The Hundred Flowers Azalea Scenic Area is located at the border between Qianxi and Dafang counties in Guizhou Province, where azalea species account for four out of the world’s five subgenera.
The flowers come in a variety of colors, including bright red, pink, purple, golden yellow, light yellow, snow white, pale white, and light green. The most rare sight is a single tree bearing flowers of different colors, with some trees showcasing up to seven different hues. Hundred Flowers Azalea is hailed as the “world’s largest natural garden.”
and more than a hundred varieties. The Hundred Flowers Valley is hailed as "the world's largest natural garden."
Attraction Introduction
Baihua Ping (Hundred Flowers Flat)
Baihua Ping boasts a rich variety of colorful azaleas. Legend has it that during the blooming season, celestial fairies secretly descend to admire the flowers and sing and dance with the young people among the blossoms. As a result, this area becomes the ideal venue for the Yi people’s Flower-Inserting Festival and the Miao people’s Flower-Slope Gathering every year.
Jinji Qing (Golden Pheasant Valley)
Here, the azaleas grow tall and dense, with pink and captivating Rhododendron xanthostephanum, yellow Rhododendron irroratum, large white rhododendrons, and deep red Rhododendron delavayi growing together, attracting golden pheasants to make their homes and breed here. The golden pheasant is a Class II protected animal in China, and if you’re lucky enough to spot one, never harm or frighten it.
Huamei Ling (Thrush Ridge)
Legend has it that there was once a golden thrush with the most beautiful and frequent song. The scientific name for the thrush is Garrulax canorus, whose melodious and clear calls earn it the title of the “king of birds.” When it sings, other birds nearby dare not chirp, which is why this place is called Thrush Ridge.
Lansheng Feng (Scenic View Peak)
Standing atop Lansheng Feng, the mountain breeze brings waves of color—the reds like rolling fire dragons or soaring flames, especially the scarlet Rhododendron delavayi, blazing in bright crimson, deep crimson, shiny red, water red, light red, flesh red, and pink, all truly eye-catching. The whites resemble surging sea clouds and shifting landscapes, a breathtaking sight.
Maying Lin (Rhododendron delavayi Forest)
The Rhododendron delavayi trees here are tall with dense blossoms, some having two to three hundred flowers per cluster. The flower bunches blaze like fiery balls on the branches, dyeing the sky, the earth, visitors’ faces, and the surrounding mountains red. Also called “Horse Chestnut Flower” or “Suoma Flower,” legend says it is a sacred flower formed from the blood of the Suoma maiden.
Jinpo Ling (Golden Slope Ridge)
The flowers on Jinpo Ling are particularly stunning—some slopes are covered in bright red, as glorious as morning glow with a riot of colors; others are blanketed in snow white, shining brilliantly under the sun; while some bloom with a profusion of various flowers. When evening glow shines upon them, the fiery red landscape earns this place the name “Golden Slope Ridge.”
Longchang Jiuyi (Longchang Nine Posts)
In the 17th year of the Hongwu reign (1384), Yi female politician She Xiang endured humiliation to go to the capital and accuse Ma Ye, who stirred up trouble, acted tyrannically, and caused unrest, before Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. To protect the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang had Ma Ye apologize to Shuixi (now covering Dafang, Qianxi, Bijie, and parts of Yunnan and Sichuan). When asked how she wished to be rewarded, She Xiang offered to build nine courier stations to connect the southwestern frontier with the Central Plains, constructing a 568-li ancient post road and making an indelible contribution to the development of the region. It is known to the world as the Ancient Post Road.
Red Army Battle Site
In February 1936, the Second and Sixth Armies of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army campaigned in northwestern Guizhou. They successively crossed the Yachi River, captured Qianxi, Dading (now Dafang), and Bijie, established revolutionary power in the Qian-Da-Bi region, and carried out Red Army recruitment campaigns and medical care for the wounded here. Among the Yi people, there is a legend that goes, “When the azaleas bloom, the Red Army brothers are coming back.”
Shuhua Feng (Flower-Counting Peak)
Shuhua Feng is the best spot to view the azaleas, showcasing the scale and grandeur of Hundred Flowers Azalea. You might try counting how many flower peaks and varieties you can see in the distance.
Luoying Tai (Petal-Falling Platform)
The azalea is the flower of the people, of heroes, and of the Red Army—it is also a sacred flower in the hearts of the Yi people, who call it “Suoma Flower.” Here, azalea petals fall onto the pathways, creating a beautiful scene of petals scattered across the land. Hence, it is called Petal-Falling Platform.
Shexiang Ling (She Xiang Ridge)
Shexiang Ling is where She Xiang and Ai Cui fell in love. That March, She Xiang from the Guduo Mountain Village in Shuixi (now in Gulin County, Sichuan) heard that the tribal leader Ai Cui had set up a floral gathering at Yunluo Mountain, inviting young men and women from all around for horse racing and archery competitions. Ai Cui was captivated by She Xiang. Later, She Xiang took charge of Shuixi governance, developed official roads connecting to the Central Plains, and established nine courier stations from Longchang (now Xiuwen County) to Bijie. She Xiang’s historical achievements are celebrated as those of a Yi female politician—a heroine who safeguarded national unity and ethnic solidarity.
