Anshun's Hidden Gem: Puding Maotiao Gorge | Off-the-Beaten-Track in Guizhou

An 11-day itinerary, hiking through many of Guizhou's lesser-known attractions. Video logs are in the Guizhou Travel Collection. Photos taken on March 20 Tickets: Free Early in the morning, arriving at this hidden gem, I was instantly amazed. Terraced fields of rapeseed flowers bloom along the hillside, smoke curls from the houses of small villages, and in the distance are rolling mountains. Everything here is so quiet and pristine. Navigation: Village Committee of Kechu Village, Maodong Miao and Gelao Township, Puding County, Anshun City It's about a two-hour drive from Guiyang and about an hour from downtown Anshun. The country road has a rough patch, full of potholes and winding mountain roads, requiring some driving skill. Sancha River is the southern source of the Wu River. In Guizhou, tigers are called "mao" (cats). Maotiao Gorge is a canyon on the Sancha River. The river is blue-green, with steep cliffs on both sides and many rocks on the river beach. We walked downhill from the village committee, reached the river, and then hiked along the river to the left, completing a loop of about nine kilometers. It took four to five hours, mostly on dirt roads, a relatively leisurely hike. Along the way, there are terraced meadows, canyon scenery, and strange rock forests. The scenery changes with every step, which is amazing. The first half is more relaxing, with villages and farmland along the river. The river is calm and clear, with green grass on the riverbank, rapeseed flowers on the hillside, and cows grazing. You can also camp and fish by the river. The latter half of the river is more magnificent (Pictures 2, 3, and 4). Because there is a hydropower station upstream, the reservoir may release water at any time, so camping in the upstream river valley is not recommended as it's unsafe. However, hiking along the riverbank is beautiful. When we went, the reservoir happened to be releasing water. The river valley was fast-flowing, turquoise, and magnificent. If you don't want to walk and just want to take pictures of the canyon, you can navigate directly to Puding Gorge Tourist Hotel (Pictures 1 and 2). The hotel is similar to a farmhouse. There is a viewing platform at the hotel, which offers a panoramic view of the canyon. A few hundred meters down from the hotel is the canyon. After enjoying the canyon, walk uphill for about 1 km to reach the village committee where you parked. If you want to continue exploring, keep going towards the river valley pass ahead. Precautions: There are no shops along the way, so it's best to bring your own food and water. The riverbed is full of rocks, so be careful when hiking and climbing. Be careful not to step on the villagers' farmland. Take your trash with you and protect the environment. Thanks to the team leader for the meticulously crafted perfect guide and the hard work throughout the trip. The 11-day off-the-beaten-track itinerary in Guizhou was stunning, making the journey truly memorable. I'm very grateful to the team leader and fellow travelers for their mutual tolerance and support. The atmosphere was harmonious, and the journey was joyful.