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On the bank of the lower Yellow River near Lin County, Shanxi Province, there used to be a prosperous commercial port crowded with merchants and their mules and horses. The port, featured by yaodongs, house caves, was once a principal strategic place for Shanxi businessmen. Since the River suddenly narrowed down from 500m wide to 100m, and sand as well as rocks thus accumulated, people called the place Qikou, which means the moraine mouth. Freighters of all sizes could not go on and had to unload in Qikou Town so that their goods could be transported by land. Merchant teams consisting of businessmen, camels, mules and horses would bring the goods to Taiyuan, Shanghai, Tianjin or even Beijing. Goods from the east would in turn be transported to the northwest by sea. Qikou Town became a commercial port towards the end of the Ming Dynasty. In the early years of the Republic China, there were 400-odd business establishments. It was as thriving as Shanghai and Beijing at that time. Goods like oil, salt, furs and herbs were among the commonest products. There were 30-odd companies selling sesame oil alone. As described in a folk song, "Oil can be seen everywhere in Qikou. It could flood the town in three days." However, when there is a crest, there has to be a trough. This is the cycle of history. After the 1950s, since railroads and highways were opened up, and the Yellow River flooded a lot, the town became desolate. The bells on camels and horses cannot be heard anymore. But the descendants of Shanxi businessmen are still safeguarding the River.
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