Chishui Bamboo Sea Trail

The Chishui Bamboo Sea Trail winds through dense bamboo groves in the Chishui Bamboo Sea National Forest Park, Chishui City, Zunyi, Guizhou, China, within the Chishui Danxia World Heritage landscape. Visitors reach the park by taxi or bus from Chishui city in about 40 to 60 minutes, and tickets are bought at the park entrance. The trail covers about 4 to 6 km of forest paths and stone steps and takes two to three hours, with under 200 m of height change, so it is graded easy and suitable for first-time hikers. The surface combines stone steps, paved sections and earth paths that become damp in wet weather. The bamboo canopy provides near-continuous shade and keeps the air cool, even in summer. Landmarks include tall stands of moso bamboo, small pavilions and viewing points, and, nearby, the Chishui waterfalls that many visitors add to the same day. Paths branch in places, and visitors can shorten the walk at pavilions and return to the entrance by the same route. Water and snacks are sold near the entrance, while rest pavilions along the trail offer shelter from rain. Insects are active in warm months, so repellent is useful, and the red Danxia rock around the park gives a colourful contrast to the green forest. The trail suits families and photographers, and mist after rain heightens the atmosphere of the groves.