I'd seen the waterfalls on the Shaanxi side before, but this time I specifically came to see the waterfalls on the Shanxi side.
It was truly spectacular! The Yellow River flows down from the sky, never to return. The poets weren't wrong! Perhaps it was flood season, so the water was incredibly turbulent, surging down like thunder and the galloping of a thousand horses. The "Yellow River Cantata" was absolutely stunning! I'm at a loss for words, and I can only describe it as spectacular. We arrived around 9:30 AM, and the sun was out, so I saw a faint rainbow 🌈. It was beautiful!
Smoke rising from the water, rain on a sunny day, neon lights playing in the water, thunder on a dry day—all these wonders were so deeply felt and exciting!
Some might say that paying over 100 yuan for a waterfall isn't worth it, but it's a great value. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and everyone has different standards. I think it's well worth it. The scenic area service is also good. There's parking at the entrance, and small cars cost 10 yuan per trip (8 hours per unit), which is sufficient if you arrive early. The shuttle bus is 20 yuan round trip, and the schedule is quite reasonable. We arrived early, so we barely had to queue, and there was no queue on the return trip either.
A word of caution: The waterfall at Hukou is quite powerful, and if you get too close, you'll get hit by water droplets or "raindrops." This is especially true when the Yellow River water splashes onto you, creating small spots of mud. We didn't notice this, and our two white clothes got soaked and turned light yellow, haha! The ground can be a bit muddy, so be sure to wear slip-resistant shoes, and avoid wearing white shoes. There's a foot-washing area near the public restroom at the exit, but it can be quite crowded, so be prepared.