Gaoqiao Ducan Waterfall

Gaoqiao Ducan Waterfall

Ducan Waterfall is about 8 kilometers from Dongxing District in Neijiang City. As Ducan lies at the intersection of Group 6, Xinhua Village, Dongxing Subdistrict Office; Group 5, Ducan Village, Gaoqiao Subdistrict Office; Guobei Town; and Hongqi Village, Xinjiang Subdistrict Office, the Xiaoqinglong River that flows here is held back by a stone dam. As the river water spills over the weir, it forms a grand waterfall that cascades down with a thunderous roar echoing through the deep valley. Hence the name “Ducan” (Steep Steps), and it is also often referred to as the “Little Huangguoshu Waterfall.”

The structure of Ducan Waterfall is divided into three parts: upper, middle, and lower. Upstream, the terrain is relatively flat, forming a riverbed about 80 meters wide. As the river transitions from still to flowing and spills over the dam, the land suddenly rises steeply, forming a narrow canyon. At the bottom of the valley, rugged rocks line the creek, and after three levels of drops, the water converges into an emerald-green pool. Not far to the right of the pool, beneath the cliffs, there is a natural cave large enough to hold over a thousand people.

Among the several waterfalls, the one on the far right plunges directly into a deep pool at the bottom of the canyon and also has the greatest drop among them. The waterfall cascades 20 meters down along sheer rock faces, where its waters merge and tumble into the pool alongside streams from the other falls. Suddenly, countless pearls seem to scatter, silver blossoms splash up, and crystal-like droplets fly like a dancing jade dragon.

Due to the hilly terrain, Ducan Waterfall can be viewed from various angles. Each perspective reveals a different beauty—you truly get a sense of how scenery changes with distance and elevation. Looking up from below, you’ll see the mighty waterfall thundering down from a dam over ten meters high, with booming waves echoing all around. From above, you can not only see the layered gullies and splashing mist of the falling water but also gaze along the length of the mountain gorge from the angle of one of the falls.

Continuing along the canyon downstream from the waterfall, about 100 meters ahead you’ll find a shallow beach. Although it’s quite a distance from the waterfall and the water isn’t very wide here, the midstream flow remains swift.

Further ahead is the end of the shallow area, where the upstream water merges with the downstream channel. The river suddenly opens up widely here, the slopes are gentle, and both banks are lined with lush trees and bamboo groves. The bamboo along the riverbanks flourishes, forming natural awnings overhead. There are also several quiet side inlets whose destinations are unknown.

As someone once said: Only when you hear the sound of the wind do you truly know what wind is; only after seeing the mountains do you really understand what mountains are. So, no matter the season—spring, summer, autumn, or winter—we welcome you here. We hope you explore every corner and leave your footprints in this beautiful place. When you’ve had your fill of fun and are ready to leave, please take your trash with you and help preserve the beauty of this spot.