A light show draws a big crowd at Yingtian Gate in Luoyang, Henan. [Photo by LU JIANSHENG/FOR CHINA DAILY]

In the distant crimson-hued mountains, a distinct dividing line is visible, where sediment from the riverbed meets soil carried from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The erosion-carved gullies resemble wrinkles etched into the landscape, a testament to nature's relentless craftsmanship over millennia.

Nearby, a yacht marina offers boat tours through the gorge's striking scenery. The hour-long journey takes visitors directly past the point where the two rivers meet, allowing close-up views of the water's transition from green to yellow.

Along the way, travelers can encounter the extraordinary Bingling Stone Forest, a unique landscape where towering rock formations create a surreal scene.

The stone forest is renowned for its diverse pillars, peaks and walls shaped by long-term weathering and erosion. Many naturally formed pillars and rocks take on imaginative silhouettes, such as animals, human figures and architectural structures, inspiring people to craft stories as they drift past.