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Huangguoshu Waterfall Facts: Why It's a Must-Visit?
First, let’s figure out what makes the Huangguoshu Waterfall so special?
- It's the third largest waterfall in the world and Asia's biggest!
Standing at 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide, it's like a soccer field plunging into the abyss. Pretty impressive, right? It's even on UNESCO's tentative list for World Natural Heritage.
- It's not just one waterfall; it's a whole family of waterfalls!
The main Huangguoshu Waterfall is the heart, but it's surrounded by 18 other unique waterfalls. You've got Doupotang Waterfall (陡坡塘瀑布) and the stunning Yinlian Zhuitan Waterfall (银链坠潭瀑布) in Tianxingqiao. Together, they form a spectacular "waterfall family."
- It's the only waterfall in the world with a natural water curtain cave running right through it!
Imagine walking behind a waterfall! Even better, you can actually touch the cascading water.
Speaking of "Journey to the West (西游记)," many scenes from the classic 1986 TV series were filmed here, including the Water Curtain Cave (水帘洞), Gaolaozhuang (高老庄), and Doupotang.
Easily Explore the 3 Key Scenic Areas with Our Huangguoshu Waterfall Map!
The Huangguoshu Waterfalls Scenic Area isn't just about the main waterfall. There are three fantastic key areas to explore. Looking at our Huangguoshu Waterfall map, you'll see them lined up from north to south:
- Doupotang Waterfall (upstream)
- Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall (middle, the core!)
- Tianxingqiao Scenic Area (downstream)
Our suggested route: Start at the park entrance → Huangguoshu Waterfall (黄果树瀑布) → Tianxingqiao (天星桥) → Doupotang (陡坡塘) → Xiake Guanpu Viewing Platform (霞客观瀑) - for an amazing bird's-eye view of Huangguoshu Waterfall!
Warm Tips: There are convenient shuttle buses connecting all the attractions.
Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area (Middle Core Area)
Location: It's about 1 km downstream from Doupotang Waterfall and is the heart of the scenic area.
The Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area (黄果树瀑布景区) itself covers about 8.5 square kilometers and includes the main waterfall, Bonsai Garden (盆景园), the Water Curtain Cave (水帘洞), Rhino Pool (犀牛潭 named for its rhinoceros-like shape), and Horse's Hoof Shoal (马蹄滩 named for its distinctive shape).
Must-Visit Spots:
#1. Huangguoshu Waterfall (黄果树瀑布): At 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide, it's famous for being the world's only waterfall you can view 360° – from above, below, front, back, left, and right! There are 6 viewing platforms and a thrilling cable bridge.
To make your visit easier, the park offers escalators (¥30 one-way, ¥50 round trip), which save time and energy on steeper sections. We suggest walking down from the top and taking a one-way escalator back up!
#2. Water Curtain Cave (水帘洞): This is the truly unique part! Running right through the middle of the waterfall, it's 134 meters long. You can walk inside, even touch the cascading water, and often see incredible rainbows outside.
It's located between 40 to 47 meters up the waterfall and has six "windows," five halls, three springs, and six passages!
Suggested Route: Viewing Platform No. 1 → Viewing Platform No. 2 → Water Curtain Cave → Viewing Platform No. 3 → Cross the suspension bridge → Take the escalator → Take the shuttle bus to Tianxingqiao (天星桥).
Recommended Visit Time: 2 hours
Best Photo Spots:
✔ Main Waterfall Front Viewing Platform: Best in the morning for good light, with water mist and rainbows creating a magical scene.
✔ Inside the Water Curtain Cave: Get a unique shot looking out through the waterfall!
✔ Rhino Pool (犀牛潭): Located at the bottom of the waterfall, perfect for capturing the spray and mist created by the powerful impact of the water.
✔ Xiake Guanpu Viewing Platform (霞客观瀑): Walk south from Doupotang's Xiake Pavilion (霞客亭); it's located between the Huangguoshu Waterfall and Doupotang scenic areas.
Tianxingqiao Scenic Area (Downstream)
Location: It's located about 6-7 km downstream from the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall, making it the southernmost attraction in the scenic area.
