Jinsi Gorge (金丝峡), officially known as “Jinsi Grand Canyon National Forest Park,” is a stunning natural wonder renowned for its picturesque scenery and unique landscape. The gorge is characterized by its narrow and long shape, with an awe-inspiring blend of beauty, strangeness, danger, and seclusion. It offers a rich tapestry of natural attractions, including peaks, rocks, caves, forests, birds, animals, springs, ponds, and waterfalls. As you walk through the gorge, the scenery changes constantly, creating a seemingly endless variety of breathtaking views, earning it the title “Gorge Marvel, Ecological Kingdom.”
The gorge’s landscape is particularly striking, with towering peaks, mysterious caves, and perilous cliffs. Among these cliffs and peaks, there are over 20 unique karst caves that leave visitors in awe. Additionally, the gorge is home to numerous flowing streams and waterfalls, which feed into more than 30 emerald-green pools of varying depths and shapes, further enhancing the natural beauty of this remarkable site.
Travel Information about Xinsi Gorge
Tickets and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: Jinsi Grand Canyon: 120 RMB.
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Best Time to Visit
Jinsi Gorge is located on the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains, connecting to the northern slopes of the Bashan Mountains. The area has a varied terrain of alternating valleys and ridges, and it experiences a subtropical monsoon climate with distinct seasons. While the winter can be quite cold, the rest of the year is ideal for visiting the gorge.
Transportation to the Scenic Area
Location: Jinsi Gorge is located in Jinxi Gorge Town, Shangnan County, Shangluo City.
Public Transport: You can take a bus from Xi’an Bus Station to Shangnan, getting off at Jinsi Gorge Station, which will bring you directly to the entrance of the gorge.
Scenic Ratings
- Cultural Significance: ★★★★
- Uniqueness: ★★★
- Leisure: ★★★
- Beauty: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★
- Adventure: ★★
Highlights of Jinsi Gorge
White Dragon Gorge
White Dragon Gorge, also known as Qili Gorge or North Gorge, is a captivating section of Jinsi Gorge. The entrance of the gorge features the White Dragon Pool and the White Dragon Cave. To the left of the entrance lies Feng Mountain, resembling a phoenix spreading its wings, while on the right is Monkey Mountain, with a stone formation at its peak resembling a monkey, inspiring the local legend of an immortal monkey playing with a phoenix. Another striking feature on the left hillside is the towering Immortal Stone, also known as Immortal Peak.
One of the most famous attractions within White Dragon Gorge is the Ma Pao Spring, also known as White Snow Spring. This natural mineral spring is rich in essential trace elements like calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium, which are beneficial to human health. Locals have long referred to it as the “Sacred Spring” due to its reputed health benefits.
Approximately three kilometers from the gorge entrance, two massive stones, each weighing around five tons, serve as the unlikely hosts for two resilient trees. The larger of the two is a precious species known as the Chinese yew, a national key protected tree species. The smaller tree is a crepe myrtle. Both trees have firmly rooted themselves in the solid rock, standing proudly and defiantly against the elements.
The narrowest point of White Dragon Gorge is known as White Dragon Gate, flanked by sheer cliffs that rise dramatically on either side. This area is a unique convergence of rare flowers, striking rock formations, and pristine lakes. The gorge here opens up into a broader expanse, scattered with numerous wild orchids, earning it the nickname “The First Orchid Valley of Qinling.”
Green Dragon Gorge
Green Dragon Gorge, also known as East Gorge, is the narrowest of the four gorges in Jinsi Gorge. The gorge is flanked by towering cliffs on both sides, covered with lush vegetation, including rare evergreen trees like Pittosporum, camphor trees, and hemlocks. The dense greenery and steep cliffs make this area particularly stunning and an ideal retreat for those seeking a cool, relaxing environment.
To the east of Green Dragon Gorge stands Shou Peak, a prominent, smooth, and gleaming summit that offers a breathtaking view over the entire gorge. The peak is named after Shou Pavilion, which sits atop it. Another remarkable feature of Green Dragon Gorge is the “Husband and Wife Trees.” These trees are named for their resemblance to a couple embracing, with the sturdier tree representing the strong, supportive husband, while the more delicate tree winds around him like a devoted wife.
Black Dragon Gorge
Black Dragon Gorge is renowned for its deep and narrow valleys, sheer cliffs, interconnected streams and pools, and a primitive, mysterious atmosphere. It is said, “If you haven’t explored Black Dragon Gorge, your visit to Jinsi Gorge is incomplete.” The gorge is named for its narrow and winding path, where water rushes through rocky channels, whirling in pools, and glistening like strands of gold in the sunlight.
One of the key attractions in Black Dragon Gorge is Golden Lion Cave, a natural surface karst cave. Near the deep pool at the bottom of the valley, a Maitreya Buddha is carved into the stone wall, hidden among dense foliage.
The Lock Dragon Waterfall is named for the thick, towering cliffs on either side that appear to lock the path forward. Visitors can take a bamboo raft to get closer to the waterfall, where the water cascades down in a three-tiered plunge. Beneath the waterfall lies a deep pool, its water clear enough to see the bottom, with a surface as smooth as a mirror.
Crescent Gorge is located in the middle of Jinsi Gorge and marks the narrowest point of Black Dragon Gorge. On one side stands the imposing Shenbian Peak, while the other side is marked by Cat Ear Cliff. The mountains overlap to form a steep and rugged gorge. When viewed from the bottom, the light streaming through the crevices resembles a crescent moon, giving the gorge its name. It is also known as “Heaven’s Crevice” or “Heaven’s Rift.”
Shiyan Fort
Shiyan Fort is a natural stronghold extending north to south, surrounded by sheer cliffs on the east, west, and south sides, with only a narrow path leading up from the northern slope. This path is so treacherous that it is often compared to the perilous ascent of Mount Hua. The fort consists of five main terraces, each with distinct features. The first terrace, known as Nantian Gate, is the gateway to the mountain and is marked by towering cliffs that make for a formidable ascent. The main fort, located on the second terrace, is a sacred Taoist site dedicated to Zhenwu, the True Warrior Ancestor. During festivals or Taoist gatherings, crowds of people flock to the mountain to pay their respects. The fifth terrace is known as Jade Emperor Peak, offering sweeping views of the vast Chu sky and the meandering rivers of Yu.
Lotus Cave, named for its resemblance to lotus petals, is adorned with stalactites in a variety of shapes and forms. Ancient pine trees stretch across the entrance, and inside, the stalactites create a surreal landscape. At the base of the cave is a pool of crystal-clear water that never dries up, regardless of the season.
Python Cave is a narrow, slender fissure within a gorge. When standing inside and looking up, one can see a long, narrow slit of sky, as if it were the result of a lightning strike. A stalactite resembling a giant python lies coiled within the cave, giving it its name.
Source of the Dan River
The Source of the Dan River is a scenic area known for its tiered water features, where gentle streams converge to form the Dan River, one of the vital water sources for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The area is characterized by its deep gorges and clusters of waterfalls, which create a stunning natural landscape.
One of the highlights is the Double Stream Waterfall, where a single waterfall splits into two streams as it cascades down a cliff over ten meters high. The water is divided by a rock halfway down the fall, creating two separate streams that, although obscured by trees, are only a short distance apart. The sound of the water as it reunites in the forest below creates a harmonious and unified auditory experience.
Dan Fish Lake, an artificial reservoir with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters, serves multiple purposes. It offers recreational activities such as fishing and boating, while also playing a crucial role in intercepting mudslides and regulating the flow of water to the downstream waterfalls.