Colorful Ethnic Culture in Guizhou & Guilin

Located at 17 kilometers south of Guiyang, Huaxi scenic area is endowed with dense vegetation, crystal-clear waters and mountains. It's a famous tourist scenic spot for being exquisite, meandering, quiet and secluded yet at the same time, rough, open and broad.

There are 108 islands of various size and shape on the lake. The islands resemble numerous brilliant stars embellished upon the transparent sky. Layer upon layer of reflections of the surrounding mountains on the lake are so vivid and clear. The lush mountains rising one upon another and the luxuriantly green forests around the lake enhance its beauty and grace.

Huaxi Park
Called "the flower of Guizhou plateau", Huaxi Park belongs to the Huaxi scenic spot area, which is 350.5 square kilometers in total. The most beautiful feature is the clear streams winding through hills and the flowers providing beautiful displays throughout the four seasons of the year. The water of Huaxi River is clear and clean. Huaxi is home to over 1,000 varieties of cultivated flowers which bloom year round.

Scenic attractions of the park are centered on the four small and exquisite hills: Unicorn, Phoenix, Turtle and Snake. The Unicorn Hill is the major one of the four. It resembles the shape of a prancing unicorn. On the top of the hill, stones of various shapes stand upright like the horn of the unicorn. Yitianting pavilion is built up there, pointing up to the sky and provides a panoramic view of the park.
The Huaxi River serpentines along exquisite small hills which are abound in limestone caves with gurgling underground streams. The clear and graceful waters of the winding Huaxi River flow through hills, over cliffs, under bridges and dash against rock walls, giving rise to myriad little torrents, mini-waterfalls, small poods and tiny shoals. Along its two banks orderly arrayed are houses, terraces, pavilions, towers, villas, hotels, stairways etc. built with superb workmanship. All these add up to its fascinating beauty. A river tour from Dajiang Hill to Biyunwo offers views of beautiful landscapes along the entire river. Jitian Pavilion atop Unicorn Hill provides a panoramic view of the park.

Viewed from afar, the nearby Linshan Hill, less than a hundred meters in height, looks like a natural miniature potted scenery. It's covered with tiers of green rocks, circumscribed by zigzag trails, and penetrated by limestone grottoes. The Tower of Drifting Clouds nestles adroitly within the Hill. Ascending to the Hill top, one has a panoramic view of Huaxi: on the mountain sides, small bridges span the churning streams, waterfalls crash down upon the blue waters, and the rolling river slows down to merge with the belt-shaped small lake. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful sights along the riverbanks in a boat.

All of these make the scenery elaborately and naturally designed. Meanwhile, there are many villages sitting outside the park where you can enjoy the local customs. After climbing to the top of the Kylin Mountain, you can enjoy the entire wonderful scenery of the park and the surrounding countryside. Summer is the best time to visit this park owing to the fresh air and comfortable climate.

The park is really an ideal tourist destination all year round. Crystal-clear streams run like a mirror, bouquets of flowers and peaceful rurality will feast the visitor’s eyes. Therefore, it is considered as a "pearl of the Central Guizhou".
 

Lying in Libo County in southern Guizhou Province, Seven Small Arches (Xiaoqikong) covers an area of some 10 square kilometers. The scenic area belongs to the Karst topography with peculiar landforms, magnificent peaks and is crisscross with crystal-clear springs and streams. A small seven-arched bridge spans the river, hence the name of the scenic area. It's fantastic primeval scenery formed by virgin forests, limestone caves, twin lakes etc.

The Twin Lakes embraced by lush forests measure about 13 hectares. The rippling blue lakes are as deep as 37 meters, with the water temperature of approximate 15℃. Mandarin ducks are merrily swimming in pairs upon the lakes. The one kilometer long Gurgling River is endowed with 68 water drops or waterfalls with a total drop in elevation of 40 meters. The fishermen fishing in the River always reap bumper hauls. Among the numerous stalactite caves, Tianzhong Cave stands out prominently with its particular exotic scenery.
 

Jiaxiu Tower is located on the Aoji Rock (the rock which looks like a huge turtle according to legend) on the Nanming River, in the southern part of Guiyang City. This magnificent building has long been the landmark of Guiyang. 

First built in the mid-16th century, it has been rebuilt several times, yet has still managed to retain its original features. During the Ming dynasty (1573-1620), the local majesty, Jiang Dongzhi, ordered to build a causeway at where the tower locates today, linking to the southern bank of the Nanming River. Later a pavilion was built to honor the first scholar of the time and hoped that would encourage more scholars to follow the example. Thusthe tower was named "Jiaxiu towe", which means "First Sholar’s Tower". In 1621, the original pavilion was burnt in a fire and the stadholder of the time made it rebuilt. In 1689, it was destroyed again, and then, Majesty Tianwen rebuilt it again. So far, the tower has been reconstructed 6 times. For 400 years, it has become the symbol of the city, witnessing the history as well as the future of the development of the Guiyang city.

