Sanmenxia — Yellow River gorges, sunken courtyards and the pass where the old road entered the plains.

Sanmenxia三门峡

Yellow River gorges, sunken courtyards and the pass where the old road entered the plains.

Plan from here

Suggested stay

1 days

Editorial guides

1

Arrive at

Sanmenxia South railway

Best season

Apr–Oct, Nov for swans

Why stop here

Three reasons to get off the train

  • 01

    Mountains & water

    Taihang cliffs, forest trails and reservoirs

  • 02

    Heritage

    Imperial capitals, grottoes and excavated cities

  • 03

    Folk life

    Temple fairs, kiln lanes and living craft

  • 04

    Bring these together

    Hangu Pass

History & people

What happened here

Full timeline
c. 5000 BCESitesPrehistoric

Yangshao village gives a culture its name

Painted pottery and settled villages excavated at Yangshao in 1921 defined the first Neolithic culture named in China.

Local food

What to eat in Sanmenxia

Food guide

Stone-baked Bread

灵宝石子馍

Dough pressed between hot pebbles; crisp outside, soft inside, costs almost nothing.

Street foodVegetarian

Lingbao old town

Notes from the field

“The landscape does most of the explaining: a narrow gap, a wall, and everything behind it.”

Alex Moreau · History walks
Hangu Pass

Getting here

Arrive, then move slowly

Gateway
Sanmenxia South railway
Rail access
Direct high-speed rail
Time needed
1 days · 2 h of site time

Rail times below are planning estimates, not timetable data. Confirm departures before booking.

Nearby by rail

CityDistanceEst. rail
Shanzhou 陕州11 km0h 35m
Lingbao 灵宝40 km0h 45m
Luoyang 洛阳116 km1h 9m
Jiyuan 济源133 km1h 15m