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Guiyang Tour of Qingling Park

Situated on Qianling Hill 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) from the center of Guiyang City, the park covers an area of 426 hectares (1052.7 acres). First built in 1957, it is a uniquely large park in the city proper and a 4A National Tourist Attraction. The name was derived from the Qianling Mountain that lies in the park, which is the most famous mountain in southern Guizhou. As one of the noted gardens on the Guizhou plateau, it boasts clear waters, green mountains, tranquil forests and old temples. There are eight predominant scenic locations: Sanlingwan, Macaque Garden, Hongfu Temple, Kylin Cave, the Zoo, Qianling Lake, Two-Dam Wind-Rain Bridge, and the Winding Mountain Path.

Hongfu Temple:

     Originally built in 1667, it is the largest temple of Zen Buddhism in Guizhou Province. It features majesty and sobriety. Hongfu means to develop Buddha's spirits and to benefit mankind. Today it is rated as one of the 142 National Key Temple Sscenic Areas as well as the Key Cultural Relic Preservation in Guizhou Province.

     When you visit the temple, on entering the gate, you will first see the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower on both sides. The bronze bell weighs more than 3,000 jin in Chinese measurement (equal to about 3,300 pounds), and was cast in 1469 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

     On entering the first hall named Heavenly King Hall, you can see the carved statues of Maitreya Buddha and the four Heavenly Kings. On its walls there are also steles of sutra and huge paintings. The second main hall is the Bodhisattva Hall dedicated to Skanda Bodhisattva, and Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara with 32 arms. Inside the third hall named Mahavira Hall there are gilded statues of Sakyamuni, juuhachi rakan (or the 18 arhats), and others. There's also a jade Buddha statue that is from Rangoon, the capital of Burma. It is 1.5 meters (4.92 feet) high and weighs 900 kilograms (1984 pounds). The statue is made out of choice jade and looks beneficent but solemn, and it stands among more than 10 other jade statues of Bodhisattva and Maitreya.

     Besides these superb halls, the temple is also adorned with galleries, pools, and springs, which are of high artistic value.

Qianling Lake:

     Qianling Lake was man-made by the damming of Daluo Spring in 1954. Since 1999 when the project of clearing up the silt in the lake was completed, it has an area of 35 hectares (86.5 acres) with clearer water and a steadfast dam. A crystalline surface mirrors the green and gentle willows and the surrounding pavilions that are ornately decorated and finely built. On its western bank stands a memorial for the martyrs who died during the war of liberation of Guizhou Province. Also during 1999, the municipal government of Guiyang rebuilt it, changing the parapet into one of white marble, and beautifying the surrounding plants. Every Tomb-Sweeping Day, thousands of people go there to worship the fallen heroes.

Macaque Garden:

     Qianling Park, whose percentage of forest cover is over 98% because of the Qianling Mountain, is the perfect habitat for macaques. More than 500 live in Macaque Garden. They frolic and jump, energetic and enchanting. Out of the big cities in China, it is only Guiyang that has such a large garden for monkeys.

Kylin Cave:

     Down along the 382-step Nine-Twist Path which is the short cut, there is Kylin Cave. In front of the cave flows a spring at least 400 years old. Amongst stalactites of various shapes hanging inside, there is a huge one weighed down like a kylin, a beast symbolizing auspice in China, giving the cave its present name. The cave is noted for its reputation that Chiang Kai-Shek, the leader of Chinese Nationalist Party at that time, captured the patriotic generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng at the cave during the War of Resistance against Japan. Hundreds of thousands of people have visited here because of its story.

     Besides these above, there are also other attractions like the new Xiangwang Mountain, Ancient-Buddha Cave, and Kanzhu Pavilion, etc. All of them have their own picturesque charm.

Huangguoshu Water Fall:

     Huangguoshu Waterfall, a milky way in miniature, is the largest waterfall in Asia. Seventy-four meters (243 feet) high and eighty-one meters (266 feet) wide, it is a scenic marvel. Do not miss it if you are in Guizhou Province.

     Known as the Huangguoshu Waterfall National Park, it is 45 kilometers (28 miles) southwest of Anshun city in Guizhou Province. Together with minor waterfalls, the charms of Huangguoshu Waterfall are a natural tourist drawing card. Hospitable ethic groups add the human touch.

     There are mainly three National Parks in the Huangguoshu National Park: Waterfalls Cluster, Water-Curtain Cave and Rhinoceros Pool (Xi Niu Tan).

Huangguoshu Waterfalls Cluster:

     Huangguoshu is the best known of some 18 in a cluster of waterfalls. Its flow is seasonally adjusted. A reservoir behind the waterfall holds back some of the water. Doupotang Waterfall, one kilometer (less than one mile) up the river to Huangguoshu Waterfall, at 105 meters (344 feet) across is the widest. It is 21 meters (69 feet) high. Other waterfalls like LuosiTan Waterfall, Silver-Chain Waterfall and Dishuitan Waterfall all have their distinct features.

Water-Curtain Cave:

     The Water-Curtain Cave dissects Huangguoshu and provides visitors view ports on the waterfall. The total length of the cave is 134 meters (440 feet), including windows and halls. A road on the mountainside leads into the Water-Curtain Cave, where the waterfall can be heard, watched and touched. On a sunny day, a rainbow arches over the falls.

Rhinoceros Pool (Xi Niu Tan):

     Eleven meters (36 feet) deep, the pool is Rhinoceros shaped and stays submerged year round. Standing inside Water-Viewing Pavilion (Wang shui Ting) beside the Rhinoceros Pool to enjoy the flowing-down of the Huangguoshu Waterfall, you may feel bunches of pearls and silver chains are falling upon you. What a grand and peculiarly attractive scene!

     View a different Huangguoshu Waterfall from vantage points. We recommend the following. The first one is Waterfall-Viewing Pavilion (Guan Pu Ting), where you could see the panorama of the whole waterfall. Then, seen from Water-Viewing Pavilion (Wang shui Ting), you could view the grand scene of surging water. The third one is the Water-Viewing Pavilion (Wang shui Ting) beside the Rhinoceros Pool. The marvelous night scene of the grand waterfall creates lasting impressions.