Live Your Best Lives
In the documentary "Wonderful City," Zhou Shen sings the song "Legend" in a cave, its voice melodious and graceful. The natural reverberation within the cave makes the ethereal sound even more ethereal. Yes, the cave serving as the backdrop is Qingzhen's Yangpi Cave. The Yangpi Cave waterfall, resembling Iceland's Skogafoss, has attracted countless photographers. However, the scenic area is still underdeveloped, and few have visited it yet. So how can you avoid detours and still create a great photo? Here's a guide to exploring Guizhou's Yangpi Cave.
Yangpi Cave is located in Muke Village, Anliu Township, Qingzhen Town, Guiyang City, nestled deep within Guizhou's karst landscape, about 70 kilometers from downtown Guiyang. Atop the Anliu River bed lies a nearly 100-meter-high, knife-cut cliff, blocking the river. Composed of white limestone, the cliff lies a massive cave waterfall, the Yangpi Cave Waterfall. Approximately 20 to 30 meters wide and 40 meters high, the water cascades down, its thunderous impact echoing through the valley, a breathtaking spectacle.
Tips:
The situation inside the Yangpi Cave is unknown. If you are not a professional cave explorer, please do not enter the cave at will to avoid accidents.
A telephoto lens is essential, a 70-200 telephoto lens can be used for shooting. A tripod depends on personal needs. Friends with average physical strength are advised to travel light.
When you first see the waterfall, you can take a photo on the hillside and see another small waterfall below.
Going down the hillside, there is a pile of rocks by the water on the left. That is the best photography spot, about 100 meters away from the waterfall. The shooting effect is as shown in the picture.
It’s also a good idea to walk in front of the waterfall and shoot with a slow shutter speed. The following is a shot taken with the Huawei mobile phone’s light stream shutter.
Drone photography is also great. However, be careful: there's no GPS here, so you have to rely on attitude mode for flight. Drones can easily drop due to air currents, so it's best not to fly them out of sight. The high humidity near the waterfall can easily dampen the drone, blurring the footage. You'll need to remove the drone and clean the lens after every few shots.
Waterproof! The water vapor at the falls is very strong, so it is recommended to bring a raincoat and a waterproof phone bag. Ideally, a jacket is best. If you want to continue your journey dry and comfortable, be sure to bring an extra change of clothes and shoes (covering everything from inside to outside).
Wear comfortable, non-slip sneakers, but the trails are muddy, so don't wear overly precious shoes! If you don't have sneakers you wouldn't mind wearing, buy a pair of rain boots at the farmer's shop near the parking lot.
To prevent falls, bring two trekking poles, which you can also buy at the farmers' shop near the parking lot. The mountain road is difficult to walk on, and in some places you need to hold on to branches and vines on the roadside for support, so it is best to wear gloves.
Brightly colored clothing is a must-have! For example, orange and yellow create a strong contrast and look great on camera. Wear long pants, as the mountains are known for their mosquito repellent. Regardless of your time of year, be sure to bring insect repellent spray or essential oil.
1. Don't come on rainy days! It's too dangerous and the roads are slippery. It's best to come on a sunny day.
2. Bring a few bottles of water and snacks to fill your stomach. This area is undeveloped and it is difficult to buy supplies.
3. People with poor physical condition should choose carefully! It is not recommended to bring the elderly and children to play
Tips:
I heard that those who bring garbage bags and take away the garbage will become rich, beautiful, and thin in the future. Who says that only those who stand in the light can be considered heroes!
We recommend driving yourself. Simply search for "Yangpi Cave" on your navigation system. The drive from Guiyang takes about 1.5-2 hours, but after exiting the highway, most of the road is mountainous, so be sure to slow down. Park your car at a nearby farmhouse for 15 yuan per vehicle, then follow the roadside signs down the mountain road. You'll need to use your hands and feet at many points, but there are yellow and red ribbons at forks along the way to guide you, so don't worry about getting lost. The one-way trip from the foot of the mountain to Yangpi Cave takes about 45 minutes.
When it comes to Guizhou specialties, beef in sour soup is a must-try! There are two types of Guizhou sour soup: white sour soup, made from fermented rice soup, and red sour soup, made from fermented cherry tomatoes and rice soup.
The secret recipe + special dipping water allows the sour taste to burst out with all its fragrance on the tip of your tongue, but it is not as overtly sour as aged vinegar, making you unable to stop eating it.
There are also beef noodles, glutinous rice, intestine noodles, crispy duck, silken dumplings, love tofu cakes, etc. waiting for you to try!
It is recommended to stay in Guiyang City. Three hours is enough time to enjoy the Yangpidong Waterfall in the morning. Return to Guiyang City before dark in the afternoon and have a good rest.
Picture @Photo.net
Perhaps you've never heard of Qingzhen, let alone Yangpi Cave. Why would you drive all the way to such a hidden gem? Even if you could capture a cinematic masterpiece, is it really worth the arduous journey just for a few photos? Here, you can honestly say it's worth it!
Picture @Qiannan Government Network
Qingzhen may seem obscure, but it's actually not a deserted place. Instead, it's a Feng Shui treasure land. It's very close to Guiyang city and the surrounding Pingba Cherry Blossoms, Baili Rhododendrons, and Jinhai Snow Mountain Scenic Areas (about a two-hour drive). Especially in spring when the flowers are in bloom, it's wonderful to see the magnificent waterfalls and then enjoy the flowers all the way home!
Outdoor and photography enthusiasts, feel free to go! By the time the sheepskin hole becomes popular, everyone will be a veteran player (manual dog head).
