Chishui Danxia Tourist Area in Zunyi City is located in Chishui City, Zunyi City, Guizhou Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area. The Chishui Danxia Tourist Area covers an area of more than 1,200 square kilometers. It represents the early youth stage of Danxia landforms and has the largest Danxia landform area in China. The scenic area is characterized by "red mountains, clear waters, green forests, and flying waterfalls". The red cliffs of the mountains are colorful, the canyons are deep and quiet, the streams are crystal clear, and the waterfalls are majestic. The forest coverage rate here exceeds 90%, and there are many rare plants, such as Alsophila spinulosa. There are few buildings in the scenic area, mainly focusing on natural landscapes, with a small number of viewing platforms, trestle roads and other facilities to facilitate tourists' sightseeing.
History and Culture
The Chishui Danxia area has a long geological evolution history. Over a long geological period, through various geological processes such as crustal movement, water erosion, and weathering, the unique Danxia landform landscape we see today has gradually formed. The formation of this landform has taken hundreds of millions of years and records important processes of the Earth's evolution.
Chishui is also an old revolutionary base area and has an important position in modern and contemporary history. During the Red Army's Long March, many battles were fought in the Chishui area, leaving behind many revolutionary relics and red stories. These red historical and cultural elements blend with the unique Danxia natural landscape, endowing the Chishui Danxia Tourist Area with a deeper connotation.
In addition, the Chishui area has rich folk cultures. Local ethnic minorities such as the Miao and Gelao have retained unique traditional customs and cultural activities, such as the Lusheng Dance of the Miao people and the Xinjie Festival of the Gelao people, showing the colorful ethnic customs of the local area.
Main Attractions
Fo Guangyan Scenic Area
The Fo Guangyan Scenic Area is one of the core scenic areas of the Chishui Danxia Tourist Area. The most famous landscape in the scenic area is Fo Guangyan, a circular Danxia stone wall that is 234 meters high, 666 meters wide, and more than 1,000 meters in arc length. It is like a huge vermilion heavenly book, or a huge open red cliff palm. There is a waterfall more than 80 meters high on the wall, pouring down from the cliff top with great momentum. Under the sunlight, Fo Guangyan will present a colorful light and shadow effect, which is very spectacular. There are also attractions such as the Five Pillar Peaks in the scenic area. The Five Pillar Peaks are composed of five columnar Danxia peaks, each with a different shape, surrounded by green trees, and the scenery is beautiful.
Yanziyan National Forest Park
Yanziyan National Forest Park is located on the west bank of Fengxi River in Chishui City, with a total area of 160,000 mu. It is mainly characterized by primeval forests, streams, waterfalls, and Danxia landforms. There is the Yanziyan Waterfall in the park, which is 87 meters high and 50 meters wide. The water pours down from a high place, forming a beautiful water curtain. The forest coverage rate in the park is as high as 99%, and many rare plants and wild animals grow here, such as Alsophila spinulosa and macaques. There are also many trestle roads and viewing platforms in the park. Tourists can stroll along the trestle roads, enjoy the beauty of the forest and waterfalls, and feel the tranquility and magic of nature.
Chishui Grand Waterfall Scenic Area
The Chishui Grand Waterfall Scenic Area is an important part of the Chishui Danxia Tourist Area. The Chishui Grand Waterfall is 76 meters high and 80 meters wide. It is the largest waterfall in China's Danxia landform and also the largest waterfall in the Yangtze River Basin. The waterfall pours down from the cliff, making a deafening sound, with water mist filling the air and a magnificent momentum. The Danxia stone walls around the waterfall are brightly colored, forming a sharp contrast with the white water flow of the waterfall. There are also attractions such as Zhongdong Waterfall in the scenic area. The Zhongdong Waterfall is 18.5 meters high and 75.6 meters wide. The water spreads out evenly, like a silver bead curtain, and the scenery is very charming.
Delicacies
Chishui Tubular Bamboo Shoots
Chishui Tubular Bamboo Shoots are a local characteristic delicacy. They are made from fresh Fang bamboo shoots through multiple processes such as boiling, soaking, and air-drying. The tubular bamboo shoots are bright yellow in color, crisp and tender in texture, and delicious in taste. They can be used to stir-fry with meat or make soup, etc., with a unique taste, and are a common dish on the tables in Chishui. Due to the rich bamboo forest resources in the Chishui area and the high quality of Fang bamboo shoots, the tubular bamboo shoots have become one of the representative delicacies of the local area.
Chishui Tofu Pudding
Chishui Tofu Pudding is famous for its delicate and smooth taste. High-quality soybeans are selected and made through traditional processes such as soaking, grinding into a pulp, boiling the pulp, and curdling with bittern. The tofu pudding is soft in texture, melts in the mouth, and has a delicate fragrance. When eating, it can be paired with a special dipping sauce, which is generally prepared with chili, soy sauce, vinegar, chopped green onions, etc., and is spicy and delicious. Chishui Tofu Pudding is not only a favorite breakfast food of local residents but also a must-try delicacy for tourists.
Chishui Insect Tea
Chishui Insect Tea is a special beverage. It is not real tea leaves but is made from the feces excreted by insects such as the Antheraea pernyi and Corcyra cephalonica after feeding on the leaves of plants such as Platycarya strobilacea, and then through special processing. The tea soup brewed from the insect tea is ruddy in color and sweet in taste, and has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, strengthening the stomach and promoting digestion. Insect tea is a characteristic beverage in Chishui, deeply loved by local people and tourists, and is also an excellent gift for relatives and friends.
