Guanzegou Grand Scenic Area Guanzhu Gorge Travelogue: Chasing Waterfalls and Exploring Gorges, Enchanted by Longnan’s Mountain and Water Secret Realm

On the morning of the 19th, following the lingering impressions from the previous day, we once again stepped into this secret realm—the star of today is the core scenic spot of Guanzegou, Guanzhu Gorge. The moment we entered Guanzhu Gorge, we understood why it is famously called the "Little Jiuzhaigou of Longnan." Walking slowly along the plank road, the first sight to catch the eye was Panlong Gorge, where the stream flowed like blue scales swimming, winding around jagged rocks. The water color changed with the light and shadow, sometimes as clear and shallow as scattered silver, sometimes as deep green as jade. Walking in the gorge felt like following a living dragon on a secret exploration. Reaching Wupu Gorge, we truly touched the "water soul" of Guanzhu Gorge. The five waterfalls are connected yet each has its own character: some are as fine as silver threads, hanging from the cliff top and spraying mist throughout the valley; others rush like wild horses, crashing against rocks and shattering into thousands of jade beads, with the air filled with a crisp dampness. The plank road beneath our feet was moistened by the mist, cool to the touch, and every step sounded like walking on water, as if silently agreeing with the mountains and water. Turning a mountain bend, Jiudie Waterfall stretched across the view. Unlike the scattered waterfalls of Wupu Gorge, this one "folds" a pool of emerald water into nine layers, cascading down the high cliff step by step. When the sunlight slants through, each waterfall curtain hangs with delicate rainbows, as if someone had built a colorful ladder in the mountains. Standing on the viewing platform and looking afar, the sounds of water hitting stone, the wind, and birdsong intertwined, making one forget the noise of the world. Down in the valley, Crocodile Pool hides deep in dense shade. The water is as still as a frozen dark green gem, with a huge rock in the center resembling a resting crocodile, its mouth, nose, and back vividly lifelike, as if it might flick its tail into the water at any moment. If not for the occasional falling leaves rippling the surface, one would truly believe this pool and rock were frozen in time thousands of years ago. Further in, the sound of water suddenly becomes majestic—Tiger Mouth Waterfall has arrived. The cliff wall looks like a giant tiger’s open mouth, with the waterfall rushing out from the "tiger’s mouth," smashing into the deep pool below and splashing water dozens of feet high. The roar shakes the eardrums. Standing in the viewing pavilion, even several meters away, you can feel the cool mist hitting your face. That wildness and power inspire awe. After seeing Tiger Mouth Waterfall, we did not hike up the steep plank road to the top but chose to take the Guanzhu Gorge cable car—the cabin slowly rose, and the gorge below gradually shrank into a flowing landscape painting: the curves of Panlong Gorge, the fragments of Wupu Gorge, the layers of Jiudie Waterfall all turned into green and silver in our eyes. Even the distant mountains were wrapped in morning mist, spreading out like a dark ink screen. The wind slipped through the cabin gaps, carrying the scent of mountain streams and plants, less breathless than hiking but with a grander "bird’s-eye view" of the mountains and waters. After a moment, the cable car reached the mountaintop platform, and Guanze Tian Waterfall finally unveiled itself. On the hundred-meter-high cliff, water poured like a silver river from the clouds straight down to the valley floor. Midway, the rocks cut the flow into countless white ribbons. Amid the rising mist, it was hard to tell whether the mountain was in the clouds or the clouds were in the mountain. Looking up, water came from the sky, and the mountain rose from the earth. At this moment, we truly understood the essence of Guanzhu Gorge: "mountains and waters depend on each other, waterfalls and gorges connect." Only after two days of touring did we realize that the beauty of Guanzegou is truly "never enough": the first day’s glimpse was stunning, and the second day’s appreciation was heartfelt. Completing the whole journey, we found that the beauty of Guanzhu Gorge is never isolated waterfalls or gorges, but the "curves" of Panlong Gorge, the "density" of Wupu Gorge, the "layers" of Jiudie Waterfall, the "stillness" of Crocodile Pool, the "fierceness" of Tiger Mouth Waterfall, all culminating in the "majesty" of Guanze Tian Waterfall. Every step a scene, every scene a poem, making one leave the mountains physically but keep the heart in that secret realm of mountains and waters.