Located in the middle of Guizhou (貴州) and next to Guiyang (貴陽) is the city of Anshun. It is a prefectural city covers 9,256 sq. kilometers and 30% of its populations are of the 55 Chinese ethnic minorities.
There is a museum with collections of different artifacts of the ethnic minorities of China. They demonstrated that the ethnic minorities of China have a rich culture as well and quite skilled in embroideries, silver smith, music and etc.
The drum tower is to summon the Yao’s people that a meeting is required or visitors are coming or danger is approaching. Yao’s woman works in the fields while their husbands go out to work as silversmiths. Each year the husband works as a silversmith, the woman would cut a length of their skirt until a certain length has been reached and then the husband stay home and take care of the family.
Near Anshun, about 40 minutes away, we come to the largest village of Miao ethnic minority. There is about 1250 household settled here. The name is One Thousand Household Miao Village of XiJiang(西江). It is under construction to retain its original structure. To enter, we need to buy an admission ticket. Inside one can find the village winding paths and many stores that offer food, silver trinkets, crafts, and hostels. It has changed to a tourist attraction and the Miaos here has entered into the business of tourism.
Due to lack of flat ground for planting crops, The Miaos learn to step cultivate the side of the mountainside for planting. It is also good for irrigating the crops.
A welcoming performance showed off their traditional dance and gorgeous costumes. Started with greetings by offerings of wine and tea. Also included a world class performance of music by blowing on a piece of leaf.
About an hours away by bus from Anshun is Huanggoushu Waterfall (黃果樹) the translation is Yellow Fruit Tree. Yes, that is because there are a lot of trees around the fall that bears yellow fruits that turn the whole mountain yellow. It is the largest fall in China. It is about 74 meters tall and 81 meters wide. It is special that one can view it from the top, bottom, left, right and behind, on foot. The water falls from Baishui (白水河) River. So one can walk along the trail by the river to see where the fall begins. There is a Pavilion beside the Rhinoceros pool where one can see from the bottom of the fall. Behind the fall is a natural cave named Water Curtain Cave, that have openings where one can experience the waterfall from behind it. While walking up and down the mountain to the Water Curtain Cave, one can get the view of the waterfall from the sides.
Up river from Huanggoushu Waterfall is the Doupotang (陡坡塘) Waterfall. It is about 105 meters wide and 21 meters high.
The Doupotang Park has many picturesque sights. Many scenes were used to shot the movie Journey to the West (西遊記). These scenes may jog some memories.
Our next stop is the Dragons Cave of Gods. It is located within the Huangguoshu Park. It belongs to the Buiyi ethnic minority of China. BuiYi people worship Dragons. This cave used to be their gathering place. It is about 38 sq. meters and length are 4640 meters although only 1600 meters are open to
the public. The average height is about 21 meters. It is connected to the underground water source of Haugguoshu Waterfall. If you look closely and with your imagination you will find lots of dragons hidden, lurking in the background.
Before I leave this page. I must mention that Guizhou is also well known for its wine. It is said that Guizhou has the natural climate for good wine and most noted is Maotai. Maotai is scarce and expensive but try other wine of Guizhou, one will find it to be of good quality also.
awesome retirement 