Looking Back at the Hukou Waterfall During the 2018 National Day Holiday

During the 2018 National Day holiday, the Yellow River was so swollen that it swallowed up the Hukou, swallowed up the Hukou Waterfall, and even swallowed up the Hukou scenic area in Shanxi.

An endless queue of tourists surged toward the Hukou scenic area in Shaanxi, and an endless line of cars clogged the road to Hukou. It was said that on October 3 and 4, the Qinglan Expressway’s Hukou exit in Shaanxi was blocked for three to four hours by tourists’ vehicles. Cars were parked as far as 10 kilometers away. In the crowded人流, people could only glance hurriedly at the Mother River, seeing surging muddy waves but not the inverted Hukou, let alone the waterfall hanging high. A friend complained loudly: "A 90-yuan ticket for just ten minutes of viewing—Hukou is the worst value for money scenic spot. Hukou broke my heart."

On October 5, the Hukou scenic area in Shaanxi issued an early notice stating that as of 8:30 a.m., the scenic area had reached saturation, reminding visitors to first explore the ancient ferry town a few kilometers away.

Fortunately, I had adjusted my itinerary a few days earlier and missed the peak. Just after 7 a.m. on October 6, we drove straight to Hukou without any traffic jams. What I saw was a Yellow River of overwhelming power, of ten thousand horses galloping, of waves crashing against the shore—a true "Yellow River Cantata."

I saw a Yellow River different from usual, a Hukou different from usual, a waterfall different from usual. I was fortunate to have a unique visual encounter, a unique experience, a unique treatment.

"Do you not see the Yellow River's waters come from the sky, rushing into the sea and never returning?" This is the Yellow River in Li Bai's writing, or perhaps the passionate and heroic spirit of the great poet.