Golden Dragon Valley Scenic Area

Golden Dragon Valley Scenic Area

Golden Dragon Valley Scenic Area

The Golden Dragon Valley Scenic Area is situated in the upper reaches of Yudong River. The eastern branch originates in Xingshi Town, Longli County, flowing through Shisungou, Yangjiaoqiao, and Shipantang in Yongle Township, Wudang District, Guiyang City, whereas the northern branch originates in the border region between Xingshi Town, Longli County, and Pianpo Township, Wudang District, Guiyang City, running through Dayan Village in Xingshi Town, Longli County, crossing the Xiaoyan Buyi Village. The two branches converge at the foot of Jiaozi Mountain in Xiaoyan and then join Yudong River, flow through Yudong Gorge, and meet Yuliang River in Toupu Village, Dongfeng Township, Wudang District, Guiyang City, before finally flowing into the Nanming River. It belongs to the Yangtze River basin and the Wujiang River system. The area has a subtropical monsoon humid climate. The average annual temperature is about 14°C, and the average annual rainfall is around 1,220 mm, with abundant precipitation, mild climate, no severe cold in winter, and no extreme heat in summer.

The northern branch of the Golden Dragon Valley scenic area is a mountain stream that winds its way through the landscape. It serves as the main irrigation water source for farmlands in Dayan Village and Xiaoyan Buyi Village in Xingshi Town. The southeastern branch, with a greater flow than the northern one, cuts deeply through areas such as Da Baiyan in Shisungou and Shipantang, forming relatively wide bays, river beaches, and terraces. It is a major irrigation water source for Yongle Township in Guiyang City. The north and south branches converge at the foot of Jiaozi Mountain in Xiaoyan, creating a deep, winding, and secluded canyon. The highest point in the scenic area is Dahengpo Mountain, with an elevation of 1,335.6 meters, while the lowest point is Laixiang Pavilion in Dongfeng Township, Guiyang City, at an elevation of 970 meters. This area is part of the Miao Ridge mountain range, featuring karst landforms typical of central Guizhou, including karst valleys, karst depressions, and karst gorges, collectively referred to as mid-mountain karst landforms.

The main rock formations in the Golden Dragon Valley scenic area consist of thin-layered carbonate rocks, characterized by distinctive herringbone (pyramid-shaped) fold structures, which are a rare example within folded geological formations. This unique feature gives the valley its name. Within this karst region, evolving karst river valleys can be observed engaging in processes of mutual capture and being captured, allowing visitors to witness the past, present, and future of karst gorges. Erosion, dissolution, scouring, and accumulation processes—including the formation and deposition of karst caves—are all visibly at play, vividly demonstrating the dynamic "sculpting" power of water, the great architect of karst wonders.

The primary vegetation in the scenic area consists mainly of shrubs, interspersed with evergreen oak forests, bamboo groves, and orchards. The vast forests on both sides of Yudong Gorge, including those near Daguan Kou, Wenbi Fort, and Erguo Mountain, serve as vital backdrops to the Yudong Gorge and Golden Dragon Valley scenic area. In the central scenic area, the villages of Dayan and Xiaoyan contain over 32 ancient camphor trees, 11 ancient cypress trees, and more than 40 ancient miscellaneous trees such as sandalwood, some of which are over a hundred years old. Among these century-old trees, there are five particularly remarkable and unique specimens.

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1. A pair of ancient cypress trees in the Xiaoyan Buyi Village remains an unsolved mystery to this day.

2. The Fairy Tree, perched on a cliff in Golden Dragon Valley, is strikingly lifelike.

3. An ancient camphor tree cluster located beside a Buyi village on the mountainside, named the Camphor Garden, is a valuable resource in urgent need of protection and utilization.

4. The Dragon Claw Ancient Camphor, situated on the white cliff of Jiaozi Mountain in Xiaoyan, is the most picturesque tree in the Xiaoyan Buyi Village.

5. The Bellflower Tree, also known as the Ma’an Tree, located in the Xiaoyan Buyi Village, displays a color transition from green to light yellow to bright red to earthy yellow when in bloom. Its flowering season lasts from June to October each year, with the flowers turning earthy yellow in winter. When the wind blows, the flowers produce a sound like a bell, hence its name. From July to September, the flowers are red and vibrant.