Things to do in Daguan

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Zhaotong

The Huanglian River Scenic Area

The Huanglian River Scenic Area is located in the Daguan County of Zhaotong City. With waterfall views as its main attraction, it presents natural wonders such as caves, rain forests, and rare animals and plants, as well as cultural exhibits such as ancient tombs, prehistoric relics, and ethnic customs. A great getaway destination, it is a multipurpose sightseeing district for tourism, vacation, rock climbing, scientific expeditions, and other recreational activities.

Sanhaidong

The Shanhai Cave Attraction is based on the Classic of Mountains and Seas and is built around the main story line of "Searching for the Secret Realm of Mountains and Seas and Tracing the Origin". The cave uses sound, light, electricity and other technological means to perfectly present more than 40 dream scenes such as Nuwa mending the sky, Chiyou's battlefield, birds paying homage to the phoenix, and Yu killing Xiangliu, allowing you to be immersed in the scene and enjoy a visual feast.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Huangguoshu Scenic Area

The Huangguoshu Scenic Area is located in Anshun, Guizhou, centered around the Huangguoshu Waterfall. Surrounded by deep gorges, dense vegetation, and dotted with limestone caves and stone forests, it is a typical karst landscape area. The waterfall's name originates from the locally abundant "Huangguoshu" (Ficus virens). Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake visited and documented this site, contributing to its fame. The scenic area primarily consists of three main sections: the Great Waterfall, Tianxing Bridge, and Doupotang. Most travelers follow the sequence of Doupotang, Tianxing Bridge, and finally the Great Waterfall, saving the most spectacular view for last. The grand waterfall has a drop of nearly 80 m and a width of over 100 m. The Baishui River plunges from the cliff top into Rhinoceros Pool, creating a vast mist. Multiple viewing platforms around it allow visitors to experience its grandeur, wonder, steepness, and beauty from different angles—above, below, front, back, left, and right. A particularly unique experience lies behind the waterfall: a 100 m long Water Curtain Cave runs horizontally through its midsection, featuring cave windows and halls. Reaching through a window, one can touch the cascading water. The cave served as the filming location for the Water Curtain Cave in the 1986 TV series Journey to the West. Due to the heavy humidity inside, bringing a raincoat in advance is recommended. Tianxing Bridge is renowned for its harmonious blend of rocks, water, trees, and caves—where rocks rise from the water, caves hide within rocks, and trees stand beside caves. The stepping stones along the path are engraved with dates, allowing travelers to find their own "birthday stone." The attraction is divided into upper and lower sections. Many travelers turn back after completing the upper section, missing the Silver Chain Waterfall in the lower part—where water cascades like silver chains into a funnel-shaped pool, the highlight of Tianxing Bridge. The Doupotang waterfall is located approx. 1 km upstream from the grand waterfall. With a width of over 100 m at its crest, the water spreads out smoothly like a beaded curtain. During the high-water season, its deep roar earns it the nickname "roaring waterfall." The scene of the four pilgrims leading their horse across the river in the 1986 TV series Journey to the West was filmed here. In summer and fall, the waterfalls are full and powerful, while in winter and spring, the flow becomes gentler, offering different viewing experiences. Nearby, visitors can also enjoy local snacks like sticky rice, love tofu, and Anshun spring rolls.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Mount Emei

Mount Emei is one of the four famous mountains of Chinese Buddhism, and it is also the temple of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. There are numerous Buddhist monasteries in the mountains that combine to give this place a holy and serene atmosphere. The scenery in the mountains are beautiful. The four seasons each have their own characteristics. If you are lucky, you can see the sunrise and sea of clouds. Do note that the monkeys in Mount Emei are notoriously naughty. They are not afraid of people, and even take the initiative to ask tourists for food.

