Jiyuan, Henan province, located at the head of the ancient Jishui River, is a charming place with mountainous landscapes - and a huge flood-control project

Majestic mountains, links with ancient Chinese civilization and a huge flood-control project give Jiyuan a special identity - charm combined with engineering. The city, which is located in the northwest part of Henan province in Central China, is also less frequented by travelers than many other places.

Jiyuan has a link to folklore that's familiar to practically every household in China.

"The city got its name for being the origin of the ancient Jishui River," Chang Shiyu, a local guide, says. The river used to be on par with the Yangtze, Yellow and Huaihe rivers, although it has mostly been overshadowed by the Yellow River.

Beyond its name, the city is steeped in the spirit of Yugong, whose story has been told to every Chinese person for generations.

Yugong was determined to move the towering mountains that were standing in his way, stone by stone, and believed that the job would be done if his descendants continued the work. His diligence and perseverance ended up impressing the gods, who later granted his wish.

Wangwu is one of the two mountains.

Ancient lore has it that the Yellow Emperor, who is regarded as the common ancestor of all Chinese, worshipped the gods here after uniting the people. The mountain covers an area of 270 square kilometers, with its summit at 1,715 meters.

Many Taoist temples dot the mountain, which also boasts geological marvels. It became a world geological park in 2006.

A grand plaza, with its imposing stone gate and pillars, greets us when we reach the foot of the mountain after traveling 90 minutes from the downtown area.

Its sculptures showcase an ancient worship ceremony by the Yellow Emperor.

As a visitor climbs the steps, the Yangtai Palace presents itself. But several giant cypress trees with luxuriant foliage block the full view of the palace. The trees are all more than 1,000 years old.

The palace has three halls. The anterior hall is believed to be the biggest timber structure of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Henan.

The reliefs on the stones in the hall feature dragons, birds, flowers and fairy figures.

Many visitors are seen offering incense and praying in the hall.

Outside the palace, a funicular car ascents to the top of the mountain. Hiking up the peak takes roughly two hours.

Everything on the peak is surrounded in white mist, giving the area a mystical atmosphere.

The cliffs and the view down below are magnificent, especially when the wind dispels the mist for a brief moment.

A plump monkey then casually swaggers into the temple. It doesn't seem to be bothered by the human presence at all.

"Monkeys here are used to humans and they are here to find food," Chang says.

Next after a day on the holy mountain is the Xiaolangdi hydro-junction, the largest water-control project on the Yellow River.

The scenic spot is roughly 40 minutes from the city center. The giant water gate and red stone levee keeps the once-unruly Yellow River in check.

The river used to wreak havoc across the country during the flood season. But now birds can be seen flying past the serene water. Cherry trees have been planted around the reservoir.

Tourists usually flood the area in June and July when the dam is opened for water and sediment regulation.

One can get a detailed history of the dam by watching a video at the local auditorium.

Later, a ship departs from at Xiaolangdi and sails to the Yellow River's Three Gorges.

Most have heard of the Yangtze's Three Gorges, but not many might know there are Three Gorges in Jiyuan.

Seen from above, the gorges resemble Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang province.

Mountains with yellow rocks and green grass are visible during the cruise.

Each of the gorges has its own unique characteristics. Gushan Gorge looks like a grotesque artwork; Longfeng Gorge features twists and turns and Bali Gorge has sharp cliffs.

Rafting is next at Yezhulin. It turns out to be a nice change of pace.

The course runs 6 km, with a 158-meter fall, and many sections offer galloping rapids. In some buffering zones, paddling is required. Everyone is exhausted after the adventure.

With its rich tourism resources, Jiyuan has gone all out to upgrade its infrastructure.

Liu Huihua, an official with the Jiyuan tourism development commission, says: "The mountain area takes up more than 80 percent of Jiyuan, which gives the city huge potential to develop tourism."

So, the local government has earmarked more than 300 million yuan ($45.13 million; 37.79 million euros; ￡33.21 million) to build facilities.

Highways connecting it to surrounding cities, including Luoyang and Yangcheng, are underway and the Hohhot-Nanning high-speed rail line will have a stop at Jiyuan. An airport will also be built.

In recent years, a total of 40 million yuan has been spent annually for tourism promotion, subsidies and tourism business development.

Meanwhile, work on a Taoist park at Wangwu Mountain is now underway, and Taoist music and rural tourism festivals are also staged.

A cycling greenway and pedestrian lane are also being developed for tourists, and dozens of agriculture parks and farms are being built for those who desire rural leisure.

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(China Daily European Weekly 09/22/2017 page22)