This area covers 4.5 square kilometers and is made up of the Tianxing Bonsai Zone (天星盆), Tianxing Cave Zone (天星洞), and the Stone Forest on Water Zone (水上石林). It's famous for its karst landscape.
Highlight Spots:
#1. Yinlian Zhuitan Waterfall (银链坠潭瀑布): This 10-meter-high waterfall has a funnel shape at the top and a trough-like pool at the bottom.
The rocky protrusions along the edge of the pool look like overlapping lotus leaves, with the water spreading evenly over each "leaf," creating thousands of large and small silver chains gently falling into the pool. It's truly beautiful!
#2. Tianxing Cave (天星洞): This huge karst cave features a main hall and several side halls, covering about 18,000 square meters. It's 150 meters in diameter and 50 meters high, with four impressive stone pillars over 20 meters tall.
The " Bai Long Ma (白龙马 a white horse, originally a dragon)" from "Journey to the West" entering and exiting the water was filmed at Sprouting Water Pool (冒水潭)!
#3. Shusheng Stones (数生石): Find your birthday stone among 365 stones, each with a unique date!
Suggested Route: Shusheng Stones → Tianxing Lake (Gaolaozhuang) → Tianxing Cave → Yinlian Zhuitan Waterfall → Tianxing Cableway (there's a cable car, ¥10/person) → Take the shuttle bus to Doupotang (陡坡塘).
Recommended Travel Time: 3-4 hours.
Heads Up! This area is divided into upper and lower sections. If you love hiking, you can walk the whole thing. However, for those traveling with seniors or kids, we recommend just doing the lower section (Tianxing Cave – Yinlian Zhuitan Waterfall – Tianxing Cableway).
Doupotang Scenic Area (Upstream)
Location: It's located about 1 km upstream from the Huangguoshu Waterfall, making it the northernmost attraction in the scenic area.
The waterfall's crest is 105 meters wide and 21 meters tall, making it the widest in the Huangguoshu Waterfalls family. It's nicknamed the "Roaring Waterfall (吼瀑)" because it makes a rumbling sound before floods arrive.
This is famously the spot where Tang Sanzang (唐三藏) and his disciples led their horse across the river in the 1986 TV series "Journey to the West." The scenic area even has a "Journey to the West Path" themed landscape.
Suggested Route: Enter, turn right → Doupotang Waterfall → Viewing Platform → Journey to the West Path → Xiake Pavilion (one of the best viewpoints for the main waterfall!).
Recommended Visit Time: 1 hour
Smart Routes to Beat the Crowds at Huangguoshu Waterfall
Here are some tips for visiting Huangguoshu Waterfall to make the most of your time and avoid the biggest crowds:
Huangguoshu Waterfall (1-2 Days)
- One-Day Itinerary
Huangguoshu Waterfall → Tianxingqiao → Doupotang (Close to the entrance.)
Crowd-beating tip: Aim to enter the park around 7 AM to beat the rush!
- Two-Day Itinerary
You can spread your visit over two days! Your Huangguoshu Waterfall entrance ticket is good for 10 days, and the shuttle bus ticket is valid for 3 days from its first use.
Day 1: Huangguoshu Waterfall. In the evening, enjoy a night tour of Huangguoshu.
Day 2: Tianxingqiao + Doupotang.
Crowd-beating tips for 2 days: On Day 1, enter around 4:30 PM and go straight to the Grand Waterfall. On Day 2, enter around 7 AM to explore Tianxingqiao, then head to Doupotang.