No. 9 of Best Things to Do in Sichuan

Leshan Giant Buddha

The Leshan Giant Buddha, also known as the Lingyun Giant Buddha, is situated on the cliff of Qiluan Peak on Lingyun Mountain at the confluence of the Min River, Qingyi River, and Dadu River in Leshan, Sichuan. It is a colossal seated stone statue of Maitreya carved during the Tang Dynasty, standing approx. 70 m tall, with a single instep spacious enough to accommodate over a hundred people. Legend has it that the turbulent waters at the confluence once frequently capsized passing boats. To calm the currents, the monk Haitong of Lingyun Temple initiated the carving of the Buddha. Over several generations, craftsmen continued the construction, which took approx. ninety years to complete. On the cliff to the right of the Buddha, an inscription from the Tang Dynasty titled "Jiazhou Lingyun Temple Great Maitreya Stone Statue" remains to this day, revealing its original name—the Great Maitreya Stone Statue of Jiazhou Lingyun Temple. The common route to visit the giant Buddha is to first arrive at Lingyun Temple beside the Buddha's head, then descend along the winding Jiuzhaigou plank road built against the cliff. View the Buddha's spiral hair buns and robe folds up close, and reach the platform at the Buddha's feet to look up at the full figure. Only then can one truly appreciate the grandeur of "a mountain being a Buddha, and a Buddha being a mountain." Lingyun Temple has continuous incense offerings, and many travelers also join their palms here to pray for blessings. For a different perspective, take a boat cruise or view from the riverside of Leshan ancient city: the continuous mountain outlines of Wuyou Mountain, Lingyun Mountain, and Guicheng Mountain resemble a giant reclining Buddha facing upward, with the grand Buddha seated precisely at its chest—creating the marvel of "Buddha within Buddha." The river view also captures the grand Buddha's full profile alongside the scenery of three rivers, making it especially effortless for travelers with limited stamina or those seeking panoramic shots.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Guizhou

Zhijin Cave Scenic Area

Zhijin Cave Scenic Area is a magnificent and uniquely shaped treasure trove of cave resources discovered in China. The cave is filled with various formations such as stalagmites, stone pillars, stone buds, and flagstones, creating a mesmerizing array of karst views. Since the entire attraction features a one-way walking route, visitors must complete the full journey upon entering. After exiting, they can take electric bikes back to the entrance. In the cave, you can admire various rock formations such as stalagmites, stone pillars, stone sprouts, and flagstones, creating diverse karst views. The cave passages crisscross in twists and turns, with stone peaks scattered throughout. The myriad of breathtaking scenes leaves visitors marveling at nature's craftsmanship.

No. 13 of Best Things to Do in Guizhou

Loong Palace

Loong Palace attraction is located in the southern suburbs of Anshun, adjacent to Huangguoshu scenic area. It consists of three parts: the western Loong Palace central area featuring the essence of karst caves, the eastern Loong Palace scenic area - Xuantang showcasing pastoral scenery, and Qunfang valley - a small hilly area between them. There are various ways to explore Loong Palace: you can visit just the central area and return, take a boat tour followed by hiking through Qunfang valley before continuing by boat to Loong Palace scenic area - Xuantang, or explore in reverse order. During peak season like golden week when crowds are large, the reverse route is recommended to avoid long queues of group visitors. The central attraction of Loong Palace consists of two karst cave groups, with several cave halls connected by an underground river, collectively known as the first section.Loong PalaceHe'erjinLoong PalaceYou can only enter by boat, and it usually takes about half an hour to visit. Once inside,Loong PalaceStretching over 800 m, this section represents the essence of Loong Palace, featuring massive stalactites of diverse shapes that spark the imagination. The dim lighting inside may make photography challenging, so please take note. Qunfang valley is a hilly area where you can climb up and down amidst lush greenery while breathing fresh air - an exhilarating experience. Along the way, you'll encounter several karst caves including Yulong cave, Loong Palace scenic area - Guanyin cave, and Dizang hall. However, at Loong Palace scenic area - Guanyin cave, please note: if you're not a devout Buddhist, it's advisable not to touch anything or accept so-called "free incense" to avoid unexpected expenses.

No. 4 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Guizhou

Wumeng Grass Plain

Wumeng Grass Plain, also known locally as Poshang Grass Plain, is located in the northern part of Panzhou. With an average temperature of 11.1°C and a cool climate, it is a summer retreat. Here you can enjoy various outdoor activities such as horseback riding, archery, camping, and barbecuing, making it an ideal choice for a self-drive tour. The Wumeng Grass Plain is vast and enjoys a pleasant temperature. Here, blue skies and white clouds stretch over endless green grass, and any snapshot you take is a stunning landscape photo. Bring the family on a self-drive trip here, bask in the sun and relax or go horseback riding in the morning to experience the charm of the grassland. At noon, enjoy an outdoor barbecue for endless fun. In the evening, go camping, and if the weather is good, you can stargaze and admire the moon. Great food plus beautiful scenery make this simply a paradise on earth.

