Yaxiaku is located in the southwest of Yantou Town, close to Daitou Ancient Village. It is a part of Danuoyan Scenic Area. After a series of renovations and expansions, it soon became one of the popular scenic spots in Xiaonaxi. The major attraction of Yaxiaku is the含羞瀑 (Hanxiu Waterfall) hidden deep in the steep cliffs. In addition to the outstanding natural landscapes, the reason why it is popular also lies in its excellent facilities.
It can bring people into the extremely precipitous cliffs and waterfalls, allowing you to closely observe the beauty and danger of Nanxi landscapes. It takes about two hours to tour Yaxiaku. It can be seen that the scenic area is not very large. Standing at the foot of the mountain, you can see the suspended plank road on the opposite cliff wall. After entering the scenic area, most tourists will choose the right side. To avoid the crowds, you can go up the mountain along the left hiking trail and visit in the reverse direction. The initial section is relatively gentle. After about five minutes, it starts to ascend. When you encounter a suspended boulder similar to a line-split sky, you will reach the steepest part. However, continuing to climb for about 15 minutes will bring you to the top. Turning a mountain corner, you will see a small pavilion with the characteristics of Yongjia folk houses. Standing here and looking down at the abyss, the canyon scenery with a 270-degree view is clear at a glance. You will find that all the plank roads are built in a ring around the canyon and are connected by a suspension bridge above the exit of the canyon. At the fork in the viewing pavilion, you can go left along the Changkong Plank Road to reach the waterfall. The downhill path on the right can directly lead to the suspended suspension bridge. Not far from crossing the bridge to the left, you can also reach the waterfall. In summer, many children like to play in the pool by the waterfall, which is very cool. The Changkong Plank Road is about 800 meters long. If you have enough time, you can walk and experience it. If you don’t want to walk a long distance, you can directly choose the suspension bridge. Below the suspension bridge is the cliff. Walking on the bridge still feels very thrilling. If you dare to look down, you can see groups of tourists on the winding mountain road at the bottom of Yaxiaku and a pool of clear water formed by mountain streams. Continuing forward from the waterfall towards the suspension bridge and walking onto the glass viewing platform of the plank road. The viewing platform is only a few square meters and extends entirely out of the cliff. The fences under your feet are all made of glass. Standing on it, you feel as if you are suspended in the air above Yaxiaku. The feeling is very wonderful. In addition, this is also the place to overlook the panoramic view of Yaxiaku. Further down from the glass viewing platform and not far from the抬轿岩 (Sedan Chair Rock) is the Midway Pavilion. The Midway Pavilion is built on a section of mountain ridge and can be seen from afar all the way. It is like a castle in the air. After passing the Midway Pavilion, there is a steep and winding downward staircase. At the end is the bottom of Yaxiaku. Here is also the Hanxiu Waterfall of Yaxiaku. The waterfall is surrounded by three stone walls and has one exit. Standing inside, it feels as if you are in an alley of a skyscraper. The dark cliffs press in from both sides. The waterfall is very cool. Even at noon in summer, only a few minutes of sunlight can be seen. Continuing forward from the Hanxiu Waterfall and passing scenic spots such as the Welcoming Immortal and the Frog Asking Heaven, and crossing a stone arch bridge, you will soon return to the entrance of Yaxiaku scenic area.Other scenic spots in the Danuoyan Scenic Area, such as Taogong Cave, Jiujishi Shimentai, Twelve Peaks, etc., can be visited with a joint ticket. There are basically accommodations around each scenic spot, and catering is generally provided. If not driving by yourself, you can consider taking a local tricycle.
The opening hours are from 08:00 to 17:30 all year round.
Must-see tips: The best time to view the Bashful Waterfall is during the wet season with abundant water. At this time, the waterfall in the valley rushes down directly, like a mountain torrent.