Opening Hours Reference:
| Opening Hours | Latest Entry Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1st to Nov 30th | 07:00-19:00 | 17:00 |
| Dec 1st to Feb 28th | 08:00-18:00 | 17:00 |
Connect with More Destinations in Guizhou (3-6 Days)
- Guiyang + Huangguoshu Waterfalls
| Day | Where to Go | What to See | Where to Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guiyang | Qiangling Mountain Park, Jiaxiu Pavilion, Qingyun Market | Guiyang |
| 2 | Guiyang to Anshun | Huangguoshu Waterfalls | Anshun |
| 3 | Anshun to Guiyang | Dragon Palace (by Boat), Tianlong Tunpu | / |
- Huangguoshu Waterfalls + Fanjingshan Mountain
| Day | Where to Go | What to See | Where to Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guiyang | Free Time Explore | Guiyang |
| 2 | Guiyang to Anshun | Huangguoshu Waterfalls | Anshun |
| 3 | Anshun to Guiyang; Then Train to Tongren | Tianlong Tunpu | Jiangkou |
| 4 | Fanjingshan | Mushroom Rock, New Golden Peak, Cheng'en Temple | Jiangkou |
| 5 | Jiangkou to Tongren | Free Time Explore | / |
- Huangguoshu Waterfalls + Kaili + Fanjingshan Mountain
| Day | Where to Go | What to See | Where to Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guiyang | Free Time Explore to Qianling Mountain Park or Jiaxiu Pavilion | Guiyang |
| 2 | Guiyang to Anshun | Huangguoshu Waterfall | Anshun |
| 3 | Anshun to Kaili | Tianlong Tunpu, Matang Gejia Village | Kaili |
| 4 | Kaili to Zhenyuan | Langde Miao Village, Zhenyuan Ancient Town | Zhenyuan |
| 5 | Zhenyuan to Fanjingshan | Mushroom Rock, New Golden Peak, Cheng'en Temple | Jiangkou |
| 6 | Fanjingshan to Guiyang | Free Time Explore | / |
When's the Best Time to Visit Huangguoshu Waterfalls? Our Seasonal Guide
When is the absolutely best time to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall for that "wow" factor? It really depends on how much water you want to see!
| Seasons | My Star Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| January-May | ⭐⭐ | Water flow is lower. |
| June-August | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Peak water season! In July and August, the water flow is at its maximum. Marvelous! |
| September-October | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Starts to quiet down, but water levels are still plentiful and beautiful. |
| November-December | ⭐⭐ | The dry season for the waterfall continues until mid-January. |
Best Time to Visit Guizhou: Mar to Mid-Nov (Weather Insights from Locals)
Huangguoshu Waterfall Location: How to Get There and Get Around?
Where Is Huangguoshu Waterfall Located?
The Huangguoshu Waterfall location is in the southwest of Guizhou Province, about 128 kilometers from the provincial capital, Guiyang, and 45 kilometers from Anshun city.
Getting There from Guiyang
By High-Speed Train + Shuttle Bus/Taxi: Take a 0.5-1 hour high-speed train from Guiyang to Anshun, then a 1-hour shuttle bus/taxi ride from Anshun to Huangguoshu Waterfalls.
By Asia Odyssey Travel's Private Car: A direct car ride takes about 1.5-2 hours from Guiyang to Huangguoshu Waterfalls. Easy peasy!
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Getting Around the Huangguoshu Waterfalls Scenic Area
The entire scenic area covers 115 square kilometers, so we highly recommend taking the park's shuttle buses. They conveniently connect all the attractions:
- Entrance to Doupotang: 5 minutes
- Entrance to Grand Waterfall: 15 minutes
- Entrance to Tianxingqiao: 25 minutes
- Grand Waterfall to Tianxingqiao: 15 minutes
Your Packing List for Visiting Huangguoshu Waterfalls
Before you enter the scenic area, make sure you have:
Non-slip, waterproof shoes: Essential because of all the mist and potentially wet paths.
Raincoat: The waterfall mist is HUGE, especially during peak flow!
What to Wear:
Summer (June-August): T-shirt + sun-protection clothing.
Autumn (September-October): Windproof jacket.
Discover Huangguoshu Waterfalls in Guizhou with Asia Odyssey Travel
Imagine standing before the magnificent Huangguoshu Waterfalls! Let Asia Odyssey Travel help you plan your perfect trip to Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou!
With over a decade of experience crafting memorable journeys across China and Asia, we're your trusted local experts.
We work hand-in-hand with local guides who truly understand Guizhou's hidden gems and local drivers who know every scenic route. Expect fantastic prices and thoughtful service that will make your trip rewarding.
Beyond Huangguoshu Waterfall, let us show you other wonders like Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, Mount Fanjingshan, and Zhaoxing Dong Village!
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