The kiss of water, the mark of wind - Yucha Grand Canyon

A strange and mysterious geological wonder, silently hidden in the loess-covered place, is little known; it is rarely mentioned in various travel guides. However, it has become very popular in Shaanxi in recent years. An outdoor adventure attraction in Yan'an that has attracted countless photography enthusiasts is the Yan'an Ganquan Yucha Grand Canyon!

Yucha Grand Canyon is located in Yucha Village, Xiasiwan Town, about 56 kilometers northwest of Ganquan County, Yan'an. It is also called Ganquan Grand Canyon. Although the tourist facilities here are still being improved and the landscape is basically still in its original state, when you arrive here for the first time and see the canyon with its uneven walls and smooth lines, you have to be amazed by the magic of nature. And impressed.

According to scientific investigation, there was a strong earthquake here hundreds of millions of years ago, which split one of the loess mountains into large cracks. After tens of thousands of years of rain erosion and wind erosion, , slowly formed the unique grand canyon it is today.

What the Yucha Grand Canyon shows visitors is the unique landforms carved by wind, water and time over tens of thousands of years. The canyon walls are concave and convex, the lines are graceful and smooth, and everything looks so simple, harmonious and natural. It is said that this place is completely comparable to the Antelope Canyon in Arizona, USA.

Looking at the stone wall that seems to have been carved will make people think that although water is invisible, there will always be traces left after it flows through; although light is difficult to catch, it shines There will always be bright and colorful images in every place.

The Yucha Grand Canyon is located within a dozen kilometers around Yucha Village in Xiasiwan Town. It is the collective name for several canyons in Yucha Village. The locals call the canyon a ditch. At present, the main canyons for tourists to visit here include Huashugou, Mudangou, Yixiantian, Longbagou, Huabaogou, Fenghuanggou, etc.

When you walk into each canyon, whether you look down or up, or look forward, backward, left, and right, when the sun shines in, the lines and colors change with magical charm. The Grand Canyon illuminated by light is magical and dreamy. When you are in it, you feel like you are traveling through a tunnel of time. The veins on the rock walls are like water flowing through and flames dancing.

The interweaving of light and shadow makes the scenery here dreamlike and incredibly beautiful! Many photography enthusiasts raised their cameras to capture the most beautiful moments from different angles, completely intoxicated by the ever-changing scenery.

The canyon walls on both sides are uneven, and under the sunlight, they transform into various strange landscapes. At this time you can use your imagination and give them fresh life.

The protruding curves on the canyon wall seem to have been carved with a carving knife and then polished with sand and stone. They are all so smooth and smooth. Although they are different in depth, they are integrated.

Walking through a narrow ravine, the rock walls are eroded by water and wind into clear and smooth stripes, just like waves passing by you, like clouds and flowing water...

Gorge There is some moss growing on some places on the wall. Under the sunlight, the stone wall is colorful and colorful. Everyone can't help but admire the miraculous craftsmanship of nature.

1. Introduction to the scenic spot

Xiasiwan Town is the base camp for tourists in the Yucha Grand Canyon. Tourists generally choose this place for food and accommodation. Zhangjiagou Village is about 4 kilometers away from Xiasiwan Town. It is the first village to enter the Yucha Grand Canyon. The attraction management office, ticket office and parking lot are located in this village. Whether you are taking a tour bus or driving by yourself, you must transfer to the scenic shuttle bus here to visit the canyon.

Yucha used to be a township and was later merged into Xiasiwan Town. Therefore, Yucha Village has many villager groups under its jurisdiction, and the Grand Canyon is distributed among different villager groups in Yucha Village. At present, the main places for tourists to visit include Huashugou, Mudangou, Yixiantian, Longbagou, Huabaogou, Fenghuanggou, etc. Among them, Huashhugou and Longbagou have water accumulation in them.

The width of each ditch is different. If it is wide, several people can pass side by side, while if it is narrow, only one person can pass through. The landforms and landscapes of each ditch have their own characteristics. Huashhu Valley and Longbagong Valley have the most ornamental value, among which Huashhu Valley is the most beautiful. Other slots depend on your travel time.

