Exploring a Jurassic-like Canyon

Today, let's explore a hidden green paradise in southeastern Yunnan — the Xiyangjiang Grand Canyon! 📍 Located at the border of Malipo County and Funing County in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, it lies along the Xiyangjiang River, a tributary of the Honghe River basin, forming a magnificent canyon over a thousand meters deep, known as the "Colorado of Yunnan" 🏞️💦 Here, towering peaks rise, the river water is emerald green like jade, primitive forests densely cover both banks, waterfalls hang amidst swirling mist, and vines dangle in the air, resembling a Jurassic world. The canyon has a humid climate and fresh air. Along the way, you can see thousand-year-old ancient trees, cliffside plank roads, suspension bridges spanning deep valleys, and occasionally macaques playing in the forest 🐒🌿. In spring and summer, wildflowers bloom everywhere; in autumn and winter mornings, the sea of clouds surges, making the entire canyon appear to float among the clouds. Most uniquely, several Zhuang ethnic villages are distributed along the river, with stilted wooden houses built against the mountains and terraced fields stacked layer upon layer, rich in ethnic customs 🌾🏡. Xiyangjiang is not only pristine in scenery but also a hidden gem for hiking, photography, stream tracing, and summer retreats! 📅 Itinerary: 1 day 1 night | Walk the canyon plank road + photograph the sea of clouds + visit Zhuang villages + stargazing 💰 Total budget: within 500 RMB (about 495 RMB per person) 🚗 Transportation | ¥280 - Bus from Kunming East Bus Station to Malipo County ¥160 (about 5 hours) - Shared car from Malipo to Xiyangjiang Grand Canyon entrance and back ¥120 (mountain road requires chartered car) 🏡 Accommodation | ¥90 ✅ Zhuang ethnic village homestay near the canyon, family room ¥90/night (including breakfast, experience the firepit culture) 🎫 Admission | Free! ✅ Undeveloped scenic area, no entrance fee (an ecological secret, please enter with civility) 🍽️ Meals | ¥125 Day 1 dinner: smoked pork with fern + glutinous rice cake + potato soup ¥40 Day 2 breakfast: corn porridge + pickles + roasted sweet potato ¥15 - Supplies: bottled water ¥10 | energy bar ¥20 | self-heating meal ¥25 - Lunch: bring your own dry food or simple farmhouse meal ¥35 📷 Highlights | Be a canyon adventurer! ✅ Morning hike on the canyon plank road: traverse the primeval forest, check in at waterfalls and river bend viewing platforms 📸🔥 ✅ Evening climb for sunset sea of clouds photography: choose a high point to capture the golden canyon 🌅 ✅ Visit Zhuang villages: watch weaving, listen to mountain songs, experience the fun of pounding rice 🎶 ✅ Overnight in the deep mountains: far from light pollution, gaze up to see the brilliant Milky Way ✨🌌 ✅ Total cost breakdown: Transportation ¥280 + Accommodation ¥90 + Meals ¥125 = ¥495 Best seasons: March–May (spring greenery) | September–November (autumn coolness) Essentials: non-slip hiking shoes, windbreaker, headlamp, cash, rain gear Safety reminder: some sections are steep and slippery; do not venture alone into undeveloped areas. In the depths of Xiyangjiang, I heard the heartbeat of the earth.