. The canyon is about 14 kilometers long, with cliffs on both sides rising approximately 400–500 meters high. The narrowest part of the riverbed is about 10 meters wide. There are many rapids, deep pools, huge waves, and fast currents. In the rainy season, waterfalls and flowing springs are abundant and magnificent. Along the cliffs, some waterfalls plunge straight down, others cascade in multiple tiers, and some emerge from within the rock walls. In just the 2-kilometer stretch from the canyon entrance to Shuidongzi, the sounds of rushing water, thundering waterfalls, and chirping birds fill the air amid swirling mist. If you visit at noon when sunlight penetrates the canyon, you’ll see several rainbows. The cliff walls are adorned with natural murals — some resembling fairies bathing, others like children praying to Buddha…