Loess Plateau Without Loess: This Small County in Yan'an Outshines 80% of Jiangnan Towns
If you still think that, you're out of date. The scenery of northern Shaanxi has undergone earth-shaking changes. There is one county in particular that at first glance looks as delicate as a Jiangnan town. The mountains here are lush and green, with no soil or rocks visible; the water here is elegant and beautiful, with vast water areas. This small city, surrounded by mountains on three sides and half city half water, is Huanglong County in Yan'an City.
Huanglong County is more than 200 kilometers from the provincial capital Xi'an, about a 2-hour drive. Traveling to Huanglong offers a completely different experience from a trip around Xi'an. Here you can not only taste northern Shaanxi specialty snacks but also experience scenery even more beautiful than Jiangnan. The reason for the dense vegetation is that Huanglong County is one of the eight major national shelter forest areas. After decades of artificial planting, the forest coverage rate of Huanglong County has reached 87%, and the coverage of woodland and grassland is 95%. It is known as the "Oasis of the Yellow River" and "a Lung of Shaanxi".
Huanglong County is an outstanding representative of the new Yan'an's lucid waters and lush mountains. Visitors are amazed by its ecology and greenery. It is truly a natural oxygen bar and summer resort. It is recommended to spend 2-3 days in Huanglong, visiting attractions such as Jietou Temple Windmill Town, Wuliang Mountain, Shendao Ridge, Tree-top Walk, and Wazi Street Martyrs Cemetery.
Jietou Temple Windmill Town is located at the southernmost tip of Huanglong County. On the way there, you can see large fields of sunflowers. Jietou Temple has over 60,000 mu (about 4,000 hectares) of natural grassland. In spring and summer, the area is a sea of flowers, making visitors feel relaxed and forget the heat; in autumn and winter, the mountains are covered with red leaves and silver-white snow, presenting a magnificent scene. The windmills within the scenic area are a unique attraction.
Wuliang Mountain, also known as Xianhe Mountain, is said to have been surrounded by flocks of cranes in the past. There is a Lianyun Temple on the mountain, offering a panoramic view of the entire Huanglong County. To visit Wuliang Mountain, you can take a sightseeing car or hike up. The mountain scenery is superb, with layers of lush green peaks, making it an ideal summer resort.
Shendao Ridge has an altitude of over 1,700 meters and boasts more than 2,000 hectares of primeval forest resources. It is the main peak of the Huanglong Mountains. Since ancient times, Shendao Ridge has been a vital transportation route from Yan'an to Hancheng. Today, you can still see an ancient road called Maxianling. In ancient times, people called a broad road on a mountain peak a "shendao" (divine road), which is the origin of the name Shendao Ridge.
Believe it or not, Huanglong County has the only "Tree-top Walk" project in Asia. It is actually a parent-child themed interactive forest park with an educational element, making it a unique family travel destination. Walking among the treetops allows you to get closer to the blue sky and white clouds, providing endless fun. The park also features special accommodations such as train-themed inns, capsule hotels, and container villas.
Wazi Street Martyrs Cemetery
Huanglong County also has a long history of red revolution. It is the birthplace of the Red 25th Army, where revolutionary predecessors such as Liu Zhidan and Xie Zichang once fought. In 1948, the famous Battle of Wazi Street took place here. This major victory shifted the Chinese People's Liberation Army from strategic defense to strategic offensive during the War of Liberation, holding great military significance. The martyrs' cemetery located in Wazi Street Town buries 5,287 officers and soldiers of the Northwest Field Army who sacrificed their lives.
The scenery of Huanglong County overturns many people's perception of the Loess Plateau. There is no hustle and bustle of big cities; it is very quiet and livable. The natural scenery and newly built attractions each have their own characteristics, meeting the different needs of tourists. More importantly, the visitor experience in Huanglong is of high value because the mountains are green enough, the water is clear enough, and the projects are novel enough.