Drunken Nine Oxen
Drunken Nine Oxen is one of the most vividly evocative scenic spots in the Pudi area. The name originates from a touching legend. According to *The History of the Southern Barbarians*, in the 17th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty, Lady She Xiang, the Tusi (local chieftain) of Shuixi, presented nine Shuixi oxen among her tribute to Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang to help maintain peace on the southwestern frontier. However, when the oxen reached this spot, they were captivated by the vibrant azalea blossoms and refused to go any further, becoming enchanted and lying down in the azalea grove. After Lady She Xiang reported this to Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, he said, “Let’s call this place ‘Drunken Nine Oxen.’” And thus the name was born.
Colorful Road
There were originally five paths leading through the flower fields. Later, people noticed that during the peak blooming season, these paths were covered with a carpet of fallen petals, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene. As a result, the “Five-Forked Road” was renamed “Colorful Road.” This spot features a particularly rich and diverse collection of azalea species.
Zhijia Alu Sacred Mountain
Zhijia Alu Sacred Mountain, also known as Jiulong Mountain, is the sacred mountain of the Yi people’s divine king, Zhijia Alu. A legend tells of a time when five holes suddenly opened in the sky, unleashing floods that submerged the earth. Zhijia Alu hurried to plug the holes, working tirelessly for three years. Although he managed to seal them, the floodwaters had already risen to the base of the heavens. He resolved to use his divine whip to drive countless mountains to fill the gaps. For nine long years, day and night without rest, he drove the mountains ceaselessly. Exhausted beyond measure, he lacked even the strength to open his eyes and fell asleep at the foot of this mountain. The divine being Cejuzu, witnessing his exhausted slumber, took pity on him and had his divine whip confiscated, leaving him with an ordinary whip instead. When Zhijia Alu awoke after three years of sleep and tried to wield his whip, it held no divine power. Thus, the mountain remained where it was. To honor him, later generations named the mountain Zhijia Alu Mountain.
Yuntai Ridge
Strolling along the bluestone path through the azalea groves, visitors are constantly greeted by clusters of flowers at varying heights, brushing past as if walking amid a sea of colorful clouds—hence the name Yuntai Ridge, or "Cloud Terrace Ridge."
Yishan Lake
Yishan Lake is a jade-like jewel nestled in the southern part of the Hundred Miles Azalea Scenic Area. With over 400 acres of shimmering blue waters, its winding surface nestles against the azalea forests of Lily Penglai City. As the saying goes, “A mountain without water lacks spirit; water is the mountain’s eye, its soft bosom—the most soul-stirring gift of nature.” Yishan Lake is a masterpiece of the Hundred Miles Azalea scenic landscape. Fed by streams converging within the lake, it is embraced by surrounding hills, while the waters wind around the land. The lake’s crystal-clear surface bathes the mountains, which divide it into graceful curves and bays, soft and tender in beauty. In spring, the lakeside bursts with blooming flowers; in summer, vast expanses of green flourish; in late autumn, the forests glow in layers of color; and in deep winter, the landscape is draped in pristine white.
Midijiang River
Midijiang River is a small tributary of the Wu River system. The river flows from high mountains into deep valleys, undergoing several dramatic descents. Among these, a section of 60 meters features a trio of cascading waterfalls in rapid succession, with a total drop of 40 meters. The river interacts dynamically with the rocks—sometimes surging over stone surfaces, other times vanishing into mountain crevices—forming a variety of karst wonders such as High Stone Dam, Stone Pig Trough, Natural Bridge, and Flower Bottom Rock. The area’s lush ecological vegetation supports a rich habitat. Along the 21.9-kilometer stretch of rocky riverbanks, not only are there primeval azalea forests, but also rare and precious ancient plants. Highlights include a millennium-old mulberry tree known as “China’s Number One Mulberry,” with a trunk diameter of 3.25 meters and a height of over 40 meters; an imperial-granted ginkgo that forms a forest on its own, with a canopy covering over 600 square meters despite being over 600 years old; ancient camphor trees requiring four people to encircle; wild osmanthus trees with trunks 2.2 meters in circumference; and wild bayberry trees with trunks 1.8 meters around. The Hundred Miles Azalea area presents a natural landscape painting filled with towering ancient trees, hidden rarities, birdsong echoing through the mountains, and continuous blooms throughout the seasons.
Transportation
From Guiyang to Qianxi County, the distance is about 120 kilometers, taking approximately three and a half hours by car, with fares ranging from 15–20 RMB per person. Taking a taxi costs around 150 RMB. From Qianxi County to the scenic Jinfang Township, there are an additional 27 kilometers. Daily buses depart from the county bus station to the area, with minibus fares at 5–10 RMB and minibuses at 20 RMB per vehicle. Food · Accommodation · Shopping
Qianxi County offers a wide range of accommodation options, including the Shuixi Hotel, Hongyan Hotel, Liancheng Hotel, and Xinyu Grand Hotel, with standard rooms priced between 80–200 RMB. Guesthouses are available for 10–20 RMB per person, and there are numerous small hotels near the passenger transport station.
Local delicacies include tea snacks, sticky rice wrapped tofu, and a variety of skillet-cooked dishes. Specialty tourist products feature stone and tree stump bonsai, root carvings, batik, and embroidery.
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