Yunhu Mountain

　　Yunhu Mountain is situated in the Lubuge Provincial Scenic Area, a provincial-level tourist attraction.

　　Lubuge Town is one of the six towns identified by the Xingyi Municipal Party Committee and Government for tourism development. The town boasts exceptional tourism and ethnic cultural resources. It is home to China’s first power station, Lubuge Hydropower Station, to be tendered internationally during the country’s opening-up period. It also features Asia’s tallest transmission slant tower, and the Lubuge Provincial Scenic Area, known for its “majestic, spectacular, steep, beautiful, and serene” landscapes. This scenic area is hailed as a dazzling tourism jewel at the junction of Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangxi. Within the area, there are well-preserved Yi ethnic villages, the under-construction Lubu Yi Cultural Park, as well as the Maojia Tomb Cluster and Yi Script Stone Tablets—provincial-level cultural heritage sites renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship and ethnic characteristics. It is a border town with promising tourism development potential.

　　Lubuge Town is located at the junction of Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangxi (three provinces/regions), and features abundant tourism resources. The Yunhu Mountain Scenic Area, a provincial-level scenic spot, is praised as a radiant pearl where the three regions meet.

　　The Yunhu Mountain Scenic Area enjoys a unique geographical location, combining majesty, wonder, steepness, and beauty. The area enjoys a mild and moist climate and is rich in wildlife and karst ecological landscapes. With a forest coverage rate of 82%, and an average annual temperature between 16 to 17 degrees Celsius, it is home to groups of the nationally protected second-class macaque. The area also hosts China’s first internationally tendered hydropower project—the 600,000-kilowatt Lubuge Hydropower Station—which set six national records in the history of hydropower construction in China, as well as Asia’s tallest transmission slant tower. The scenic area also contains well-preserved Yi villages, the under-construction Lubu Yi Cultural Park, and within the town area, the exquisitely crafted and ethnically distinctive Maojia Tomb Cluster and Yi Script Stone Tablets.

　　Primitive Deep Valley Lake

　　Within the Primitive Deep Valley Lake, steep cliffs rise abruptly on both sides, jagged and rugged, resembling clouds flowing across the sky. The dense, lush forests are vibrant with greenery. Sturdy, ancient trees with dark trunks stand firmly on the cliffs, not particularly tall but thick and powerful. Around their bases, clusters of trees, rare flowers, and plants grow thickly, some so deep they seem to sprout from the trunks themselves. Each tree, plant, and flower thrives under the shelter of the larger trees, presenting a scene of natural abundance and tranquility. The woods are home to dozens of types of medicinal herbs and precious flowers such as blood vine, red eleutherococcus, byrock fragrant herb, white dragon beard, small yellow grass, four-piece tile herb, and orchids. Rare animals like Lady Amherst’s pheasants, Lady Amherst’s pheasants (male), macaques, flying squirrels, and river deer also live here, making it a true natural treasure trove. At the valley bottom, mountain springs are crystal clear, with peculiar rocks scattered everywhere and waterfalls cascading from the sky. Listening to the murmuring spring water and basking in the lush green shade, you may forget where you are—whether in the mortal world or a paradise. According to local Yi elders, in the early days of liberation, the Luopan District guerrillas fought countless life-and-death battles here, successfully thwarting enemy encirclement campaigns.

　　Yunhu Mountain

　　Watch the sea of clouds and mist, and admire the sun and moon shining together. Watching the sunrise and mist at Yunhu Mountain has become a growing aspiration and hobby for many.

　　In the early morning, walk along a rural path to the top of Yunhu Mountain. As you look up, the round, bright red sun emerges from the clouds, then its radiance spreads in all directions, making you certain that you are the first to see it. At this moment, the snow-white clouds and mist blanket every mountain valley before you, stretching into a vast, endless sea of white as far as the eye can see—dozens of miles in length. Occasionally, one or two mountaintops emerge, with only the tips of a few trees faintly visible, like a freshly painted masterpiece by a master artist.

