Huangguoshu Waterfall

Synopsis

Huangguoshu Waterfall is located in Anshun, Guizhou, and is the largest waterfall in Asia, with a height of 77.8 meters and a width of 101 meters. Xu Xiake praised it as "pounding pearls, shattering jade, with flying spray surging back." The Water Curtain Cave can be traversed from behind the waterfall, and Rhinoceros Pool is the deep pool at the foot of the waterfall. The scenic area includes attractions such as Doupotang Waterfall and Tianxing Bridge, and is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction. It served as a filming location for the ending theme of Journey to the West and is an iconic landscape for tourism in Guizhou.

Overview

Huangguoshu Waterfall is located in Zhenning Buyi and Miao Autonomous County, Anshun City, Guizhou Province. It is the largest waterfall in Asia and one of China's most famous waterfall landscapes. The waterfall is 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide, with a massive and powerful water flow. The Ming Dynasty geographer Xu Xiake was the first person in history to provide a detailed record of Huangguoshu Waterfall. In his travelogue, he wrote: "The water smashes like pearls and crumbles like jade, the flying spray surges back, rising like smoke and mist into the air, its force is exceptionally mighty and fierce." This description is still considered the most vivid portrayal of Huangguoshu Waterfall.

Huangguoshu Waterfall is famous not only for the waterfall itself but also for its unique geological landscape. Hidden behind the waterfall is a 134-meter-long Water Curtain Cave. Visitors can walk behind the waterfall and watch the spectacular sight of the water cascading down through the cave windows. This experience of viewing a waterfall from within is extremely rare among waterfalls worldwide.

Core Attractions

The Water Curtain Cave is the most unique experience at Huangguoshu Waterfall. This natural cave is hidden in the cliff wall behind the waterfall, stretching 134 meters in total length. It has six cave windows that allow visitors to view the waterfall from the inside. Standing at a cave window, one sees the immense waterfall pouring down overhead, hears the deafening roar of the water, and feels the spray from the splashing mist—this immersive experience is unforgettable. The Water Curtain Cave also served as the inspiration for the filming location of the Water Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain in Journey to the West.

Seasonal Scenery

Summer is the best season to view Huangguoshu Waterfall. Abundant rainfall during the rainy season maximizes the waterfall's volume. The torrential white water cascades down the 77.8-meter-high cliff with a deafening roar, and the mist spreads for hundreds of meters. On sunny days, beautiful rainbows often appear over the Rhinoceros Pool in front of the waterfall, spanning between the emerald green pool and the white waterfall, resembling a natural landscape painting.

Cultural Influence

Huangguoshu Waterfall is an iconic landscape of Guizhou tourism and one of China's most representative natural landscapes. The closing credits scene of the 1986 TV series Journey to the West was filmed at the Huangguoshu Waterfall scenic area—the shot of the master and his three disciples walking in front of the waterfall became one of the most classic images in Chinese television history. Doupotang Waterfall was also a filming location where the monk and his disciples walked in Journey to the West.

Practical Information

References

1. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/黄果树瀑布
2. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/黄果树瀑布
3. Huangguoshu Scenic Area Official Website: https://www.hgscn.com
4. Guizhou Tourism Official Website: https://www.gztour.gov.cn