Shuiquanxi Natural Scenic Area - Hebei Tourist Attraction

Shuiquanxi Natural Scenic Area - Hebei Tourist Attraction
Shuiquanxi Natural Scenic Area - Hebei Tourist Attraction

Shuiquanxi Natural Scenic Area is located in Nanying Township, Lingshou County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area is famous for its unique natural ecological landscape, quiet environment and rich hydrological resources, and is known as the "Little Jiuzhaigou in the North". With a forest coverage rate of over 90%, the air here is fresh and rich in negative ions, making it an ideal place for leisure, vacation, summer resort and health preservation. The total area of the scenic area is about 30 square kilometers. There are many hydrological landscapes such as streams, waterfalls and deep pools in the area. At the same time, there are many characteristic buildings dotted around, such as ancient plank roads and viewing platforms. Among them, the main viewing plank road is about 5 kilometers long, which is convenient for tourists to visit various scenic spots in depth.

History and Culture

Lingshou County, where Shuiquanxi is located, has a long history. It was already a county in the Warring States Period and has a profound cultural heritage. The area around the scenic spot was once an important ancient transportation route and a military town, leaving many historical legends and relics. According to local folklore, some streams and valleys in the scenic area are closely related to the life and work of ancient ancestors, and the origin of some place names also contains ancient stories. For example, the name "Shuiquan" in the scenic area is said to have originated from a spring that never dried up in ancient times, which provided an important water source for the surrounding people and passing merchants and travelers. Over time, it was named Shuiquanxi.

In addition, the villages around the scenic area retain some traditional folk cultures, such as local paper-cutting, embroidery and other handicrafts, as well as unique festival activities. These cultural elements also add a strong humanistic atmosphere to Shuiquanxi Scenic Area, allowing tourists to feel the charm of local history and culture while enjoying the natural beauty.

Main Attractions

Rainbow Waterfall

Rainbow Waterfall is one of the iconic attractions in Shuiquanxi. The waterfall is approximately 30 meters high and 5 meters wide. Water cascades down from the steep cliff, crashing onto the rocks below and splashing countless droplets. When sunlight shines on these droplets, they refract into a brilliant rainbow, hence the name "Rainbow Waterfall". A deep pool forms at the base of the waterfall, with crystal-clear water that allows one to see the bottom. Surrounded by green trees, the scenery is truly spectacular. Visitors can watch this beautiful sight up close from the viewing platform below the waterfall, feeling the coolness and shock brought by the waterfall.

Shenxian Cave (Fairy Cave)

Shenxian Cave is located on the mountainside in the middle of the scenic area, with an altitude of about 800 meters at the entrance and a depth of about 50 meters. The cave is full of strange rocks and stalactites in various shapes, some like fairies descending to the earth, some like mythical beasts entrenched, which are vivid. The temperature in the cave is constant at about 18°C all year round, making it a good place to escape the summer heat. According to legend, ancient fairies once practiced here, so it was named "Shenxian Cave". There are lighting facilities in the cave, and tourists can walk along the paved trails to visit the cave in depth and explore the mysterious landscape of the karst cave.

Shuiquan Lake

Shuiquan Lake is a naturally formed lake in the scenic area, with a surface area of about 5,000 square meters and a maximum depth of 10 meters. The lake water is formed by the convergence of surrounding streams, clear and transparent, like a huge mirror reflecting the surrounding green mountains and trees. There are small boats in the lake for tourists to take, so that tourists can take a boat tour on the lake and enjoy the lake and mountain scenery. There is a fishing area by the lake, where fishing enthusiasts can enjoy the fun of fishing. Common fish in the lake include crucian carp and carp.

Qingren Valley (Lover's Valley)

Qingren Valley is a quiet valley, about 2 kilometers long. There are gurgling streams, birds singing and flowers fragrant in the valley. The valley is covered with dense vegetation, mostly evergreen broad-leaved forests, and the environment is very quiet. Along the way, there are many strange-shaped rocks and small waterfalls, as well as some stone benches and pavilions for tourists to rest. It is said that in ancient times, a pair of young lovers once lived in seclusion in this valley to avoid worldly interference, hence the name "Qingren Valley". Nowadays, it has become a good place for couples to take a leisurely walk and enhance their relationship.

Delicacies

Lingshou Salted Meat Noodles

Lingshou Salted Meat Noodles is a local specialty and one of the signature dishes in restaurants around Shuiquanxi Scenic Area. This dish uses locally made salted meat and hand-rolled noodles as the main ingredients. The salted meat is made from fresh pork through multiple processes such as pickling and drying, with tight meat quality and a salty and delicious taste. The hand-rolled noodles are made from local wheat flour by hand, with a chewy texture. When cooking the noodles, the salted meat is stir-fried with seasonings such as green onions and ginger, then added with stock to cook the noodles, and finally sprinkled with coriander and chopped green onions, which tastes very delicious.

