Sikouzi Scenic Area

寺口子

A red sandstone danxia gorge with cave temples southeast of Zhongwei, linked to the legend of Su Wu herding sheep. Hiking highlights include the Yixian Tian (One Line Sky) gap, cliffside walkways and Mibo Mountain.

Sikouzi is located in Xuanhe Town, Shapotou District, Zhongwei, about 50 km from the city centre. It is a red sandstone danxia gorge on the northern foot of the Xiangshan Mountains. Legend says that the Han-dynasty envoy Su Wu once herded sheep here, which is why the site is also called the Su Wu Herding Sheep scenic area. It was also a military stronghold on the ancient Xiaoguan Road. The scenic area has east and west loops. The west loop is the danxia gorge, with the One Line Sky, a narrow passage where the walls rise so close that only one person can pass. It also has cliffside walkways and suspension bridges, the Su Wu Grotto Temple (Buddhist caves and halls carved into the cliff, rebuilt during the Ming and Qing dynasties) and Mibo Mountain, where you can climb to the top for views over the gorge and loess gullies. The east loop has well-preserved ancient Great Wall beacon towers and a stone forest. Admission is about 60 yuan. A shuttle bus runs between the two loops, and the full hike takes about 3 hours. The walkways and bridges are a bit thrilling, so the site suits visitors who enjoy hiking and geology. There are also archery and zipline activities. The highlight is the contrast between the red danxia cliffs and the yellow loess plateau gullies, and the colours are most vivid under blue autumn skies. Getting there: there is no public bus, so you need to drive yourself or hire a car (about 200 yuan return). The trip from the city centre takes about 1 hour via the S201. Notes: there are few places to eat in the gorge, so bring your own water and food. Those who are afraid of heights should be careful on the walkways. On rainy days the cliffs are slippery and rockfall is a risk. The coordinates are estimates. It is usually planned for the third day in Zhongwei or on the way back.

Sikouzi Scenic Area

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