Jiuquxi River Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information
The stream water is so clear that you can see the stones at the bottom. Along the winding stream, there are both shoals and deep pools. Floating on a bamboo raft along the stream, you may raise your head to appreciate the towering mountains, and lower it to listen to the flowing water, and touch it with your hands.
How came the river
An ancient legend says that in prehistoric period, there was an eight hundred-year-old man named Peng Zu who came to live in Chong'an, Fujian Province, where the people suffered because of serious flooding. Peng Zu had two sons, Wu and Yi, who offered to dredge the waterways and finally conquered the floods.
To commemorate the Peng brothers, the mountain was named Mt. Wuyishan, and a palace was built in their memory. The river they dredged now called Jiuquxi River winds for several miles in the mountain. Today, tourists can travel down the river on bamboo raft excursions.
Another: Nine-Bend River
The river originates from the southwest foot of Huang Gang Peak, which is the main peak of the Mt. Wuyishan, passing the Xingcun Town and running from west to east through the Wuyishan Spot. It has nine twists, hence its name, Jiuquxi River (Nine-Bend River). The total length of the river is 9.5 kilometers running through an area of 8.5 square kilometers. Short as it is, the river has picturesque scenery and every twist has a different landscape view.
Famous since the ancient time
It is said that when the noted scholar Zhu Xi (1130 - 1200) of the Song Dynasty came to the Nine-Bend River, he was so attracted by its beautiful scenery that he wrote a poem in praise of the place and ordered a school built by the river-the Ziyang Academy of Classic Learning. Many Buddhist and Taoist temples, palaces, and pavilions were also built on the mountainsides during the Tang and Song dynasties, and inscriptions by celebrated scholars were left on the stone cliffs.
Clear water and red mountains
The river water is so clear that visitors can see the stone at the bottom .The clear river forms a delightful contrast with the red mountains, with each bend having its own unique landscapes. On both sides of the river stand grotesque rocks. Along the winding river, there are both shallow and deep pools.
Pleasant rafting
Along the winding stream, there are both shoals and deep pools. Visitors may enjoy themselves in the Wuyishan Scenic Area by taking a boat tour, appreciating the mountains in the distance and visiting caves. Floating on a bamboo raft along the stream, you may raise your head to appreciate the towering mountains, and lower it to listen to the flowing water, and touch it with your hands.
Enjoy hiking
If you are more of a hiker's type, you do have the opportunity to climb the stairs to the moist heights of the rocks. It is a short way up and therefore not as tiring as for example the steps in the Yellow Mountains (Huangshan). Some routes to the ultimate views are naturally packed, but there are forgotten paths leading to less sensational but absolutely calm panorama spots, although one has to be careful not to disturb the one or another couple that try to get some privacy...
Relaxing
For those who have had enough of city life, a stroll here or by a raft on the river is an extraordinary relief. The scenery is always worth a relaxed walk even on a rainy day for its unbelievably fresh air.
