You Shui River National Wetland Park

You Shui River National Wetland Park

You Shui River National Wetland Park is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a national wetland park.

The You Shui River is located in the eastern part of Youyang County. It originates from Xuan'en County in Hubei Province and flows through the towns of Daxi, Youchou, and Houxi in Youyang before meandering through Xiushan County in Chongqing to join the Yuan River, eventually flowing into Dongting Lake. Within Youyang, the river stretches 81 kilometers in length with an average width of about 12.5 meters. The riverbanks are home to Tujia ethnic communities and are considered the cradle of Tujia culture.

The picturesque You Shui River is known as the "Little Guilin of Southeastern Chongqing." With Brush Stand Mountain, Silver Sand Beach, the clear waters flowing beneath Mount Sanwu, the golden glow of the setting sun at Gaobei enchanting local fishermen, and the deep mountain valleys where the emerald ribbon-like river brings boundless joy—its banks are adorned with vibrant spring flowers, lush green summers, crimson maple leaves in autumn, and glistening winter snows. All this is accompanied by the chirping of mountain birds and the buzzing of cicadas, creating an exceptionally pleasant atmosphere. Rows of rustic yet sturdy wingnut trees, rows of stilted houses standing closely together, melodious and captivating leaf-blowing love songs, and ancient stone-paved paths that lead to the tunnels of history all echo the boundless charm of Tujia culture, making it a place visitors find hard to leave.

The charming You Shui River is like a Tujia maiden who has walked out of ancient times. The mountains have given her purity, and the waters have bestowed her grace. With its long-standing ethnic culture, the simple and elegant Hand-Waving Hall, melodious folk songs, mountain tunes, leaf-blowing love songs, the ancient Yang Opera and Nuo Opera, the colorful ethnic festivals, the mysterious and unique ethnic customs, and the distinctive food culture—all exude a special ethnic flavor.

According to research, the Tujia people are descendants of the Ba people. When the Chu people conquered the Ba, the tragic yet bold ancestors of the Tujia people migrated long distances down the You Shui River from Hubei Province. They settled in this section of the river valley, where the broad gorge, playful fish, towering ancient trees on both banks, and herds of wild animals provided a suitable place to live. Making a living through fishing, salt trading, and hunting, they learned farming alongside brotherly ethnic groups such as the Gelao and Miao peoples. It is these industrious, brave, honest, and kind-hearted Tujia people who created the unique Tujia culture.

The clear waters of the You Shui River have nurtured the Tujia people. The ancient town of Houxi by the river still preserves a Hand-Waving Hall that dates back hundreds of years. During traditional Tujia festivals, village weddings, funerals, and sacrificial ceremonies, the Tujia people light huge bonfires outside the Hand-Waving Hall and sing and dance throughout the night. They perform the Hand-Waving Dance, which depicts scenes of their ancestors’ labor, daily life, hunting, and warfare. They also perform the colorful Lantern Opera, where roles are reversed with men playing female characters, as well as the Yang Opera and Nuo Opera that reflect Tujia totems and beliefs. For weddings and funerals, there are practices such as “crying marriage” and “singing funeral,” vividly reflecting the Tujia custom of “celebrating joy with tears and handling mourning with laughter.” The area is rich in traditional Tujia mountain songs, ditties, work chants, and leaf-blowing love songs that sound like music from heaven—bold and unrestrained. Each song tells a beautiful legend or recounts a moving story. Along both banks of the You Shui River, the Tujia people drink from large bowls, eat generous slices of meat, savor fragrant oil tea soup, enjoy crispy fried oil cakes, and make tender rice tofu—all part of a uniquely aromatic and enticing food culture.

The You Shui River is the mother river of the Tujia people. It is the region’s stunning natural scenery that has given birth to its distinctive ethnic culture. Here, you can touch the traces of history and listen to the ancient sounds of nature.