No. 6 of Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Chongqing

Dazu Rock Carvings

Dazu Rock Carvings is the collective name for the cliff carvings (grottoes) in Dazu District, Chongqing, primarily featuring Buddhist themes. It includes Baodingshan Scenic Area, Beishan Rock Carvings, Nanshan Rock Carvings, Shimenshan Rock Carvings, Shizhuanshan, and other sites, where well-preserved rock carving art from the Tang and Song dynasties can be appreciated. To date, 75 sites of rock carvings have been designated as cultural heritage protection units, with over 50,000 statues. The carvings at these attractions were first created in the early Tang dynasty, continued through the late Tang and Five Dynasties, flourished during the Northern and Southern Song dynasties, and extended into the Ming and Qing dynasties, spanning over a thousand years. They are a monument in the history of Chinese grotto art and a magnificent chapter in world grotto art from the late 9th to the mid-13th century. Rooted in the fertile soil of the long-standing Ba-Shu culture, the attraction builds on and integrates the essence of earlier grotto art, innovating and pursuing exhaustive transformation to open up new horizons in grotto art. With distinctive national, secular, and life-oriented characteristics, it has become a model of grotto art with Chinese style. It is a representative work of late Chinese grotto art, and together with the Dunhuang, Yungang, and Longmen grottoes, it forms a complete history of Chinese grotto art. The grottoes showcase, from different perspectives, the significant developments and changes in Chinese grotto art styles and folk religious beliefs between the 9th century and the mid-13th century, making important contributions to the innovation and development of Chinese grotto art, and possessing irreplaceable historical, artistic, scientific, and appreciative value compared with grottoes of earlier dynasties. On December 1, 1999, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural heritage site. Baodingshan attraction andBeishan Rock CarvingsRelatively concentrated Among the stone carving clusters, the more concentrated ones are the Baodingshan attraction and Beishan Stone Carvings. They sell tickets separately, and combo tickets are also available. The two are over ten km apart. The other three attractions in the stone carving cluster—Nanshan, Shimenshan, and Shizhuanshan—officially opened in July 2024. Dazu Rock Carvings Baodingshan Rock Carvings are located in the Baodingshan Scenic Area 15 km northeast of the urban area of Dazu. Centered on the Greater and Lesser Buddha Bays, they were carved under the supervision of the monk Zhao Zhifeng during the Chunxi to Chunyou reign periods of the Southern Song Dynasty (1174–1252). The Greater Buddha Bay of the Dazu Rock Carvings Scenic Area is a U-shaped mountain bay, with a cliff face of carvings about 500 m long and 8–25 m high. The carvings are cut on the east, south, and north cliff faces and are numbered consecutively as Nos. 1–31. The sculptures in the Baodingshan Grottoes exhibit several characteristics that distinguish them from earlier Chinese grottoes: First, the Baodingshan Grottoes are a rare large-scale Buddhist Esoteric sect grotto site in China, extending the history of Chinese Esoteric Buddhism by nearly four hundred years. Second, the expressive forms of the Baodingshan sculptures are unique in grotto art. In the Dafowan area of the Dazu Rock Carvings scenic site, the themes of thousands of sculptures do not repeat, and the niches and caves are both internally connected in doctrine and formally interlinked, forming an organic whole that resembles a magnificent historical scroll painting. All sculptures are accompanied by both images and texts, and the inscribed scriptures mostly differ from those in the Tripitaka; many are extra-canonical Buddhist stone inscription documents not included in previous editions of the Tripitaka, holding significant academic value for the study of Buddhist texts. Third, the sculptures emphasize philosophical exposition, integrating the basic doctrines of Buddhism with Confucian ethics, the mind-nature theory of Neo-Confucianism, and Daoist teachings, broadly incorporating and assimilating multiple traditions, and displaying the characteristics of Buddhist thought in Song dynasty China. Fourth, from content to form, the Baodingshan sculptures are a model of the nationalization and secularization of Chinese grotto art. The reverence for Confucian filial piety and the depiction of worldly urban life make it an art treasury with strong traditional Chinese cultural characteristics, marking