2025 Yanchuan Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in June)

In the vast expanse of Northwest China, Shaanxi Province hides many little-known scenic spots of breathtaking beauty. Today, we present a Shaanxi travel guide that will lead you to discover unique northwestern landscapes and capture stunning photos to wow your friends! Picture-Perfect Spots with a 100% Success Rate The Wave Valley: A Geological Wonder Comparable to Its American Counterpart 📍Location: Longzhou Town, Jingbian County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province As a filming location for the TV series *The Road of Life*, this place is just as beautiful as the Wave Valley in the United States. Stepping into it is like entering a dreamlike world sculpted by time, with layers of red sandstone, their textures clear and distinct, resembling waves surging across the earth. These sandstones existed in the same era as the dinosaurs. To touch such ancient geological relics is a romantic experience in itself. If you're lucky, you can even take a photo with the internet celebrity "Fourth Master Liu," adding a unique memory to your trip. With the right angle, anyone can capture stunning photos here and dominate their social media feeds. Yucha Grand Canyon: A Wonderland in the Cracks of Time 📍Location: Yucha Village, Ganquan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province Yucha Grand Canyon looks like a fissure torn into the earth, full of mystery. As you walk into the canyon, sunlight streams through narrow crevices, forming golden beams that seem to traverse the cracks of time. Looking up in Birch Tree Valley, the light blends perfectly with the canyon's unique lines, creating an excellent photographic effect. Dragon Valley, on the other hand, gives a sense of survival in narrow spaces, and its unique atmosphere allows for capturing photos with a strong narrative quality. Hukou Waterfall: The Majesty of the Yellow River Descending from Heaven 📍Location: Hukou Town, Yichuan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province The majestic momentum of Hukou Waterfall can only be truly appreciated in person. The enormous volume of water plunges downwards, the roar deafening, a true interpretation of the verse "The Yellow River's water descends from heaven." The best viewing time is between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm on a sunny day, when the sun shines directly overhead. The light penetrates the canyon, and the Tyndall effect makes the entire waterfall glow with a sacred light, a sight of breathtaking beauty. If you're lucky, you might even see a brilliant rainbow spanning the waterfall, like a bridge of dreams. Seven Days and Six Nights: Unlocking the Essence of Northwest China D1: Gather in Xi'an As an ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, Xi'an seamlessly blends historical charm with modern vibes. Upon arrival, you can first visit the Bell Tower and Drum Tower to experience the historical pulse of the ancient city, and then savor local delicacies such as *yangrou paomo* (mutton stew with bread) and *roujiamo* (meat sandwich) in the Muslim Quarter. D2: Xi'an - Hancheng - Hukou Waterfall Departing from Xi'an, pass through Hancheng and experience the ancient charm of this historical and cultural city. Arrive at Hukou Waterfall in the evening and admire the magnificent sunset over the Yellow River. D3: Hukou Waterfall - Qiankun Bay - Yan'an Enjoy the morning light at Hukou Waterfall, then head to Qiankun Bay to admire the "S"-shaped bend of the Yellow River. In the evening, experience the revolutionary atmosphere of Yan'an. D4: Yan'an - Yucha Grand Canyon - The Wave Valley - Jingbian Encounter the wonders of light and shadow at Yucha Grand Canyon, explore the ancient sandstone at The Wave Valley in the afternoon, and stay overnight in Jingbian. D5: Jingbian - Dingbian Salt Lake - Zhongwei Shapotou Dingbian Salt Lake offers a dreamlike "mirror of the sky" experience, while Zhongwei Shapotou provides the thrill of desert surfing. D6: Zhongwei - Zhenbeipu - Yinchuan Visit the Zhenbeipu Western Film Studio and experience the heroic spirit of martial arts films. Enjoy the food and night views in Yinchuan in the evening. D7: Yinchuan - Return Trip Return home with wonderful memories, concluding this unforgettable Northwest journey. Travel Tips for a Smoother Trip - Be sure to wear comfortable athletic shoes, as many scenic spots in Northwest China require hiking. - The Northwest has strong UV rays, so be sure to take sun protection measures. Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are essential. - The temperature difference between day and night in northern Shaanxi is significant, so remember to bring warm clothing to prevent catching a cold at night. Pack your bags and follow this guide to encounter the breathtaking scenery of Northwest China and create your own travel memories!

Qiankun Bay is located 53 kilometers south of Yanchuan County, Shaanxi Province, bordering Hehuili Village, Dashiyao Township, Yonghe County, Shanxi Province. The Yellow River is known as the mother river. It forms five S-shaped turns in Yanchuan, which are, from north to south: Xuanwo Bay, Yanshui Bay, Fusi Bay, Qiankun Bay and Qingshui Bay. Qiankun Bay and Qingshui Bay in the scenic area form a natural Tai Chi diagram, a major natural landscape on the Qin-Jin Gorge of the Yellow River Ancient Road, and the most beautiful and spectacular section of the 99 bends of the Yellow River. Looking at Qiankun Bay from different angles and different perspectives will give you different feelings. No matter how you look at it, the Yellow River is lying there, flowing into the distance. It looks calm from a distance, and turbulent from a close distance. Looking into the distance, you can see undulating mountains and crisscrossing gullies. The Yellow River is like a giant dragon rushing through the hills and gullies of the Loess Plateau.

