Three Pools Waterfall

Three Pools Waterfall

The Three Pools Waterfall Scenic Area is one of the major natural ecological tourism destinations within the Lishan National Forest Park. Located in Wangxian Township in the northwest, it is 25 kilometers from the county seat and is connected to Houhe Reservoir. Currently, a fourth-grade highway links it with the Lishan Scenic Area and the Yellow River Xiaolangdi Scenic Area, forming a circular tourist route within the county. This area is not only home to the beautiful legends of Emperors Yao and Shun, but also boasts unique immortal mountains and divine waters, as well as a naturally formed stone gorge stretching over 5 kilometers. Along this gorge are more than ten waterfalls and pools of varying sizes and shapes—some glistening like scattered pearls and jade, some spraying foam like flying snow, some with blossoms of crystal-clear water splashing about, and others with a majestic and powerful rush. Truly, there is a pool every few steps and a waterfall every few more, with waterfalls connecting to pools, pools linking to waterfalls, pools within pools, and waterfalls beneath waterfalls. Especially notable are the Rain Pool, Dragon Pool, and Wind Pool, all of which are steeped in countless captivating legends. The surrounding valleys are as if cleaved by a knife, with layers of lush pines and cypresses and towering trees. In spring, the area bursts into vibrant blooms, filled with birdsong and floral fragrance; in summer, green waves ripple gently and cool breezes drift by; in autumn, red leaves cover the mountains and wild fruits abound; in winter, snow-laden trees and icy peaks create a world dressed in silver. The emerald pools and verdant forests complement each other, forming a stunningly beautiful picture full of natural charm and rustic purity. In addition, the unique characteristics of the primeval forest and the influence of the mountain microclimate keep the temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels within the scenic area within a range that is comfortable for the human body, making it an ideal destination for summer retreats, vacations, leisure, and exploration.

As an emerging “sunrise” industry, tourism is developing rapidly, and the focus of tourism consumption has shifted from cultural relics and historic sites to natural ecological tourism, with travelers seeking serene forests and mountains and a return to simplicity. To develop and utilize the unique natural resources of the Three Pools, in 2000, Yuanqu Jinhai Tourism Co., Ltd., in accordance with the tourism development plan of Yuanqu County and the specific requirements of ecotourism development, invested in the development of the Three Pools Waterfall Scenic Area through various means such as attracting investment, shareholding, advance funding, and loans. These investments included management facilities such as the mountain gate, parking lot, and a computerized ticketing system established in collaboration with the Yuanqu Post Office; comprehensive service facilities such as hotels, restaurants, shops, an outdoor training base, and a locally funded commodity street; leisure and recreational facilities integrating an ecological park and a water park; and infrastructure including walking trails, viewing platforms, pavilions, suspension bridges, steel-frame bridges, and wooden bridges. Furthermore, the China Tungsten & Nonferrous Metals Engineering Design and Research Institute carried out technical designs and feasibility studies for the landscaping, civil engineering, roads and bridges, cableways within the scenic area, as well as the tunnel conversion project for the mountain road leading from the county seat to the scenic area. These efforts have laid a solid technical foundation and provided guarantees for the long-term planning and development of the scenic area. To date, a small-scale yet well-developed tourist destination with a certain level of reception capacity has been preliminarily established, which has also become, to some extent, a window for promoting Yuanqu to the outside world.