The Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area in Anshun City is located in Zhenning Buyi and Miao Autonomous County, Anshun City, Guizhou Province. It is a national 5A - level tourist scenic area.
Centered around the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall, the scenic area features a total of 18 waterfalls of different sizes, varying in styles from majestic, strange, perilous to elegant, forming a huge waterfall "family". It is one of the largest waterfall groups in the world. The scenic area covers an area of 163.2 square kilometers. The Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall is 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide, with the top - width of the main waterfall being 83.3 meters. It is the largest and most spectacular waterfall in the Huangguoshu Waterfall Group and one of the world - famous large waterfalls. There are also some characteristic buildings in the scenic area, such as the Huangguoshu Escalator, which consists of two sections of escalators with a total length of 170 meters and a lifting height of more than 80 meters, facilitating tourists to go up and down the mountain.
History and Culture
The history of the Huangguoshu Waterfall can be traced back a long time. Its name was first recorded in the "Travels of Xu Xiake" by Xu Xiake, a travel writer in the Ming Dynasty. When Xu Xiake visited here, he was greatly impressed by the magnificent momentum of the Huangguoshu Waterfall and recorded in detail the shape and sound of the waterfall in his travel notes, which gradually made the Huangguoshu Waterfall known to the world.
In the cultures of local ethnic minorities such as the Buyi and Miao ethnic groups, the Huangguoshu Waterfall also holds a special position. Legend has it that the waterfall was formed when the Milky Way in the sky fell to the earth, carrying the beautiful imagination and rich mythological legends of the local people. For generations, ethnic minority people have lived around the waterfall, creating a unique ethnic culture. Traditional crafts such as Batik of the Buyi ethnic group and embroidery of the Miao ethnic group complement the natural scenery of the Huangguoshu Waterfall, forming a colorful cultural picture.
With the development of the times, the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area has been continuously developed and improved, becoming an important window to showcase the natural scenery and ethnic culture of Guizhou, attracting tourists from all over the world.
Main Attractions
Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall
The Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall is 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide, with the top - width of the main waterfall being 83.3 meters. It has a magnificent momentum. The surging river rushes down from a cliff more than 70 meters high into the Rhinoceros Pool, making a deafening noise like thousands of people beating drums and ten thousand horses galloping. The water splashes from the waterfall rise into the air like rain and fog, floating with the wind up to hundreds of meters. Under the sunlight, a gorgeous rainbow often appears. Tourists can view the waterfall from multiple angles. For example, they can feel the shock of the waterfall up close from the Water - Curtain Cave. Inside the cave, there are 6 cave windows, 5 cave halls, 3 cave springs and 6 passages. Tourists inside the cave will feel as if they have entered a wonderful water world.
Tianxingqiao Scenic Area
The Tianxingqiao Scenic Area is located 7 kilometers downstream of the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall, covering an area of 4.5 square kilometers. The wonderful combination of stones, trees and water here creates a unique natural landscape. There are natural rocks and water - stone bonsais of various sizes in the scenic area. In the Water - Stone Forest Scenic Area, the stone forest grows in the water, and the trees on the stones have intertwined roots, with winding paths leading to seclusion. The Silver - Chain - Dropping Pool Waterfall is one of the most characteristic attractions in the Tianxingqiao Scenic Area. The waterfall is more than ten meters high, with a funnel - shaped top and a trough - shaped pool at the bottom. Under the sunlight, the waterfall is like a silver chain dropping into the deep pool, very beautiful.
Doupotang Waterfall
The Doupotang Waterfall is located 1 kilometer upstream of the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall. It has a top - width of 105 meters and a height of 21 meters. It is the waterfall with the widest top in the Huangguoshu Waterfall Group. Whenever a flood is coming, the waterfall will make a "rumbling" sound, so it is also called the "Roaring Waterfall". The scene in the TV series "Journey to the West" where the Tang Monk and his disciples led the horse across the river was filmed here, which made the Doupotang Waterfall well - known.
