Red Flag Canal, Linzhou

Anyang, it used to be the capitals of the ancient Shang Dynasty (c. 16th-11th B.C.), locates at northern part of Henan province and it is regarded as the National historic and cultural city, it is also one of the seven ancient capitals of China along with Beijing, Xi'an, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Nanjing and Hangzhou. This trip leads you to this culture city Anyang and to the nearby Linzhou city to visit the heavenly river – the red flag canal to feel the Red Flag Canal spirit.

Take the express train D123 0947/1322 to Anyang directly, and we suggest you prepare something for lunch on the train. Upon arrival, find a hotel to leave your luggage and then take bus No. 1, No. 15 or No. 18 to visit Shang Dynasty Ruins (it is also called Yin Ruins). This place was used to be the capital of Shang Dynasty, and more than 100,000 pieces of bone and tortoise shell with inscriptions of the earliest form for Chinese people to keep records of events, which has provided valuable historic and linguistic information for all of the scholars and archaeologists. Also, the archaeologists found large numbers of bronze ware, tools and other bronze items for Shang People's production and daily use in this area.

If you still have time, you may visit the other sites, such as Wenfeng Pagoda and Gaoge Temple. Stay overnight at the Anyang City and have a good rest tonight.

Mt. Taihang Canyon

In the morning, take bus at Anyang bus station to Linzhou, the buses are available every 5 minutes and the ticket charge is about CNY8.50. When you arrive at Linzhou one hour later, you need to change bus to PingShun or ChangZhi to get to today's destination - the Red Flag Canal scenery spot. (These buses are only available every one hour, and the transfer needs about 30 minutes)

The Red Flag Canal is a great huge man-made project to thoroughly solve the problem of water shortage of Linzhou people. More than 100,000 people worked almost 10 years to build up the Red Flag Canal on the precipitous cliff of Mt. Taihang and therefore, it is reputed as Man-made Heavenly River. You will not only visit the scenic spot here, but also feel the spirit of this canal, and once again, we have to be deeply shocked by man's determination and perseverance to conquer nature.

After visiting the Man-Made Heavenly River, you may visit the sites nearby, one is the Youth Cave, and the other is Luo Si Pond. The one-for-all ticket is CNY60.00 per person, and if you want to enjoy other amusement facilities, such as the Flying Boat and Slideway, extra charge is needed.

Stay overnight at Linzhou, and we recommend Linzhou Hotel and Lin Lv Hotel, you may take taxi or bus No. 1 and No. 2 to get to the hotel.

International Gliding Base, Linzhou

In the third day's morning, take bus to Mt. Taihang Canyon, the transfer needs about 50 minutes at the cost of CNY6.00 per person, buses are available every one hour. The Mt. Taihang Canyon is regarded as the natural gallery and it is the representative mountain scenery of North China, since here has extraordinary mountains and beautiful waterfalls. Then visit the hillside Peachblossom Valley. The one-for-all ticket is CNY70.00 per person.

Linzhou is also famous for its International Gliding Base. In autumn, athletes from all over the world gather here to fly over the wonderful mountain peaks and deep valley. The secretary-general of the International Air Transport Association -- IATA complimented Linzhou Gliding Base is “Asia Top and World First-class”. If you are interested in doing this, you may contact the base in advance and maybe more time is needed.

Back to Linzhou and then you can connect bus to Anyang to stay overnight. From Anyang, you may take the express train back to Beijing or to Zhengzhou to continue your adventure.