Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River in Ji County

Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River in Ji County

Hukou Waterfall in Ji County is a national scenic area, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, and a national geopark.

The Yellow River Scenic Area in Ji County is located in Ji County, Shanxi Province. The Yellow River is the mother river of the Chinese nation and the cradle of its culture. This section of the Yellow River Scenic Area is also a treasure trove for studying ancient Chinese culture. For thousands of years, countless thrilling historical events have taken place here, and numerous scenic spots and cultural relics remain here: the Guangwu Battlefield from the Chu-Han contention, known as the "Two Kings' Cities of Han and Ba," the famous Zhaocheng Temple site of the Tang Dynasty called "Taohuayu," the Aocang Ruins, the Heyin Shuyard, as well as the Dahecun site that records the Yangshao Culture of the Yellow River basin from over 5,000 years ago. There's also the Guangwu Qingtai Ruins that showcase the historical transition from Yangshao to Longshan Culture in the Yellow River basin, and the Han Dynasty iron smelting ruins that demonstrate China's ironworking prowess. This place is like a microcosm of the splendid cultural history of the Yellow River.

All the landscapes in the Yellow River Scenic Area are humanistic. Unlike traditional tourist destinations—some blessed by nature with majestic mountains and beautiful waters, others characterized by ancient temples and tombs—this is a new type of scenic area that provides scientific and cultural knowledge. Its development carries a strong sense and spirit of the times.

Hukou Waterfall

Hukou Waterfall is a natural waterfall formed where the middle reaches of the Yellow River flow through the Jin-Shaan Grand Canyon. It borders Yichuan County in Shaanxi Province to the west and the Yellow River Scenic Area in Ji County

to the east, approximately 25 kilometers southwest of Ji County, Shanxi. The waterfall is 30 meters wide and about 50 meters deep, with the largest water surface covering 30,000 square meters. It is the second-largest waterfall in China after Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou Province. Here, the surging waters of the Yellow River, which are over 500 meters wide, are suddenly confined by the steep canyon walls, narrowing from top to bottom. As the water plunges down a 50-meter drop, it churns and surges with a force as if gushing out from an enormous teapot—hence the name "Hukou (Pot Mouth) Waterfall." An ancient Chinese text, the "Book of Documents · Tribute of Yu," describes it as "the river swirling like a giant teapot." Two famous spectacles, "Shipping on Land" and "Smoke Rising from the Water," are even rarer. Asian flying man Kao Yung-liang and Ji County’s flying man Zhu Zhaohui have both successfully driven cars and motorcycles across the Hukou Waterfall. The Hukou Waterfall is situated between Ji County in Shanxi Province and Yichuan County in Shaanxi Province, located about 25 kilometers southwest of Ji County in the Yellow River. The Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area spans approximately 100 square kilometers and is a renowned scenic spot in Shanxi Province. It was designated a National Key Scenic Area in 1988 and is now a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

The area is flanked by mountains on both sides, with the riverbed carved into a massive gully 30 meters wide and about 50 meters deep. The rushing yellow waters pour down here as if falling vertically into the gully, like galloping horses plunging into the ravine, with waves churning and furious roars echoing for miles. Its shape resembles a giant boiling teapot, hence the name Hukou (Pot Mouth). In spring and autumn, the water is clear in the Ji County Yellow River Scenic Area

During seasons when the water level is lower, sunlight directly hits the mist, creating rainbows dancing on the waves—a uniquely beautiful sight. Ming Dynasty poet Chen Weifan wrote in his poem "Autumn Wind at Hukou": “The autumn wind rolls up thousand-layer waves, the setting sun greets ten-thousand-zhang red,” a true depiction of the scene.

As the Yellow River flows through the Jin-Shaan Grand Canyon and reaches Ji County, the river surface suddenly narrows from over 400 meters wide to just over 50 meters. The "Book of Documents · Tribute of Yu" captures this imagery perfectly in just eight characters: "The river swirls like a giant teapot." The image of Hukou Waterfall springs vividly to mind.

Scenic Area Address: 45 kilometers west of Ji County, Linfen City

Best Travel Time: Spring, Autumn

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00

Scenic Area Ticket: 100 RMB per person

Transportation Information: Drive from Linfen City along the Linfen-Ji County Expressway toward Ji County for about 100 kilometers to reach downtown Ji County, then drive another 45 kilometers to Hukou Town to arrive at the Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area. The entire journey takes about 1.5 hours.