Qikou Scenic Area

Qikou Scenic Area

Qikou Scenic Area is a national scenic area and a National AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Qikou is a large comprehensive scenic area that integrates Shanxi merchant culture, the scenery of the Yellow River, the landscape of the Loess Plateau, revolutionary memorial sites, and local folk customs. Qikou is hailed as one of the “10 small towns you must visit in your lifetime.”

Qikou is situated on the banks of the Yellow River, 48 kilometers south of Lin County. It gets its name from Datong Qi, the second-largest rapid on the Yellow River. The town flourished during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty and remained a renowned commercial hub in northern China for over 200 years. Folk sayings such as “Endless loads for Qikou, never-full storage for Wucheng” and “Tie up the mules at Qingdingtou and Nanyukou, then dash to Qikou” illustrate its past prosperity. As the saying goes, it was “a small metropolis at a water-and-land port, the first town along the winding Yellow River.”

The Qikou tourist area mainly includes the Datong Qi on the Yellow River, the ancient town of Qikou, Xiwan, Lijiashan and Zhaizishan residences, Heilong Temple, the Monument to Chairman Mao’s Crossing of the Yellow River Eastward, and natural stone carvings in the Yellow River Gorge. Datong Qi: Located 500 meters southwest of the ancient street of Qikou at the confluence of Qiu Shui River and the Yellow River, Datong Qi is the largest rapid in the gorge. A natural sand bathing beach stretching over a kilometer can be found a hundred meters downstream of Datong Qi. Ancient Town: The streets and shops of the ancient town of Qikou are exemplary of traditional mountain architecture from the Qing Dynasty. The main street follows the contours of Wolong Mountain, starting from the east, running westward along the Qiu Shui River, then turning northward against the Yellow River, twisting and turning along the way. Interestingly, the back street of the ancient town is only about 200 meters long but winds through eighteen turns. South of the main street lie Erdao Street and Sandao Street, each shorter than the last, forming a terraced architectural layout. Records indicate that large-scale construction of shops in Qikou began during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty.

Ancient Temple: Built during the Ming Dynasty, Heilong Temple is located on Wolong Mountain in Qikou. The overall structure is magnificent and spectacular, perched precariously on the rocky cliffs.

Ancient Ferry: In the past, it served as a vital hub for water and land trade and commerce among Suiyuan, Baotou, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan. Today, it is an ideal spot for Yellow River rafting and surfing through thrilling rapids.

Xiwan Residences: The Xiwan residences are a group of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, covering a total area of about 30,000 square meters. The complex is enclosed by village walls over two meters high (now partially ruined), with two horizontal streets and five vertical alleys inside the courtyard complex, connecting the entire area in an orderly fashion. Small gates link the various courtyards, allowing visitors to explore the whole village through a single entry point—truly a case of “the village is a courtyard, and the courtyard is a mountain village.” The Xiwan residences are typical of the Lüliang-style quadrangle dwellings, rich in historical and cultural atmosphere, and characterized by strong Loess Plateau cultural features. About 40 courtyards remain well-preserved.

Lijiashan Residences: Located 5 kilometers south of Qikou, the Lijiashan residences were built by the Li family during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The dwellings are primarily cave houses, most featuring extended eaves and designed as quadrangles. The entire residential complex is spread across the loess-covered mountainside. The famous painter Wu Guanzhong listed it as one of his three great discoveries, alongside Zhangjiajie in Hunan and the Loess Plateau regions of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia.

Natural Stone Cliff Carvings: Twenty kilometers upstream from Qikou along the Yellow River, in the Kaiyang section, steep stone cliffs rise on the river’s eastern bank. Over centuries, the Yellow River’s waters have eroded and sculpted these cliffs into vivid, whimsical natural murals. These natural stone carvings, shaped as if by divine craftsmanship, depict figures, landscapes, birds, and beasts, sparking endless imagination. The total area of these natural murals is about 10,000 square meters, making for a spectacular sight.

Qikou Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Lin County. Established as the Qikou Commune in 1958 and upgraded to a town in 1984. It lies 48 kilometers from the county seat. Covering an area of 58.31 square kilometers with a population of 20,000, it is accessible by road. The town administers Xishanshang, Xiashang Zhaishang, Xiangcaogang, Xigaojiaping, Fanjiagou, Yaochangli, Gaojiazhuang, Houtai Zhen, Xiwan, Zhaizishan, Xitou, Fengjiata, Mapiaomao, Nanliujiali, Nanyuan Shang, Huai Shuwa, Xiangyang, Xiata Shang, Gedeng Shang, Zhongcaita, Nandeng Tou, Huangjiayu, Huojiagou, Chenjiashan, Chenjiageao, Mugua, Chenjiayuan, Qianlijiashan, Henanping, Xiānqiánhòushan, Nanfengjiahui… Detailed information on Qikou Town++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of National Scenic Areas