Feishuigu Scenic Area

　　Feishuigu Scenic Area is situated in Liaojiqiao Town, only 10 kilometers from Fenghuang County, a famous historical and cultural city in Hunan Province, China. Located 4 kilometers from the Southern Great Wall, it is part of a national geopark. Historically, it served as a grain processing base and secret storage site for the Southern Great Wall and military forces, and has long been considered the dividing line between the Miao and Han peoples. It is also one of the premier tourist attractions in Fenghuang.

　　The area boasts a beautiful grand canyon, a towering waterfall that plunges over 100 meters, the province’s only skywalk, historical relics such as an ancient rice mill, and two caves facing each other across the river — the Fubao Cave (Refuge Cave) and the Bandit Cave. Activities such as climbing the waterfall and crossing the “Beautiful Lady Bridge” allow you to challenge nature while enjoying the sights, making it an ideal spot for sightseeing, travel, and scientific exploration. Even in this tranquil and peaceful corner of Feishuigu, the scars of war remain. The aged “Bandit Cave,” supported by a single wooden beam at its entrance, still houses silent remnants within — including a kitchen stove, storage areas, and a defensive watchtower — all telling stories of a bloody and chaotic past. According to our guide, on the mountainside opposite the Bandit Cave lies the “Fubao Cave,” where locals once hid from bandits and warfare. Interestingly, the bandits never attacked those who sought refuge in the Fubao Cave. It seems our bandits of western Hunan emulated the chivalrous code of ancient times — "do not harm the messenger" — and displayed a surprising sense of honor and civility, akin to the saying “even thieves have their ethics.”

　　Feishuigu features sedimentary rocks layered in varying heights, coupled with crystal-clear streams. Due to differing waterfalls' drops, over 10 distinct cascades have formed — some rushing, some gentle, others majestic. It’s harvest season, and debris from upstream grain threshing is washed down by the falls, creating bubbles of various sizes in the pools. A light breeze stirs the water's surface, causing the bubbles to drift and merge amid the reflections of green mountains, resembling a painting of blue sky and white clouds underwater. Lost in the moment, I felt like the monkey who tried to scoop the moon from the water, yearning to soar through this azure expanse. Among them, the grand waterfall at the bottom of the valley is an absolute marvel. Water plunges over 100 meters down sheer cliffs, and the mist sprayed reaches me even from over ten meters away, cool and damp against my skin. The water crashes into the pool below, sending droplets flying in all directions. Under the sunlight, these form a stunning rainbow. The blend of grandeur and delicacy is so magical, it almost feels as though this celestial waterfall has accidentally tumbled from the heavens to Earth.