Park of ChinaOverview
| Designation | National Park of China (eighth batch) |
| Province | Shanxi |
| Name | Qikou Ancient Town |
| Highlights | Old Yellow River port town, Ming and Qing shop streets, cave-dwelling villages of western Shanxi |
| Top sights | Qikou old town, Lijiashan Village, Xiwan Village, Datong Qi rapids on the Yellow River, mouth of the Qiushui River |
| Location | Qikou Town, Linxian County, Lüliang, Shanxi |
| Nearby cities | Taiyuan |
| Nearby sites | Mount North Wudang 46km, Ancient City of Pingyao 132km, Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River 167km Search nearby |
| Mountains / Rivers and lakes | Lüliang Mountains; Yellow River |
| Latitude, longitude | 37.65, 110.79 Google Maps |
| Themes | Ancient City, Ancient Building, Long River, Culture, Old villages & vernacular houses |
About
Qikou Ancient Town (碛口风景名胜区) is a national park of China (eighth batch, designated by the State Council in 2012), located in Qikou Town, Linxian County, Lüliang, Shanxi.
The scenic area lies in Qikou Town in western Linxian County, Lüliang, on the east bank of the Yellow River where the Qiushui River joins it. It centres on Qikou old town and the villages around it.
Sediment from the Qiushui River formed a rapids called Datong Qi, which blocked boats, so goods had to be transferred here; in the Qing period Qikou became the main river and land port of western Shanxi. The old town keeps Ming and Qing shop streets, warehouses and merchant houses. Nearby villages such as Lijiashan and Xiwan have cave-dwelling courtyards built up the loess slopes.
Travel tips
About two hours by road from Lishi District in Lüliang and about five hours from Taiyuan. The old town and each of the villages take half a day, so a day or more is best. Spring and autumn are suitable; stone paths are slippery after rain.
Nearby
| World Heritage | Ancient City of Pingyao 132km, Mount Wutai 287km |
| National parks | Mount North Wudang 46km, Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River 167km |
| AAAAA attractions | Yellow River Qiankun Bay Scenic Area 106km, Jiexiu Mianshan Scenic Area 130km, Jinci Temple and Tianlongshan Scenic Area 144km, Qiao Family Compound Scenic Area 146km |
| AAAA attractions | Linxian Yiju Temple Scenic Area 19km, Baiyun Mountain 50km, Lishi Baima Xiandong Scenic Area 50km |
| Historical sites | Qikou Ancient Building Complex 3km, Former Shaan-Gan-Ning and Jin-Sui Joint Defense Army Command in Linxian 9km, Wubu Stone City 18km, Yiju Temple 19km |
| National geoparks | Yanchuan Yellow River Meanders National Geopark 107km |
| Nature reserves | Pangquangou National Nature Reserve 65km, Heichashan National Nature Reserve 80km |
| Historic towns | Qikou Town 2km |
| Historic villages | Lijiashan Village 3km, Yangjiagou Village 9km |