Daying River

Daying River

The Daying River is a national scenic area.

The Daying River is the largest water system in Yingjiang County, running through the entire region and dividing the beautiful Yingjiang Basin into two parts. Approved as a national scenic area by the State Council in 1994, it stretches 204.5 kilometers in length, with the widest point nearly 1 kilometer and the narrowest just 7.5 meters. The vast and unrestrained Daying River displays its extraordinary beauty with its unique location. The upper reaches of the Binqiang River surge through rugged mountains and steep ridges, flanked by dense forests and dotted with strange rocks in the riverbed. With its turbulent waters, it presents a scene reminiscent of “ape cries heard unceasingly on both banks, while light boats glide past myriad peaks,” making it an ideal spot for adventure rafting. In the middle reaches of the Daying River, fertile soil and diligent people are embraced by emerald bamboo groves and vast expanses of azure water. Farmlands, Dai villages, plowing water buffaloes, and shepherd boys, along with blooming rice and reeds, wild ducks, and fish, together compose a picturesque rural idyll. Drifting on the river here truly feels like “a bamboo raft sailing on the stream, with beauties gliding through a painted scene,” making it a rare leisure and drifting destination. The lower reaches of the Daying River feature breathtaking natural wonders such as “Tiger Leaping Over the River” and “Snow Spray from Cave Heavens.” The wide river, spanning a kilometer, is squeezed through two massive natural boulders, narrowing to just 7.5 meters. The surging waters roar like thunder, with rainbows arching overhead and misty spray resembling falling snow. The magnificent and beautiful Daying River possesses endless charm. It is not only a stunning landscape but also a scroll of human history and culture. Currently, the Yingjiang County Party Committee and County Government have listed the Daying River as part of the “Daying River Ethnic Culture and Tourism Area” project, which has entered the initiation and development phase. The Daying River has shaped a legendary history and remarkable figures, while also nurturing generations of people from all ethnic groups. Today, the ever-flowing Daying River welcomes new vitality and energy.

The banks of the Daying River are lined with boundless farmland, dotted with bamboo-surrounded villages. Along the shore, there are rows of phoenix-tail bamboo embankments, and in the middle of the river lie green islets. Blue skies, white clouds, emerald bamboo, and verdant islets are reflected on the gently flowing river. Small boats drift quietly by, while melodious Dai folk songs drift with the breeze, resembling an exquisite lyrical poem.

The beautiful natural scenery blends organically with the magical ethnic culture and local customs, forming the distinct characteristics of the scenic area. Major attractions include: the Zhina "Guangbang" Drum Culture Zone, the Hometown Tourist Area of Dao Anren, the Cradle of Dai Opera Culture Zone, the Xiang’e Lake Scenic Area in Jiucheng, the Comprehensive Folklore Exhibition Zone, the Ancient Wanxiang City Zone, and the Site of the Margary Incident—seven major scenic zones in total. Throughout history, many literati have composed numerous poetic works inspired by the picturesque Daying River. As early as the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, there was a poem titled “Night Cruise on the Daying River”: “Azure sky like water, wild geese cross autumn skies; A fine night invites lantern-lit strolls. A stretch of shimmering waves under the moon’s embrace— Who plays the flute by the little bridge?” In 1994, the Daying River was designated as a national scenic area alongside the Ruili River.