Chishui Danxia Scenic Area

Chishui Danxia Scenic Area

Chishui Danxia Scenic Area is a national scenic spot and a AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Guizhou Chishui Danxia National Geopark is located in Chishui City, Guizhou Province, on the southern edge of the Sichuan Basin, adjacent to the northern foothills of the Dalou Mountains in northern Guizhou and the western part of the Yangtze Craton. It represents an early youth-stage Danxia landform, covering an area of over 1,200 square kilometers, making it the largest Danxia landform in China.

Chishui Danxia, together with six other renowned Danxia landform scenic areas — Langshan in Hunan, Danxiashan in Guangdong, Taining in Fujian, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, and Jianglang Mountain in Zhejiang — forms the "China Danxia" site, which was inscribed as China's eighth natural World Heritage site at the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee.

Chishui Danxia is situated on the southern edge of the Sichuan Basin — China’s largest red-bed basin — at the transitional zone between the Guizhou Plateau and the Sichuan Basin. The development of its Danxia landform is in the youthful early rejuvenation stage, featuring widespread canyons, cliffs, streams, and waterfalls. The Danxia landform here is mainly of the plateau canyon and mountainous plateau canyon types, with deep-cut valleys, fragmented terrain, and significant elevation changes. The highest elevation reaches about 1,730 meters, while the lowest is 240 meters, with a relative height difference of nearly 1,500 meters. There are multiple-level landform surfaces at elevations of 1,600–1,700 meters, 1,400–1,500 meters, 1,200–1,300 meters, 900–1,000 meters, and 300–500 meters.

The Cretaceous Jiading Group forms the core geological foundation for the development of Chishui Danxia landform. It primarily consists of thick-layered, blocky red sandstone interbedded with siltstone, characterized by hard rock that is highly resistant to erosion, well-developed vertical joints, and often forms grand and majestic Danxia landforms such as canyons and cliffs. Jurassic strata mainly comprise purplish-red and purplish-gray sandstone, mudstone, and shale, which are relatively soft and weakly resistant to erosion. These mainly form eroded and denuded red-rock low mountains and hills, with gentle slopes.

Chishui Danxia spans two counties/cities — Chishui and Xishui — and includes multiple scenic spots such as Foguangyan, Yangjiayan, Yanziyan, Chishui Waterfall, Sidonggou Waterfall Cluster, Chishui Alsophila, Xishui Danxia Valley, and Feige. In 2010, China Danxia was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, which included Chishui Danxia. In 2012, it became a national geopark. In 2005, it was rated as one of China’s most beautiful Danxia landforms by Chinese National Geography.

Datong–Bing’an Zone Geographic Coordinates: 105°37′38″~105°51′50″ E, 28°24′37″~28°29′29″ N, covering an area of 71.03 km². This zone features Danxia landforms, waterfall landscapes, and relict plants, including Danxia cliffs, Danxia stone pillars, natural bridges, waterfall views, as well as historical and cultural sites such as the ancient town of Bing’an and the Four Crossings of the Chishui River. It is a comprehensive zone integrating science education, natural sightseeing, and cultural immersion.

Based on the distribution of natural landscapes and administrative divisions, the zone is divided into three scenic areas: Sidonggou Scenic Area, Yangjiayan Scenic Area, and Bing’an Scenic Area.

Sidonggou Scenic Area

Sidonggou Scenic Area is located on a tributary of the Datong River, 15 km from the city center, under the jurisdiction of Datong Town. Its main attractions include relict plants and four cascading waterfalls, covering an area of 14.98 km². It also features Danxia negative landforms such as natural bridges and small-scale structures.

Yangjiayan Scenic Area

Yangjiayan Scenic Area is situated by the Huaping River in Datong Town, 16 km from the city center, under the jurisdiction of Datong Town. It is known for its large single cave and a red honeycomb-like Danxia mural stone corridor as its highlight attractions, complemented by multi-tiered pristine waterfalls, as well as small structures like mud cracks and relict plants. The scenic area spans 23.39 km².

Bing’an Scenic Area

Bing’an Scenic Area is located southwest of Chishui City, 24 km from the city center, under the jurisdiction of Bing’an Town. It features unique Danxia peaks and rocks, the ancient Bing’an fortress, and relics from the Red Army’s Long March. The scenic area covers 32.51 km².

Lianghekou–Yuangou Zone Geographic Coordinates: 105°46′20″~105°56′14″ E, 28°16′37″~28°22′42″ N, covering an area of 63.71 km². This zone also centers around Danxia landforms, waterfall landscapes, and relict plants, including Danxia cliffs, Danxia stone pillars, Danxia stone peaks, and waterfall views. It also features ancient collapse deposits, lacustrine-swamp landscapes, and composite Danxia landforms combining plateaus and canyons. It serves as an educational and natural sightseeing destination.

The zone includes two scenic areas: Shiziyan Scenic Area and Guiyuanglin Scenic Area.

Shiziyan Scenic Area

Shiziyan Scenic Area is located east of Panlong River, 27 km from the city center, under the jurisdiction of Lianghekou Township. It mainly features various types of Danxia landforms and single- and multi-tiered waterfalls, covering an area of 46.22 km².

Guiyuanglin Scenic Area

Guiyuanglin Scenic Area is located in Guiyuanglin Village and Shilin Village, Yuangou Town, 42 km from the city center, under the jurisdiction of Yuangou Town. It is dominated by columnar Danxia rock formations, including various uniquely shaped rock formations, covering an area of 17.49 km².

Foguangyan Scenic Area is one of the best-developed, most fully exposed, and most typical Jurassic and Cretaceous Danxia landform scenic areas in China.

The entire scenic area includes two parts: Foguangyan and Wuzhufeng. Foguangyan is renowned for its Danxia landform. As the name suggests, it resembles a halo of Buddha — a steep Danxia cliff with a circular top and near-vertical sides, like a massive vermilion tome, along with a waterfall cascading down, creating a spectacular and awe-inspiring scene.

Wuzhufeng Scenic Area consists of five tower-like Danxia peaks, with unique shapes that are considered masterpieces of nature’s craftsmanship.

The flora and insects in the area are another major highlight. Along the stream valleys, Alsophila trees are planted, which only bloom once every 15 years and bear bitter-tasting fruit.

Time Needed

There is a path connecting Foguangyan and Wuzhufeng, but completing the loop takes over 4 hours. Visiting just the viewing platforms of Foguangyan and Wuzhufeng takes approximately 2.5–3 hours.

Transportation

There are no direct buses from Chishui to the Fuguangyan Five Pillar Peaks Scenic Area. You need to go to the Chishui Tourist Bus Station and take the long-distance bus from “Chishui–Taipingdu.” Buy a ticket to “Daqun,” and after boarding, inform the driver that you want to get off at “Fuguangyan.” The bus will stop at the main gate of the Fuguangyan Scenic Area. The fare is 15 yuan. On your return trip, after visiting both sites, you can take the shuttle bus back to the scenic area’s main gate and wait for a bus heading back to Chishui—it will stop if you wave.

The entrance ticket is 90 yuan; tickets are purchased at the scenic area’s main gate. The round-trip battery car costs 25 yuan, covering about 6 kilometers, and stops at the three-way intersection leading to the Fuguangyan direction and the Five Pillar Peaks direction. The left path leads to Fuguangyan, and the right to the Five Pillar Peaks.

Opening Hours

Off-season (December to March of the following year): 8:00–16:30; Peak season (March to November): 8:30–17:00

Location of the Scenic Spot

Yuanhou Town, Chishui City, Zunyi, Guizhou Province (44 kilometers southeast of the city)