Beautiful Guizhou: Images from China’s most underrated region
Fanjing Mountain —
Often shrouded in mist, this holy Buddhist mountain is located in northeast Guizhou and home to rare plant species and animals including the seldom glimpsed golden monkey. On clear days, the summit offers stunning views.
Courtesy Guizhou Tourism Bureau
China's supercave —
Guizhou is home to the world's largest cave chamber -- some 380.7 million cubic feet (10.78 million cubic meters) in volume. The Miao room, reachable only by an underground stream, is thought to be big enough to house a 747 jumbo jet.
Some 220 feet (67 meters) high and 270 feet (83 meters) wide, this waterfall is China's biggest. Rainbows form in the mist as the massive body of water crashes into the pool below.
Feng Li/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Jiabang rice terraces —
Terraced farming is common in hilly Guizhou. The Jiabang rice terraces, near Congjiang in the province's southeast corner, look their best during summer rains, which leave the fields shimmering in misted reflections.
Courtesy Guizhou Tourism Bureau
'Two Breast Peaks' —
The Buyi hill tribe believes these conical karst hills in southern Guizhou resemble a pair of gigantic female breasts. On festival days, locals gather at the foot of the peaks and pay thanks to the "holy breasts" for healthy children, prosperity and safety.
Courtesy Guizhou Tourism Bureau
Minority villages —
The Dong ethnic minority in southeastern Guizhou build their wooden houses, bridges and drum towers without any nails.
Katie Hunt/CNN
'24 Zig-Zag Road' —
High-altitude terrain has long kept Guizhou inaccessible to outsiders. This road, which snakes up a mountain in southwestern Guizhou and has 24 bends, was used during World War II to transport guns, bullets and food.
Courtesy Guizhou Tourism Bureau
Traditional crafts —
The Miao ethnic minority is famed for its embroidery and some women still weave their own cloth, dyed with homemade indigo paste.
China Photos/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Getu River —
Bamboo rafts are the traditional mode of transport on Guizhou's many rivers. This "sinking stream" in the Getu river scenic area disappears into an eerie karst cave network.
Katie Hunt/CNN
Getu River —
At certain times of year, shards of light shine through the limestone karst arches of the Getu River Scenic Area. The region draws rock climbers from around the world.
Courtesy Guizhou Tourism Bureau
Karst country —
This huge suspension bridge, which crosses the Qingshui River in Wengan county, southwest Guizhou, is one of the world's highest bridges. Built in rocky karst terrain, the 2,171-meter-long structure opened last year and improves transport links between the provincial capital Guiyang and Yunnan to the southwest.
Wu dongjun/Imaginechina/Wu dongjun - Imaginechina
Anshun —
Rapeseed oil fields bloom amongst Guizhou's karst hills near the city of Anshun.
ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Wanfenglin scenic area —
Guizhou, with its rugged landscape and remote location, has long been one of China's poorest and most underdeveloped provinces. A local saying goes: "Not three feet of flat land, not three days without rain, not a family with three silver coins."
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Vertical caves —
Guizhou's unique karst landscape is a UNESCO world heritage site. The region's Getu River Scenic Area is home to unusual vertical caves.