Collection of China NO:40 Waterfall at the Pot Mouth

Author: Wang Xiaodong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Viewing the Hukou Waterfall is breathtaking. The vast amount of water, like a galaxy breaking open, seems to pour from the sky into the sea. The grandeur and the sound are undoubtedly the most magnificent spectacle in China! From miles away, you can hear the roar of the Hukou Waterfall. The water vapor and mist created by the waterfall can be seen from afar. If you stand on the rocks near the Hukou Waterfall, you will feel the ground trembling violently, and the sound of thunder will echo through the valleys. It seems as if the earth and valleys cannot resist the immense impact of the river, leaving the water to rage and erode the rocks, carrying away the soil. The scenery of the Hukou Waterfall changes with the seasons. In spring, the snow and ice upstream begin to melt, marking the arrival of the "Peach Blossom Season." During this time, when peach blossoms and willows are in full bloom, the weather is mild and sunny, and the distant mountains begin to wear a faint green. However, ice floes still drift down from upstream, gathering in the wide river channel before plunging down like a mountain collapse, with ice crystals scattering everywhere. The water and mountain scenery at this time appear exceptionally charming.
The famous line by the renowned Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, "The Yellow River water flows from the heavens, rushing to the sea and never returns," vividly depicts the grand spectacle of the river's flow. For thousands of years, visitors have flocked here, captivated by its beauty. The surging river, like a mountain of water, crashes into a "dragon groove" just 20-30 meters wide, forming the magnificent Hukou Waterfall. According to the Book of Documents (Shu Jing), it was said that "the river swirls like a pot," hence the name "Hukou Waterfall." The Hukou Waterfall has a drop of about 30 meters and a maximum width of over a thousand meters, with the largest waterfall surface covering 30,000 square meters. The rolling floodwaters converge here, plunging into deep pools with a thunderous roar that can be heard from several kilometers away. The water splashes violently, creating towering water columns and dense mist, as if the surging waves crash against the shore, rolling clouds and mist into the sky! During summer and autumn, rainbows often span the clear sky, adding to its beauty. The sound, power, and scenery of the Hukou Waterfall are grand, elegant, and extraordinary, leaving visitors utterly enchanted.
In addition to the "smoke rising from the water," the Hukou Waterfall is also known for the legend of "sailing on dry land." Boats traveling upstream must leave the water and land, either carried by people or transported by vehicles to bypass the Hukou Waterfall (known as "sailing on dry land") before resuming their journey on the water. This has remained unchanged for thousands of years. Due to seasonal climate and water variations, the scenery of the Hukou Waterfall also changes. The best viewing periods are divided into two: first, from April to May in spring, during the "March Peach Flood," when peach blossoms bloom across the mountains; second, from September to November in autumn, after the rainy season, when numerous mountain springs and streams converge, creating clear water and often rainbows under the autumn breeze, known as the "Autumn Breeze of the Hukou." During these periods, the water is abundant and steady, with the waterfall reaching widths of about a kilometer. The main waterfall is difficult to approach, but from a distance, the misty waves appear majestic and powerful. The waves churn with bubbles, roaring like a mountain collapsing into the sea. Truly, "dragons stir the waves beneath the water, while rainbows hang without rain beside the shore." Such scenes are beyond words to describe.
During the severe winter cold, the Hukou Waterfall transforms into a silver and jade wonderland. Cool river water flows over the magnificent ice waterfall, with ice drips of varying lengths and thicknesses hanging from the cliffs around the waterfall, complemented by the rolling green waves in the river, showcasing a unique northern landscape. The rugged, profound, solemn, and bold Yellow River is a symbol of the Chinese nation, while the diverse and spectacular Hukou Waterfall represents the river itself. Here, ancient and modern poets and composers have created a series of "Yellow River Symphonies," expressing the hearts of the Chinese people! Not far to the south of here lies the Longmen Mouth—Mengmen. There, you can witness the "Moon over Mengmen" and the "River-Taming Ox" of Yu the Great. Visitors often follow a route: first Hukou, then Mengmen, and finally Longmen, experiencing the "Three Wonders of the Yellow River in a Single Line," exploring the remnants of Yu the Great's water control efforts—a truly fascinating journey.
In 1991, the Hukou Waterfall was ranked as one of China's "Top 40 Tourist Attractions." The Hukou Waterfall scenic area has great potential for development, with numerous natural and cultural attractions such as "Moon over Mengmen," "River-Taming Ox," "Sailing on Dry Land," the Qing Dynasty Great Wall, the Ming and Qing Dynasty Wharves, the Dressing Table, the Ancient Gun Platform, and the Overcoming Difficulty Slope. Since 1994, an annual Hukou Waterfall Rafting Month has been held. Athletes like the "Asian Flying Man" (Kē Sòuliáng) and Zhu Zhaohui () of Jixian successfully flew over the Yellow River in cars and motorcycles, making the Hukou scenic area a renowned tourist hotspot.