The Heavy History of the Huayuankou Section of the Yellow River

When studying geography, I often learned that the Yellow River flows through multiple provinces and frequently causes devastating floods. This time, I decided to visit the Yellow River in the Henan section. Using Gaode Maps, I found the Huayuankou Scenic Area (free entry) located about 20 kilometers north of Zhengzhou. It’s accessible by public transportation. The scenery is rather average, but you can walk to the riverbank and witness the surging yellow waters, truly living up to the name 'Yellow River.' It was only after reading the informational signs that I learned about the heavy historical background of this place. In 1938, during the war against Japan, the river was deliberately diverted to prevent the Japanese army from advancing, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties across multiple provinces—a tragic chapter in history. Today, this area is designated as a protected drinking water zone.