It would be no exaggeration to say that a visit to Anshun will
be the sweetest memory in your life. Clear skies, a mild climate,
and fresh air provide ideal conditions for enjoying the beautiful
mountains, rivers and caves in this mysterious land-Anshun.
Natural Scenery
Tourists visiting Anshun for the first time should make Huangguoshu
Waterfall National Park (National
AAAAA Level) their first stop. Located in the southwest part of
Guizhou Province, 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) from Anshun City,
Huangguoshu Waterfall National Park has an enormous waterfall group
comprised of 18 waterfalls. It is considered the biggest waterfall
group in the world and is listed in the Guinness Book of World
Records. Huangguoshu Waterfall is the focal point
of this scenic area. It is the only waterfall which can be viewed
and admired from six directions. Water-curtain caves run
through the waterfall beginning at a height of 40 meters (131.2
feet) and reaching a height of 47 meters (154.2 feet) of the Huangguoshu
Waterfall. Only tourists walking into the caves will experience
the power of the falls and truly appreciate how spectacular the
waterfall is. From the vantage point of the water-curtain cave,
visitors may catch a glimpse of a breathtaking rainbow. Under the
ideal conditions, the rainbow may be seen from 09:00 to 17:00 from
various points on the walking route.
There are other notable scenic areas around Huangguoshu Waterfall
including: Shitouzhai (the village renowned for
wax printing) Scenic Area and Tianxingqiao
Scenic Area. Both waterfalls and Karst type caves may
be found in these areas. Huashishao Buyi Minority Small
Village is another scenic resort located one kilometer
(about 0.6 miles) west of Huangguoshu Waterfall. It is a wonderland,
renowned as the first Buyi Minority Protection Village in China,
where sunlight and rainfall are of average quantity and clear water
can be seen.
Dragon Palace
Cave Scenic Spot
(National AAAAA Level) is located 32 kilometers (about 20 miles)
southwest of Anshun City, adjacent to Huangguoshu National Park.
There are four favorite spots to visit in this area including:
the Underground River Karst Cave - at 15 kilometers
(about 9 miles) long it is the longest water Karst cave in China; Dragon
Palace Kwan-yin Cave - renowned as the biggest Karst Cave
Temple at more than 20,000 square meters (about 5 acres); Dragon
Gate Flying Waterfall - both the biggest waterfall inside
a Karst cave in China and is the headstream of Huangguoshu Waterfall
which is 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) away; Dragon Palace
Whirling Pool - where the water swirls in a clockwise
direction year round.
Getu River Scenic Area, located 77 kilometers
(about 47 miles) southwest of Anshun City, is considered one of
the most beautiful examples of Karst physiognomy in the entire
world. Except the beautiful Karst caves, one village situated in
the cave will surely arouse tourist’s attention. This is a good
place to experience the true meaning of human cave-living culture. Jiulongshan
National Forest Park, located in the Xixiu District of
Anshun City center, is perhaps the resort closest to the city center.
There you can enjoy the natural forest scenery and visit Tun Bu,
a local village, where you can appreciate the living conditions
of the inhabitants and enjoy the native social customs.
Human Cultural Landscape
The Puding Chuandong Human Fossil Site, located
26 kilometers (about 16 miles) north of Anshun City, is one of
the most significant archeological sites in China. The site contains
evidence of human activity dating back to the Paleolithic Age.
More cultural relics have been excavated from this site than from
any other in China. These treasures offer a wealth of material
for the study of primitive society in southwestern China. Another
interesting site to visit is the Red Cliff Relics, located
7 kilometers (about 4 miles) from Huangguoshu Waterfall on the
Red Cliff Mountain. The origin of the writings found on the cliff
walls is still a mystery to this day.
Tun Bu Village (Tian Long Tun Bu) located
in Qiyanqiao Town to the east of Anshun City is a great place to
explore the ancient cultures of this area. In the village there
are some cultural relics of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as well
as remnants of the Ming architecture. These are best seen in the
courtyard style and the elegant wood-carvings and stone-carvings
can be found on the surface of the architecture. They are actually
a peculiar Han Chinese settlement remnants and worthy of a visit. Wenmiao Temple, built
during the Hongwu Period (1368-1398) of the Ming Dynasty, is located
at the east end of Anshun City. There is a Wax Printing Art Museum
inside the temple which is a popular stop for visitors to Anshun
city.