Live Your Best Lives
The temperature has been approaching 30℃ recently. The distorted hot air on the asphalt road suggests that everyone should take off their coats and put on short sleeves, as if reminding us every moment that summer is coming. I do look forward to the arrival of summer, but the hot summer in the city is not so attractive, until I met the summer in Guizhou.
Liupanshui is located in western Guizhou, in the Wumeng Mountains. It is famous for its cool climate in the summer and has been awarded the title of "China's Cool Capital" by the China Meteorological Society. The average annual temperature is 13 to 14°C, and even in the summer the average is only 19°C. It has been selected as one of the top ten summer resort cities in my country for many consecutive times.
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In the northern part of Pan County, Liupanshui, lies the Wumeng Grassland, southwest China's largest and highest natural grassland. While considered one of Guizhou's most worthwhile summer destinations, the Wumeng Grassland offers breathtaking scenery in all seasons.
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The Wumeng Prairie has 100,000 mu of unique plateau grassland, with vast green fields and 40,000 mu of alpine dwarf rhododendron forests scattered among them, with brilliant flowers.
From the end of March to the beginning of April, Wumeng is filled with pure spring. The gentle wind gently knocks open the azalea buds, welcoming a sea of flowers all over the mountain. Herds of cattle and sheep under the blue sky complement the azaleas, forming a beautiful picture.
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The rhododendrons on the Wumeng Prairie have a long flowering period, with the peak flowering period lasting about a month, and under normal circumstances can last until late April.
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In previous years, Wumeng azaleas bloomed gradually, following their distribution from lower to higher altitudes. However, this year, the azaleas are in full bloom, stretching endlessly across the hillsides, significantly expanding the area for flower viewing. Furthermore, several snowfalls in January and February this year, with meltwater replenishing moisture in the underlying soil, have resulted in the azaleas blooming with exceptional splendor and brightness.
Unlike the Baili Rhododendron in Bijie, the rhododendron bushes in the Wumeng Plateau are all spherical in shape, as if they have been artificially trimmed. They mainly include Rhododendron tatarinowii, Rhododendron water red, Rhododendron silverleaf, Rhododendron dewdrop, Rhododendron rustyleaf, etc., which cover the mountains and ridges, densely packed, and rush to the end of the mountain.
The sunrise and sunset in the sea of flowers are also not to be missed. As the sun rises and the sea of clouds disappears, the sea of rhododendrons gradually becomes clearer, and the rhododendrons swaying in the wind are like a colorful shawl covering the rolling mountains.
At sunset, the entire grassland is covered in golden mist. When night falls, the stars in the sky and the rhododendrons echo each other in the distance. This is a pure scenery that is difficult to see in the city.
With China-TravelNote, you don’t have to worry about getting up early and staying up late to travel. We will stay in scenic spots and not miss any moment of the beautiful scenery.
The Wumeng Prairie in summer is definitely a paradise for those who fear heat. The average temperature in summer is 19.7℃. When you come here, you feel like you are in a natural central air-conditioning. Without the scorching sun, everything becomes so beautiful.
The highest altitude here is about 2,857 meters. We don't have to worry about lack of oxygen. We just need to be careful not to let the car come into close contact with the horses, cattle and sheep walking on the roadside.
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When the weather is nice, you can rent an RV on the Wumeng Prairie and drive the entire route yourself, experiencing the mountain roads that resemble painted lines, as if you were floating on the horizon. When you get tired of driving, find a place to camp, using the sky as a blanket and the ground as a bed, and enjoy the boundless scenery of the prairie.
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There is also the highest lake in Guizhou on the Wumeng Prairie - Changhaizi, also known as Wumeng Tianchi.
Can you see the ocean from the plateau? You might think it's impossible, but in fact, as early as about 200 million years ago, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau was a bay long submerged by the sea, where deep, pure, and vast limestone deposits accumulated. Over the course of long and arduous crustal movements, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau gradually rose, becoming the pearl of the southwest today.
Scientifically speaking, it's a wetland, a swamp, with hidden springs bubbling beneath the grass, teeming with life. If someone were to walk up there, it would feel like they were hanging in the air, and if they weren't careful, they'd sink into the swamp, unable to get out.
Perhaps it is the ingenuity of nature, or perhaps it is fate, but now the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is densely covered with various "seas". They are hidden deep in the boudoir, quiet and beautiful. The people on the plateau have given these lakes beautiful names: "Haizi".
Come here in the summer and see the grasslands and plateau lakes. If you are lucky, you may even see the magical Buddha light. The Wumeng grassland will make you forget that you are in summer and you will just want to stay here for a long time.
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In autumn, the dusk on the Wumeng Prairie can easily make people indulge in the amber aroma of earth and grass seeds. Although this is not the time of year when there are colorful rhododendrons, it is also suitable for climbing and looking far into the distance. At the top of the Wumeng Prairie, you can see large windmills lined up in formation, and the clouds coming to pay tribute together decorate this magnificent plateau.
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There is neither scorching heat in summer nor severe cold in winter. Liupanshui is not particularly cold in winter, with an average temperature of around 3 degrees Celsius. In winter, the grasslands are covered with ice and snow. Standing on the top of the plateau, visitors can feel the majestic atmosphere and grandeur of the Wumeng Mountains with sunshine, blue sky and white snow.
The Wumeng Grassland Scenic Area also includes the Wumeng Ski Resort. It boasts 14 ski slopes and a snow play area equipped with snowmobiles, snow excavators, snow tanks, snow saucers, banana boats, and snow bikes. It can accommodate approximately 2,600 people skiing and playing in the snow at any one time.
Tips:
Transportation: It only takes one hour to drive from Panzhou City to the Wumeng Grassland in Pingdi Township. It is recommended to drive by yourself or charter a car. There are many winding mountain roads, so those who are prone to motion sickness should be prepared.
Ticket price: 60 yuan/person.
Altitude: The highest is 2857 meters, and the average altitude is about 2500 meters.
Small transportation to the scenic area: Located at the Tourist Service Center, working hours are 9:00-17:00, 25 yuan/person, and the bus will depart for more than 10 people.
Experience: You can go horseback riding at your own expense, with prices of 60, 90, and 120 yuan. Wumeng Grassland is also a great place to fly kites, and kites are sold in front of the service station. There are also glass slides, aerial rafting, grass skiing, and other activities.
Delicacies: Shuicheng mutton noodles, sea buckthorn, black goat hotpot, etc.
Photo@Documentary "Searching for Flavors in Guiyang"
In spring and summer, the Wumeng Grassland is filled with rhododendrons and rolling mountain roads in the distance, while nearby windmills and the deep, inlaid Tianchi Lake stand out. On a clear day, the azure waters of the lake reflect the azure sky, while the windmills behind turn in the wind. The grasslands connect to the lake, a surface unrippled by the mountain winds. Everything is as silent as a painting.
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