the completion of the Sinicization process of grotto art that originated in India. Fifth, the Baodingshan sculptures are a culminating work of grotto art, with creative developments in many aspects. They take the ability to inspire awe in people as their creative principle, thereby arousing devotees' pious faith in the Buddhist Dharma. They also integrate scientific principles into artistic modeling; the sculptures, decorations, layout, drainage, lighting, support, and perspective all pay great attention to formal beauty and artistic conception. In addition, there are still 16 steles, 44 inscriptions, travel notes, and poems, and 49 records of repairs and adornments in the Baodingshan Grottoes sculptures. Among them, the stele "Biography of Liu Benzun of the Tang Dynasty," carved between 1174 and 1252 AD, and the "Record of reopening the Baoding stele" and other [texts] are of significant academic value for the study of the history of the Baodingshan Grottoes and even the history of Chinese Esoteric Buddhism. Beishan Rock Carvings Beishan Rock Carvings are located on the summit of Beishan (commonly known as Fo Wan) 1.5 km north of the main urban area of Dazu District. They were first carved in the first year of Jingfu of the Tang Dynasty (892) by Wei Junjing, then prefectural governor of Changzhou and commander of the four prefectures of Chang, Pu, Yu, and He. Subsequent construction by local officials, gentry, commoners, and monks and nuns continued until the final year of Shaoxing of the Southern Song Dynasty (1162), when the present scale was reached. The sculptures in the Beishan Grottoes were built against the rock, with the cliff face of the sculptures approximately 300 m long and 7–10 m high, shaped like a crescent moon. The niches and caves are as densely packed as honeycombs and are divided into the southern and northern sections, numbered consecutively as 290, including 264 niches and caves with sculptures, nearly ten thousand statues, 1 incised-line diagram, and 8 sutra pillars. The Beishan Grottoes sculptures were mainly carved with funds donated by laypeople praying to the Buddha, with rich themes, predominantly Esoteric Buddhist sculptures, accounting for more than approximately one-half of the total. The late Tang dynasty sculptures in the Beishan Grottoes feature 12 types of themes, with Guanyin and the combined niches of Guanyin and Ksitigarbha, as well as Amitabha accompanied by Guanyin and Ksitigarbha, being the most common. The late Tang sculptures are dignified and full-bodied, with a robust temperament, fine and dense drapery lines, and thin garments clinging to the body, bearing the legacy of the High Tang style. The Five Dynasties sculptures account for more than one third of the Beishan Grottoes, featuring 18 themes, including new content such as the Bhaisajyaguru Sutra transformation and the Dharani Sutra transformation, making it a region with a large number of sculptures from this period in China. The Five Dynasties sculptures are small and exquisite, with varied postures, free and natural expressions, and increasingly ornate clothing and adornments, presenting a transitional style from the Tang to the Song Dynasty. The Song dynasty sculptures in the Beishan Grottoes feature 21 types of themes, with Guanyin being especially prominent, earning it the title of "China's exhibition hall of Guanyin sculptures." The Song dynasty sculptures have distinct character personalities, elegant postures, well-proportioned figures, and brightly colored attire, possessing a rich decorative beauty. Seven steles and inscribed tablets are extant at the Beishan Grottoes. Among them, the "Stele of Wei Junjing," carved in 895 AD, holds significant value for filling gaps in Tang dynasty history; the "Spirit Way Stele of Lord Zhao Yijian," carved between 1163 and 1189 AD, was written by Cai Jing, one of the four great calligraphers of the Song dynasty, and is a treasure of calligraphic art; and the twenty-two-chapter "Stele of the Ancient Text Classic of Filial Piety" has been called by historians "the only carving of its kind in the world." The grottoes are renowned worldwide for their exquisite elegance, distinctive characteristics of the era, fine carving, superb craftsmanship, and excellent preservation. They also integrate works from the late Tang, Five Dynasties, and Northern and Southern Song dynasties, showcasing the different styles and evolutionary development of grotto art across various periods from the late Tang to the Song dynasty, and are hailed as a "museum of Tang and Song stone carving art."

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