The release of the Genshin Impact 4.4 update in 2026 continues to be celebrated for its expansive addition to the Liyue region: the breathtaking Chenyu Vale. Nestled west of Qingce Village, this land under the watchful eye of the Adeptus Fujin is a realm where earth and water converge, creating a mystical landscape famed for its exquisite tea leaves that supply all of Teyvat. Beyond its scenic beauty, Chenyu Vale serves as the primary hunting ground for ascension materials for the newly playable human form of Cloud Retainer, the Anemo catalyst user Xianyun. To empower her, Travelers must scour the valleys for Clearwater Jade and challenge the new world boss for Cloudseam Scales. Those fortunate enough to wield her signature 5-star catalyst also embark on quests for Feathery Fin, dropped by the elusive Xuanwen Beasts. Amidst this routine farming, however, developers at HoYoverse planted a mischievous and now-infamous secret—a chest that has become a rite of passage for every explorer venturing into the vale.
The Deceptive Hole South of Mount Mingyuan
South of the majestic Mount Mingyuan, a seemingly innocuous hole in the ground beckons the curious. To the unsuspecting Traveler, it appears as just another source of loot. The initial interactions are benign: the first interaction yields a burst of ore, the second spawns a small, Mora-granting rock tower. It’s the third interaction that sets the trap. A flame barrel materializes beside the hole. Here lies the trick—the game's interface presents the familiar prompt to collect, but this one is a prank waiting to happen. If a player, perhaps lulled by the rhythm of open-world looting, hastily interacts with the barrel, it detonates violently. The active character is launched skyward like a startled Geo slime, taking a substantial chunk of damage in a comically abrupt fashion. This moment of unexpected aerial acrobatics has caught countless players off guard, turning a simple exploration click into a memorable, if slightly painful, anecdote.
Mastering the Prank: How to Claim the Chest Safely
The secret to conquering this explosive encounter is patience and a bit of tactical thinking. The barrel's explosion is actually triggered by the subsequent and final interaction with the hole, which summons the actual treasure chest. Therefore, the key is to control the blast. After the flame barrel spawns, players must find a way to shield the active character before interacting with the hole one last time. This can be achieved by:
-
🛡️ Quickly switching to a character with a persistent shield skill (like Zhongli or Noelle).
-
🌊 Using a character's skill to create a protective barrier (e.g., Beidou's Tidecaller counter at the perfect moment).
-
🏃♂️ Positioning the character at a very specific angle, though this method is less reliable.
Executing this correctly allows the explosion to occur harmlessly against the shield, after which the coveted chest appears. It’s a test that rewards cautious observation over reflexive clicking.
The Ironic Reward: A Lesson in Laughter
The true genius—and humor—of this secret is the payoff, or rather, the deliberate lack of a grand one. Upon successfully claiming the chest, players are greeted not with Primogems or a precious artifact, but with a simple Common Chest containing the most ordinary of materials. The grandeur of the setup—the sequential interactions, the explosive trap—culminates in a reward as common as mist grass. This contrast is what makes the secret so beloved; it’s a playful jab from the developers, a reminder that not every hidden nook holds world-shattering loot, but every experience can hold value. The "real prize," as noted by the community, is the shared story and the laughter it generates, a secret handshake among players who have fallen for the trap. Social media posts, like the one from Genshinlif3 that first highlighted it, often feature characters mid-explosion, capturing the universal moment of surprise. The chest is less a treasure trove and more like a whoopee cushion placed on a king's throne—the value is purely in the unexpected jest.
Chenyu Vale: More Than Just a Prank
While the explosive chest is a standout memory, Chenyu Vale itself remains a cornerstone of the 4.4 update's exploration. The area is designed with verticality and interconnectivity in mind, encouraging the use of Xianyun's enhanced exploration abilities. Its ecology is unique, with the Xuanwen Beasts behaving like territorial, prismatic horned lizards, guarding their Feathery Fins fiercely. The lore of the region, tied to the Adepti and the flow of elemental energy, is woven into the landscape, making material farming a more immersive experience. For players building Xianyun, the vale is both a challenge and a gift, its resources scattered like carefully placed puzzle pieces waiting to be assembled.
In the end, the explosive chest of Chenyu Vale stands as a testament to Genshin Impact's enduring charm. It proves that years into its journey, the game still cherishes whimsical, player-focused details that foster community stories. It’s a hidden gem that isn't defined by its loot table, but by the experience it delivers—a brief, explosive moment of shared understanding that, in the vast world of Teyvat, sometimes the journey and the laugh are the real treasures.