The Yellow River is the second-longest river (5,464 kilometers) in China and the fifth in the world and takes its name from the muddy yellow water coming from the sediments it carries.
It is famed for being the mother river of China and the cradle of Chinese civilization in their early history (2100–1046 BC).
Check out how we experienced the Yellow River Scenic Area of Zhengzhou inside a hovercraft….
The Yellow River is also called “The Sorrow of China”, with most parts of Henan influenced by its frequent flooding. It flooded 1,600 times in the past five years with the river bed becoming wider and wider ever year.
The hovercraft ride costs 40 RMB for a 40-minute tour. Best to sit beside the window for a better view.
The hovercraft was very stable because of the gas bag in the middle. The most exciting part is when it took off and started moving from land to water.
There wasn’t much to see except for the sandbar in the middle of the river.
After docking, you’ll have 15-minutes to take pictures and enjoy the scenery at the sandbar. Don’t be surprised if you’ll immediately be surrounded by horsemen and ATV operators.
In the morning farmers would bring their cows and horses down to the river.
Typically, one round on a horse costs 10RMB.
(Tip: Make sure to ask for the price and how many rounds you’ll get.)
After the hovercraft ride, you can climb the bridge next to the ticket booth to get a different view of the Emperors Yan and Huang Statues. The first emperor is the Yan Emperor that represents wisdom and mercy; the other one is the Huang Emperor known as one of the major gods in Chinese culture. The statues were made using the mountain as the body.
We missed our chance to see the Memorial park up close, but I recommend you take the 5-minute walk to see the magnificent scene.
The statues overlooking the Yellow River is a massive sight and well worth seeing.
Braised Yellow Carp with Brown Sauce
The Yellow River is teaming with yellow carp, hence this dish. The fish is fried then cooked again in a thick sauce with a slightly sour taste.
Personally, the hovercraft ride just felt too touristy. There wasn’t much to see, but the pictures at the sandbar turned out amazing.
We liked the interesting history and stories behind the famous Yellow River. It was a nice experience to see the second-largest river and the cradle of Chinese civilization.
If you’re in the area make sure to visit the statue of the two emperors.
Zhengzhou Blogpost Series:
- ZHENGZHOU: 8 Awesome Places You Should Visit in Zhengzhou! @TigerAirSG
- ZHENGZHOU Food Trip: 10 Henan Dishes You Should Try in Zhengzhou! @TigerAirSG
- ZHENGZHOU: Dengfeng Shaolin Temple @TigerAirSG
- ZHENGZHOU: Yellow River Hovercraft Experience! @TigerAirSG
- YUNTAI MOUNTAIN: First Timer’s Guide to Yuntai Mountain (Photo Essay) @TigerAirSG
- ZHENGZHOU: The City of Kaifeng (Memorial Temple, Qingming River Park, and Drum Tower Night Market) @TigerAirSG
Live an Awesome Life,
Abi of Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our experience was courtesy of Tiger Airways. We wrote this article with our biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. Explore historical Zhengzhou and Henan province with Tigerair’s latest flights from Singapore-Zhengzhou. Our flight from the Philippines to Zhengzhou was made convenient with the Tiger Connect transfer service within Singapore Changi Airport’s transit area without the need to clear on arrival.
Service is weekly and operates every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.