Conscience Travelogue: A Red Revolutionary Tour, Complete Record of a 3-Day Self-Guided Trip to Yan'an, Shaanxi
Last week, I set off from Xi'an and began an unforgettable red journey. This time my destination was Yan'an, Shaanxi. Yan'an is not only a national revolutionary sacred site but also one of the first batch of historical and cultural cities. The bullet train ticket from Xi'an to Yan'an was not expensive, taking a little over two hours. I planned to stay in Yan'an for 3 days and 2 nights. Yan'an city is not large, and the scenic spots are quite concentrated, so there was plenty of time. The total cost for two people on this trip was about 3,000 yuan, which was not high. Overall prices in Yan'an are low, and many red scenic spots have free admission. Expenses were mainly on accommodation, transportation, and food.
From the central square in the city, you can see the Pagoda Hill of Yan'an. Built in the Tang Dynasty, it is a national 5A-level scenic spot. This scenic spot requires a ticket for entry. If you don't particularly want to go up, you can just have a look from below. Climbing the Pagoda Hill offers a panoramic view of the entire city, as well as the gently flowing Yan River, witnessing the growth of generations of passionate sons and daughters. Pagoda Hill is a must-visit place in Yan'an. The front design of the 2-yuan note of the second set of renminbi from the 1953 edition features 'Yan'an Pagoda Hill'.
Early the next morning, we took a bus to the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall, which is also a 5A-level scenic spot. Above the main entrance of the exhibition hall is a red plaque inscribed by Guo Moruo. The hall houses over 30,000 precious revolutionary relics and a large amount of historical documents. These materials have played an important role in passing on the history of the Chinese revolution and conducting revolutionary tradition education.
In the afternoon, we went to experience the Yan'an cave dwellings. Rows of big red lanterns. It is said that the caves are warm in winter and cool in summer, but they have been uninhabited for a long time. Now they have become tourist attractions for experiencing local customs. There were many vendors selling Yan'an specialties. We bought two large bags of Yan'an dates, which were sweet, big, and plump. In the evening, we returned to the city and tasted Yan'an Zhan Zhan (a type of dipping dish) and oil cake. The flavor was very good, a unique taste that we had never had in Xi'an.
On the third day, we set out to visit the Hukou Waterfall, to see the spectacular sight of the second largest waterfall in the country. A few kilometers away from the destination, we already heard a deafening sound. The Yellow River water rushes here, crashing against the cliffs on both sides. Under the influence of the huge drop in terrain, muddy waves roll and turbulent currents surge, bringing an unparalleled shock.
After seeing the Hukou Waterfall, we left Yan'an in the evening. Our stay was not long, but we gained a lot. Whether it was the educational significance here, the natural awe, or the temptation of delicious food, I felt very reluctant to leave.
Wherever I went, I earnestly felt every trace of the atmosphere there, and experienced the great events that once took place here. I read word by word the stories recorded at each scenic spot, which moved me to tears. I think that everyone should visit a red revolutionary base at least once, to truly appreciate how hard-won our current good life is, and to cherish our present life even more.
