Qianxinan
-- Its Bizarre Peaks and Graceful Waters
By
staff reporters ZHEN MU & HUANG JIANYONG
Miao women weaving cloth in the traditional way. |
LOCATED in Guizhou Province, southwestern
China, Qianxinan Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture is a noted
tourist destination, due to its extraordinary natural environment
and distinctive ethnic features. Among the one state-level and
four province-level scenic spots here, the Maling River Valley,
Wanfenglin (forest of 10,000 peaks) and Wanfeng Lake are the
most enchanting.
Maling River Valley Scenic Area
A chain bridge over the Maling River Valley. |
The Maling River runs a full 100 kilometers
through deep valleys, the section between the Maling Ancient
Bridge in the suburbs of Xingyi City, capital of Qianxinan Prefecture,
and the Tianxing Gallery, having the richest concentration of
wonderful sights.
Located in the mid-section of the valley,
the 2-kilometer-long Tianxing Gallery is crescent shaped, and
covered in a riot of multi-colored flowers and peculiarly shaped
rocks, hence the name Tianxing (celestial star) Gallery.
Hanging shale is one of the valley's spectacles.
Layers of shale cover the precipitous cliffs, forming a mile-long
arras through the valley, and covering a total 100,000 square-meter
area in the Tianxing Gallery, which is also site of 13 waterfalls.
Drifting along the Maling River brings the
opportunity for adventure as well as sightseeing. The charted
drifting route is 60 kilometers long, with a fall of 300 meters.
Drifting is exciting, but absolutely safe, despite the narrow
course and numerous shoals. White water canoeists call this
area their Golden Valley.
Wanfenglin Scenic Area
Located along the lower reaches of the Maling
River Valley, Wanfenglin literally means forest of 10,000 peaks.
These peaks, of various shapes and altitudes, constitute a giant
traditional Chinese bonsai, surrounded by beautiful waters and
countryside.
Wanfeng Lake Scenic Area
Miao people preparing ciba (glutinous rice cake). |
Wanfeng Lake is where the southeast section
of Wanfenglin and the mouth of the Maling River Valley meet.
With an area of 170 square kilometers, the lake came into being
after the Tianshengqiao Hydropower Station was built. On it
are 90 isles and peninsulas, 96 coves and 12 offshoot lakes.
In the Hongchun-Maanying Scenic Area saddle-shaped hills flank
one such lake, and liana-covered stone forest and ranges of
verdurous peaks and their limpid waters seem to merge into a
whole.
Anlong Zhaodi Dyke Scenic Area
A historical and cultural city, Anlong has
preserved many of its relics and architecture dating back to
the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Zhaodi Dyke was built in the
Qing Dynasty to prevent floods, and local officials later transformed
the waters east of the dyke into a 5-kilometer-long lotus pond.
Sancha River Scenic Area
The Sancha River is actually a bending, curving
artificial lake. Its banks and islets are covered by maple trees,
which in autumn are resplendent in the full range of yellows
and reds, adding warmth of color to the lake water.
Ethnic Folklore
Qianxinan is home to several ethnic groups,
including the Bouyei, Miao, Yi and Hui, who have their own distinctive
culture, customs, cuisine and costume, and have developed their
own style of opera, music, dance, song and acrobatics.
There are 11 ethnic villages in the prefecture
open to visitors, where the everyday life and work of local
people may be observed. Local festivals, such as the Xingyichabai
Song Festival, the Anlong Lotus Festival, the Zhenfeng June
6th Song Festival, and the Xingren Miao Folklore Festival, also
provide good opportunities to learn about ethnic folklore.
