TanSuo Cultural Travel Explore the Fantastical Karst Landforms of Southwest China "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” —John Muir, “John of the Mountains” Nestled like a rippling jewel in the southwest of China, the province of Guizhou is known for its rolling hills and verdant mountainous terrain. Among all of the breathtaking scenery that this province has to offer, none are more fantastical or magnificent than the Karst mountains and caves. The term “karst” refers to a type of topography that is formed when soluble rocks, such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, are gradually worn away by rainfall, lakes, rivers or other flowing water. Typically this weathering produces sinkholes and caves but, when the water is acidic enough, it can wear down limestone bedrock, which results in the formation of Karst mountains. After millions of years of erosion, the landscape in Guizhou province has been blessed by the spectacular landforms that we see today. 2 TanSuo Cultural Travel During this tour, ‣ We will witness the majesty of nature first-hand; ‣ we will have the opportunity to hike on and around these beautiful mountains; we will marvel at breathtaking waterfalls in Karst valleys; ‣ we will discover an amazing “underground world”; we will journey through colossal caves; ‣ we will visit the land of Avatar; we will delve into Chinese history within ancient towns and villages; ‣ and we will engage with ethnic minorities communities, where we will be amazed by their unique culture and art. Please Note: You can choose to stick to this tour entirely, or you can just incorporate it into your wider plans to travel across China. We can provide you with information and help you with any other travel plans you may have if you need us to. We also provide a hotel booking service and a flight or train booking service for all of our members’ traveling in China outside of the 15 designated days of the tour. We will also provide a consultancy service for you, which will help you to plan your journey across China and give you useful tips on traveling in China. Participants Max: 8 Duration: 14 days and 13 nights Tours in 2021: 17th of Oct-30th of Oct Tours in 2022: 27th of Mar - 9th of Apr / 23rd of Oct- 5th of Nov 3 TanSuo Cultural Travel Highlights The Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks A landscape unlike any other awaits those who are curious enough to wander deep into the lesser-known countryside of Guizhou province. Known poetically as Wanfenglin or “The Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks”, this breathtaking landscape is so-named because the verdant Karst mountains scattered across its expanse are so plentiful that they give the appearance of a strange and beautiful forest. From February to April, the area is blanketed in rich golden hues as the rape flowers blossom, which adds an extra layer of beauty to the region. As far back as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the renowned geographer Xu Xiake decided to pay a visit to this unusual landscape and praised it highly, stating: “There are many peaks and mountains in this world, but only here can the peaks be truly called a forest.” If anything, Xu Xiake’s praise might be an understatement, as this stony “forest” is made up of nearly 20,000 peaks! Read more about The Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks. 4 TanSuo Cultural Travel Highlights Zhangjiajie National Forest Park The landscape of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has attracted admiration throughout the world, in part thanks to its inclusion in James Cameron’s cinematic epic Avatar. Yet there’s far more to these incredible mountains than what you may have seen on the silver screen! Embedded deep within the subtropical forests of northwestern Hunan province, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is home to a dizzying collection of 243 peaks and over 3,000 sandstone pinnacles, which naturally dominate the landscape. The Avatar Hallelujah Mountain can be found in a section of the park known as Yuanjiajie, which offers breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and thus ranks as the most popular part of the park. While seeing the panoramic view from the top of Yuanjiajie will undoubtedly take your breath away, the view from the bottom of the mountains is certainly no less magnificent. Be forewarned, however, that the area around the stream is inhabited by wild macaques, so be sure not to monkey around or you might attract some unwanted attention! Read more about Zhangjiajie National Park. 5 TanSuo Cultural Travel Highlights Maling River Gorge Carved into the rock over millions of years by the surging Maling River, the Maling River Gorge is about 75 kilometers (47 mi) and has an average depth of between 200 to 400 metres (656-1312 ft.). This ethereal landscape is home to around 100 waterfalls, which are all at least 100 metres (328 ft.) in