Encountering the Beauty of China: Experiencing Poetry and the Horizon - Series on Walking the Motherland, Part 1: Comprehensive (7) Grand Waterfalls

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China's vast territory and diverse landforms mean that waterfalls are widely distributed across the country, found in almost every province. Different geological structures and formation causes give these waterfalls of varying sizes and styles an ever-changing and diverse landscape. Yet among these waterfalls scattered throughout the country, only a few meet people's aesthetic standards in terms of the three key elements of a waterfall: flow rate, drop, and width. These are the ones that offer a visual feast and thus enter the public eye, gradually becoming well-known tourist attractions.

Guizhou - Anshun - Huangguoshu Waterfall

Guizhou - Anshun - Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area

Guangxi - Chongzuo - Detian Waterfall

Shaanxi - Yichuan - Hukou Waterfall

Yunnan - Luoping - Jiulong Waterfall

Sichuan - Jiuzhaigou - Nuorilang Waterfall

Guizhou - Chishui - Chishui Grand Waterfall

Guangdong - Meizhou - Longguizhai Waterfall

The beauty of a waterfall refers to the beauty of dynamic water scenery. It integrates form, color, and sound, possessing a unique expressiveness. Different terrains and formation causes determine the waterfall's form, giving it either a majestic or graceful beauty. Majestic waterfalls are overwhelming, like a flood bursting through a dam or a thunderous force, offering a sense of grand magnificence. Graceful waterfalls have light, delicate flows and elegant postures, offering a hazy and soft beauty. Waterfalls across the country display both majestic and graceful characteristics, all without exception being miraculous works of nature.

Shaanxi - Yichuan - Hukou Waterfall

Guizhou - Anshun - Huangguoshu Waterfall

Guangxi - Chongzuo - Detian Waterfall

Guizhou - Chishui - Chishui Grand Waterfall

Sichuan - Jiuzhaigou - Nuorilang Waterfall

Over the years of traveling across the motherland, I have encountered countless waterfalls of all sizes during my journeys. Most were merely passed by or glanced at, leaving little impression. Only a very few waterfalls, scattered in all directions and often requiring a special trip, have left me amazed, stunned, deeply impressed, and unforgettable. Among these, the well-known and highly scenic ones that have left a beautiful impression include Guizhou's Huangguoshu Waterfall, Guangxi's Detian Waterfall, Shaanxi's Hukou Waterfall, Yunnan's Jiulong Waterfall, Sichuan's Nuorilang Waterfall, Guizhou's Chishui Grand Waterfall, and Guangdong's Longguizhai Waterfall. Among them, Huangguoshu Waterfall, Detian Waterfall, Hukou Waterfall, Jiulong Waterfall, and Nuorilang Waterfall have been selected by China National Geographic as China's most beautiful waterfalls. These waterfalls are either majestic, precipitous, graceful, or gentle, incredibly beautiful and incomparable, well worth viewing and sharing with everyone.

Guizhou - Anshun - Huangguoshu Waterfall

Guangxi - Chongzuo - Detian Waterfall

Yunnan - Luoping - Jiulong Waterfall

Sichuan - Jiuzhaigou - Nuorilang Waterfall

Guangdong - Meizhou - Longguizhai Waterfall

Guizhou Huangguoshu Waterfall

Huangguoshu Waterfall is located in Huangguoshu Town, Zhenning Buyi and Miao Autonomous County, Anshun City, Guizhou Province. With the Huangguoshu Waterfall as the center, there are over a dozen waterfalls distributed around it. Huangguoshu Waterfall is the largest primary waterfall in the Huangguoshu Waterfall cluster. As the largest waterfall in China and the third largest in the world, it can be considered one of the representative natural attractions of China. Its fame began with the Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake, and through generations of spread, it has become a well-known scenic spot.

Huangguoshu Waterfall is renowned for its immense water flow. The waterfall is 77.8 meters high, with the main waterfall being 67 meters high, and the waterfall is 101 meters wide, with the main waterfall's top width being 83.3 meters.

1. Huangguoshu Waterfall has several viewing platforms, allowing visitors to view the waterfall from multiple angles: above, below, front, back, left, and right, to appreciate its grandeur, uniqueness, danger, and beauty.

