Hanxi Gully

Hanxi Gully

Hanxi Gully is located on the southern bank of the Hanchang River, about 4 kilometers southwest of Jimingsi Township, and just over 100 meters from the “8-Hour Chongqing” highway. It sits at the junction of Chengkou, Kaixian, and Xuanhan counties, hence the saying “one gully connecting two provinces.” Crossing the Hanchang River, you’ll see ancient paths winding steeply upward beyond Hanxi Gully, while dense forests on both sides of the gully block out the sky. The water in the gully remains warm in winter and cool in summer, crystal clear, and often frequented by Yang fish. As you hike up the gully, you’ll come across an open area surrounded by mountains, where rocky cliffs form a circular pool. The pool shimmers with blue waves, creating playful reflections. The surrounding terrain is relatively flat, suitable for building houses. Beside the pool stands Sage Peak, over 100 meters tall, shaped like a mushroom or resembling the Buddha, with ancient pines growing vigorously on its summit and lush spiritual herbs. Behind the pool, sheer cliffs rise high, while a gentle long beach stretches out with lush vegetation and murmuring streams. Within the gully, there’s a black stone pool roughly ten square meters in size. The black stones lining the pool walls shine brightly, adorned with rare flowers and plants and shaded by ancient trees, making it a playground for wandering giant salamanders. Moving past the pool, towering canyon walls and a gentle river beach await. The river here is deep in some spots—up to several meters—and shallow in others—just over a meter. Among them, a “One-Line Sky” crevice offers dappled sunlight, while cliffside mandarin duck caves appear in pairs. The vivid shapes of Ox-Head and Horse-Face formations stand out; welcoming pines display graceful postures; waterfalls cascade from cliffside cave mouths, echoing through the valley; and Red Rock Cave features bizarrely shaped stalactites. The gully is also home to evergreen trees such as cliff cypresses and yews, along with wildlife including macaques, golden pheasants, wild boars, and goats.

Source: People's Government of Chengkou County, Chongqing Municipality