Sunrise and Sunset for Qikou

Qikou is an ancient port town on the west bank of Yellow River, approxi 240km southwest of Taiyuan and 190km west of Pingyao. Many tourists  on their Shanxi tour would visit Qikou Town on a side trip from Pingyao tour.  In addition  to visiting Qikou Town, a well-preserved ancient town in the style of Ming and Qing Dynasty (1368 – 1911),  its nearby prestine villages like Lijiashan Village is also one of your highlights on your trip to Qikou.  It is  a long-forgotten ancient settlement of cave dwellings, a big draw for foreign visitors.  For more information on Qikou and Lijiashan Village,  check Qikou Travel Guide  and Lijiashan Travel  Tips.

Qikou Town has  great spots to watch Sunrise and Sunset.  If you are a big fan of Sunrise or Sunset photography,  I’d like to introduce the best places in Qikou Town either to see the Sunrise or the Sunset.

Let’s first watch the Sunrise for Qikou.

Contact your hotel manager for hiring a local van ( approx.RMB 60) to send you to the top of Lijiashan Hill, south of Qikou Town.  On Lijiashan Hill,  you will have a perfect spot to view the rising sun  if you are lucky enough to have a sunny day.  Standing on a moud on the hill, in a distance, on your left side (west) is the Yellow River;  before you is the ancient port town – Qikou Town;  on your right side in a distance are the undulating hills waiting for the coming of the rising sun.

Mr. Chen,  my driver drives skifully along the narrow mountain road and soon I find I’m standing on a mound by the mountain road, waiting for the rising sun from the east.

standing on a mound by the mountain road, waiting for the rising sun.
standing on a mound by the mountain road, waiting for the rising sun.

On the west and in front of me in a distance is the Yellow River and Qikou Town. Between Lijiashan Hill where I’m standing and Qikou Town is the Qiushui River.

Yellow River, Qikou Town and Qiushui River
Yellow River, Qikou Town and Qiushui River

The east is getting reddish

The east is getting red
The east is getting red

The sunglow of the rising sun is elegantly reflected on the clouds.

The sunglow of the rising sun is elegantly reflected on the clouds
The sunglow of the rising sun is elegantly reflected on the clouds

The sun is appearing from behind the dark mountains in a distance.

The sun is appearing from behind the dark mountains in a distance.
The sun is appearing from behind the dark mountains in a distance.

Half the rising sun is in.

Half the rising sun is in.
Half the rising sun is in.

The total sun is over the mountains

The total sun is over the mountains
The total sun is over the mountains

 

The best place to watch the sunset in Qikou

Basically there are two places to see the sunset for Qikou Town-  One is on the Black Dragon Temple and the other is the moutain road high above and behind Qikou Town. I personally prefer the mountain road behind the town.  The setting sun glow is reflected on the Yellow River, accompanied by the cooking smoke coming from the houses in the town, a peaceful and happy place rarely seen in big cities.

The sun is setting over the undulating mountain  and  the narrow riverbed of the Yellow River

The sun is setting over the undulating mountain  and  the narrow riverbed of the Yellow River
The sun is setting over the undulating mountain and the narrow riverbed of the Yellow River

 

Any questions, just drop a line.

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