Qingshuihe Scenic Area

Qingshuihe Scenic Area

Qingshuihe Scenic Area

Qingshuihe Scenic Area is located in Luchuying Hui Ethnic Township, at the border between Xingyi, Panxian, and the western part of the county. It lies upstream of the national scenic area, Malin Gorge, and is 25 kilometers from the county seat. The Qingshui River originates from Panxian and Panxian (note: likely a typo, should be Panxian and another place), stretching 100 kilometers in total, with a 4–5 kilometer section in Xingren.

The Mabaoshu Gorge within the scenic area is pristine and rustic, renowned for its narrowness, depth, seclusion, and peril. It has an average width of about 30 meters, an average depth of nearly 120–150 meters, and an elevation difference of around 400 meters. With its dramatic peaks, cascading waterfalls, swaying ancient vines, steep cliffs, and lingering mist, the gorge is deep, mysterious, and awe-inspiring. The turbulent Qingshui River flows through the gorge, running through Panxian, Xingren, and Xingyi, before joining the Nanpan River, the upper reaches of the Pearl River. The river stretches over 100 kilometers in total. Its waters are dotted with rocky outcrops, and the flow alternates between rapid and fierce, twisting and turning along its course. The Yuyan Hot Springs by the Donglang River maintain a water temperature of 42–45°C, with an hourly discharge of about 30 tons, and maintain a steady flow year-round. The most spectacular sight in the scenic area is the Nanguang Railway Bridge that spans the Qingshui River across the gorge. The bridge is 360 meters long, with the tallest pier reaching 100 meters (183 meters from the valley floor to the rail level) and the largest span measuring 128 meters. It is currently the highest railway bridge in the world. Together with the “most spectacular sky trench and crevice,” the “most beautiful Yubulu sinkhole,” the “highest and smallest flying waterfall,” and the “highest and smallest cliffside terraces” within the scenic area, they form the world’s five superlatives.

Location

Qingshuihe Town, Xingyi City, Guizhou Province