The Red Flag Canal Scenic Area is located in Linzhou City, Anyang, Henan Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, and a National Patriotism Education Demonstration Base. The scenic area covers a total area of about 500 square kilometers, with the core tourist area covering 100 square kilometers. The Red Flag Canal is a "man-made heavenly river" built by the people of Lin County on the mountainside of the Taihang Mountains in the 1960s. With a total length of 1,500 kilometers, it is praised as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and the "China Water Great Wall." The scenic area features red education, water conservancy engineering sightseeing, and the natural scenery of the Taihang Mountains. It is a comprehensive tourist attraction integrating cultural and natural landscapes.
History and Culture
Construction of the Red Flag Canal began in 1960 and was completed over 10 years. Under the leadership of the Lin County County Party Committee, 300,000 people of Lin County, using only hammers, steel chisels, and their bare hands, carved this "canal of life" out of the cliffs of the Taihang Mountains, completely changing Lin County's predicament of suffering drought nine years out of ten and where water was as precious as oil.
The Red Flag Canal project leveled 1,250 hills, erected 151 aqueducts, dug 211 tunnels, built 12,408 various structures, and excavated 22.25 million cubic meters of earth and stone. Premier Zhou Enlai once proudly declared to the outside world: "New China has two great wonders: one is the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, and the other is the Lin County Red Flag Canal."
In 2006, the Red Flag Canal was listed by the State Council as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level; in 2016, it was rated as a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.
Main Attractions
Youth Cave
A key project on the main canal of the Red Flag Canal, with a total length of 616 meters, a height of 5 meters, and a width of 6.2 meters. It was dug through by 300 young shock brigade members over 1 year and 5 months, hence the name "Youth Cave." The chisel marks from the original construction are preserved inside the cave, and it is a symbol of the Red Flag Canal spirit.
Fenshui Garden
The water diversion hub of the three main branches of the Red Flag Canal, with a diversion sluice and a monument. The Red Flag Canal Memorial Hall in the garden comprehensively displays the construction process and great spirit of the Red Flag Canal through a large number of precious cultural relics, photographs, and video materials.
Luosi Pond
The most spectacular waterfall landscape on the Red Flag Canal. The water rushes down from a cliff a hundred meters high, resembling thousands of silk threads, hence the name "Luosi Pond." It is most spectacular during the abundant water period in summer.
Chuangye Cave
One of the most difficult projects in the early stage of the Red Flag Canal's construction, with a total length of 243 meters. At that time, there was a lack of mechanical equipment, and workers were suspended by ropes on the cliffs to carry out construction, embodying the Red Flag Canal spirit of "self-reliance and hard struggle."
Taihang Heavenly Road
A sightseeing walkway built along the ridge of the Taihang Mountains, with a total length of about 5 kilometers. Walking on it, visitors can overlook the full view of the Red Flag Canal and the magnificent scenery of the Taihang Mountains Grand Canyon.
Tour Route：
Recommended tour route: Scenic Area Entrance → Red Flag Canal Memorial Hall → Fenshui Garden → Youth Cave → Chuangye Cave → Luosi Pond → Taihang Heavenly Road → Return. There are clear guide signs in the scenic area.
Tour Suggestions：
It is suggested to visit the memorial hall first to understand the historical background, and then visit the engineering landscapes.
Wear comfortable shoes, as some sections require a fair amount of walking.
Pay attention to sun protection in summer and keep warm in winter.
Photography enthusiasts may bring wide-angle lenses to shoot large scenes.
There are restaurants in the scenic area, and visitors may also bring their own dry rations and water.
Combining the visit with guided explanations can help better understand the greatness of the project.
Notes：
Some sections are steep, so pay attention to safety.
Protect cultural relic facilities and do not carve words on the canal walls.
Observe the regulations of the scenic area and do not enter unopened areas.
Keep personal belongings safe.
In case of severe weather, some attractions may be temporarily closed.
Respect history and maintain a solemn attitude.
Transportation：
Self-driving: From the direction of Zhengzhou, take the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway and exit at Anyang Station, then drive about 50 kilometers along Provincial Road S228.
Bus: There are direct tourist shuttle buses to the scenic area from Anyang Bus Station.
High-speed rail: Take the high-speed rail to Anyang East Station, then transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus, which takes about 1 hour.
Airplane: The nearest airport is Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, about a 2.5-hour drive from the scenic area.
Opening Hours：
The scenic area is open all year round. Opening hours are 8:00-17:30 (peak season) and 8:30-17:00 (off-season). A full tour takes about 4-5 hours. It is recommended to reserve a full day.
Tickets：
Tickets are 80 yuan per person.