Yangxian Golden Gorge

　　Golden Gorge is the first gorge along the Han River. It refers to the river valley where the Han River flows through the southeastern part of the county, including Jinshui, Sangxi, and Huangjinxia Town, stretching a total length of 47 kilometers. Since ancient times, Golden Gorge has been known for its numerous rapids and perilous currents. Entering the gorge at Huanzhutai, there are 24 dangerous shoals, with the exit at Weimen. The most treacherous include Jiudoumi Shoal, Ju Shoal, Turtle Shoal, Big and Small Wa Shoals, and Big and Small Tangxing Shoals. These are not only hazardous but also feature spectacular scenery.

　　Golden Gorge is famed for its rapid currents, numerous dangerous shoals, and majestic momentum. At times the mountains are steep, at others towering peaks emerge in succession, then you pass through deep valleys, or encounter calm waters, sudden waves crashing toward you, or even glimpses of monkeys. The famous Ming Dynasty poet Wang Ren once wrote the renowned poem: “Over ninety li of Golden Gorge, twenty-four white-cloud shoals. Thunder drives scattered stones toward Hanzhong, water pours from the heavens in wild surges. Iron cliffs block the sun, a thousand mountains are steep, jade wells breathe wind, six months feel cold. After two nights in Dragon Pool, lucky to leave early, a single sail turns back toward Chang’an.” The Qing Dynasty literatus Zou Rong composed the grand and powerful “Ode to Golden Gorge.”

　　The Han River can be divided into upper, middle, and lower sections. The section above Danjiangkou is the upper reaches, approximately 925 kilometers long, with a catchment area of 95,200 square kilometers. It flows through the Qinling and Daba Mountains, where the valley often intersects diagonally with the rock strata. With an average gradient of 0.6‰, it alternates between gorges and basins. The river twists and turns, narrowing and widening in turns, with many rapids and fast currents. There are over 100 major dangerous shoals. In the basin sections, the river is typically 200–300 meters wide, while in the gorge sections, the depth is generally 300–400 meters, with the river width being only a few dozen meters. The area between Yangxian and Shiquan has the highest concentration of gorges. Based on natural features, this section can be divided into two smaller parts: from Yangxian to Weimen is the deeply incised gorge section. This is the largest gorge along the main course of the Han River, about 53 kilometers long, and can be split into upper and lower segments. The upper segment runs from Xiaoxia Kou in Yangxian to Huanzhu Miao, about 23 kilometers, called the Small Gorge. Once the Han River enters the Small Gorge, the channel suddenly narrows to 200 meters, with mountain ridges on both sides rising 100–200 meters above the riverbed. The 30-kilometer stretch from Huanzhu Miao to Weimen is called Golden Gorge, also known as the Great Gorge, and is the most famous gorge along the Han River. The Great Gorge forms a large yoke shape, 30 kilometers by water and just 9 kilometers by land. Upon entering the Great Gorge, the mountains on either side rise 300–400 meters above the riverbed, with valley slopes reaching angles of 50–60 degrees. The narrowest point in the river is just 50 meters, with the difference between the highest and lowest water levels reaching 24–25 meters. There are many dangerous shoals in the river, with over 30 notable ones, among which Turtle Shoal, Cage Shoal, and Golden Slide are the most treacherous. Golden Gorge is the starting point of Shaanxi Province’s “Han River to Wei River Diversion” water conveyance route. The Huangjinxia Hydropower Station plays a vital role in supplying water to the Guanzhong Plain.

　　At Jiudoumi Shoal, water columns cascade like heavy curtains hanging high before plummeting into the river, sending up surging backflows that stir white waves mixed with layers of sand, rising and falling with the current. In the midstream, scattered rocks disrupt the flow, gathering the dispersed water into “Ju Shoal,” where it becomes ribbon-like, flowing rapidly with thunderous sounds. From the pre-Qin period to the Qing Dynasty, Golden Gorge was not only a link for economic trade and cultural exchange between the Hanzhong Basin and Jingchu region, but also a strategic chokepoint during many significant military campaigns. Known since ancient times as the “Little Three Gorges,” it has now become a paradise for whitewater rafting enthusiasts.

　　Scenic Area Address: Within Huangjinxia Town, Yangxian County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province