Red River Valley Travel Guide + Accommodation Recommendation + Best Scenic Route

Red River Valley is located in Baoji City, a tourist resort with a perfect natural ecosystem. The air here is very fresh, the food culture and tourism resources are very powerful, attracting a large number of tourists. Below we share the Red River Valley travel guide + accommodation recommendation + the best scenic route.

Red River Valley, originally named Chiyu and Chiyu River, originates from Taibaiqiu, and is named after “Red River Dan Cliff”, one of the eight scenic spots of Taibai Mountain. It has been one of the ancient roads to Mount Taibai since ancient times.

It is said that a long time ago, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong for three consecutive years, and the people suffered a lot.

One day, the county magistrate led the people to pray for rain in the mountains. On the mountain road leading to Mount Taibai, there were two dragons guarding the Yuxian Gate. The county magistrate and the people begged and waited for days, but they could not enter. With no good plan, the county magistrate posted a notice to collect precious balls and sent them to the two dragons before they could enter the mountain. At the Bosedai, the county magistrate told the mountain god of Mount Taibai about the situation, and the mountain god told the county magistrate to lead the people back home. On the way, it rained heavily, and the sweet dew from the mountain nourished the people outside.

But the blood-red water flowed in the mountain. It turned out that the mountain god of Mount Taibai had beheaded the two evil dragons.

Therefore, this valley is called Red River Valley. 

On October 2nd, our family got up at 5 o’clock, packed our luggage, called Lao Xu and his son, and set off. Two cars drove along the Lianhuo Expressway towards Red River Valley.

We arrived at Red River Valley around 9 o’clock, had a simple meal at the foot of the mountain, and then prepared to go up the mountain.

When going up the mountain, the five of us took one car, winding up the mountain road. There were many vehicles along the way, and the parking lots by the roadside attractions were full of cars. We chose to drive all the way up and visit the attractions on the way back.

The first stop down the mountain: Stone Sea

We parked the car in the parking lot, walked down for a while, and came to the Stone Sea.

The Stone Sea is at an altitude of 2280 meters, with a cold temperate climate, an average annual temperature of about 10°C, and an average temperature of only 15-21°C in June-August. The scenic snow of Mount Taibai is far away in the high mountains, but it is also close at hand. The cold air is biting. Due to the cold and humid climate, rain and fog, you can often see extremely magnificent cloud seas, which are unparalleled and breathtaking. Due to glacial erosion and frost weathering, the cliffs often collapse, and stone flows move, with rolling stone waves like rivers and seas, which is spectacular. It is called the Stone Sea.

Standing in the Stone Sea, the mountains are full of stones piled up together, like an ocean of stones. The stones seem to be red, and my daughter said: “It’s like they’ve been painted red! That’s why it’s called the Stone Sea of the Red River Valley.”

We took photos at the Stone Sea. Lao Xu’s photography skills are really top-notch, like “Child Worshipping Buddha”, “Radiant Beauty”, “Kuafu Chasing the Sun”, “Sunrise in the East”, “Holding Up the Sun of Tomorrow”, etc., making each of us feel the charm of mobile phone photography.

The silly old man under the sun

The beautiful girl under the sun

The good young man in the sunshine

The beauty’s posture is unusual

The second stop: Shizui Mountain

There is a stele halfway up the mountain that reads “Four Mouths of Spiritual Beauty”, which is a place to enjoy the view of the Four Mouths Mountain. 

The Four Mouths Mountain peak is high and steep, with ancient pines hanging upside down on the cliffs, sheer cliffs, and amazing craftsmanship. From the top, you can overlook the Guanzhong Plain, with the Wei River flowing, and look up at the magical snow of Mount Taibai and the towering Bosedai Peak.

Following the mountain, taking the cable car, passing through the birch and fir forest belts, walking through the shade of the trees, observing the iron-tiled Wen Gong Temple, galloping through the 40-mu racecourse, worshiping the Bosedai altar, crossing the pearls of Mount Taibai – the First Lord Sea, the Second Lord Sea, and the Third Lord Sea, and appreciating the sunrise in the East Sea.

Due to time constraints, we took a few photos at the Four Mouths of Spiritual Beauty and went down the mountain.

The third stop: Doumu Waterfall

The most famous attraction in Red River Valley is Doumu Waterfall, also known as Panlong Waterfall. It is located in Panlong Bay, Taibai Mountain National Nature Reserve, and originates from Doumu Peak. The “Book of the Big Dipper” states that Queen Doumu gave birth to nine dragon sons for the king. The nine princes curled up in the bay, so it is called Panlong Bay.