It is renowned for its layout such as the three-story tower 20 meters high with three carved eaves supported by a stone pillar and atop which is formed by diminishing size as four directions mount up. Located in water, right of the Guanyin temple and the Cuiwei tower; left of the Haibi pavilion, the Jiaxiu Tower is connected with two banks by the Fuyu Bridge (Floating Jade Bridge). All of these make Jiaxiu Tower spectacular.

Inside Jiaxiu Tower, there is a good collection of authentic works and paintings from ancient calligraphers. Of them, the most famous one is the couplet written by Liu Yushang in the Qing Dynasty. This couplet consists of 206 words as a whole, with 87 words in the first and the second line respectively, which is 26 words more than the "Longest couplet" preserved in the Big Guan Tower in Kunming. This couplet is notable not only for its length, but also for its literatural value. Its choice of words is so delicate and magnificent that it looks into not only the history of the tower but also the universal life of human being.

Ascending the tower, visitors can get a good view of the surrounding scenery. The night scene of the tower is the most impressive. Colorfully decorated with lanterns, reflected in water, the tower looks so beautiful that people may feel as if they had been back to the ancient times.
 

The Tianhe Pond, formerly called the Tiansheng (Heavenly Born) Bridge, is situated on the upper reaches of Huaxi River in Shiban Town, 12 km. from Huaxi district and 25 km. from Guiyang. The scenic resort area covers 15 square kilometers. It centers on a clear pood surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs covered with green trees. Precipices tower into the clouds with green trees spotting the mountain and surrounding the pond like a skylight. The crystal clear blue water in the pond reflects a plank path built along the face of cliff. Tianhe Pood is a typical naturally sunken pit of calcified rocks. The scenic area has four major sections, including a clacified stalactite waterfall, the Xiangba Trench, a water cavern and a dry one, each with its own characteristic features. Around the pond there are three karst caves, the Upper Cave, Right Cave and Lower Cave.

Tourists can boat into the Upper Cave on the underground river and enjoy wonderful scenery like the Conch Palace and the Tides Pond. The Right Cave is a dry one, along which one can get pleasure from natural scenery while climbing up the mountain along the cave. The Lower Cave is under a natural bridge where water flows out of the pond and forms a series of waterfalls with rural scenery of a bridge and waterwheel. The scenery of skylight and deep pond, river on and under the ground, dry and watery cave, rural scenery displays distinctive, mysterious and wonderful colors.

There are two natural limestone caves in the cliffs. One of them is a treasure house of stalactites of different images. The 210-meter wide stalactite waterfall is the widest of the kind in China. Roaring waters from the hill create caves of different sizes and shapes. When the waters are abundant, they are like jumping tigers and running horses; when the waters are not so powerful, mists from the river fly at the gust of wind. The 100-step stone bridge over the Wolong Lake cast its reflections in the mirror-like water. All constitutes beautiful scenery in the Chinese painting.

Made up of 23 falls of which four come out of underground caves, the Huangguoshu Scenic Zone is located in Zhenning Buyi-Miao Autonomous County 150 km. from Guiyang City and 54 km. from Anshun City. The area surrounding this scenic spot is a typical karst terrain. Additionally, the Baishuihe River flows to form the nine-step cluster of 18 waterfalls among which Huangguoshu Waterfall is the grandest. This large cluster of waterfalls features the Huangguoshu Waterfall in the middle and is a marvelous spectacle of nature.

World famous Huangguoshu Fall reaches a width of 81m with a drop of 74 m. Behind the Fall, lies the 134 meter-long Shuiliang-dong (the Water Curtain Cave) where one can watch the grand fall inside which makes you feel like you are in a fairyland. The view from this amazing spot is particularly stirring at sunset. Xiniu Tan, the pond into which the waterfall pours, is accessible. Standing by the pond, tourists can be closer to the natural spectacle.
 

In addition to the Huangguoshu, there are over ten waterfalls and water-eroded caves along the Baishuihe River, Spotting in the Zone, are other falls with distinct features and charm respectively. There are the Doupotang Fall, the broadest with a width of 105m and a height of 21m; the Luosi Fall with a height of 31m and the river flowing over it, it zigzags along for 350 m, the most elegant Yinlianzuitan Fall displaying scenery resembling many silver chains falling down, the Dishuitan Fall which breaks into 7 cascades with special attractiveness and the Guangjiaoxia Fall with the biggest flow. After visiting the Zone, one would feel as if he has visited all the falls in the world.
 

