Two-day trip to Laoniu Bay

On September 26, 2020, I participated in a two-day tour of Laoniu Bay in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province.

Departing at 5:30 in the morning, the bus with 55 people was packed with people. After lunch, we arrived at Laoniuwan Scenic Area. Laoniu Bay is located at the junction of Shanxi and Mongolia, bounded by the Yellow River, with Pianguan County in Shanxi to the south, Qingshuihe County in Inner Mongolia to the north, and Jungar Banner in the Ordos Plateau to the west. It is a place with three cities. There are many scenic spots in Laoniu Bay. Our trip was to the south of the Yellow River. In the afternoon, we visited Wanjiazhai and Qiankun Bay.

Wanjiazhai was named after Wanjie, the right minister of the Ministry of War in the Ming Dynasty and Governor of Jiliao Wanshi De's distant ancestor - built a military stronghold here to resist foreign invaders. It was an important border area at that time, and there are still many intact or dilapidated Great Walls, beacons and military forts. Unfortunately, the bridge is closed today and you cannot cross the bridge to visit. There are not many scenic spots to take photos of.

Wanjiazhai Iron Cable Bridge

Wanjiazhai Yellow River

Qiankun Bay is located on the road from Wanjiazhai to Laoniu Bay in Shanxi. It is about two kilometers away from Laoniu Bay. Here the Yellow River forms a magical "S"-shaped turn. , resembles the Taoist Tai Chi yin and yang fish , is a natural Tai Chi picture, so the cultural landscape here is also dominated by Taoism. Qiankun Bay is surrounded by lush green mountains , countless years of erosion by the Yellow River have created grand canyons hundreds of meters high on both sides of the Yellow River, The scenery is extremely magnificent.

Entrance to Qiankun Bay Scenic Area

Five-story octagonal tower

The originator of Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism

Qiankun Bay resembles the Taoist Qiankun Mirror

The core part of Qiankun Bay

There are many stone sculptures in Qiankun Bay

Qiankun Bay can be visited by car or on foot

Qiankun Bay Observation Tower

Overlooking Qiankun Bay

After visiting the two scenic spots of Wanjiazhai and Qiankun Bay, we came to stay in an ancient village called "Laoniu Bay" by the Yellow River. This village has been basically developed into a tourist residential area, and the houses are all on high loess slopes. The cave dwelling design, some houses also have large earthen kangs, the environment is unique, the interior equipment is also acceptable, and everyone can basically accept it.

Rooms with Loess Plateau characteristics

Laoniuwan Village has become a tourist village

Taking a group photo with old classmates leaving the fertilizer factory

Before dinner, the travel friends went straight to the bank of the Yellow River to get up close and personal with our great mother river. Due to the large arc of gyration and the interception of the upstream dam, the Yellow River here is not as turbulent as people imagined. Instead, it is as quiet as a virgin, winding around the land of Xinzhou like a silky ribbon. As the sun sets, the travel companions walk on the dry and cracked river beach, looking at the mirror-smooth Yellow River water surrounded by mountains. They feel particularly relaxed and at ease, with shouts and laughter echoing in the mountains.

A corner of Qiankun Bay

Stargazing room on the shore of Qiankun Bay

Speedboat on the Yellow River

Rusty passenger ship

As long as there is a chance, never give up life

Mother of the Yellow River, we embrace you with open arms!

Have fun and laugh sweetly

Qiankun Bay Turning Point

Evening view of Qiankun Bay

After breakfast the next day, everyone walked towards the main destination of the trip – Laoniu Bay. Laoniu Bay is the first stop where the mother Yellow River flows into Shanxi. Due to the unique terrain conditions, the limestone cliffs here are jagged and intertwined. The Great Wall stretches along the steep and abrupt mountains here, parallel to the Yellow River and heading south, like two giant dragons flying hand in hand. In ancient times, Lao Niuwan Fort, a military fortress along the Great Wall , was located here. Laoniuwan Fort is the intersection of the two ancient civilizations, the Yellow River and the Great Wall. It is the first village where the Yellow River flows into Shanxi, the first pier of the Great Wall in the world, and it is known as the three counties where the roosters sing. The water of the Yellow River leaves the Hetao and flows southward through deep mountains and canyons. The ancient Great Wall meanders eastward here. The ancient castles, ancient buildings, ancient ferries, ancient plank roads, ancient temples and ancient villages here are even more amazing.

The Yellow River and Qingshui River form two horns

laoniu bay ferry

Yachts by the ferry

There is Laoniuwan Pier in Laoniuwan Fort , also known as Wanghe Tower and Water Protection Tower. It was built in the 25th year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty. The pier is 22 meters high, with crenels and oars built on it. On the front of the pier, there are ropes and passages for soldiers to go up and down (currently demolished). Use it to look at the enemy situation from the Yellow River, light beacon smoke to send messages to the east and south sides of the Great Wall , was It is called "the best pier in the world".

Wanghe Tower Beacon Tower

WangheThe observation hole upstairs

On the south side of Wanghe Tower, on the cliff of the canyon, is an ancient village of Laoniuwan. About 200 years of history, The most interesting thing is that the village's courtyard walls and door lintels are all made of stone slabs, without any loess or cement to bond them together. Not to mention southerners, even we northerners who are used to seeing rural buildings in the northwest find it novel. The vicissitudes of the cave and stone courtyard Image land It depicts the living conditions of the ancient Laoniuwan people and is a major cultural landscape.

Overview of Laoniuwan Fort

The door arches are all made of stones, without any cement or clay.

Laoniuwanbao Gallery

LaoniuwanbaoFarming Culture Exhibition

reflection

quaint little courtyard

A corner of the courtyard

LaoniuwanbaoMain house

Unique small street

The old shop of Laoniuwanbao

After lunch, everyone returned directly. Everyone had a great time in the past two days. The vast beauty and magnificent mountains and rivers here are so refreshing that people can forget all the favors and disgrace. There are less than 20,000 steps per day, and it is not very tiring. It is very suitable for our travel group, which is mainly young and middle-aged people.