A record from three centuries ago
More than three hundred years ago, the Ming-dynasty geographer and traveller Xu Xiake visited this place and vividly described the great Huangguoshu fall. He wrote that the water pours from the rocks above the stream like smoke leaping into the sky, its force so imposing that not even “a rolled-up pearl curtain” or “a bolt of silk hung from the distant peak” could capture its form — the rushing river plunging straight down the high cliff, spray soaring skyward. Those words made the fall more widely known and remain a window onto it today.
Where “silver rain on the golden street” comes from
The fall's volume shifts with the seasons: in the wet season it can exceed a thousand cubic metres per second, and the flung droplets even scatter over the street above the fall, so that one needs an umbrella on a clear day — hence the fair name “silver rain on the golden street.” In mid water the fall splits into several strands of differing shape; in low water it runs clear and the rock's texture shows. One fall, many faces.
A fall you can view from above, below, front, back, left and right
About 77.8 m high and 101 m wide, the great fall is the heart of the group. Unusually, it can be viewed from many angles, above, below and around, and a natural Water Curtain Cave runs behind the fall, letting you listen, watch and feel the mist from inside. The cave is about 134 m long with several windows, and peering out through the uneven curtain of water is striking.
Why it rewards a slow look
- Looking is not just “a glance” — different angles and water levels give wholly different layers;
- Carrying Xu Xiake's words with you adds a sense of crossing time;
- The area is misty and slippery — wear non-slip shoes, bring rain gear and keep to open paths.