Qiankun Bay, a dazzling gem of the Yellow River Snake Bend National Geopark, is famous for the winding flow of the Yellow River and is an excellent place to experience the spectacular scenery of the Yellow River. 🚗 Transportation Information: Starting from Hukou Waterfall, the drive takes about three hours, mainly along the national highway, crossing mountains along the way, requiring patient driving. ☀ Weather Tips: The weather is hot in summer, and the trails in the scenic area lack shade. It is recommended to visit in spring or autumn to avoid high temperatures. 🎟 Tickets and Cable Car: Buying a combined ticket for the scenic area and the cable car saves more than 50 yuan compared to buying them separately. If you plan to take the cable car, the combined ticket is a more economical choice. 🚠 Recommended Route: The recommended route by the staff is to first go to Qingshui Bay, then take the cable car to Huifeng Village, then return to Qingshui Bay, and drive to Qiankun Bay, passing by Niuwei Village along the way. 🍽 Dining Experience: There is a snack city opposite the Qiankun Bay scenic spot, offering local delicacies, making it a great place to rest and dine after the tour. 📸 Viewing Suggestions: Due to the hot weather, you can choose to view Huifeng Village from the viewing platform without climbing to the top. 🌞 Sun Protection and Heat Prevention: It is strongly recommended to take sun protection measures, carry enough drinking water, rest appropriately, and avoid heatstroke. 🌈 Best Visiting Time: Spring or autumn is the best season to visit Qiankun Bay, with cool weather more suitable for outdoor activities.

Wen'an Post Ancient Town is a necessary pass to Liangjiahe. This thousand-year-old ancient town was once an important post station between Chang'an and the north of the desert. Strolling through the ancient town, you can not only appreciate the different styles of cave dwellings but also live and dine in the caves. In the center of the ancient town, there is a Cultural Education Practice Base for Educated Youths. On the tall cliffs, the names of every youth sent down to the countryside are engraved. The loess culture, red culture, post station culture, cave dwelling culture, and educated youth culture all carry rich memories and witness an extraordinary history.

Located in Niujia Mountain Village, Qiankun Bay Town, Yanchuan County, Huifengzhai is a natural ancient fortress. The fortress is situated to the east of the Yellow River, surrounded by water on three sides, with man-made remains inside the fortress constructed in the 25th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. The ancients relied on the natural defenses of Huifeng Mountain to build fortress walls, gates, and watchtowers, creating a position as impregnable as a tiger's lair or a dragon's den, solid as a golden soup. It has become one of the earliest existing military defense works in Northern Shaanxi and is known as the 'Little Huashan' of Northern Shaanxi. Huifengzhai is towering and precipitous, facing the natural moat of the Yellow River to the east, and bordered by the deep valley of Zhai River to the southwest. Cliffs rise steeply on all sides, with craggy rock faces, and only a narrow and rugged path to the northwest connects with the fortress. The environment is beautifully natural with an abundance of oxygen.

Every time I go to a place, I will choose a hotel with local residential characteristics to experience it. If you go to Mongolia, you will live in a yurt; if you go to Fenghuang, you will live in a stilt house; if you go to Shanxi, of course you have to experience cave life. Cave is an ancient living form of residents on the Loess Plateau in northern China. Locals use the unique loess terrain of the plateau to dig caves to live in, saving materials and materials, sturdy and durable, warm in winter and cool in summer. Qiankunwan Cave Hotel has been partially improved, the overall environment is good, the room is not big, but it has everything. 👀Decoration style: The decoration style retains the shape of the cave, the unique texture and texture of the local rock, and a hint of natural simplicity in the thickness. Living in a cave constructed of rocks, experiencing the beauty of the original ecology, and enjoying the tranquility of the modern minimalist decoration style, it feels great. 👀Green and environmental protection: The cave is warm in winter and cool in summer, energy-saving and soundproof, low-carbon and environmentally friendly. The room is fully equipped with bathroom and internet, and a 'green air conditioning' exhaust system is cleverly set up to make the cave 'breathe' and maintain constant temperature and humidity. Low energy consumption, low emissions, adapting to local conditions, and using local materials. The traditional architectural wisdom of the cave is very consistent with the current green and environmentally friendly sustainable development method. 👀Hotel facilities: There are conference rooms, restaurants, and reception rooms. The layout of public spaces has both artistic style, and the overall facilities are well maintained. The hotel's breakfast is OK (you can eat enough, the taste is a matter of opinion, it is a variety of buns and pasta, after all, it is Shanxi flavor). 👀Hotel price: Affected by the epidemic, there are fewer tourists, and the hotel price has a certain discount. The standard room is about 400 yuan per night, which is similar to the price of homestays with better surrounding environment. 👀Distance to scenic spots: The hotel is right at the entrance of Qiankunwan Scenic Area (100 meters away), and it is very convenient to go to the scenic spot. It is recommended to contact the hotel in advance before arrival. The hotel will provide you with transportation guidance and the service attitude is very good. #see the earth in an instant

The ancient village of Yijiawan is located 15 kilometers northwest of Yanchuan County. The existing ancient cave dwelling was built before the Yuan Dynasty five years (1265) and has a history of at least 752 years. Before the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the eleventh year (1702), the surname of He moved out of the surname and moved to the name of the village. Here is a real ancient village. The traces of the years are clearly visible. The feelings of people sometimes returning to the light are very indifferent. The rows of cave dwellings carry the warmth of the past and the hope of giving birth. When the high-rise buildings made of reinforced concrete gradually replaced the independent and free farm life, the village of North Shaanxi, which has the most primitive features, is quietly bathed in its unique sunshine. Stone mills, wooden doors, earthen urns, stone walls, as if everything was yesterday.