While it might appear to be the latest great fudge mountain dessert at your local Dairy Queen, this scene is actually the thaw of the Hukou Waterfalls of the Yellow River — the only Yellow Waterfall on Earth, and the 2nd largest waterfall in China, with a view nearly unparalleled anywhere else in the country.
Running water resumed after a full thawing of the river’s upper stretch.
When the mighty Yellow River surges towards the Hukou Mountain, flanked by mountains on each side, its width abruptly narrows to 65 to 100 feet (20 to 30 meters). The turbulent water speeds up with increasing power rushing down from the narrow mouth, forming the grand Hukou Waterfalls — more than 65 feet (20 meters) high and 100 to 165 feet (30 to 50 meters) across.
The water plunges over the waterfall, forming an illusion of water being poured from a kettle, hence its name “Hukou or Kettle spout” Like thousands of tumbling dragons or enraged creatures that have just been set free, the yellow water plummets down, and the fierce pounding against the stones echoes like roaring thunder.
The scene is overwhelming as water stirs up masses of smoke and clouds rising high into the sky, with colors turning from yellow to grey, and grey to blue. Locals call this awesome scene “smoke from river.”
The most dramatic changes occur during deep winter and early spring when the river surface becomes frozen. Now and then the subsidiary falls freeze into icicles, creating images of crouching beasts atop the cliffs.
January 2007, when the Hukou Waterfall was totally frozen.
These phenomenal waterfalls are located in Shaan-Jin Grand Canyon, about 100 miles (165 kilometers) to the west of Fenxi City, Shanxi Province, and 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Yichuan, Shaanxi Province.
If you’re fortunate enough to visit during rainy seasons, you will undoubtedly be amazed by the staggering panorama — all streams, rivers and rains converge at Hukou, merging the numerous waterfalls into a single colossal one of awe and immense beauty.
It’s been said that birds flying overhead lose their way in the water fumes and can barely pass through this natural barrier.
Just below the waterfall, there is a shining stone called Guishi which mysteriously appears to move up and down with the water level — no matter how large the water volume is, it reveals only a little of itself.
In the middle of the Yellow River about 9,000 feet (3,000 meters) off the Hukou Waterfall, an enormous rock divides the waters into two flows, rolling and roaring onwards from both sides of the rock and rejoining together.
Standing at Mengmen at night on the north side and looking out to the south during a full moon, its reflection is parted, flowing down beside the rock like 2 rows of quicksilver.
In September 1938, the Chinese people were confronted by Japanese aggression. Guang Weilan, a famous patriotic Chinese poet, led a troupe to Hukou to give a special performance as an expression of gratitude to the army. His heart was suddenly conquered by the tremendous momentum of Hukou Waterfall. It was at Hukou that Guang created the immortal poem — the ode of the Yellow River.
Hukou Falls of the Yellow River
Waterfall Hukou of the Yellow River
