The spectacular Hukou Kettle Spout Falls is a distinctive natural landscape of China's northern region and its the only magnificent yellow waterfalls in the world. This picturesque piece of work by nature is situated 150km west of Linfen, formerly known as Pingyang, a place where the legendary Emperor Yao established his illustrious empire 6000 years ago. When the mighty Yellow River flows through mountains and gorges to Hukou, the billowy water streams narrow suddenly and fall 30 meters into a deep riverbed, forming huge waves and foam as if angry beasts, running and roaring.
The water turns turbulent begins to surge and roar like water boiling in a huge kettle pot thus gaining its name as Kettle Spout Falls.
The water sounds like herds of thousand galloping horses when rushing down from over 20 meter high cliffs to a 30 meter wide rocky chute.
Mists and fog swirl around, rising up like smoke.
Hukou Waterfalls is as if a glistening pearl at the midstream of the vast and muddy Yellow River.
Amazing view with mist all around.
The 300 meters wide torrent of Yellow River is abruptly constricted to about 50 meters.
Hukou Waterfalls is also known as "Boat Sailing On Dry Land" as throughout the ages, boats from upper must be pulled out from river to the bank when arrived and detour in this section by a group of boatmen before continued the sailing journey.
The tremendous mass of water strikes the rocks, creating piles of foam and huge water poles.
Large numbers of springs and streams converge after raining season in autumn.
The thundering sound can be heard from a distance.
Water churns and thunders around the rock until it reaches the bottom of the valley.
All rushing water is greedily absorbed into the riverbed as if a teapot giant, never can be filled full.
Watch the incredible scene of tremendous power when water dropped off into the riverbed.
Huge waves with swirling bubbles rush down with power and grandeur.
Under this mound, its a cave where you can watch the waterfalls from its riverbed.
After the entrance, there is a winding rusting iron stair to go down a small narrow wet cave named as Dragon Cave where you can experience a close contact with Yellow River and its vigorous falls.
This little narrow Dragon Cave makes you undoubtedly witness the Chinese saying that the water of Yellow River, the mother river of its nation comes from the heaven, as per phrase carved on the rock. We were under the falls watching the rushing water dropping off from the sky.
Standing at the edge of the rock, get the real feel of the thunder falls.
The arched rainbow cutting into the river from the sky.
The vast and gorgeous yellow ocean of mist covered water.
The rainbow appears like a color ribbon lying across the river.
The thrilling sound and the rolling golden waves makes it a majestic vigor.
The thrilling waves just under my feet.
Colorful rainbow often appears when fitful winds blow over the surface of water.
Herds of thousand galloping horses are behind me!
The grand vigor with its rumbling sound making a marvelous sight to all of us.
Apart from just few lines of wiring, we had a true contact of this wonderful nature of fantasy.
Huge waves thrown up spouts are sometimes reach up to meters high.
The extra ordinary scenery makes us suffocated.
The water flows this way down to the valley and continues its journey running towards southern end of Shanxi Province.
Explore further for its marvelous scenery.
The opposite side of the falls belongs to Shaanxi Province.
A different kind of thrill compared to Niagara Falls of USA/Canada.
The calm down turbulent of Yellow River.
The elegant flows of Yan'an viewed from Hukou Falls.
Yellow River is the soul of Chinese nationality.
Chinese civilization began from the highland of yellow earth along by the side of Yellow River.
Yan'an of Shaanxi Province lies on the opposite side of the falls.
Hukou is the representative landscape of Yellow River.
A true highland of yellow earth!
Looking at the picturesque scene, who can deny the wonder of nature.
It's fun for a kid to have donkey ride but its a suffering for a donkey to carry a stout man who said it was fun too.
Hukou's beautiful rocky formation is another attraction.
Bidding goodbye to this wonderful nature of China.
The greatest surprise in Hukou was having a chance to eye witness the traditional Yangge dance of Northern Shanxi region. The performer is a lonely street dancer, merrily entertained Hukou's foreign visitors in the open air court, with his own keen interest and the affection of his own culture, without asking for any rewards. Yangge Dance originated 2000 years ago as a religious activity to greet Gods and dispel evil.
Young villagers in Northern Shanxi Region, practiced Yongge waist drum dance to greet spring festival. They usually did the dancing on the courtyards while paying New Year calls to the household to wish them Happy New Year. Dancer tied to his waist with a red drum and hold a drumstick with red silk and beat the drum while dancing. The rhythmical drum sound and graceful dance reflected the straight, direct and uninhibited characters of Northern Shanxi rural people. It was an expression of their happy and passionate feelings. m5
We were surprised to find out that the dancer was already 50 years old and he learns few foreign languages in order to communicate with foreigners. A salute to him, a great dancer and a joyful and happy man!
Distinctive mountainous landscape in north Shanxi region.
By the river side stand a huge statue of Emperor Da-yu who was a very popular expert in floods management in the history of China. The legend says that Pingyang area (Linfen City) often suffered from disastrous floods during the era of Yao and Shun, the legendary tribal leaders in Chinese history, as water of Yellow River was blocked by Mt Mengmenshan when arrived Hukou. Yu, who was not an Emperor then, was assigned to control the flooding and he decided to dredge the water channels starting from Mengmenshan after a thorough survey of landscape at the site.
Yellow River quietly flows side by side with the mountain at this site of Hukou.
The earth is yellow so are those rising up hills.
The flat mountain tops within the northern region of Shanxi Province.
A mountainous sight along the highway back to Linfen.
Quarter of villagers at the foot of mountain.
Wheat farm in the valley of mountainous land.
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