Maling River Gorge

Maling River Gorge is a narrow canyon near Xingyi City, in Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, south-western Guizhou. The gorge extends about 75 kilometres and cuts up to 200 metres deep into the karst plateau, with sheer walls of rock, dense vegetation and more than one hundred waterfalls and cascades. The best-known is the Tianxing (Heavenly Star) Waterfall, which drops about 120 metres in a long ribbon of water and is among the tallest in the province. The scenic area is reached by a path and a series of viewing platforms and bridges, and a glass-bottomed walkway gives views straight down to the valley floor. Cable cars and an elevator at some sections reduce climbing, and the route along the canyon rim and bottom takes about three to four hours. The Wan Feng Lin karst peak forest lies nearby, and visitors often combine the two sites in one day. Spring and summer after rainfall provide the strongest waterfalls, while autumn brings clear skies and good visibility. Early morning arrival avoids the largest groups of tourists, who typically come during mid-morning, and the paths can be slippery when wet. Bungee jumping and rope descents are offered at some points for adventure seekers. Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes, as the route includes many stairs, and to bring layers because the canyon can be cooler than the plateau above. Xingyi city is reached by train or bus from Guiyang, and the gorge is about 20 minutes from the city by taxi or city bus.