Guizhou Trip - China Trip (Gold Edition)

Author: Xiang Yang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Guizhou, a place of both wonder and beauty, with the majestic Huangguo trees, the profound and perilous Longgong, the birdsong and fragrant flowers of Huaxi, the mysterious and magnificent Zhijin Cave, and countless scenic wonders waiting for you to savor. Guizhou intertwines cultural landscapes with natural ones, preserving the ancient customs of the Tunpu people, the traces of time on the Fengqiao bridges, the hurried farewell gesture of an old man from Basa, the melodious lusheng tunes echoing along the rural roads, and the fleeting smiles of Miao girls. This book is part of the "Golden Edition of China Travel," guiding you into Guizhou to experience its mystery and beauty. Guizhou is one of the top ten "Return to Nature, Reconnect with the Earth" travel destinations recommended by UNESCO. It is also one of the 18 global ecological and cultural protection circles awarded by the World Rural Cultural Protection Foundation (with the other in Asia being Tibet, China). Here, you will find the last sanctuary for tired souls, the oldest songs preserved by humanity, the most beautiful karst landscapes in the world, and the world's largest ethnic museum. This is the last tranquil place, the last mysterious garden. Guizhou is a wonderful place, with rugged mountain roads and an ancient charm. Yao women and mountain villagers sell folk handicrafts along the way, such as woven belts and sachets. There are spectacular karst peaks like the Three Swords Peak, the Rückw?rtsgлядящий Lion, and the Four-Sided Cave, as well as the Dragon King Gorge and the Peacock Peak, all leaving visitors in awe. And then there are the Miao women in their magnificent attire and colorful headpieces, graceful and modest, truly marvelous.
The Huaijiang Canyon is located in the west of Anshun City, bordering Zhenning County to the northeast and neighboring Qinglong, Xingren, and Zhenfeng counties to the southwest. The canyon extends from Maocaoping in Gangu Town in the northwest to Sanjiangkou in Banui Town in the southeast, spanning 79 kilometers and divided into five scenic areas: the Jiashan Scenic Area, the Iron Chain Bridge Scenic Area, the Xiagua Village Scenic Area, the Panjiang Bridge Scenic Area, and the Fossil Scenic Area. The main peak of the Huaijiang Canyon scenic area stands at an altitude of 1,850 meters, with the lowest point being the confluence of the Beipan River and the Dabang River. The canyon fully embodies Guizhou's unique karst landscape, featuring vast and diverse karst formations—peak forests, peak clusters, stone forests, caves, waterfalls, underground streams, depressions, and strange rocks—all like a sub-tropical karst landscape museum. The primitive ecological environment intertwines with high mountains, deep gorges, and rapid currents, further enhanced by ancient murals on the cliffs, creating both magnificent natural scenery and mysterious cultural landscapes.
Hidden among the mountains, the majestic and towering Huaijiang Canyon only gained widespread attention in the mid-1980s and gradually became famous. The canyon plunges to a depth of 1,000 meters, with steep cliffs and winding waters, creating an endless sense of peril and grandeur. Along the way, the river surges fiercely in some sections and calms in others, offering rare and breathtaking views. At the base of the canyon, attractions include the Panjiang Stone Carving Group, the Huaijiang Iron Chain Bridge, and the Panjiang Bridge. Guanshan Mountain was the filming location for the movie Journey to the West and is also the best spot to view the Huaijiang Canyon. With an open view, the opposite mountains rise layer upon layer, stretching endlessly, dotted with peak forests and clusters.
The Jiashan Yixiantian is located downstream of the Huaijiang Canyon, where the canyon makes a sharp 90-degree turn to the west. The cliffs on both sides rise nearly a thousand meters, standing sharply facing each other, creating a thrilling spectacle. From below, the tops of the cliffs almost merge, leaving only a sliver of blue sky visible at the top, a breathtaking and awe-inspiring sight. In Niujiao Well Village within the canyon, there are six Niujiao Well murals to admire, painted in red or reddish-black, depicting figures, horses, birds, and turtles, all with a mysterious aura. Additionally, on the cliffside of Jiangjiang Village, there is the Mayanjiao mural, featuring red horses and people, some running and others standing, all vividly lifelike. About ten kilometers away from Mayanjiao in Jiangjiang Village, there is a large cave on the riverside—this is the famous Han Yuan Cave. The top of its entrance and nearby are inscribed with "Han Yuan Cave" and "Han Yuan Gate," while the walls inside bear ancient poems and small characters like "Han Yuan Year." Moreover, there are some murals in the cave, with patterns resembling the sun, clouds, dragons, and turtles, mysterious and strange, drawing the attention of scholars and experts.
The Anshun Confucius Temple is located at the eastern end of Anshun City. Built in the early years of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, it has been repaired and expanded multiple times during the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods, gradually forming its current scale. The Confucius Temple, along with the school grounds in front (Huangxueba) and the Kongming Mound, covers an area of over 7,000 square meters. Entering the main gate of the Confucius Temple leads to a courtyard with carved stone walls and stone archways on both sides. The second courtyard is divided into front and back courtyards, with a pond in the front courtyard and a bridge over it. Crossing the pond bridge reveals the Lingxing Gate, a grand stone archway, with additional stone archways on both sides, called