Yanshan Waterfall

📍The misty water towns and forested secret realms of Shiquan around Xi'an There are many places suitable for holiday outings around Xi'an. Summer is here, come and feel the refreshing pleasure brought by the little Jiangnan. 🗺️Route: Day 1️⃣: Xi'an → Shiquan Old Street → Han River Gorges → Houliu Water Town → Yan Mountain Waterfall Day 2️⃣: Yanxiang Cave → Ironing Board Ancient Town → Return to Xi'an Day1 ⛩️Shiquan Old Street (about 2.5 hours from Xi'an) Leave early in the morning, play in the old street first, and find a place to eat at noon nearby. There is a parking lot near the east gate of the old street. When there are not many tourists, you can visit the quiet old street, such as the Jiangxi Guild Hall, Shiquan County Office, Xinhua Bookstore, and the opera building with flying eaves and corners. After exiting the west gate of the old street, walk north to the Han River, where you can see the famous red stone bales of Shiquan. It is said that in the past, the red stone bales were where cargo ships docked, and the boatmen loaded and unloaded goods there, but now it has become a place for swimming enthusiasts to swim. It is not recommended to eat in the old street, you can find one outside the old street. ⛩️Han River Gorges (about 15 minutes from Shiquan Old Street) Take a boat tour of the Han River for about 1 hour, passing through the misty layers of mountain gates, and indulge in the mountains and clouds of the Han River Gorges. ⛩️Houliu Water Town (about 20 minutes from Han River Gorges) Houliu ancient town is surrounded by water on three sides. Although it cannot be called a peninsula, it has a strong water town atmosphere, with pavilion houses with wooden pillars and green tiles and a strong folk customs. ⛩️Yan Mountain Waterfall (about 15 minutes from Houliu Water Town) This is indeed a niche and less crowded secret realm, with bamboo rafts, water wheels, pavilions, swings, wooden plank bridges, and emerald-like pool water, etc. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes, because the stones inside are slippery with moss, but most places are still easy to walk, and the big waterfall above is the most liked. 🚘Then return to Shiquan County for accommodation (about 40 minutes) ‼️To sum up, it is more reasonable to go to Yan Mountain Waterfall, Houliu, and Han River Gorges first, and then go to Shiquan Old Street to see the night view and stay. Day2 ⛩️Han River Yanxiang Cave Scenic Area (about 1 hour from Shiquan) Upon entering the scenic area, you can choose to walk the lake loop road, mountain road, or take a bamboo raft. It is recommended to choose the lake loop road, where you can see more beautiful scenery and breathe fresh air, very primitive. Yanxiang Cave is a Cambrian limestone karst cave group, with rich landscapes inside, it is the largest volume of karst caves, with stalactites, stone waterfalls, stone boats, stone pillars, stone stalagmites, and various strange stones, very worth seeing. ⛩️Ironing Board Ancient Town Ironing Board Town has a history of thousands of years and is an ancient post town on the Sichuan-Chu ancient road. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides, located at the southernmost end of Shiquan, and has no commercial atmosphere. If you don't like the hustle and bustle, you can come here for an experience. 🚘Return to Xi'an with a full heart (about 3.5 hours) You can choose between Zhongba Grand Canyon and Yan Mountain Waterfall.

The Yan Mountain Waterfall in Xixi Town, Shiquan County, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, is a hidden paradise deep in the Bashan Mountains, making one feel as if they are in a secluded haven. The waterfall cluster is nestled between Qinglong Mountain and Dayan Mountain, with emerald pools, streams, unique rocks, and ancient vines interweaving into a flowing landscape painting. Here, every step is taken in fresh air, and every breath is a gift from nature, making it the perfect choice to escape the hustle and bustle and get close to nature. 🌟 Must-visit attractions: - Waterfall cluster adventure: Hike through the canyon to closely observe the various waterfalls and feel the cool mist on your face. - Boating on the emerald pool: Row on the tranquil emerald pool and enjoy the peaceful time coexisting with nature. - Ancient trail exploration: Follow the ancient plank roads to explore the hidden Ming and Qing dynasty village ruins in the dense forest and experience the weight of history. 📍 Detailed address: The Yan Mountain Waterfall is located in Xixi Town, Shiquan County, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, next to National Highway 541, with a superior geographical location and convenient transportation. 🚗 Transportation strategy: - Self-driving route: Depart from Ankang, take the Shitian Expressway to the Shiquan exit, then transfer to National Highway 541 directly to the scenic area, about a 2-hour drive in total. - Public transportation: First reach Shiquan County, then take a bus to Xixi Town, and after arriving, walk or take a short shuttle to the scenic area. 🍲 Food recommendations - Stone pot fish: Fresh fish is used, paired with local special seasonings, slow-cooked in a stone pot, incredibly delicious. - Ankang steamed noodles: As a local specialty snack, it has a chewy texture and a rich soy sauce flavor, not to be missed. 🏞️ Nearby attractions recommendations: - Houliu Ancient Town: Experience the authentic Southern Shaanxi style, stroll through the ancient streets, and taste the special snacks. - Yanxiang Cave Scenic Area: Visit the naturally formed huge karst cave and admire the strange and wonderful stalactite landscapes inside. 🏨 Accommodation recommendations: - Homestay experience: Choose a characteristic homestay near the scenic area, integrate into local life, and at night, listen to the sounds of insects and running water in the mountains. - Resort hotel: The hotel located in the Laowang's Secluded Haven leisure resort area provides a high-quality accommodation experience, allowing you to completely relax your body and mind. ⚠️ Precautions: - Appropriate attire: It is recommended to wear anti-slip sports shoes or hiking boots, carry a raincoat or waterproof equipment to prevent getting wet from the waterfall. - Safety first: The roads in the scenic area are slippery, especially near the waterfalls. Please pay attention to safety and follow the signs. - Eco-friendly travel: Please respect nature, do not litter, and protect this pure natural scenery.