　　At the highest point, the view opens up dramatically, and you experience the true wonder of what makes the cloud scenery worthy of being called a “sea of clouds.” Endless clouds and mist accelerate their ascent, with towering peaks becoming isolated islands in the sky. The sky, initially pale as a fish’s belly, gradually begins to blush. The expansive sea of clouds has long filled the deep valleys, and rivers, mountains, the town, and even the twinkling lights that were visible the afternoon before have all disappeared. The slowly moving sea of clouds steadily pushes upward from the valley floor, and the green mountains and peaks gradually vanish into the clouds, sinking deep into the misty sea...

　　As the sun shifts from orange-red to silvery-white, the vastness of the sky merges with that of the sea of clouds. Soon after, the mist gradually descends, revealing the peaks and mountains step by step from the mountaintops down to the hillsides. The clouds and mist hang like veils and sashes around the mountainsides, creating an extraordinarily wonderful ink-wash landscape painting.

　　During the construction of the Lubuge Hydropower Station, this was the residence of international experts from Japan, Germany, Norway, and other countries. Former Chinese Premier Li Peng once stayed here during his inspection visit to the hydropower station. Today, through development, it has preliminarily formed a “Yunhu Mountain” scenic tourism destination integrating leisure, entertainment, and sightseeing.

　　Yi Village Charm

　　The Yi Village is the only Yi ethnic village in the area. Venturing into the village allows you to experience the Yi people’s bravery, tenacity, and optimism developed over a long history, as well as their rational creativity in production, daily life, science, and culture, and their reverence for and resistance against the universe and natural disasters. In the evening, young men and women of the village gather in open areas to light bonfires, dress in traditional Yi attire, and invite you to sing Yi folk songs and dance Yi dances with them. It’s thrilling and exciting—this is called the “Torch Festival.”

　　Underground Labyrinth Hydropower Station Main Control Room

　　Hidden 300 meters inside the Yunhu Mountain massif is the Lubuge Hydropower Station’s underground main control room, known as the “underground labyrinth.” The underground main control room has a roof span of 25 meters, and the rotors of its four generating units spin rapidly within this subterranean hall. The moment these rotors turn, cities thousands of miles away are illuminated into cities that never sleep. It is the proudest landmark of Lubuge.

　　Asia’s Tallest Transmission Slant Tower

　　In the Lubuge Scenic Area, one of the most viewed and considered most captivating sights by visitors is the pair of steel-framed, iron-armed transmission towers—the Asia’s Tallest Transmission Line Slant Towers—that stand opposite the mysterious “Little Taiwan.” In the morning light, you can see these towering towers standing side by side like a couple, greeting the morning mist and bidding farewell to the evening glow. They seem like a devoted pair, hearts and hands connected, as electricity and fire continuously flow through their arms, bringing light and warmth to the world.

　　Little Three Gorges

　　Traveling upstream from the Deep Valley Lake by boat will take you to what is known as the Little Three Gorges. Compared to the Wu Gorge of the Yangtze River’s upper reaches, this Little Three Gorges has its own unique charm. It consists of the Lion Gorge, the Spirit Gorge, and the Elephant Gorge. The Lion Gorge is the first of the three. The cliffs on either side of the gorge entrance stand like two lions guarding the pass. The contrast between the geography inside and outside the pass is striking—the outside is wide and open, while the inside feels like entering a maze. The cliffs on both sides suddenly block out the sunlight, and the river water constantly pounds against the boat’s hull, crashing into the rock walls in the deep valley with resounding booms. On both sides, there are also so-called “village spirits” and “river gods.” The Lion Gorge is majestic and steep, symbolizing power, with the river surging as the boat zigzags through. The sound of the water crashing against the cliffs echoes with vitality. Here, you can also find the so-called “Dancing Village” and “Hero Cliff.” The Dancing Village reflects the joyful atmosphere of the Yi people, while Hero Cliff tells the story of ancient heroes, adding cultural depth to the natural scenery. Further ahead is the Elephant Gorge, where the towering peaks resemble a group of elephants drinking from the river, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere. Every bend of the river reveals new wonders, as if nature is showing off its ever-changing beauty. The landscape alternates between light and shadow, creating scenes that feel both ancient and uniquely characteristic, offering endless surprises. Every moment of the natural scenery here feels like a story waiting to be told. (No images available; contributions welcome.)