Xiyagou

Xiyagou

Xiyagou is located at the easternmost edge of Lingchuan County, at the border between Shanxi and Henan provinces. The village has 217 households with over 840 residents scattered across a mountain valley spanning 11.5 square kilometers. Surrounded by towering peaks and deep ravines, generations of villagers have lived here in near isolation, making their way up and down the steep cliffs every day. Countless lives have been lost and many agricultural products abandoned due to the treacherous terrain.

In the autumn of 1962, when county officials came to inspect the valley, their horse was so frightened that it died. The Party and government allocated 3,000 yuan for road construction. Yang Wenliang, the deputy party branch secretary and a demobilized soldier, was tasked with the mission. He blasted an opening at Longkou, finally creating a donkey path that connected Xiyagou to the outside world. In the mid-1970s, the villagers planned to build a proper road. Two attempts were made but both failed, leaving behind only the “Wolf Path” and “Sheep Cave” as historical reminders. The people of Xiyagou did not give up or yield. On November 1, 1982, Party Branch Secretary Zhao Quanniu led over a hundred young and middle-aged villagers, holding crimson chicken-blood wine, and once again launched their battle against the formidable natural barrier. On February 4, 1984, China Youth Daily dedicated a full page to the story of Xiyagou’s road construction through the mountains. In January 1986, at a critical moment in the road-building project, demobilized soldier Song Zhilong took over as party branch secretary. He and the assault team spent years working inside the tunnel, overcoming dangers and tackling challenges. On June 28, 1991, the 7.5-kilometer-long Xiyagou Road was triumphantly completed. To build this road, villagers contributed 123,000 voluntary labor days, moved 230,000 cubic meters of earth and stone, and excavated a 1,200-meter tunnel. Former Party Branch Secretary Dong Huaiyue and villager Song Shuangbao lost their lives during the construction.

Xiyagou boasts beautiful mountains and clear waters, with enchanting scenery and numerous natural caves. It has been praised as the “Guilin Waters of Taihang,” the “Huangshan Clouds of the North,” the “Sun More Splendid Than Mount Tai,” and the “Scenery Rivaling Zhangjiajie.” The area is rich in tourism resources, and its mineral water holds great potential for development by visionary investors.

The people of Xiyagou have finally emerged from the mountains, and they now embrace a bright future with enthusiasm and optimism.