2025 Hequ Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

On the third day of the first lunar month of the Spring Festival in 2025, I set out for Shanxi [Joyful]. I procrastinated and didn’t leave until after 1:00 p.m., and stayed in Shunping County at night. On the fourth day of the first lunar month, we visited Yan Xishan's former residence, Yanqing Temple, and stayed at the Shanxi Transportation Control Phoenix Mountain Training Base at night. We were the only guests [Yeah] [Love] On the fifth day of the first lunar month, we visited the ancient city of Jiuxian County. The closer we got, the harder it was to take good photos. Here are some recommended photos of the hotel [Cute] Yellow River Tourism Highway No. 1, explore the Yellow River Seven Forts, Luoquan Fort, stand on the beacon tower and overlook the Yellow River, the Great Wall, and the bridge. Luoquanbao was closed for construction and we were unable to visit. We also posted the hotel's promotional text and pictures [Cute] Along the Yellow River to Hequ Xinzhou Xikou Ancient Ferry, check in at Hequ Meichen Hotel at night On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Jueshan Temple Pagoda Jueshan Temple Pagoda was built in Liao Dynasty and still follows the Tang style. It is a rare masterpiece of brick carving art and musical cultural relics. The tower is covered with wind chimes. When the wind blows, the wind chimes sound beautifully. Stayed at Guangling Hotel at night. On the seventh day of the first lunar month, I took the Jingwei Expressway back to Beijing, and the journey was smooth. [Grin]

Hequ·Xinzhou The symbol of Hequ is not the Xikou Ancient Ferry but the Wenbi Tower. Wenbi Tower is located in Bai Pu Park on Huanghe East Street, and the shape of the tower resembles a cluster of writing brushes. Bai Pu Park is built along the mountain and includes Wenbi Tower, Bai Pu Statue, Bai Pu Square, Fountain Square, Winding Paths Leading to Secluded Spots, Bai Pu Academy, Taisu Pond, Long Corridor Waterside Pavilion, Wenbi Stele Gallery, and other scenic spots. Standing on the back mountain of the park, you can see the distant Yellow River Bridge, with an extremely wide view. The core building of the park is Wenbi Tower, which was first built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The tip of the brush is built on the beacon tower mound, and its appearance resembles a giant writing brush. Bai Pu's ancestral home is Hequ, and the establishment of Bai Pu Park in Hequ is well-founded. Bai Pu (1226-approximately 1306), originally named Heng, styled Renfu, later changed his name to Pu, styled Taisu, and was also known as Langu, with his ancestral home in Hequ County. He was a famous playwright of the Yuan Dynasty, and along with Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, and Zheng Guangzu, he is known as one of the "Four Great Yuan Dramatists." His representative works include "Autumn Night Phoenix Tree Rain of Emperor Tang Minghuang," "Pei Shaojun on the Wall and Horse," and "Dong Xiuying's Flower and Moon on the East Wall." Most people are not familiar with these works, and of course, neither am I. However, I have memorized one of Bai Pu's poems, "Tianjingsha. Autumn": "Lonely village, setting sun, remaining clouds, light smoke, old trees, cold crows, a lone wild goose flying down. Green mountains, clear waters, white grass, red leaves, yellow flowers." This Yuan poem is as famous as Ma Zhiyuan's "Tianjingsha. Autumn Thoughts": "Withered vines, old trees, dusk crows, small bridge, flowing water, people's homes, ancient road, west wind, lean horse. The sun sets in the west, a heartbroken person is at the end of the world." Behind Bai Pu Park is Bai Pu Academy, which is now the office of the Hequ Errentai Troupe. Errentai is very popular in Hequ.

Hequ, Xinzhou Xikou Ancient Ferry is located on the east bank of the Yellow River at the west end of Huanghe East Street in Hequ County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. Since the Han Dynasty, this place has been a ferry crossing for entering and leaving Shanxi and Shaanxi. On the east bank of the Yellow River, there is only this ferry, while on the west bank, there are two ferries, one to the north and one to the south. The northern one is Dakou Ferry in Zhungeer Banner, Inner Mongolia, and the southern one is Dashan Ferry in Fugu County, Shaanxi Province. Historically, Xikou Ancient Ferry held significant economic and trade importance, flourishing during the Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. In 1697, Emperor Kangxi crossed the Yellow River at Hequ Ferry during his third expedition against Galdan, traveling from Beijing to Xinjiang. Hequ area is located on the Loess Plateau, with barren land and frequent natural disasters, leading to a difficult life for the people. To make a living, many locals had to leave their homes and go to places like Inner Mongolia to seek livelihoods, a phenomenon known as "Zou Xikou" (Going West). The folk song "Zou Xikou" originated from Hequ. In those days, the people of Shanxi who went west were mostly forced by famine, while some from moderately well-off families chose it as a way to get rich. However, regardless of their background, going west meant leaving their homes and facing certain dangers. The local folk song "Zou Xikou" from Hequ tells the sorrowful story of a newlywed couple's separation and the hardships faced by Shanxi people seeking livelihoods elsewhere. Today, Xikou Ancient Ferry has become one of the iconic attractions of Hequ County. The ancient ferry square still retains buildings such as the Yu King Temple, an ancient stage, and a paifang (archway).