Huangping Zhong'an River Scenic Area

Huangping Zhong'an River Scenic Area

The Zhong'an River Scenic Area is one of the ten major scenic zones within the national-level Wuyang River Scenic Area. It is located in Zhong'an Town, about 20 kilometers south of Huangping County, in the southwestern part of the scenic area. The planned area spans 16 square kilometers and features 50 scenic spots. It is divided into an ethnic village landscape zone, a canyon surfing and rafting zone, a Zhuanshui River canyon landscape zone, and a Zhong'an Town ethnic culture zone.

The four sub-areas of the scenic zone are connected by the Zhong'an River, forming a vibrant chain of experiences. Whether you're surfing down the river by boat, hiking through deep valleys and quiet streams, or joining in on unique ethnic festivals, the activities are distinctive, highly participatory, and offer a strong immersive experience.

The scenic area consists of karst landform landscapes, Zhong'an River water scenery, mountain landscapes, cultural attractions, and ethnic customs, all contributing to its unique charm. The “Thirty-Three Waves” come one after another, offering thrilling yet safe rafting experiences. Features like “Riding a Donkey Backwards” and “Beauty Admiring Her Reflection” are vividly lifelike. The intermittent waterfalls follow their own mysterious rhythm, occurring like clockwork. An ancient iron-chain bridge spans the river, majestic and imposing. Add to this the excitement of early morning bullfighting, bird-fighting, and cockfighting during lively ethnic festivals, as well as the delicious flavors of authentic sour fish soup.

The Zhong'an River Scenic Area is a composite destination that combines multiple resources, integrating vacationing, leisure, wellness, and adventure tourism with rich landscapes and cultural charm. It holds high scientific research value. The ancient gorges of Zhong'an were once part of the upper reaches of the Wuyang River, known as "Upper Wuyang", located within Huangping County. As this section remains largely undeveloped, it sees few visitors. However, the ten-mile ancient gorge of Zhong'an River in Huangping has become a “hotspot”, with resorts established and a unique “surfing” tourism experience that differs from typical rafting trips.

About one li upstream from Zhong'an Town, the river cuts through towering mountains, forming steep cliffs and a dramatic canyon. Surfing begins at the Pingliang Wharf in the upper reaches. Visitors board a long, narrow boat shaped like a bamboo leaf—the fish-tail wooden boat—and under the guidance of the boatman, they glide swiftly downstream. The ten-mile ancient gorge is filled with continuous rapids and awe-inspiring waves. There are over 30 major turbulent rapids, collectively referred to as the “Thirty-Three Waves”. Local boatmen use special techniques to navigate these dangerous waters: they handle long oars at the front while rowers and pole handlers work from the back. Skilled oar masters expertly steer the boat through the rapids, making the journey thrilling yet safe. Within the valley, hidden pools layer the gullies, and extraordinary peaks rise majestically, with beautiful scenery everywhere. But the boat moves swiftly like a shuttle, and if the boatmen didn’t give advance notice, you’d miss the sights in a flash. Once the boat exits the ancient gorge, an old iron-chain bridge stretches overhead, and suddenly the world opens up—the water becomes calmer, the green mountains on both banks look like ink paintings, and shadows of bamboo sway along the shore, with villages dotting the landscape—a true paradise. The Zhong'an River region is home to many ethnic groups, among which one of the most unique is a community whose ethnicity remains officially unrecognized—they are commonly referred to as the Gejia people. After the surfing adventure, you can visit a Gejia mountain village to experience the distinctive culture of this rare ethnic group, adding even more intrigue to your trip.

Zhong'an Town: Zhong'an Town is situated on the banks of the Zhong'an River, south of Huangping County. It borders Wengping Township to the east, faces Wan Shui Town and Da Feng Dong Township of Kaili City across the river to the south, neighbors Chongren Township to the west, and is bounded by Xinzhou Town to the north. The Hunan-Guizhou Highway runs through the town, and with the completion of the graded highway from Huangping to Kaili, it is now 21 kilometers from the county seat and 34 kilometers by road from Kaili, the prefectural capital. The total area is 109.78 square kilometers, including 27,549.05 mu of arable land. The town mainly produces rice, corn, rapeseed, and flue-cured tobacco. Zhong'an Town is a pilot “Double Hundred” small town in Guizhou Province. It administers 3 neighborhood committees and 13 resident groups... More detailed information on Zhong'an Town ++