Black Dragon Pool Scenic Area in Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon

Black Dragon Pool Scenic Area in Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon

The Black Dragon Pool Scenic Area in Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

The Black Dragon Pool-Zituan Mountain Scenic Tourism Area is located within the "Black Dragon Pool–Zituan Mountain–Zhenze Palace Scenic Area" of the Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon Natural Scenery Tourism Area (a national forest park). It is situated in the southeastern part of Huguan County, Shanxi Province, 64 kilometers from Changzhi City, 250 kilometers from Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, 280 kilometers from Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, and 300 kilometers from Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province.

Black Dragon Pool houses a Temple of the Dragon King and was historically a sacred site where villagers within a hundred-mile radius prayed for rain during droughts. The canyon here is long, winding, and slender, with steep and striking cliffs on both sides, layered peaks, and extraordinary rocks and beautiful flowers that are a feast for the eyes. Among the developed attractions are Dragon Pool Water Play, Suspended Ladder Walk, Divine Blessings of the Dragon Pool, Cliffside Plank Walk, and Lone Mountain Tour, all offering a blend of spring blossoms, autumn moonlight, wild geese over the flat sands, and dramatic landscapes.

The main attractions of Black Dragon Pool include boating on Dragon Lake, walking along the suspended ladder, Divine Blessings of the Dragon Pool, exploring the suspension bridge, and touring Lone Mountain. As you enter the mouth of the Black Dragon Pool canyon, you’ll be greeted by an artificial lake—Dragon Lake. The canyon is broad here, with a flat riverbed. Not far ahead, two several-meter-high earthen dams block the Wuzhi River, creating a lake as the water flows back. With the water flow obstructed, it pools into a lake. When the water level rises and spills over the dam, several waterfalls cascade down to the base. Visitors can take provided rubber boats to paddle on Dragon Lake and admire the mountain-water scenery. Leaving the boat and walking along the river upstream, the canyon narrows, the current quickens, and the path is submerged, forcing visitors onto a plank walkway built high above the cliff. The plank walk is 60 centimeters wide and extends over 800 meters. Starting at Black Dragon Pool, it winds along the canyon, leading all the way to its end. Walking along the plank walk, visitors can stop to take in the view: deep valleys and rushing waters below, fish leaping and birds soaring. Towering cliffs and extraordinary rocks and flowers abound along the way. According to local folklore, an ancient black dragon once lived in the pool, hence the name Black Dragon Pool. Here, the river water plunges 20 meters from a cliff into the pool, forming a waterfall with thunderous roars. The pool is about 20 square meters, with unfathomably deep emerald-green water, flanked by towering cliffs and a narrow strip of sky that reflects on the water’s surface, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere. On the hilltop north of the pool stands a Temple of the Dragon King, traditionally a place for prayers for rain—thus called Divine Blessings of the Dragon Pool. Beyond this, deeper into the canyon, the plank walk leads to the base of Lone Mountain. Looking up, you’ll see a suspension bridge 50 meters above, stretching across to a cliff face 70 meters away. As you nervously step onto the swaying bridge, carefully making your way to the other side, you’ll have to use hands and feet to climb down the cliff edge—truly getting a taste of the thrill of the suspension bridge adventure. At the foot of Lone Mountain is the Wuzhi River, where springs gush from rock crevices and flow out of the canyon. A 6-meter-high dam collects the water, forming a 30-meter-wide, 500-meter-long loop lake around the mountain. Taking a sightseeing boat around the lake lets you see lush greenery on the mountain and bare rocky cliffs below—an unusual and rewarding sight. About 1 kilometer east along the Wuzhi Gorge from Black Dragon Pool lies White Dragon Pool. Surrounded by cliffs, the area features mountain streams that babble like hanging bells. The stream water converges into a waterfall that drops into the pool, splashing waves over a meter high. Sunlight on the water creates rippling, shimmering reflections, as if countless white dragons lurk beneath—hence the name White Dragon Pool. It’s a great spot for cooling off and enjoying the water, as well as a scenic destination.

Scenic Area Address: Qiaoshang Township, Huguan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province

Best Travel Time: April – October

Opening Hours: 7:00 – 17:00

Scenic Area Ticket: The scenic area operates a one-ticket system, with each ticket priced at 125 RMB, covering ten attractions: Black Dragon Pool, Zituan Cave, Zhenze Palace, Yangchang Slope, Red Bean Gorge, Eight Springs Gorge, Qinglong Gorge, Tianqiao, Mount Wanfo, and Eighteen Bends. Recently opened attractions include Red Bean Gorge, Black Dragon Pool, Qinglong Gorge, and Zituan Mountain.

Transportation Information: By Car: 1. For travelers from Taiyuan: Tai-Chang Expressway (Changzhi Exit) → Changzhi Ring Expressway (Huguan Exit); 2. For travelers from Beijing: Jing-Da Expressway (Datong Exit) → Er’guang Expressway (Changzhi Exit) → Changzhi Ring Expressway (Huguan Exit); 3. For travelers from Hebei: Beijing-Kunming Expressway (Xiaodian Exit) → Tai-Chang Expressway (Changzhi Exit) → Changzhi Ring Expressway (Huguan Exit); 4. For travelers from Henan: Er’guang Expressway (Changzhi Exit) → Changzhi Ring Expressway (Huguan Exit). By Bus: Passengers can take a shuttle bus from Huguan County Bus Station to the scenic area.

Travel Tips: Changzhi is located in the Shangdang Basin in southwestern Shanxi Province and has a warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 7.5°C to 12°C. The seasons are distinct, with mild winters and cool summers. Spring and summer are the best times to visit.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Tourism Development Commission

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