Duyun Doupeng Mountain is located within Yangliujie Town and Gantang Town, with its main peak standing at an elevation of 1,961 meters. Doupeng Mountain is as renowned as Fanjing Mountain and Leigong Mountain, and is one of the three most famous mountains in Guizhou. The Doupeng Mountain scenic area comprises five sections: the Gujiang Scenery, Huguang Canyon, Mayaohe Canyon, Huanghe Valley Scenery, and Doupeng Mountain Scenery.
Doupeng Mountain Scenery
Here, peaks overlap, valleys run deep, forests are lush, and streams and pools crisscross. As a rare area of primary secondary forest, the vegetation remains well-preserved, with ancient trees that are several thousand years old and too thick for five people to encircle, as well as precious species such as nanmu, metasequoia, zimu (a type of hardwood), and camphor trees. The mountain is home to a diverse array of wild animals, frequently spotted are bears, leopards, wild boars, and Rhesus macaques. Streams in the dense woods serve as habitats for the Chinese giant salamander (known locally as "baby fish") and otters. The mountain produces a variety of medicinal herbs and wildflowers. The Qingtang tea from the foothills is part of the high-mountain mist tea variety—fragrant, mellow, refreshing, and with a long-lasting aftertaste. In the most secluded and tranquil depths of Doupeng Mountain lies a "Heavenly Lake," spanning over 20 acres, with crystal-clear water that never dries up year-round. It naturally divides into several outlets, forming the headwaters of several streams. The water from this single "Heavenly Lake" flows into both the Yangtze River and Pearl River systems, making it a clear watershed. To date, this is the only known Heavenly Lake in Southwest China.
1. Recommended Route: A Two-Day Weekend Trip – Guiyang → Changming Town → Yanzhai Township → Tiesuoyan → Heavenly Lake → Waterfall → Duyun → Guiyang
2. Recommended Schedule:
Day 1: Take the first bus from Guiyang to Changming at 7:30 AM; the journey takes two hours. From Changming to Yanzhai takes about 40 minutes. Hike six kilometers to Tiesuoyan, from where you begin the mountain ascent. It takes three to five hours to reach the Heavenly Lake. Descend to the grassland where there is a water source and set up camp.
Day 2: Begin descending at 10:00 AM. You can either follow the mountain path or walk downstream along the water source (recommended, as it offers more beautiful scenery, fewer people, and a more pristine experience—when you reach the waterfall, ascend left about 20 meters to find the main trail). It takes three to five hours to reach the entrance of the Doupeng Mountain scenic area, then take a bus back to Duyun.
3. Transportation: Guiyang to Changming: (The Guiyang–Longli section is a highway, the Longli–Changming section is a national road). Buses depart from Guiyang Feijiba (walk 200 meters toward the overpass from the main gate of the train station gymnasium). The earliest bus departs at 7:30 AM. Changming to Yanzhai: County road. Yanzhai to Tiesuoyan: Township road, poor condition, minibuses can barely make it through.
Tiesuoyan to Heavenly Lake: Approximately 15 kilometers, with many forks in the road—hiring a guide is recommended (cost: 30–50 RMB). The first half of the journey is uphill, including four kilometers of flat terrain. After exiting the bamboo forest, the grassland leads upward into dense bamboo. It takes about one hour to reach the summit. Heavenly Lake to the mountain foot: Entirely downhill. Once you find the water source on the grassland, there are basically no forks in the path, or you can also follow the water downstream.
4. Food and Accommodation: Yanzhai Township has operating restaurants where you can restock on vegetables and meat. After ascending from Tiesuoyan for a while, you’ll reach the last water source before the mountain (varies by season)—refill here. The Heavenly Lake water is stagnant and not suitable for direct drinking. The campsite is small (not recommended for setting up camp here). About 200 meters down the left side of the grassland, there is a water source that requires some searching—this is the best spot to set up camp. After descending the mountain, there are drinkable water sources along the way.
5. Precautions: This route involves traversing very dense bamboo forests. In summer, take snake prevention measures. When descending, if you choose to go along the waterways, be extremely careful as the rocks are very slippery due to the damp conditions.