First Bend of Yellow River

Chinese Name: 九曲黄河第一湾（Jiu Qu Huang He Di Yi Wan）
Location: Tangke County, Aba Tibetan Qiang Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY75.00
Estimated tour time: 2-3 hours
Recommended time to visit: May to Oct
Nearby attractions: Flower Lake, Ga Lake,  Emutang Flower Sea， Zhagana Village, Langmusi, Songpan Ancient Town, etc.

The First Bend of Yellow River is at the junction of three provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu, 61 km from Ruo'ergai County, passing through Tangke Village and continuously 9 km north of the village. The slope behind the Suoke TIbetan Temple is the best view point to have overlook at the bend.

The Yellow River, called the Mother River of China, originates from the Bayankala Mountains in Qinghai Province and flows from the west to the east. Its twists and turns have formed the magnificent First Bend of the Yellow River at Tangke Township, Ruoergai County, Aba prefecture of Sichuan Province. It is the land where the Yellow River crosses, where the Chinese Red Army once passed through, and where the ancient Tibetan King Gesar fought a battle here.

The river coming from west turns northward around Tangke, flowing through a wonderful landscape of wild flowers, meadows. The clear blue sky, the silver-belt like stream, the green grassland with wild flowers dotted here and there and the herds of sheeps, yaks compose a nomadic song with the pleasant melody.

Being the most representative scenic spot on the Yellow River grassland, The First Bend of Yellow River reveals the feminine beauty of the river with its mildness. It parallels with the masculine beauty of Hukou Waterfall, well interpreted Tai Chi yin-yang theory in Chinese culture, just like its S-shape tells.

First Bend of Yellow River possesses its unique beauty, of which the most mirable view happens at sunset when the gentle light glanced off the silently flowing river. Watching sunset is an activity you cannot miss when visit The First Bend of Yellow River. When climbing to the viewing platform as evening approached, the sun gradually turns red and the whole river valley is covered with a blanket of golden yellow, you will find the wonderful land and vast sky seem to melt into each other. Accompanying the Yellow River and the endless grassland with wild flowers are ancient temples, clusters of tents, wisps of smoke, herds of cattle and sheep, etc. it is really a picturesque place worth a visit.

Here is also the paradise for wild birds, so you can see red-crowned crane, black-necked crane and so on flying on the sky or standing on the islands. All the scenery make up of a harmonious and woderful painting.