The First Bend of the Nujiang River

　　The Nujiang River flows near Ridan Village in Bingzhongluo Township, Gongshan County, Yunnan. Owing to the barrier of the steep cliffs of Wangqing Grand Cliff, the river’s course shifts from flowing from north to south to east to west. After traveling over 300 meters, it is blocked again by the Danla Mountain and is forced to make another sharp turn, this time from west to east. This forms a large semicircular bend, known as the First Bend of the Nujiang River. At the center of the bend lies the village of Kankeng, where the river surface sits at an altitude of over 1,710 meters, presenting a majestic sight. The Nujiang River terrace here is flat and expansive, situated about 500 meters above the river, forming a peninsula-like plateau surrounded by water on three sides. The surroundings are picturesque, and during farming off-seasons or holidays, locals gather here for boating, river ziplining, singing, and dancing. Kankeng Village is often referred to as a “Shangri-La in the canyon,” offering idyllic pastoral scenery at every turn.

　　Traveling upstream from Bingzhongluo along the river leads to Shimen Pass, where two sheer cliffs stand tall on either side of the Nujiang River, resembling two stone pillars reaching into the clouds. Since ancient times, people from both sides of Shimen Pass could only cross when the river was low, using the sandy beach beneath the cliffs. When the river rises and floods the beach, the passage becomes impassable—not even monkeys or mountain goats can cross Shimen Pass.

　　Hiking up the mountainside brings you to Puhua Temple. Looking back at Shimen Pass from here offers a different view. The mountains on both sides of the Nujiang River curve outward on either side of the steep cliffs of Shimen Pass, resembling two tigers standing majestically on opposite banks. Turning back to look at the cliffs behind Bingzhongluo Township, they even more strikingly resemble a lion leaping toward Shimen Pass.

　　Puhua Temple, also known as [Temple Name], is situated between the “two tigers and one lion.” Covering an area of over 3,000 square meters, the temple features simple yet exquisite architecture.