Huangguoshu Waterfall

Overview

The largest waterfall in China and one of the biggest in Asia, Huangguoshu thunders ~77 m high and 101 m wide. A path leads through the 'Water-Curtain Cave' behind the falls — you literally walk inside the cliff and look out through the water. It anchors a cluster of waterfalls amid Guizhou's karst.

History

The Ming-dynasty traveller Xu Xiake described the falls four centuries ago, and they have long been sacred to the local Buyi and Miao peoples. Today they are Guizhou's flagship natural attraction.

Culture & religion

Huangguoshu sits at the heart of Guizhou's karst-and-minority landscape — the homeland of Buyi and Miao cultures, terraced valleys and ethnic festivals. The walk behind the falls is a rare, almost theatrical encounter with the Chinese love of dramatic water.

What to see

• The main falls

  The 77 m main curtain — feel the spray and roar from the viewing platforms.

• Water-Curtain Cave (水帘洞)

  A walkway behind the falls, looking out through the falling water — Huangguoshu's signature thrill.

• Doupotang Falls (陡坡塘)

  A wide, gentler falls upstream — a famous film location.

• Tianxingqiao karst (天星桥)

  Stepping-stone paths through a maze of karst rocks, water and plants.

Visiting

Expect lots of stairs (escalators help) and getting misty near the falls. The ticket usually covers three clusters — Doupotang, the Great Falls, and Tianxingqiao — linked by shuttle. Allow a half to full day.

Tickets

Around ¥160 plus shuttle, seasonally adjusted (approximate — confirm officially).

Opening hours

Roughly 07:30–18:00. Flow is most dramatic in the summer rainy season.

Suggested route

Great Falls + Water-Curtain Cave → Doupotang Falls → Tianxingqiao karst scenery. Half to full day.

Suggested routes

• 1. Three-cluster visit

  About half–full dayshuttle + walking

  Great Falls & Water-Curtain Cave → Doupotang → Tianxingqiao. The complete scenic area.

Points of interest

• 1

  Main Falls viewpoint · 大瀑布

  The 77 m main curtain.

• 2

  Water-Curtain Cave · 水帘洞

  Walk behind the falls.

• 3

  Doupotang Falls · 陡坡塘

  Wide upstream falls.

• 4

  Tianxingqiao · 天星桥

  Karst stepping-stone scenery.

Getting there

Anshun has high-speed rail (~1 h to the falls); it's ~2 h from the provincial capital, Guiyang.