Guotie Bingzi (Pot-stuck Cakes)

Guotie Bingzi is a traditional food in rural Hebei, and is more common in farm restaurants around Shuiquanxi. It uses cornmeal as the main raw material, adds an appropriate amount of water and salt, kneads into a dough, then kneads the dough into a cake shape, sticks it on the inner wall of an iron pot, adds an appropriate amount of water and vegetables to the bottom of the pot, and covers the pot to simmer. The cooked Guotie Bingzi has a crispy bottom and a soft top, with the fragrance of corn. It tastes very authentic when eaten with the vegetables in the pot.

Braised Free-range Chicken with Mushrooms

Braised Free-range Chicken with Mushrooms is a hearty local dish. It uses free-range chickens raised by farmers around the scenic area, which have tender meat and rich nutrition. The mushrooms are wild mushrooms picked from local mountains, such as shiitake mushrooms and oyster mushrooms, which are delicious. When making, cut the free-range chicken into pieces, put them into a pot together with mushrooms, ginger slices, green onion sections, etc., add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer slowly over low heat. The braised chicken is tender and flavorful, and the mushrooms absorb the soup of the chicken, making the taste more rich. It is a nourishing delicacy.

Tickets

The ticket price is 50 yuan per person. As of August 6, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found.

Opening Hours

The opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. In the peak season (April 1 - October 31), the opening hours are 8:00 - 18:00; in the off-season (November 1 - March 31 of the next year), the opening hours are 8:30 - 17:00. The scenic area will stop selling tickets 1 hour before closing. Please arrange your visiting time reasonably.

Tour Route

After entering the scenic area, tourists can first start from the visitor center, walk along the main trail for about 1 kilometer to Shuiquan Lake, take a boat tour on the lake or rest by the lake. Then, start from Shuiquan Lake, walk about 1.5 kilometers to Rainbow Waterfall to enjoy the spectacular waterfall landscape. After seeing Rainbow Waterfall, climb up about 2 kilometers along the mountain plank road to Shenxian Cave to explore the mystery of the karst cave. After coming out of Shenxian Cave, walk about 1 kilometer into Qingren Valley, stroll in the valley and feel the quiet atmosphere. After visiting Qingren Valley, return to the visitor center along the original road. The whole journey is about 10 kilometers, and the walking time is about 4 - 5 hours. Tourists can also adjust the route according to their own situation and choose some attractions to visit.

Transportation

  • Self-driving: Starting from downtown Shijiazhuang, take the Beijing-Kunming Expressway and transfer to the Xibaipo Expressway, get off at the Lingshou exit, then drive along S201 Provincial Road towards Nanying Township. After reaching Nanying Township, follow the road signs to reach Shuiquanxi Natural Scenic Area. The whole journey is about 100 kilometers, and the driving time is about 2.5 hours.
  • Public transportation: Take a bus to Lingshou County at Shijiazhuang North Passenger Station. After arriving at Lingshou County Bus Station, transfer to a bus to Nanying Township. After getting off at Nanying Township, you can take a local taxi or tricycle to the scenic area. The whole journey is about 3 hours.

Must-visit Attractions

  • Rainbow Waterfall: A 30-meter-high and 5-meter-wide waterfall, which often has a rainbow under the sunlight. It is a landmark landscape of the scenic area and can bring a strong visual impact to tourists.
  • Shenxian Cave: A 50-meter-deep cave with various stalactites and a constant temperature of 18°C. It is an excellent place to explore karst cave wonders and escape the summer heat.
  • Shuiquan Lake: A lake with a surface area of 5,000 square meters, where you can take a boat tour. The lake and mountain scenery complement each other, making it a good place to relax.

Travel Suggestions

  • The best season to visit is summer (June - August), when the temperature in the scenic area is cool, the vegetation is lush, and the hydrological landscape is the most spectacular.
  • The trails in the scenic area are long. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes and carry an appropriate amount of water and snacks with you.
  • If you plan to visit the whole scenic area, it is recommended to enter the scenic area at 8:00 - 9:00 in the morning to have enough time to visit various attractions.
  • You can taste local specialties in farm restaurants around the scenic area. Some farmers also provide accommodation services, allowing you to experience rural life.
  • Bring a camera or mobile phone to record the beautiful scenery of the scenic area, especially the scenery of Rainbow Waterfall and Shuiquan Lake, which are very worth taking photos of.

Matters Needing Attention

  • Some sections in the scenic area are relatively steep. Please pay attention to safety when visiting and do not climb without leaving the trail.
  • Take good care of the environment of the scenic area. Do not litter and put waste in the designated trash cans.
  • Respect local customs and habits and get along well with local villagers.
  • There are many mosquitoes in the scenic area in summer. It is recommended to bring mosquito repellent; the temperature is low in winter, so keep warm.
  • Take good care of your personal belongings, especially in crowded attractions and when taking transportation, to prevent loss.
  • Smoking and using open flames are prohibited in the scenic area to prevent forest fires.
  • In case of thunderstorms and other bad weather, take shelter in a safe place in time and do not stay in open areas or under trees.