Huangguoshu - World Heritage Waterfall
Huangguoshu waterfall ( 黄果树瀑布) in Anshun, China is a UNESCO world heritage site. The name means yellow fruit tree waterfall.
Only 7 world heritage sites are waterfalls. Huangguoshu is exceptional for two reasons: geology and anthropology. The site has sites of human history over 600 years old, and the waterfall has a unique shape due to the geology that formed the waterfall.
At the entrance to the waterfall area is a garden with many bonsai trees
Old bonsai tree with multiple trunks
Curly bonsai branches with red leaf buds
I love how this tree’s trunk looked mostly dead and completely twisted up. And there were still live branches growing at the tips. The combination of living and dead plant as one sculpture.
Take a long escalator down to the waterfall area for 210 RMB. Then walk toward the falls on a wide walkway with plenty of snacks for sale. The sound of the waterfall gets louder as we walked down the valley. The air gets progressively mistier.
Lower falls, a boat, and main falls in the distance
Main falls and lower falls
It’s getting really misty here.
The photographer
The colors of this pool are beautiful. There is one other place in China with extremely colorful water. This place is in a province that I was not allowed to travel to since I used the 10 day visa-free transfer policy when I visited. I would have to apply for a visa to go to the renowned colorful water place.
Colorful pool between main falls and lower falls
On the rim trail walking up toward the cave
The entrance to the cave is crowded with lots of people. There are signs that say do not stop, but you have to stop to take a picture. There is significant spray here and my camera was getting wet.
entering the cave below the waterfall
Ferns growing in the save in the waterfall spray
Incredible moss formation below a stream of the waterfall
looking up as the water falls down from above us
a bamboo chute that brings water from the waterfall into the cave
Moss with waterfall viewed from cave
multicolored lights in the cave
orange, green, blue lights in the cave
ferns and waterfall from the cave
Outside the cave, a snack stand
Bridge back to the other side of the river
small falls seen from the river bridge