2. The Huangguoshu scenic area is large. The ticket includes three major attractions: Huangguoshu Waterfall, Tianxingqiao Scenic Area, and Duopotang Waterfall (valid for two days, but each attraction can only be entered once). If visiting all these attractions, plan at least a full day.

3. Near and around the scenic area, there are many hotels and homestays for accommodation and dining.

Guizhou - Anshun - Huangguoshu Waterfall

Guizhou - Anshun - Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area

Guizhou - Anshun - Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area - Duopotang Waterfall

Guangxi Detian Waterfall

Detian Waterfall is located in Detian Village, Shuolong Town, Daxin County, Chongzuo City, Guangxi, on the China-Vietnam border. It spans both China and Vietnam, making it the fourth largest transnational waterfall in the world and the largest in Asia.

The source of the waterfall is the Guichun River, the border river between China and Vietnam. It flows into Vietnam and then back into Guangxi, passing through Detian Village in Daxin County, then cascading down a 60-meter-high cliff in three tiers, forming the magnificent landscape of Detian Waterfall. On the left side of the waterfall is Vietnam's Ban Gioc Waterfall, which has a smaller water volume. The two waterfalls, one large and one small, hang on the green cliffs like a pair of close sisters.

Detian Waterfall falls in three tiers, with a maximum width of over 200 meters, a depth of over 60 meters, a drop of over 70 meters, and an average annual flow rate of 50 cubic meters per second. The local geology is thick-bedded dolomite, making it the largest natural waterfall in Southeast Asia.

1. To view the waterfall up close, you can take a bamboo raft on the river near the shore to see and photograph the waterfall, offering a different visual experience.

2. Not far from the waterfall, there is a China-Vietnam border marker. Some Vietnamese vendors sell small items there, so you can stroll around and take photos.

3. The Detian Waterfall area also has attractions such as Mingshi Pastoral and Tongling Grand Canyon that can be visited together.

Guangxi - Chongzuo - Detian Waterfall

Guangxi - Chongzuo - Detian Waterfall Scenic Area - Guichun River

Guangxi - Chongzuo - Detian Waterfall Scenic Area - China-Vietnam Border Marker

Guangxi - Chongzuo - Mingshi Pastoral

Shaanxi Hukou Waterfall

Hukou Waterfall is located in the Yellow River bed of the Qin-Jin Grand Canyon. It borders Hukou Township, Yichuan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province to the west, and Hukou Town, Ji County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province to the east. It is a shared tourist attraction between the two provinces.

Because the Yellow River carries a large amount of sediment, this has become a rare golden-yellow waterfall in the world. Hukou Waterfall is the second largest waterfall in China and the largest yellow waterfall in the world. When the Yellow River flows here, the cliffs on both sides stand steep, and the river mouth narrows like a teapot spout, hence the name Hukou (Teapot Mouth) Waterfall.

Upstream, the Yellow River is 300 meters wide, but within a distance of less than 500 meters, it is compressed to a width of 20-30 meters. A water flow of 1000 cubic meters per second pours down from a 20-meter-high cliff, creating the momentum of 'a thousand-mile Yellow River gathered in one pot.' Standing by the river, one cannot help but be awestruck. This place is also hailed as the 'National Spirit' and 'Soul of the Yellow River,' a spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation's indomitable spirit.

1. Hukou Waterfall can be viewed from the scenic area on the Shaanxi side in Hukou Township, Yichuan County, Yan'an City, or from the scenic area on the Shanxi side in Hukou Town, Ji County, Linfen City. It is said that the Shaanxi side is more famous and offers a better viewing experience.

2. When visiting, especially for photography, do not get too close to the shore. The rock surfaces near the shore are often covered with moisture and loess, making it easy to slip if not careful.

Shaanxi - Yichuan - Hukou Waterfall

Yunnan Jiulong Waterfall

Jiulong Waterfall is located on the Jiulong River, 22 kilometers north of Luoping County town, Qujing City, Yunnan Province. Due to special geological structures and thousands of years of water erosion, a series of ten waterfalls of varying heights, widths, and forms have formed along a 4-kilometer stretch of the river, taking advantage of the different landforms. The largest one is 112 meters wide and 56 meters high, majestic and spectacular, known as the First Waterfall of Jiulong.

