Written by Clementine |
Getu River National Park, or Getu He in Chinese, is in Chinaās Guizhou province. The area is considered to have some of the most beautiful karst landscapes in the world. It is a popular place among tourists who travel to Guizhou to see stunning limestone cliffs, karst formations, rivers, and a large number of caves.
The first time we came here, we were completely shocked by the scenery before our eyes. The mountains on both banks are as steep as being chiseled by an axe. The emerald river winds through the canyon with several egrets flying over sometimes. What makes us feel mysterious is the huge cave afar. This 116-meter-high and 25-meter-wide karst cave is like a natural arch. Everyone marvels at the wonder of nature.
In addition, we recommend you to take part in activities at Getu River, including hiking, rock climbing, bamboo rafting. All are interesting to experience.
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- Fast Facts aboutĀ Getu River National Park
- What to See and Do inĀ Getu River National Park
- How to Get to and Travel around Getu River National Park
- Recommended Visiting Routes from Our Expert Local Guides
- Essential Tips from Our Local Guides
- Attractions Nearby Getu River National Park
- Plan a Guizhou Tour with China Xian Tour
Fast Facts aboutĀ Getu River National Park
- Location: Ziyun County, Guizhou Province, China; 48 miles (77 kilometers) southwest of Anshun
- Chinese Name: ę ¼åøę²³
- Length: 128 km
- Hours: 09:00 – 18:00
- Ticket price: CNY 150 (includes entrance ticket, sightseeing bus, ship and Spiderman performance)
- Visit time: 1-2 days
- Best timeĀ of the year: March to November
- Suited to: nature lovers, hikers, adventurers, photographers
What to See and Do inĀ Getu River National Park
Wonder of Heavenly Light & Earthly Light
The most famous natural wonder in Getu River is the Heavenly Light and Earthly Light. The Heavenly Light refers to the light that shines through the Chuanshangdong Cave and pours onto the Getu River. Thanks to the morning mist, a spectacular Tyndall effect is formed, which is sacred and shocking.
The other light that enters the Swallow Cave from the Wangtian Cave is called the Earthly Light. Usually, the light beams blend with the water vapor and quantities of swallows fly in the light. What a poetic scene.
Both are natural phenomena that can be appreciated at certain times and weather conditions. Here is the guide.
Guide for Viewing Heavenly Light
- Time: 08:00-Ā 09:00 from late September to March the following year
- Location: Dachuandong CaveViewing Platform
- Conditions: must be a sunny daywith morningĀ fog
- Probability: about 60% (on sunnydays)
Guide for ViewingĀ EarthlyĀ Light
- Time: 08:30-Ā 10:30 from April to early September
- Location:the plank road inside theĀ Dachuandong Cave
- Conditions:sunny day
- Probability: about 70% (on sunnydays)
Dachuandong CaveĀ or Swallow Cave
There are countless natural caves in Getu River National Park. Among them, Dachuandong Cave is the Getu River cave worth seeing the most. Dachuandong literally means a big hole. It is also called Swallow Cave or Swallow King Palace because of the tens of thousands of swallows traveling through and living inside.
From Qingming FestivalĀ in early April to Chongyang Festival in the mid-October every year, you can see flocks of swallows flying out of the cave in the morning and returning at sunset. Itās an amazing scene to witness.
Tongtian Cave
Walk along the plank path Dachuandong Cave. It will take you to Tongtian Cave. Itās called a cave, but itās actually the deepest karst shaft in China. Formed by collapsing of the karst land and erosion by water, Tongtian Cave is 1,214 feet (370 meters) deep and 656 feet (200 meters) wide. Just imagine the height of a 120-story building!
On a sunny day, youāll see a beam of morning light pouring down from the karst shaft like a beautiful light curtain through a sky window.
- Good to know:
The time tunnel sightseeing elevator located in the Yanzi Cave (Swallow Cave) of the district connects the world’s highest ancient riverbed site, the Blind Valley Primitive Forest, Fangzhu Forest, and Chuanshan Cave, among other attractions. Next to it is the 440-meter Swallow King Palace Staircase and the Tongtian Cave Suspension Bridge, built on holes chiseled in the cave wall.