Qianling Park is located on Qianling Mountain, northwest of Guiyang, It is named after Mt. Qianlingshan which was awarded the title of  "the First Mountain in South China". Qianling Mountain situated in Guiyang's northwestern corner pro-vides a vast comprehensive garden for the city. As one of the noted attractions on the Guizhou plateau, it boasts clear water, green mountains, tranquil forests and old temples. About 1500 kinds of trees and flowers as well as 1000 kinds of herbs have been found there in the Qianling Mountain. And there are gregarious macaques and flocks of birds too. More than 500 energetic and enchanting macaques live in the mountain in the park and this add to the features of the park.

Inside the park, trees verdantly grow and streams gurgle down into the valley. There is a "holy fountain" up the mountain whose water is so clean that local people consider it coming from the heaven. The flowing steams from the fountain and the mist surrounding the forest make it one of the greatest eight scenic spots in Guiyang. There are eight predominant scenic locations: Sanlingwan, Macaque Garden, Hongfu Temple, Kylin Cave, the Zoo, Qianling Lake, the Wind-Rain Bridge, and the Winding Mountain Path.

At the foot of the mountain lies the lake of Qianlin which is like a gem inlaid amidst blur of green mountains Blocked by Twin Dams. It is a 20-hectare water body dotted with pleasure boars and reflections of the surrounding walkways, pavilions and weeping willows.

The "holy fountain" is also reffered to as the "increscence fountain" or the "strainer fountain". It is in a village called Shanqiao, which is about 600 meters to the southwest of Qianling Lake. The altitude there is 1180 meters, 90 meters higher than that of the lake. The waters originate from among the rocks half way up the mountain and its volumn may vary hundreds of times during a day, which gives it the name of "increscence fountain".
 

Qilin(unicorn), refers to a kind of animal recorded in ancient Chinese books, which are considered as one of holy animals together with, phoenix, tortoise and dragon. All of them are mounts for immortals. Giraffe is often deemed as the incarnation of Qilin in reality. People always use this word to praise someone with outstanding performance.

Qilin Cave is located in Qianling park. It was originally called Baiyi Nunnery, where nuns cultivate themselves according to a religious doctrine. The cave is natural cave chamber and the cave is named after the unicorn-shaped stalactite inside the cave. It is also famous as the location where two patriotic Chinese generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng were imprisoned during the Chinese Civil War. The two generals initiated the Xi’an Incident, a significant historic event in Chinese History. In 1985,a exhibition room is set up to commemorate them. The items include furniture used by the generals and his closed girlfriend, the materials and documents as well. The documents are divided into 12 sections with 171 pictures in total. The rooms they used to live are restored as well.

The nunnery has been destroyed long time ago. New and fine building surrounded with water and hills take its place. Vines straggling over the cave look like a natural curtain. Osmanthus, pomegranate evergreen, Chinese redbud, chrysanthemum are planted around the save. what a beautiful scene in the autumn!

In 1982, Qilin Cave is listed as cultural relics under provincial protection. In 1997, it is listed as patriotic Education Base in Guiyang.

Location: Inside Qianling Park, Yunyan District
Entrance fee: free
Transportation: Bus No.1, 2, 10,12,13,16,23,25,30

Visitors may go up the winding path to the Hongfu Temple up the hill. It was built in the early Qing Dynasty, a 300-year-old famous Buddhist spot, where pilgrims come from home and abroad to worship Buddha, the Goddess of mercy, Manjusri and other Bodhisattvas. It is one of the most famous temples located in Guizhou province. On the way to the temple, up in the sharp cliffs, stone inscriptions can be seen here and there. Among them, the most notable one is the 6.2-meter-high and 3.7-meter-wide Chinese character of "Tiger", which was written by a man called Zhao Dechang in the year 1860. Its calligraphy is skillful and unique and is of high history value.

Hongfu Temple features majesty and sobriety. Hongfu means to develop Buddha's spirits and to benefit mankind. Today it is rated as one of the 142 national key temple scenic areas as well as the key cultural relic preservation in Guizhou Province.

On entering the gate of the temple, you will see the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower on both sides. The bronze bell weighs more than 3,000 Jin in Chinese measurement (equal to about 3,300 pounds), and was cast in 1469 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is the largest of its kind in Guizhou province.

In the first hall named Heavenly King Hall, you can see the statues of Maitreya Buddha and the four Heavenly Kings. On the walls there are also steles of sutra and colorful paintings. The second main hall is the Bodhisattva Hall dedicated to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara with 32 arms. In the third hall named Mahavira Hall there are gilded statues of Sakyamuni and the 18 Arhats. There's also a jade Buddha statue from Rangoon, the capital of Burma. It is 1.5 meters high and weighs 900 kilograms. The statue looks beneficent but solemn, and it stands among more than 10 other jade statues of Bodhisattva and Maitreya.

From the "Kanzhu Pavilion" and " Wangcheng Tower" on the top of the mountain, one can get a bird's eye view of the whole city.