Entrance Tickets
The Chishui Danxia Tourist Area in Zunyi City implements separate ticketing for each scenic area. The entrance ticket price of the Fo Guangyan Scenic Area is 80 yuan per person, and the sightseeing bus ticket is 25 yuan per person; the entrance ticket price of the Yanziyan National Forest Park is 45 yuan per person; the entrance ticket price of the Chishui Grand Waterfall Scenic Area is 80 yuan per person, and the sightseeing bus ticket is 10 yuan per person. The scenic area has corresponding preferential policies for specific groups such as children, the elderly, military personnel, and students. For specific information, please pay attention to the official website of the scenic area or the instructions at the ticket window. Entrance tickets and sightseeing bus tickets can be purchased through the official website of the scenic area, WeChat official account, or the on-site ticket window.
Opening Hours
The Chishui Danxia Tourist Area in Zunyi City is open throughout the year. The opening hours of the Fo Guangyan Scenic Area are from 08:00 to 17:00 (ticket sales and entry stop at 16:00); the opening hours of the Yanziyan National Forest Park are from 08:00 to 17:00 (ticket sales and entry stop at 16:30); the opening hours of the Chishui Grand Waterfall Scenic Area are from 08:00 to 18:00 (ticket sales and entry stop at 17:00). During legal holidays or peak tourist seasons, the scenic area may adjust the opening hours according to the actual situation. Tourists can query the official information of the scenic area in advance and arrange their itinerary reasonably.
Tour Routes
Recommended tour routes: If you have enough time, it is recommended to spend two days visiting. In the morning of the first day, go to the Fo Guangyan Scenic Area, admire the magnificent Fo Guangyan and attractions such as the Five Pillar Peaks, and feel the charm of the Danxia stone walls and waterfalls. Have lunch near the scenic area and taste local characteristic delicacies such as Chishui Tubular Bamboo Shoots. In the afternoon, go to the Yanziyan National Forest Park, walk along the trestle roads, enjoy the beauty of the forest and waterfalls, and breathe the fresh air. Stay in Chishui City at night, taste delicacies such as Chishui Tofu Pudding, and experience the local life atmosphere. In the morning of the second day, go to the Chishui Grand Waterfall Scenic Area, admire the magnificent Chishui Grand Waterfall and attractions such as the Zhongdong Waterfall. Have lunch near the scenic area and return in the afternoon. If you are short of time, you can choose a one-day tour, select one or two scenic areas for sightseeing, and focus on visiting the main attractions such as the Chishui Grand Waterfall or Fo Guangyan.
Transportation
- Public transportation: You can take a long-distance bus from Zunyi urban area to Chishui City. The journey takes about 3.5 hours, and the ticket price is about 100 yuan. After arriving in Chishui City, you can take a special line bus to each scenic area. You can also charter a car to the scenic area in Chishui City. The charter fee depends on the vehicle type and itinerary, generally about 200-300 yuan per day.
- Self-driving: Starting from Zunyi urban area, you can reach Chishui City via the Rongzun Expressway, etc. The whole journey is about 240 kilometers, and the driving time is about 3 hours. After arriving in Chishui City, you can navigate to each scenic area according to the navigation. The scenic area has a parking lot, and the parking fee is charged according to the parking duration.
Must-visit Attractions
- Fo Guangyan Scenic Area: One of the core scenic areas. Fo Guangyan is 234 meters high, 666 meters wide, and more than 1,000 meters in arc length, with a waterfall more than 80 meters high on the wall. The Danxia stone wall is magnificent, and the light and shadow effect is beautiful. There are also attractions such as the Five Pillar Peaks.
- Yanziyan National Forest Park: The total area is 160,000 mu, and the forest coverage rate is 99%. There is the Yanziyan Waterfall, which is 87 meters high and 50 meters wide. Rare plants such as Alsophila spinulosa grow here, and the trestle roads and viewing platforms facilitate sightseeing.
- Chishui Grand Waterfall Scenic Area: An important part. The Chishui Grand Waterfall is 76 meters high and 80 meters wide, the largest waterfall in China's Danxia landform and the Yangtze River Basin. There is also the Zhongdong Waterfall, which is 18.5 meters high and 75.6 meters wide, with charming scenery.
Tour Tips
- Understand the weather conditions of the scenic area in advance. It is best to choose sunny or cloudy days for the tour to better appreciate the beauty of the Danxia landform and waterfalls. You can check through weather forecast apps or the official website of the scenic area.
- Prepare comfortable sports shoes and clothing suitable for hiking, because there are many trestle roads and mountain roads in the scenic area, and more walking is required.
- Take good care of the environment in the scenic area, do not litter casually, and keep the scenic area clean. Especially in the forest scenic area, pay attention to fire prevention.
- When tasting delicacies, pay attention to choosing regular restaurants and snack stalls to ensure food hygiene. You can try more local characteristic delicacies, such as Chishui Tubular Bamboo Shoots and Chishui Tofu Pudding.
- If you want to take pictures of the beauty of the waterfalls and Danxia landforms, it is recommended to go in the morning or evening. The light is soft at this time, and you can take more layered photos.
Notes
- Comply with the regulations of the scenic area, follow the instructions of the staff, and do not enter the unopened areas without permission.
- When viewing the waterfalls, stand in the safe area and do not approach the edge of the waterfall to prevent falling into the water or slipping due to the splashing water.
- Some scenic areas in the Chishui Danxia Tourist Area are at a relatively high altitude, and the temperature may be lower. It is recommended to bring a coat to prevent catching a cold.
- In case of an emergency, you can call the emergency rescue hotline of the scenic area or ask the nearby staff for help.
- In the forest scenic area, do not smoke or use open flames to avoid causing a fire.