Wanfenglin

Wanfenglin, meaning Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks, is a karst landscape near Xingyi City in Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, south-western Guizhou. Tens of thousands of cone-shaped limestone peaks rise from a plain of fields, forming a dense forest of green hills that stretches to the horizon. The peaks are grouped in two main zones, the East and West forests, with the East Forest regarded as the more dramatic. Between the cones lie Buyi villages with stone-walled houses, rice paddies, rapeseed fields and winding country lanes, and the contrast between the peaks and the farmland is the area's main appeal. Visitors usually travel by shuttle bus and then walk or cycle along set routes, with viewing platforms placed at the best vantage points. Cycling is a popular way to see the plain, and bicycles and electric carts can be rented near the entrance. Spring brings yellow rapeseed blossoms, while September and October offer ripening rice and golden fields. Sunsets are particularly photogenic, when low light picks out the layers of peaks and long shadows fall across the valleys. A visit takes about three to four hours, though photographers often stay longer for the evening light. Crowds are heaviest during public holidays, and weekday visits are quieter. The scenic area lies about 15 minutes from Xingyi by bus or taxi and is often combined with the nearby Maling River Gorge in a single day. The ticket price includes a shuttle service within the area.