Walking on theĀ Swallow King Palace Staircase and the suspension bridge, and taking the sightseeing elevator, you can fully enjoy the Heavenly Light & Earthly Light in the Chuanshan Cave, as well as how the Getu River flows into the world of the dark river.
Spiderman Cliff Rock Climbing Performance
- Schedule: One show per hour from 09:00 – 17:00
- Location: the Dachuandong Cave
The Spiderman freehand rock-climbing performance in Getu River National Park might just be your most unforgettable memory of Guizhou tour.
The performer, or the spiderman, climbs a 328-feet (100-meter) cliff with wet moss and no safety measures at all. All rely on his own hands, feet and experiences only, but he is as agile as a gecko. After getting the flag and beating the drum on the top of the cliff, he makes his climb back to the ground. The performance will take your breath away as you watch the spiderman climb with ease. Sometimes, you might be lucky to see a spider woman.
We are lucky to see the show performed by a Miao uncle, who is already 58 years old. He is barefoot with only a simple piece of cloth tied to his body. But when he climbs the cliff, it seems as if he is on the flat ground. He even performs some difficult moves midway, earning applause from the tourists below.
We also learned that the freehand rock-climbing originated from the ancient burial culture of the local Miao minority group. In ancient times, Miao people practiced a cave burial tradition, when they carried the coffins of the deceased up a cliff to put it inside a cave.Ā Till now, this consummate skill has been passed down for 600 years. To let more people learn about the Miao culture, it is transformedĀ into theĀ performanceĀ we watch today.
Chuanshangdong Cave
Located over Dachuandong, Chuanshangdong Cave is 741.5 feet (226 meters) above Getu River. Itās more like a big hole in the mountains; an airplane can fly through it. Chuanshangdong Cave is in fact what remains of the highest ancient watercourse in China.
A 40-minute walk along the steps from Tongtian Cave will take you to the viewing platform of Chuanshangdong. The path outside is full of subtropical plants, making it an awesome spot for photos against the massive cave.
There are dozens of days in a year when a beam of light shines onto Getu River through the Chuanshangdong Cave in the early morning. Would you be the lucky one to witness it?
Blind Valley
On the other side of the viewing platform, thereās a blind valley behind a quiet bamboo grove.Ā It takes about 1 hour to get there via Tongtian Plank Road. Though it is a little bit exhausting, the virgin forest along the way will relieve your fatigue. You may feel shocked, but it is a fact that the forest preserves the ancient ecological system 250 million years ago, truly a āmuseum of living fossils of plantsā. Spinulose tree fern, a rare tree that existed in the dinosaur era, is everywhere in Blind Valley. During the hiking, you will also encounter many rare birds and small animals.
After arriving, you will find the blind valley is an area of trough-shaped concave ground formed through karst collapse. It is surrounded by steep cliffs. There are two more blind valleys covered under the dense forests. Getu River once flew through the valley in ancient times. Now the virgin forest in the valley is extremely lush with trees, shrubs, vines, and other plants. A blind valley is a distinct landscape to witness once in a lifetime.
Dahe Miao Village
Dahe Miao Village is a small, secluded village in the mountains of Getu River National Park. You can get there by cruise on Getu River or by hiking along the trails. Take in the beautiful natural scenery along the way. You may even come across some ancient hanging coffins on the cliffs.
This ecological Miao village retains their primitive and simple folk customs. You can see a cultural show of climbing a high ladder of swords and join the local Miao people for a welcoming bamboo pole dance. As the birthplace of the intangible cultural heritage of King Yalu Culture, you can also learn about the epic story of King Yalu, the Miao ancestor who built and fought for his kingdom.
Nearby the village, youāll find a natural lake that changes in color depending on the weather. It can turn cyan, yellow, reddish, etc.