Huangguoshu Escalator
The Huangguoshu Escalator consists of two sections of escalators with a total length of 170 meters and a lifting height of more than 80 meters. It connects the upper and lower areas of the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall Scenic Area, saving tourists' energy and time and allowing them to visit the scenic area more easily. When taking the escalator, tourists can enjoy the surrounding mountain forest scenery and feel the beauty of nature.
Local Cuisine
Sour - Soup Fish
Sour - Soup Fish is a characteristic cuisine of Guizhou and a popular dish around the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area. It is mainly made of fresh live fish and cooked with a special sour soup. The sour soup is usually fermented from tomatoes, pickled vegetables, etc., with a sour and spicy taste that stimulates the appetite. The fish is tender, the soup is rich, and the sour and fragrant taste is unforgettable. In the restaurants around the scenic area, the price of a serving of Sour - Soup Fish ranges from about 80 to 150 yuan, depending on the type and size of the fish.
Silk Doll
Silk Doll is a traditional snack in Guizhou and can also be tasted around the scenic area. It consists of a thin pancake and a variety of side dishes, including bean sprouts, kelp shreds, heartleaf houttuynia herb, cucumber shreds and more than a dozen other ingredients. When eating, put the side dishes into the thin pancake, pour on the special soup, and roll it up. It has a rich and refreshing taste. The price of a serving of Silk Doll is about 20 - 30 yuan.
Anshun Wrapped Roll
Anshun Wrapped Roll is a local special snack. Made mainly of rice noodles, it is wrapped with various fillings such as minced meat, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, etc., and then paired with a special sauce. It has a variety of flavors, including spicy, sour - spicy, and numbing - spicy. It has a soft and glutinous texture and a delicious taste. In the snack stalls or restaurants around the scenic area, the price of an Anshun Wrapped Roll is about 3 - 5 yuan.
Chicken - Filled Glutinous Rice Balls
Chicken - Filled Glutinous Rice Balls are a characteristic cuisine of Anshun. Different from traditional sweet glutinous rice balls, they are filled with chicken. The outer skin is soft and glutinous, and the filling is delicious. The glutinous rice balls have a delicate texture, a moderately salty and fragrant taste, and a special flavor when paired with the special soup. The price of a serving of Chicken - Filled Glutinous Rice Balls is about 10 - 15 yuan.
Entrance Tickets
The price of the entrance ticket (including the sightseeing bus ticket) for the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area is 160 yuan per person during the peak season (from March 1st to November 30th) and 150 yuan per person during the off - season (from December 1st to February 28th of the following year). The price of the sightseeing bus ticket is 50 yuan per person. Children under 1.2 meters in height, the elderly over 70 years old (with valid identification documents), active - duty military personnel (with valid certificates), disabled people (with disability certificates), etc. are exempt from the entrance ticket. Children between 1.2 meters (inclusive) and 1.4 meters (inclusive) in height, the elderly between 60 years old (inclusive) and 69 years old (inclusive) (with valid identification documents), full - time undergraduate students and below (with valid student IDs), etc. can enjoy discounted tickets, which are 80 yuan per person during the peak season and 75 yuan per person during the off - season.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open throughout the year. The opening hours are from 07:30 to 18:00 during the peak season (from March 1st to November 30th) and from 08:00 to 17:30 during the off - season (from December 1st to February 28th of the following year). Tourists need to enter the scenic area within the opening hours and arrange their itineraries reasonably.