Birch Valley: Although Birch Valley is only 800 meters long, it is the most beautiful of the five ditches. If time is very limited, it is recommended to just visit Birch Valley. The stones on both sides are concave and convex, and under the sunlight, they transform into various strange landscapes. Most of the most wonderful photos of the Yucha landform are from here.

The entrance and exit of Huashugou are on each side, so there is no need to turn back when visiting.

There is water in the ditch, which is sometimes wide and sometimes narrow. The narrowest part is only 20 centimeters.

Mudangou and the Sky: Mudangou is named after the wild purple-spotted peonies that grow around it. Peony Valley is the shortest. Looking up at the "Stone Flower Cave" above, it seems like a flower floating above your head. Yixiantian and Mudangou face each other, and the tour inside is relatively short, so you need to return the same way.

Longba Valley: With a total length of about 2,500 meters, it is the narrowest and most difficult ditch in the Yucha Grand Canyon, but it is definitely worth your while. The ditch is long, narrow and deep, with a wall-mounted terrace. In many places, you have to turn sideways and hold your belly in to pass. Moreover, most of the road at the bottom of the ditch is filled with mud and pools, making walking difficult.

The 800 meters in front of Longbagou are easier to walk. If it is just for taking pictures, it is recommended to walk about one-third of the distance. It may be difficult for fat people to pass through the narrowest part of Longba Valley, and the rocks on both sides in the second half of the journey are covered with moss. Not only does it require a lot of physical strength to complete the journey, but it will also make you covered in mud.

Huabaocha: The total length is about 200 meters. It is a dry ditch. The bottom of the ditch is relatively flat and covered with dead leaves. The average width is about 2-3 meters. It is very easy to walk. Like Mudangou and Yixiantian, the landscape of Huabaocha is relatively ordinary.

2. Travel Tips

1. Transportation: It takes nearly 2 hours to drive from Yan'an to Yucha Grand Canyon Visitor Center (Zhangjiagou Village). The roads are in good condition, so you don’t have to worry about any problems. The 50-seater tourist bus has no problem going to the scenic spot. After arriving at the scenic spot, transfer to the scenic bus.

2. This scenic spot is very picky about the weather. You must take pictures between 11 o'clock and 15 o'clock on a sunny day to achieve the effect of light and shadow flow. At this time, the light just shines into the slits, and the colorful Dan. The gorge is very spectacular and the visual impact is very powerful!

3. Yucha Grand Canyon is a tourist attraction that relies on the sky for food and sightseeing. Be sure to check the weather forecast before entering the ditch. When the weather is fine, you can safely walk through it. Be careful if it's cloudy, as it's easy for water to accumulate at the bottom of the ditch when it rains. For safety reasons, the scenic spot will be closed on rainy days.

4. Wear hiking shoes that are non-slip, hard enough and can protect your feet. Travel shoes and sports shoes are prone to slipping. Wear gloves and hold your hands on the wall when walking at the bottom of a narrow ditch. Your hands will gradually become cold and will tell you how important it is to protect your hands when crawling. It is best to bring trekking poles, which can prevent slipping when encountering stagnant water in wetlands, and can also be used to explore the depth of stagnant water.

5. Dressing precautions: Wear sports pants or outdoor pants, because jeans will slightly restrict your movement. It is very cold in the ditch, even in summer, so those who are weak must bring an extra long-sleeved jacket.

6. After entering Yucha Village, the mobile phone signal is not good, and sometimes there is no contact on the ground or at the bottom of the ditch. Therefore, it is best to follow others after going into the ditch and do not act alone.

7. Since the scenic spots are still under development and improvement, some ditches may be temporarily closed for tours. Therefore, you can call to inquire about the scenic spots before going for a tour.

8. Tickets are free, but you must purchase a round-trip bus for 70 yuan per person. The roads in the scenic area are now relatively well repaired. It takes 25-30 minutes to take a shuttle bus from the tourist center of the scenic area to Huashugou, which is 18 kilometers away. It's very cold in the ditch, so be sure to bring a jacket.

9. Since noon is the best time for shooting, lunch can only be taken at Ganquan Grand Canyon. Bring enough dry food and drinking water, as the Loess Plateau is short of water; prepare your own lunch (instant noodles and instant noodles are also sold in Mizoguchi). cooked eggs).