Chishui

Chishui, officially designated a city in 1990, lies on the Chishui River, and became part of Guizhou as late as in 1728, Chishui is physically, economically, historically and ethnically closer to the red sandstone basin of Sichuan than to Guizhou and an important trade route to Sichuan. By means of the Chishui (meaning Red Water in Chinese) River salt was transported downstream from Sichuan to the lower reaches in Guizhou. Moutai Township used to be a salt port on the river, growing gradually into one of the well-known towns in the northern Guizhou. Since then, Moutai liquor has become popular.
With the new ease of movement in China, domestic tourism is growing. In 1988, representatives from Beijing designated Chishui a tourist development area. Since then tourism has been much promoted and developing rapidly. There are several attractive places worth visiting around the area. Jinshagou means a "valley full of gold sand". It is 45 km away from Chishui City and divided into two parts. The first is the Chishui National Nature Reserve of Spinulose Tree Ferns; the other is a 18000 hectares of bamboo forest. In spring camellia and azalea flowers are gorgeous.

The Chishui National Nature Reserve extends over 32 sq km and is the first protected area of its kind in China, gaining its present status in 1984 for its exotic spinulose tree ferns, a living fossil of the Jurassic Period full of ancient plants and dinosaurs. With huge leaves radiating in all directions, an average 4-8 meters tall spinulose tree fern looks like a big strange umbrella. Having existed since the Jurassic Period (about 1800 million years ago), the spinulose tree fern is a sort of rare, subtropical, exotic- looking, woody fern and an endangered plant now under strict state protection. It is well known as a living fossil of the ancient plants in that period full of dinosaurs. Furthermore, the woody trunks contain much starch and tannin that can be used for medical purposes.
Situated in Chishui County and covering an area of 13 300 hectares, the virgin forest is one of the earliest national reserves of "spinulose tree ferns" with its ecosystem. Fortunately, a large area of 1600 mu of the rarely seen tree fern forest has been found recently in the Jinshagou Valley, 45 km south of Chishui City. It is surrounded by the 10000 hectare virgin forest which provides the fern forest with the conditions necessary for survival of liberal humidity and shade.

The Sidonggou Valley means "a valley with four openings" and is 17 km away from Chishui with a new stone pathway running through the valley that takes one past four exceptionally beautiful waterfalls of varying heights. The valley is covered with green bamboo trees, plants, arbor trees and a large variety of ferns, most of which are the tree fern (spinulose tree fern). The surrounding area, crisscrossed by ancient tracks, is an excellent walking area for hikers, and provides a taste of village life. Farmers here live simply and naturally, far from modern society.

Shizhangdong Scenic spot is 37 km from Chishui, a beautiful valley through which one can enjoy a multi stepped waterfall and a wide variety of ferns and some exotic plants unknown to most visitors. Nearby is 6000 hectares of primeval forest with rare animals and plants. The famous Shizhangdong Fall is situated on the Fengxihe River, a branch of the Chishui River in the southeast of Chishui County. 72 meters high and 68 meters wide, the water drops into a semi-circular pool with a deafening roar. Visitors can walk down to the river level and stand behind the roaring curtain of water to feel the power of the fall.

Walking down along the green valley is also a delightful and enjoyable experience. The Fengxi River, 70 km long, originates from Huangjinba of Gulan County in Sichuan Province and flows finally into the Chishui River near the city of Chishui. With a sharp drop of 192 meters within the 3.5 km long valley, the Fengxi, down from Shizhangdong, becomes a group of multi-step falls, rushing forward, pouring down angrily and then rolling thunderously on again like a fierce dragon. Of all these grand falls, the most magnificent main fall is Shizhangdong. The main fall is the second largest in Guizhou Province, only second to the Huangguoshu Waterfall. Two kilometers down from the Shizhangdong Waterfall, there is another big fall called Zhongdong Fall, 60 meters wide and 20 meters high. It looks much gentler. Looking down from a mountaintop nearby, visitors may feel as if there were huge white curtains hanging on the cliffs in the valley. What a sight it is!