Therefore, Doumu has a high status and bestows blessings on the world. The rushing river water meanders down the mountain, suddenly plunging from the cliff in the middle of the mountain, falling into a deep pool.
The waves are terrifying, the roar is like drums, and the momentum is majestic. The waterfall is 80 meters high and about 30 meters wide. Its shape is like a dragon twisting and turning, rising into the clouds, falling straight down, with silver flowers splashing.

Looking at it from afar, it is like a jade belt hanging in the sky, a silver ribbon flying, a water column reaching for the sky. When the sun shines, the water droplets sparkle, with colorful colors, which is spectacular. It can be called the first waterfall in Shaanxi.

Legend has it that Zhao Kuangyin, when he was poor and down-and-out, came here to commit suicide. Unexpectedly, the magnificent waterfall inspired his fighting spirit. After sincerely worshiping, his luck turned around, he was crowned emperor in a yellow robe, and he called this place a land of blessings.

Standing in front of the waterfall, the water mist is like gauze and curtains, the moisture hits your face, you feel a coolness penetrating your heart, nourishing your heart.

Get closer and let the water droplets splash on your body, you will instantly feel refreshed, relaxed and happy, and all the fatigue of the journey will disappear. We took photos and left memories in front of the waterfall, embracing nature and getting lost in the beautiful scenery of the waterfall.

The fourth stop: Divine Turtle Treasure Egg

This scenery is actually two stones. Legend has it that this turtle had once supported the bed for the Jade Emperor, and after living for a thousand years, it could not bear the loneliness. It traveled to the world and saw that the scenery here was beautiful, like paradise, so it laid its eggs and took root here. However, it waited for tens of thousands of years, but the eggs still did not hatch.

This spirit touched Guanyin Bodhisattva, who bestowed upon it a bodhi sapling, which would shelter it from the wind and cold in winter and shade it from the sun in summer. This sapling sincerely received the protection of the spiritual energy of the valley from Guanyin’s pure bottle dew, and it has been thriving for thousands of years.

The fifth stop: Taigong’s Stone Boat and the Double-Hole Water Curtain

Legend has it that after Jiang Ziya conferred gods at the Bosedai, he boarded a boat and sailed down the Chishui River, rested here, and left his boat here (hence the name Taigong’s Stone Boat). Then he left. About 20 meters ahead, there is a waterfall called the Double-Hole Water Curtain, another beautiful sight in Red River Valley.

The waterfall was formed by the accumulation of the Chishui River flowing from Mount Taibai. Under the drop of dozens of meters, the waterfall sprays pearls and jade, pouring into the bottom of the pool, with east and west double holes behind the water curtain.

It is said that these east and west double holes were created by the spell of Jiang Taigong, the great saint of the Zhou Dynasty. The east hole can lead to Chang’an through the bottom of the Chishui River, and the west hole can lead to Yongzhou.

In those days, Jiang Taigong, after conferring gods at the Bosedai on Mount Taibai, boarded a boat and sailed west along the Chishui River. In order to avoid the complaints of the immortals who felt that they had been treated unfairly in the conferring of gods, when he reached here, he abandoned his boat and entered the stone cave.

The immortals who followed did not know whether Jiang Taigong had entered the east hole or the west hole, so they had to give up the pursuit and return to their divine positions.

Since Jiang Taigong left Red River Valley from the Double-Hole Water Curtain, it has been rumored locally that Jiang Taigong was a man of simple living, integrity, and who regarded wealth as dung, and had left countless gold and silver treasures and ancient artifacts in the cave.

But unfortunately, the Chishui River never dries up, especially here, where the current is fierce and the water is icy cold. Even those who are brave can only stand at the entrance of the cave, braving the impact of the waterfall, and take a quick look.

We also “took a quick look” when we visited here and took photos to commemorate. This is a good place to take photos, with a waterfall, a small bridge, giant stones, a plank road, and a statue of Taigong, making people linger, reluctant to leave, and happy as if they have forgotten all their worries!

This pool is called Jingxin Pool. Jingxin Pool is never exposed to sunlight. The water is several meters deep but still crystal clear.

It is rumored that this pool is a heart mirror. If your heart is free of distractions, the water will be clear without fish. If your heart desires, the water will be cold and the fish will live in it.

(The fish here refers to the small-scaled fish that lives at an altitude of 900-2300 meters in the Qinling Mountains. These fish like cold and fear heat.) It turns out that Jiang Taigong had already calculated that some people would be dissatisfied with the conferring of gods and would come to him to ask for higher positions.