>> Explore Top 12 Ethnic Villages in Guizhou
How to Get to and Travel around Getu River National Park
From Guiyang:
- Public transportation:Take a bus from Guiyang to Ziyun County,Ā which takes about 4 hours and costs CNY 150.Ā Then transfer toĀ a local bus or taxiĀ to the parkĀ in about 40 minutes.
- Self Driving:First, drive from Guiyang to Anshun via Guixin Highway and then switch to National Road G320. Its distance is about 150km and requires about 2.5 hours.
From Anshun:
- Public transportation:Take a bus from Anshuan to Ziyun County with a duration of about 2.5 hours and a ticket of CNY 105. Then go to the park by local bus.
- Car or taxi:It is more expensive than public transportation, about CNY 200, but it is definitely a lot easier and saves you a lot of time. Negotiate price with your driver beforehand.
Once youāre in the park, you can hike, take a boat ride, or join a guided tour.
Recommended Visiting Routes from Our Expert Local Guides
For tourists with different time, we plan the following routes for you based on our experience. Hope it is helpful to you.
- Half-day essence tour: appreciate Dachuandong Cave by boat – hiking along Tongtian Plank Road to the peak – virgin forests in Blind Valley
- 1-day in-depth tour: catch the Heavenly Light or Earthly Light – Spiderman Performance – Tongtian Cave – Blind Valley – Chuanshangdong Cave – take a boat to Dahe Miao Village
- 2-day immersive tour: follow the 1-day tour itinerary and stay overnight near Dahe Miao Village. On the second day, choose Zhongdong Miao Village or hiking in the Xiaochuandong Scenic Area based on your own situation.
Essential Tips from Our Local Guides
- Though Getu River is beautiful all year round, we recommend spring and autumn most. In this period, you can enjoy the picturesque scenery with a pleasant weather, definitely a paradise for photographers.
- Do remember to wear comfortable anti-slippery shoes. We have climbed many steps and hiked for a long time in the scenic area. Some sections are also slippery.
- If you wish to stay overnight in the Geju River scenic area or nearby, the Dahe Miao Village within the area offers very basic guesthouses. About 25 kilometers away, the accommodation in the Ziyun County town is slightly better.
- A light coat is also needed, the temperature inside and outside the cave and above the water is quite different.
- When exploring the karst caves, following the guideās instructions can ensure your safety.
- It is a pity that there are no stores inside the scenic area, so prepare some food and water with you. In Dahe Miao Village, the agritainment provides simple meals. In case of the unstable network, bring some cash with you.
- During peak seasons from May to October, please leave more time to wait in line for the ship.
Attractions Nearby Getu River National Park
Zhijin CaveĀ is an amazing karst cave in Zhijin County. It is famous for rock formations and underground rivers. If you’re driving, it is about 2.5 hours from Getu River.
Huangguoshu WaterfallĀ is one of the largest waterfalls in Asia. Visit it in person in Anshun, Guizhou, about 2 hours away by car.
Fanjing MountainĀ is a sacred Buddhism site in Tongren, Guizhou and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dragon Palace (Longgong)Ā is a network of underground caves in Anshun. There are incredible rock formations, underground rivers, waterfalls. Itās a popular stop for cave explorers. It is about 2 hours away by car.
Plan a Guizhou Tour with China Xian Tour
Though the Huangguoshu Waterfall and Libo Xiaoqikong Scenic Area are famous attractions in Guizhou, we also recommend Getu River for you. Here gathers Asiaās largest karst cave, mysterious divine lights, stunning Spiderman performance, 250 million-year-old virgin forests and original Miao ethnic culture. The most important is the scenic area is not overly commercialized, which means you will appreciate the most authentic mountain scenery of Guizhou. This underestimated secret land is worth spending a day experiencing its charm. You can join our expertly crafted group tours which include both Getu River and other attractions. Besides, we also offer the customized service to include the attractions you prefer and meet all your requirements. So do not hesitate to contact China Xian Tour.
