Underground water frozen into icicles at Heilaoguo valley in NW China's Gansu

A visitor take photo of icicles at Heilaoguo valley scenic spot in Xiansheng Township of Qingyang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 14, 2019. Heilaoguo valley, which means old black pot in Chinese, gets its name for its cooking pot shape created by hundreds of years of water erosion and its dark color with reddish reflection. Different from most icy waterfalls, icicles of the Heilaoguo valley are below ground. There used to be a river where the valley currently exists, which cut a fissure from the plain. Underground water leaking from the cliffs is frozen to icicles during the winter. Visitors have to wear water-proof shoes when enjoying the scenery. [Photo: Xinhua]