Hukou Rock of Yingjiang

　　  At the southern end of Yingjiang County in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, there is a place known as “Hukou Rock,” hailed as one of the Four Great Waterfalls of Yunnan. The writer Ai Ju wrote in his work *Southern Journey Notes*: “This small valley lies within the Kachin Mountains at the China-Myanmar border, surrounded by densely forested mountains on all sides except for narrow gaps to the north and south, resembling two gateways in the valley. Through these gaps shines the bright sky, and the Daying River, which flows from Yunnan into Myanmar as part of the Irrawaddy River, runs beneath these two openings. The surging waves crash against the rugged rocks of the canyon, roaring fiercely day and night.” This passage may be the earliest written description of Hukou Rock.

　　  Looking around, you’ll see that the two mountains are less than 20 meters apart, with two massive rocks standing in the middle of the river almost cutting off the flow of the Daying River. These huge rocks resemble a pair of grand gates, half-closed, leaving only a 7.3-meter-wide gap in between.

　　  What’s even more interesting is that not far from here, there is another large rock lying across the river—much like the traditional screen wall (zaobi) found in front of the mansions of wealthy families in olden times. These three giant rocks in the river together form a Chinese character “品” (pǐn), drawing people into a mythical world. Gazing up at the steep cliffs on both banks, no one would doubt that a tiger could indeed leap across the river here. The narrow Hukou Rock enrages the gentle Daying River; once the river reaches the canyon, its calm waters suddenly transform into a powerful, bounding dragon, eagerly bursting through the “gate.” The roaring river is like a stampede of frightened, angry wild horses breaking free of their reins, unleashing earth-shaking force as waves crash toward the stone screen wall. Suddenly,

　　  the surging waves soar over ten meters high into the air.

　　  Sea spray and droplets dance and chase through the air, with mist falling gently like rain, creating a breathtaking spectacle in the deep valley. The marvels of Hukou Rock are astounding, yet the Waterfall Cave is even more extraordinary. Its terrain is even more treacherous, especially during the flood season, when it is nearly impossible for people to get close and they can only stand atop the mountain and sigh at the river below. Only during the dry season can one carefully make their way along the riverbed, jumping from one rock to another, or—like climbing a heavenly ladder—using both hands and feet to grab wild vines hanging from the trees and climb upward step by step.

　　  Address: 34 kilometers from Yingjiang County town, near the edge of Bawei Mountain

　　Hukou Rock of Yingjiang

　　Hukou Rock of Yingjiang