height. The most famous of these are the Pearl Waterfall and the Rainbow Waterfall. The Pearl Waterfall is so-named because it is located on a high cliff, meaning that its droplets are often dispersed by the wind and give the appearance of sparkling pearls floating in the air. By contrast, the Rainbow Waterfall is actually made up of a series of eight waterfalls that all cascade down nearby cliff-faces. Since they are all within such close proximity to one another, the area surrounding their base is frequently shrouded with mist and the splashing water can cause rainbows to appear when the sun is shining. Huangguoshu Waterfall It is 74 metres (243 ft.) high and 81 metres (266 ft.) wide, making it the largest waterfall in China. It is actually a cluster of waterfalls and is named after the largest waterfall of the cluster, Huangguoshu Waterfall, but also contains Doupotang Waterfall, Luositan Waterfall, Spider Cave Waterfall, Lumei Pond Waterfall, and Longmen Flying Waterfall, to name but a few. Each of these waterfalls has its own unique charm, but Huangguoshu Waterfall is undoubtedly the most magnificent. This cluster of waterfalls is located on the Baishui River and is about 45 kilometres southwest of Anshun City, Guizhou. It is more often referred to as Huangguoshu Waterfall National Park. 6 TanSuo Cultural Travel Highlights Ziyun Getu River Scenic Spot Surrounded by Karst mountains and embedded with hidden caves, the Ziyun Getu River Scenic Spot is a paradise for nature lovers. It is arguably most well- known for three main sightseeing areas: the Swallow Cave, the Chuangshang Cave, and the Blind Valley. In-keeping with its name, the Swallow Cave is home to thousands of nesting swallows that can be seen flying in and out of the cave, particularly at sunrise and sunset when they head out to gather food or come home to roost for the night. The Chuangshang Cave, by contrast, is actually an underground tunnel that has a section of the Getu River running through it! At the end of the Chuangshang Cave lies a glass elevator that carries visitors all the way up to the Blind Valley. This ancient valley has been protected by the surrounding mountains for hundreds of years and is home to a primitive forest that is packed with rare plant species. 7 TanSuo Cultural Travel Highlights Mount Fanjing The name “Fanjing” is actually an abbreviation of the term “Fantian Jingtu” (梵天净 ⼟), which refers to the Pure Land within Buddhist scripture that is supposedly ruled by the heavenly king Brahma. It should come as no surprise that Mount Fanjing thus ranks as one of the most sacred Buddhist mountains in China. Alongside being named after the Pure Land, it is also reputed to be bodhimaṇḍa, the place in which one reaches enlightenment, for the Maitreya Buddha. As well as its spiritual pedigree, this sprawling mountain range is famed for its biodiversity and is inhabited by a number of rare species, including the Guizhou golden monkey, the Chinese giant salamander, forest musk deer, and Reeve’s pheasant. Journeying through the mountain’s wild forests and passing by its venerable old temples is like taking a step into a fairytale wonderland. Loushang Ancient Village Much like Qingyan, the ancient village of Loushang was established during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and boasts a history that stretches back for over 500 years. This quaint village is connected by a network of 2,000 metres (6,500 ft.) of paved roads that are designed in the shape of the character “shou” (寿), which translates to mean “longevity” and expresses the wishes of those who constructed the village that its locals may enjoy a long life. Since the village has yet to be developed for tourism, it represents an ancient slice of calm within the mountains of Guizhou province. Perhaps its only claim to fame is that it is a popular resting spot for Siberian white cranes, which can often be spotted at the entrance to the village. 8 TanSuo Cultural Travel Highlights The Zhijin Cave National Geopark With its ethereal splendour and strangely beautiful rock formations, Zhijin Cave has often been described as a vast underground palace and appears to have been torn straight from the pages of a fairytale. In fact, the name “zhijin” literally translates to mean “weaving gold,” which should give you some idea as to how beautiful this cave system is. Located in the small village of Minzhai, Zhijin Cave is a karst cave that is 173 metres (568 ft.) wide and 150 metres (492 ft.) tall at its largest point. To put that into perspective, you could fit the entire Statue of Liberty into its largest cavern with plenty of room to spare! What makes this cave system particularly special is that it is home to a dizzying array of karst formations and has even earned the nickname of the “Karst Museum.” Over forty different types of karst formations can be found throughout the cave system, which makes it reasonably unique amongst karst cave networks.