Tour Routes
Recommended one - day tour route: After arriving at the scenic area in the morning, take the sightseeing bus to the Doupotang Waterfall first. Admire the wide - topped waterfall landscape and feel the charm of the filming location of "Journey to the West". The playing time is about 1 hour. Then go to the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall. First, view its magnificent momentum from the front of the waterfall, and then enter the Water - Curtain Cave to get close to the waterfall. The playing time is about 2 - 3 hours. Have lunch inside or around the scenic area and taste the local special cuisine. In the afternoon, go to the Tianxingqiao Scenic Area. Visit attractions such as natural rocks and the water - stone forest in turn, and focus on admiring the Silver - Chain - Dropping Pool Waterfall. The playing time is about 3 - 4 hours. Finally, take the sightseeing bus back to the scenic area entrance to end the one - day trip.
Transportation
- By plane: The Huangguoshu Airport in Anshun has opened several domestic routes. Tourists can take a plane to Anshun and then take a taxi or an airport shuttle bus from the airport to the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area. The journey takes about 1 hour. The taxi fare is about 150 - 200 yuan, and the price of the airport shuttle bus is about 20 yuan.
- By high - speed rail: You can take the high - speed rail to Anshun West Station. There is a direct shuttle bus from Anshun West Station to the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area. The journey takes about 1 hour, and the ticket price is about 22 yuan. You can also take a taxi from Anshun West Station to the scenic area, and the fare is about 100 - 150 yuan.
- By bus: There are shuttle buses from Anshun East Passenger Station to the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area. The buses run frequently. The journey takes about 1 hour, and the ticket price is about 20 yuan.
- By self - driving: Starting from Guiyang, you can reach the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area via the Guiyang - Huangguoshu Expressway. The whole journey is about 137 kilometers, and the journey takes about 2 hours. The scenic area has a parking lot, and the parking fee for small cars is about 10 yuan per day.
Must - Visit Attractions
- Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall: It is 77.8 meters high, 101 meters wide, and the top - width of the main waterfall is 83.3 meters. It is one of the world - famous large waterfalls, with a magnificent momentum. You can view it from multiple angles, and the Water - Curtain Cave can provide a unique experience.
- Tianxingqiao Scenic Area: It covers an area of 4.5 square kilometers. The wonderful combination of stones, trees and water, the unique shape of the Silver - Chain - Dropping Pool Waterfall is very beautiful. There are also characteristic landscapes such as the water - stone forest.
- Doupotang Waterfall: It has a top - width of 105 meters and a height of 21 meters. It is the waterfall with the widest top in the Huangguoshu Waterfall Group. It is well - known because "Journey to the West" was filmed here. It makes a roaring sound before the flood comes, so it is also called the "Roaring Waterfall".
Tour Tips
- Book your tickets online in advance, especially during the peak tourist season, to avoid queuing time and ensure smooth entry into the scenic area.
- Since the attractions in the scenic area are widely distributed, it is recommended to buy a sightseeing bus ticket to reach each attraction conveniently and quickly, saving energy and time.
- When visiting the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall, prepare a raincoat as you may get wet from the splashing water when entering the Water - Curtain Cave. Also, pay attention to the slippery ground and walk carefully.
- The Tianxingqiao Scenic Area is large. Arrange your time reasonably when visiting and don't miss the highlights such as the Silver - Chain - Dropping Pool Waterfall.
- When tasting local cuisine, choose regular restaurants to ensure food safety and hygiene.
- When visiting in summer, take sun - protection measures as the ultraviolet rays in Guizhou are relatively strong. You can bring sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, etc.
Precautions
- Protect the environment in the scenic area. Don't litter and keep the scenic area clean and beautiful.
- Obey the regulations of the scenic area and the instructions of the staff. Don't enter restricted areas without permission to ensure your own safety.
- The roads in the scenic area may be slippery, especially near the waterfalls. Walk carefully to avoid slipping and getting injured.
- If you bring children or the elderly, always pay attention to their safety to avoid getting lost or having an accident.
- When taking the sightseeing bus, sit firmly and hold on. Get on and off the bus only when it has come to a complete stop and follow the boarding order.
- The weather in Guizhou is changeable. Check the weather forecast before traveling and bring rain gear just in case.