Shentan Grand Canyon (National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction)

　　Shentan Grand Canyon is a large rift formed by the movement of the earth's crust during the Cambrian period 570 million years ago. It has a thousand years of history with the original name of The Water Valley.

　　The water resources in the canyon are extremely rich, the spring water is clear and the river flow is endless with the flying waterfall roar endlessly in the ear in this rare area. It has two waterfalls, three springs and 108 lakes as its representative. The geological structure in the canyon is complex and diverse, the terrain is unique and magnificent and the main peak "Nine continents" with 1778.3 meters altitude. Among the mountains, Nine peaks is really fantasy hiding in the sea of clouds all year round. Since ancient times it has been listed as the "Nine Continents Taiping." Strange mountains, odd stones, verdant sea, cascading waterfall and others combine into a wonderful, fantasy and beautiful natural scenery, known as "unique grand valley, dream water country."  

　　In the whole scenic area, towering mountains stands along with streams and springs everywhere and the vegetative cover with million acres of natural pine cypress. There are more than 700 species of wild plants, more than 30 species of wild rare animals, which makes a rare treasure trove of plants and animals and an epitome of Zhongtiao Mountain Forest Park.  

　　There are many myths and legends in the canyon. Guanyu, a famous high-ranking military officer in Three-Kingdom Period, has practised martial arts in this place and one of the eight immortals Lu Dongbin practised austerities in the canyon for many years. Also Ouyang Xiu, a master of literature in Tang and Song Dynasties, lodged here at a night. In addition, Zhao Zhan, Cai Yanqing, Lei Zhoufu left a superb stone carving of the stone work when they visited this canyon. Furthermore, this gorge is still famous for the ancient salt road; the salt of the salt lake in the east of the ancient river was transported to Shaanxi, Henan and other places.

　　Shanxi Xiyu Tourism Development Co., Ltd. has invested more than 200 million yuan to decorate the Grand Canyon since 2009. According to the national Grade 5A standard, it has been carefully crafted for the canyon and was named a provincial geological park on June 14, 2013. It has now become Yongji City tourism distribution center and transport city as one of the top ten tourist attraction and the national 4A-class scenic spot. Walk into the Grand Canyon of Shentan, as if you were in a beautifully unforgettable landscape painting. 

　　【The Statue of Emperor Shun】

　　Emperor Shun, one of the famous emperors in ancient times, was holding string here. The sentences "the soft south wind can blow away my people's complaint and anger, the gentle south wind at the very time can be my people's wealth" (taken from the "South Wind Song") embodies the emperor's folk-based thought.

　　The long waterfalls coming from the high mountains and the clear water flowing into the lake make the scenic area amazingly unique. In abundant water seasons, water flew down just like welcoming the guests from afar, so it is called the "welcome waterfall". 

　　【The Glass Walkway】

　　The glass walkway is the only walkway made of glass located above the river in the country, and the Yingji Shentan Grand Gorge Glass Walk is the first high-altitude glass walkway invested 5 million yuan in southwest Jin. The stack is 2016 meters long, the glass walkway is 158.6 meters long, and the glass walkway is 150 meters vertical from the ground, which is equivalent to the height of the 50th floor. Standing at the bottom of the mountain to look up at the whole walkway, the visual shock will occur at a glance of the end of the glass walkway.

　　Ink-splashed rock paintings appeared during the Tang Dynasty. What we see today is a painting of that kind, called a gift from nature and a masterpiece of nature.

　　【Muzi Lake (Mother and Child Lake)】

　　Mother and Child Lake preserves plenty of water just likes a mother contributing a lot to the waterfall. In rainy season, the water is bluer, the mountains more beautiful.

　　【God Turtle Drinking Water】

　　It is said that a god tortoise is the incarnation of one of the nine sons of Dragon. Bixi, who not only likes the camel stone in his life, but also likes the beauty of the land. Once he came to Shentan Grand Canyon privately he drank the clear water here because of thirsty. Unfortunately he was found by the Dragon King, the dragon king was so angry that make him derogatory. His body was turned into a stone called the tortoise drinking water. 

