Guan'E Gou Scenic Area

Guan'E Gou Scenic Area is located in the suburbs of Tanchang County, Longnan, Gansu Province, at the intersection of the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Qinling and Min Mountain ranges. It consists of three main sections: Guanzhu Gou, E'man Gou, and Leigu Mountain. Guanzhu Gou is a canyon over 30 km long, with steep cliffs on both sides and numerous waterfalls. Its emerald-green lakes often feature ancient submerged trees, creating scenery reminiscent of Jiuzhaigou, earning it the nickname "Little Jiuzhaigou" among many travelers and photography enthusiasts. E'man Gou is known for its alpine lake, Zedang Lake, and its forest-meadow landscapes. The summit of Leigu Mountain, over 4,000 m high, is snow-capped year-round, providing a majestic snowy backdrop for the scenic area. The names Guanzhu Gou and E'man Gou originate from a local legend about a couple named Guanzhu and E'man, a story later adapted into the Long opera "The love song of Guanzhu and E'man."

The standard tour starts from Guanzhu valley. The outer scenic area has a long stretch of road connecting lakes like Yinping lake, Princess lake and Pearl lake, passing through the ancient Tibetan village of Luren with preserved folk customs, as well as attractions such as Luren covered bridge and Tongtian gorge. Walking the entire route is quite strenuous, so most travelers take the sightseeing bus directly to the mid-section near Tongtian gate. The highlight stretch runs from Tongtian gate to Guane heavenly waterfall, with plank trails extending along the canyon where waterfalls like Dragon's saliva falls, Nine-fold falls and Tiger's mouth falls appear in succession. Five waterfalls cluster in Wupu gorge, while the iconic Guane heavenly waterfall at the end drops dozens of meters with abundant flow. Most visitors return the same way, but fit hikers can continue into primitive forests and alpine meadows, ascending Leigu mountain or even crossing to Emen valley to combine both sections into one long route.

Guangou valley is pleasantly cool in summer, making it a renowned summer retreat in the Longnan area. In spring, mountain azaleas and wildflowers bloom; in fall, the hills are covered with red leaves; in winter, frozen waterfalls and lakes create a unique icefall snowscape. Visitors are advised to choose routes according to their physical ability.