Three Pools Waterfall

　　    The Three Pools Waterfall Scenic Area is one of the primary natural ecological tourist attractions within the Lishan National Forest Park. Situated in Wangxian in the northwest, it lies 25 kilometers from the county seat and connects to the Houhe Reservoir. A current four-grade highway links it with both the Lishan Scenic Area and the Xiaolangdi Scenic Area on the Yellow River, forming a county-level tourism loop. This area is not only rich in the beautiful legends of Emperors Yao and Shun but also features unique fairy mountains and divine waters. The naturally formed over five-kilometer-long stone canyon showcases more than ten waterfalls and pools of varying sizes and shapes — some bubbling like pearls and jade, others spraying snow-like mist, some scattering like blooming jade flowers, and others thundering with majestic force. Truly, there is a pool every three steps and a waterfall every five, with cascades linked to pools, pools to cascades, pools within pools, and waterfalls beneath waterfalls. Notably, Rain Pool, Dragon Pool, and Wind Pool are steeped in countless captivating legends. The surrounding canyons are steep as if cut by a knife, with layers of green pines and cypresses and trees towering to the sky. In spring, the area blooms with vibrant colors, filled with birdsong and floral fragrance; in summer, the green waves ripple gently with cool breezes; in autumn, red leaves blanket the mountainsides and wild fruits dot the land; in winter, snow-laden trees and icy peaks dress the landscape in silvery white. The emerald pools and lush forests complement each other, creating a picturesque scene full of natural charm and rustic purity. Coupled with the characteristics of the primeval forest and the influence of the mountain microclimate, the temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels in the scenic area all remain within a range that is comfortable for the human body, making it an ideal destination for summer retreats, vacations, leisure, and adventure.

　　    As an emerging “sunrise” industry, tourism is developing rapidly. At the same time, the focus of tourism consumption has shifted from cultural relics and historic sites to natural eco-tourism, with travelers seeking tranquil forests and mountain waters and longing to return to simplicity and nature. To develop and utilize the unique natural resources of the Three Pools, in 2000, Yuanqu Jinhai Tourism Co., Ltd., in accordance with the tourism development plan of Yuanqu County and specific requirements for eco-tourism development, invested in the development of the Three Pools Waterfall Scenic Area through various means such as attracting investment, shareholding, advance funding, and loans. These investments included management facilities such as the mountain gate, parking lot, and a computerized ticketing system established in cooperation with the Yuanqu Post Office; comprehensive service facilities such as hotels, restaurants, shops, an outdoor training base, and a local commercial street; leisure and recreational facilities integrating an ecological garden and a water park; and infrastructure consisting of walking trails, observation decks, pavilions, suspension bridges, steel-frame bridges, and wooden bridges. The Central China Nonferrous Metals Design Institute also conducted technical designs and feasibility studies for the scenic area’s landscaping, civil engineering, roads and bridges, cableways, and the tunnel conversion project for the mountain road leading from the county seat to the scenic area. These efforts have laid a solid technical foundation and safeguards for the long-term planning and development of the site. To date, a small but well-developed scenic area with a certain level of reception capacity has been preliminarily established, serving to some extent as a promotional window for Yuanqu.