　　【Ink-splashed Rock Paintings】

　　Ink-splashed rock paintings appeared during the Tang Dynasty. What we see today is a painting of that kind, called a gift from nature and a masterpiece of nature. 

　　【Qinglong Yanyue Falls】

　　Qinglong Yanyue waterfall, the stone on both sides of the waterfall like a knife split. It is said that Guanyu ran riskily all the way to Shentan Grand Canyon in the south of Puzhou City after he killed the bully Lu Xiong. He practiced martial arts with Qinglong Yueyan knife to split the valley by cutting off the dragon. 

　　【Cliff Stone Carvings】

　　Cliff stone carving here is a cultural relic from the Northern Song Dynasty cliff stone carving. According to the archaeological research, it is carved in Xining two years (AD 1069) in the Northern Song Dynasty. The inscription is lined up in four lines with the Chinese characters "Zhao Zhan, Cai Yanqing and Lei Zhoufu visited the water valley together on March 28 AD 1069." Each character is 8 cm like rectangular. Despite 941 years of wind peeling and water erosion, the handwriting is still legible.  

　　【Shentan Falls】

　　Shentan Falls is also known as "Deep Lake", because the highest peak of the canyon is Jiufeng Mountain where Ludong Bin, one of the eight immortals in ancient time, practised martial arts. Lü Dongbin rescued the people by chiseling a deep spring opening with his heavy Double Yang sword and this pool with the spring opening was inexhaustible regardless of the flood or the draught. People worshiped and thanked him very much so called it Shentan. 

　　【Lianxin Pool】

　　Lianxin Pool is made of the flowing water from the rock layer fracture and the cutting erosion of the formation for many years, because the shape is very similar to the heart of people, so it is called Lianxin Pool. 

　　【Old Locust Tree】

　　The trunk of the Old Locust Tree has been empty and half of the crown are dead while the other half is growing lush branches and leaves. The trunk with the big tree holes is like a strange stone cave. Twisted tree body and verdant tree appearance remind people of the long age of its life, long growth process and legendary experience, which make people awe-inspiring.

　　【The Ancient Shuiyukou Village】

　　The Ancient Shuiyukou Village is inside Shentan Grand Canyon, located in about 2 kilometers away from the south of Yongji City. It is also known as Shuigu Village, which has a thousand years of history with splendid culture and simple folk style. The Ancient Shuiyukou Village bloomed in year of Zhengguan of the Tang Dynasty. The trade was thriving at that time and the ancient salt road crossed the village. Since then, it has been a famous commercial capital in the Yellow River Golden Triangle region for more than 300 years. Guan Yu lived in seclusion here after he got rid of the bullies. In the second year of Xining (1069), Zhao Zhan (an official) accompanied by Cai Yanqing(another official) and Lei Zhoufu (now a native of Langzhong, Sichuan) traveled here, and left exquisite cliff stone carvings. Ouyang Xiu, one of the eight prose masters in Tang and Song Dynasties, left a long-standing saying after visiting this place, which shows the prosperity of that time. 

　　In order to restore the prosperity of shuiyukou ancient village in the past, Shanxi Xiyu Tourism Development Co., Ltd. invested 33 million yuan to start the restorative construction of the ancient village in March 2014 and maintained the traditional pattern with the strong support of Yuncheng municipal Party committee, municipal government, Yongji municipal Party committee and municipal government, The ancient village is close to water and mountains, surrounded by lakes and bamboos. The streams are warm and the houses are full of ancient flavor. Stepping on the blue-stone road and smelling the fragrance of authentic farmhouse cooking, it looks like another life. Strolling along the ancient street, feeling the real and nothingness, mixed feelings come to your heart. The traditional snacks with full characteristics and exquisite traditional crafts are splendid. In 2014, the ancient village was rated "the most beautiful tourism village in Shanxi" and "demonstration site of leisure agriculture and rural tourism in Shanxi Province". Entering shuiyukou is like travelling back to thousands of years ago.