The Jiulong Waterfall cluster has its unique viewing characteristics due to the large number of waterfalls and dense distribution of scenic spots. The scenery is beautiful throughout the year, earning it the reputation of 'Ten Waterfalls of Jiulong, a Unique Wonder of the South.' The shallow beaches and deep pools between the waterfalls are diverse and colorful. Visitors can enjoy the natural scenery and feel the grandeur of the waterfalls.

1. The entire scenic area is formed by multiple waterfalls connected together, each with its own characteristics. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent scenery from a high vantage point.

2. The waterfalls change endlessly with the seasons. During the rainy season, they are particularly spectacular, and the thunderous roar of the large waterfall can be heard from afar.

3. Staying at a farmhouse near the scenic area and eating authentic farmhouse dishes is a good choice.

Yunnan - Luoping - Jiulong Waterfall

Sichuan Nuorilang Waterfall

Nuorilang Waterfall is located near the Nuorilang Visitor Center in Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, at an altitude of 2365 meters. The waterfall is 270 meters wide and 24.5 meters high. It is one of China's large calcified waterfalls and the widest waterfall in China. In Tibetan, 'Nuorilang' means majestic and magnificent. The Nuorilang Waterfall is vast and broad, like an enormous silver screen hanging on the fault of the Jiuzhaigou valley.

There is a viewing platform opposite the waterfall where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the waterfall. Clear snowmelt comes from afar, flows over old tree roots and through barren meadows, gathers into the Mirror Lake like a pristine maiden, then quietly slides out from the bushes and plunges down the fault, forming the spectacular Nuorilang Waterfall.

1. According to reports, this famous landscape in Jiuzhaigou has undergone significant changes due to a major earthquake several years ago.

2. Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area has countless waterfalls of all sizes. Among them, Zhenzhu Tan Waterfall, Shuzheng Waterfall, and Shuanglong Hai Waterfall are also very beautiful and well worth visiting.

Sichuan - Jiuzhaigou - Nuorilang Waterfall

Sichuan - Jiuzhaigou - Zhenzhu Tan Waterfall

Sichuan - Jiuzhaigou - Shuzheng Waterfall

Sichuan - Jiuzhaigou - Shuanglong Hai Waterfall

Guizhou Chishui Grand Waterfall

Chishui Grand Waterfall, also known as Shizhangdong Waterfall, is located in the south of Chishui City, Guizhou Province. It is situated in a Danxia landform and is the largest waterfall on China's Danxia landforms. The waterfall is 76 meters high and 80 meters wide. Experts and scholars praise it as 'another waterfall wonder of China' and one of the best waterfall wonders in the country, comparable to Huangguoshu Waterfall.

Chishui Grand Waterfall is one of the core components of the 'Chishui Danxia' World Natural Heritage application. The waterfall is magnificent, with obvious Danxia geological structures on the surrounding cliffs. The water flows endlessly throughout the year, and the combination of Danxia and waterfall is particularly spectacular.

1. There is a considerable distance from the scenic area entrance to the grand waterfall. Spending a small amount of money to take the scenic area sightseeing bus is convenient and fast; walking allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way, appreciate the Danxia landforms, and breathe fresh air, which is also a good choice.

2. There are few places to eat inside the scenic area. If you plan to visit for a long time, bring some snacks.

Guizhou - Chishui - Chishui Grand Waterfall

Guizhou - Chishui - Chishui Grand Waterfall Scenic Area

Guangdong Longguizhai Waterfall

Longguizhai Waterfall is located in Fengshun County, Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, 13 kilometers from the county seat. The waterfall is 125 meters high, with a drop of 115 meters and a width of 62 meters. It is majestic and spectacular, known as 'the No. 1 Waterfall in Eastern Guangdong.' The area has beautiful mountains and clear waters, and a serene environment.

1. You can experience the magnificence of the waterfall from the foot of the mountain, or climb up the hiking trail to enjoy different perspectives of the waterfall at different heights.

2. Before reaching the scenic area, there is a section of mountain road with many curves and narrow lanes. If driving, be careful to ensure safety.

Guangdong - Meizhou - Longguizhai Waterfall

Guangdong - Meizhou - Longguizhai Waterfall Scenic Area