Therefore, before the conferring of gods, Jiang Taigong cast a spell here, creating the Double-Hole Water Curtain and setting up the Jingxin Pool. On the one hand, this would allow him to escape the interference of those who were obsessed with power. On the other hand, he could use the water in this pool to admonish those who followed him, to see themselves clearly, wash away their impurities, and benefit the people. Next to the pool, there is a giant stone, with a volume of hundreds of cubic meters.

Lao Xu, full of energy despite his age, struck a pose on the giant stone, standing on one leg like a rooster, a heroic figure as if Jiang Taigong was reincarnated. The entire stone is naturally formed. Standing under the stone, I felt as if the stone was pressing down on me, unable to bear the weight!

Red River Valley Cuisine

After going down the mountain, Lao Xu’s friend from Wugong County invited us to play in Wugong, and we were fortunate enough to try the Western Capital delicacies Puji Roasted Chicken and Wugong Flag Flower Noodles. 

Puji Roasted Chicken is produced in Wugong County, Shaanxi Province. Its characteristics are: plump chicken, fresh skin, red-brown color, shiny and oily, mellow and refreshing taste, complete chicken meat, tender and without bone, meat tender and separate from the bone, meat and bone are the same flavor, and the aftertaste is endless. It has a unique style, delicious taste, and is a traditional famous snack in Shaanxi, famous in the three Qin areas.

It is said that Puji Roasted Chicken is extremely particular in its production. It usually uses one-year-old young chickens, with bright red combs and smooth and shiny feathers. When slaughtering, the chicken blood must be drained completely, the water temperature must be moderate, and the slaughtered white chicken is rinsed with clean water and soaked in water for several hours. Then, it is rinsed with hot water to remove the fishy smell, dried, and coated with sesame oil and honey.

The second step is frying. The second step is to set the right temperature. Only with the appropriate temperature can the skin be yellow and bright. The seasonings include dry ginger, peppercorns, cinnamon, small cloves, large cloves, and more than 20 other ingredients.

Wrap the seasonings tightly with gauze and put them into the original juice soup with water. Then put the fried chicken into the pot, first boil it over high heat, and then simmer over low heat. After the chicken is cooked and taken out of the pot, apply sesame oil to preserve the original color. The original juice soup used is commonly known as aged soup. It has an amazing taste and is the original juice seasoning for the unique flavor of Puji Roasted Chicken. 

Puji Roasted Chicken has been selected as a famous gourmet food by Xi’an City in recent years. In 1985, it was awarded “Excellent Food” at the National Food Selection Conference; in 2009, it was included in the Shaanxi Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage List. 

Wugong Town Flag Flower Noodles is also a famous noodle dish, also known as One-Bite Fragrance or Flower-Shaped Noodles. It is usually used to entertain distinguished guests. It is mainly made with high-quality flour noodles as the main ingredient, and the soup is made with high-quality soup supplemented with other ingredients.

The mince is made by stir-frying yellow flowers, wood ear mushrooms, kelp, chicken shreds, and large pieces of meat. The floating vegetables are made with chopped green onions or chives, egg skin flowers, etc. The finished product is known for its “thin, tough, and glossy; sour, fresh, and fragrant” characteristics.

Speaking of Wugong’s Flag Flower Noodles, there is also a beautiful historical story. Legend has it that the Empress Dowager of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty suffered from a strange illness and lost her appetite.

All the imperial physicians were helpless, so they put some handmade noodles in a refreshing egg soup, accompanied by mince, chopped green onions, ginger shreds, egg pancakes, etc., seasoned with aged vinegar, and the Empress Dowager ate several bowls. The emperor was overjoyed when he heard this and tasted it himself. As he ate, he praised it.

While eating, the emperor saw that the mince and vegetable oil in the bowl were yellow, white, and green, distinct in color, and the noodles, when picked up, were shaped like small flags, and when placed in the bowl, looked like flowers. Emperor Xiaozong therefore named it Flag Flower Noodles and listed it as a royal dish. 

Later, Kang Hai was the champion of the imperial examination in the Hongzhi period, and he served as an official in the Hanlin Academy. He was from Wugong and loved noodles, so he asked his cook to learn how to make Flag Flower Noodles from the cooks in the imperial kitchen.

After being dismissed from office, he brought his cook back to his hometown, so Flag Flower Noodles spread in Wugong.

For more than 700 years, Flag Flower Noodles has been passed down in Wugong to this day. 

Holding a bowl of historically significant Flag Flower Noodles, savoring the unique flavor, watching the friends and family members enjoying the delicious food, my heart is filled with happiness. Ah! National Day, I am so happy!