🚗🎉 Attention, waterfall enthusiasts! Forget about the crowded hotspots! There's a secret waterfall near Xi'an that will give you the ultimate thrill! 🏞️ Waterfall lovers, it's time for a spontaneous adventure! 🧭🚗 Self-driving Guide 🚗 🚙 Departing from Xi'an, head east towards the destination: Shiquan - Houliu Ancient Town, whether you prefer self-driving or taking the bus is up to you. For freedom and flexibility, self-driving is the best choice, with the scenery all the way and the freedom to stop and take pictures at will. If you prefer a leisurely trip, the bus is also a good option, convenient and worry-free. 📍🛤️ Shiquan Waterfall Coordinates 📌 Coordinates locked: Next to National Highway 51 in Xihe Town, Shiquan County, Ankang City, Yanshan Waterfall awaits quietly. 🚗 Starting from Houliu Ancient Town, it's only a 6 km drive, ten minutes to reach, a mountain road that's picturesque, with many parking spots along the way where butterflies flutter 🦋, don't forget to stop and enjoy the tranquility. 🅿️🚘 Parking Tips 🚦 There are parking lots both inside and outside the scenic area. Parking outside means a walk through the mountains, while inside is more relaxed, with a small fee of 10 yuan, free within half an hour. Plan your time well to save both peace of mind and money. ⏰🕒 Visiting Hours ⏰ 🗓️ Open from Monday to Sunday, doors open from 7:30-18:00, no entry after 17:00. It is recommended to visit for 2 hours, take your time and enjoy the coolness under the waterfall without rushing. 🎟️💰 Ticket Strategy 💸 ¥50 on-site, a small discount online at ¥45, half-price concessions for students, and free admission for the elderly. For the best value, book online to save time and hassle. 🏞️🏃 Altitude and Journey 🏃 📏 At an altitude of 850m, it's not too high and is easily manageable by the average person. A 20-minute walk, a 2000m journey, not tiring at all, with waterfalls accompanying you along the way and ever-changing mountain scenery. 🛶🎉 Interactive Experience 🛀 🚣‍♀️ Inside the waterfall, there are two places to row boats, small boats for creek trips, swings, and pavilions for resting, suitable for both activity and relaxation. 🏞️ From the waterfall to the top, the coolness is doubled, making it a perfect summer retreat, with few people and the exclusive enjoyment of the mountain stream, fern language, and the symphony of cicadas. 🍽️🛍️ Supply Station 🍴 🍜 Houliu Ancient Town, food street, beverage vendors, replenish your water before heading up the mountain, and be full of energy.

||. Departing from the vicinity of Xi'an to Shiquan for a spontaneous trip, but because the decision was made too late, I couldn't book a hotel 😕. However, I still had a great time and the food was good 😌. Sisters planning to travel should definitely decide and plan ahead. 🚗Transport: Self-driving 4 hours (7 hours in traffic during May Day 😅) 🏠Accommodation: Hanyin (30km from Shiquan, 1 hour drive) Day 1️⃣: Han River (1 hour of photography) → Shiquan Ancient Town (strolling + dining for 3 hours) → Hanyin Pic P1-2 Shiquan Ancient Town Pic P3-4 Han River Depart at 9 am, arrived at Shiquan at 5 pm, parked the car in a parking lot 1km away from the ancient town. The Han River is right next to the ancient town. Before visiting the town, you can go down the stairs to the riverside for photos. Stone pot fish can be enjoyed at the entrance of the ancient town, where you can choose a restaurant with online discounts, which are quite cost-effective. It's better to go early to avoid long queues. Initially, we wanted to stroll through the old city and ended up eating fish at a random restaurant at the end of the town, which was just average in taste. So, it's better to look for a place with high ratings. After dinner, there are small electric boats available for a ride along the river. Day 2️⃣: Hanyin → Yanshan Waterfall (3 hours) → Houliu Water Town (3 hours) → Return trip Pic P6-10 Yanshan Waterfall Pic P11-17 Houliu Water Town Since we couldn't book tickets online, we called the scenic area and were advised to arrive early to buy tickets on-site due to the crowd. So, we set off at 8 am for Yanshan Waterfall, but there were hardly any people when we arrived (everyone should book tickets online in advance to avoid getting up early). We started our hiking journey at 9 am. Generally, the pools at the beginning are quite beautiful, and even though it rained, the colors were not affected. After that, there weren't many impressive sights, and if you're not up for it physically, there's no need to climb to the top. There are several spots along the way where you can raft for free, but you need to queue. The second stop was Houliu Ancient Town, a 30-minute drive from Yanshan Waterfall. The ancient town is not big, and we quickly reached the water town, which is nestled against the mountains and waters, truly poetic. There's a pier for boat rides, 100/person, but we gave up due to the long queue and took a speedboat ride instead, which was thrilling. Finally, we ended 🔚 our trip and returned to Xi'an. ✨Overall, Shiquan is definitely worth visiting, with beautiful scenery and delicious food, giving a slight impression of the Jiangnan region. The experience was very pleasant, but during holidays, there are too many cars, and parking is a problem everywhere, as well as traffic congestion. So, try not to drive into scenic areas, or it will be difficult to get out. Lastly, be sure to book some scenic spot tickets in advance to avoid buying them on-site, and try to choose stone pot fish restaurants with higher ratings. That's all, hope this can help everyone.