8-Day Tour of Guizhou

[Celebration] An eight-day trip to Guizhou felt like a dream soaked in mountains, rivers, and fireworks. [Victory] Flying from Changchun to Guiyang, the cool breeze immediately told me this place was different from the Northeast. The first stop was the Provincial Museum, where the bronze drums and silver ornaments in glass cases held stories in their carved lines—turns out the wisdom of the mountain people living in harmony with nature is deeply ingrained in their bones. Driving over 1,700 kilometers on this trip revealed the stark contrast between the Northeast and Guizhou. The mountains in the Northeast roll gently, while Guizhou’s peaks stand tall like a forest; the rain in the Northeast falls like cotton fluff, but in Guizhou, it pours down like a mist; and the hundreds of tunnels, one after another, feel like piercing through the earth’s folds. Countless winding roads up and down the mountains truly prove the saying “no three feet of flat land”—Guizhou’s mountains are truly unique. First stop: Mount Fanjing, known as the “Mirror of the Sky.” At the foot of this sacred mountain lies Yunse Village, the first Tujia village in China. Here, after experiencing the clear streams and birdsong, the peaceful village life brings a return to nature’s simplicity; the next day, the sacred land, wrapped in clouds and mist, looked like a fairyland. Only I truly understood the excitement and effort of reaching the summit. Although the clouds never parted to reveal the sun, it was a blessing in disguise that there was no storm… [Grin] Second stop: Zhenyuan Ancient Town, a century-old important town. The Wu Yang River reflects the stilted buildings, and the scent of sour soup fish in the evening breeze quickly erased the fatigue of the journey. In the rain-shrouded Thousand-Household Miao Village, you can feel the blend of modern and ancient. Third stop: Libo Xiaoqikong’s Wolong Pool looks like the sky itself has kissed the water, so blue it’s breathtaking. The Natural Bridge, Laya Waterfall, Sixty-Eight Step Waterfall, and Cuigu Waterfall—jumping down the stone steps, the splashing droplets shimmer green. The mint-scented breeze carries moisture, bringing a refreshing and pleasant coolness. Fourth stop: The Wanfenglin (Ten-Thousand Peaks Forest) in Xingyi offers a different kind of grandeur. Driving slowly through thousands of acres of rice fields, smelling the fragrance of rice and earth, admiring the Bagua rice fields among the peaks, and appreciating the famous ancient verse left by Xu Xiake: “There are many mountains in the world, but only here do peaks form a forest.” Xingyi’s Maling River Waterfall truly lives up to its nickname “the most beautiful scar on Earth,” crashing down fiercely from the cliff like a stampede of horses, wrapped in mist that forms a brilliant rainbow—wild and dazzling. Fifth stop: The roar of Huangguoshu Waterfall is the grand finale. The Baishui River plunges off a cliff, and the mist can soak the hems of your clothes; entering the Water Curtain Cave, water droplets patter on your face, and looking out, the waterfall looks like a white curtain covering most of the world. The steep slope pond and Silver Chain Waterfall are also breathtakingly beautiful. Sixth stop: Zhijin Cave’s stalactites under the lights look like a frozen galaxy. Walking inside feels like entering the heart of the earth, personally experiencing nature’s masterful craftsmanship, inspiring awe. Final stop: Guiyang city center. Qingyun Market is full of dazzling small goods; Minsheng Road’s food awakens the taste buds with various fresh beef hot pots, griddles, dry pots, and special beef noodles that leave a lasting impression; specialty taro chips, spicy chicken, sticky rice wrapped with crispy sausage and fish mint (an acquired taste), and spicy blood sausage noodles with soft blood curd, plus silk rolls filled with ten kinds of vegetables… all these delicious sour, spicy, fresh flavors make it impossible not to feel full [Laughing through tears]. After the meal, a cup of Guiyang’s unique iced juice (recommended cucumber and mango flavors) refreshes you so much you question reality. At the Guizhou Provincial Geological Museum, you can see stories hidden in stones spanning millions of years; then at Jiaxiu Tower, watch the sunset dye the river red, and enjoy the light show of the Twin Towers. The blend of old and new reveals the city’s calmness and inclusiveness. When leaving, the sights and fireworks outside the window are etched deeply in the heart… [Smile] The beauty of Guizhou is not in the straight-line distance on the map, but in the surprises after rain clears, in the sour, spicy, and fresh flavors, in the refreshing and pleasant breeze, in the comings and goings between peak forests and fields, and in the moments of experiencing the grandeur of nature…