Anshun · Visitor Guide
Huangguoshu Waterfall (黄果树瀑布, Huángguǒshù Pùbù)
Huangguoshu is China's largest waterfall and the centerpiece of a national 5A scenic area covering 18 waterfalls across three zones near Anshun, Guizhou. The signature experience is the Water Curtain Cave (水帘洞), a 134 m tunnel behind the main falls where you walk through six rock windows looking out at a wall of white water. First described by the Ming traveler Xu Xiake in 1638, it has been a Chinese tourist landmark for centuries — and a brutally crowded one in summer.
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Quick Answer
Is Huangguoshu Waterfall worth visiting?
China's largest waterfall — 77.8 m high and 101 m wide on the Baishui River, with a 134 m Water Curtain Cave (水帘洞) you can walk through behind the falling water. ¥180 peak season. Allow a full day from Guiyang (130 km, ~2h via HSR + bus).
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥180 peak season (Mar–Nov) / ¥160 off-peak (Dec–Feb), includes all three waterfall zones and the scenic-area shuttle bus (as of 2026). Optional escalator to the main viewing platform: ¥30. Poncho at the entrance: ¥5. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 7:00–18:30 (summer, roughly Apr–Oct) / 7:30–18:00 (winter, roughly Nov–Mar). Last entry about 1 hour before closing. Open daily year-round. |
| Recommended duration | Full day (6–8 hours) for all three zones. The main Huangguoshu waterfall and Water Curtain Cave alone take 2–3 hours. |
| Best time to visit | June–August for peak water volume — the falls are genuinely thunderous when the Baishui River swells with summer rain. September–October for smaller crowds and dry, pleasant weather. Avoid Chinese public holidays (May 1–5, Oct 1–7): the Water Curtain Cave queue can hit 2+ hours. Winter (Dec–Feb) is cheap and empty but the flow drops to a fraction of its summer peak. |
| How to get there | HSR from Guiyang North to Anshun West: 30 min, ¥46–50. Then bus from Anshun to Huangguoshu: 45 min, ¥22. Or direct tourist bus from Guiyang Jinyang Bus Station: 2h, ¥60. DiDi/taxi from Anshun West: 45 min, ¥120–150. No metro in Anshun; the HSR-plus-bus combo is the standard route. |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Height | 77.8 m |
| Width | 101 m |
| Water Curtain Cave | 134 m long, 6 windows behind the falls |
| Scenic area | 3 zones, 18 waterfalls in the Baishui River system |
| From Guiyang | 130 km, ~2h by HSR + bus |
| First recorded | 1638, by Ming traveler Xu Xiake |
| Rating | National 5A scenic area |
What to expect
The scenic area splits into three zones linked by a shuttle bus. The main Huangguoshu waterfall — 77.8 m tall, 101 m wide — is the draw, and the reason most people make the trip. You approach it down a paved path, hear it before you see it, and arrive at a viewing platform where the spray hits like steady rain within 100 m. The standout feature is the Water Curtain Cave (水帘洞): a 134 m tunnel carved behind the falling water, with six windows cut into the rock so you can stand behind the curtain and look out. Few major waterfalls in the world let you do this. The second zone, Tianxingqiao, is a karst stone forest with the fan-shaped Silver Chain Waterfall spilling over limestone terraces. The third, Doupotang, is the widest of the three at 105 m across and is the waterfall used in the closing credits of the 1986 TV adaptation of Journey to the West.
The Ming-dynasty geographer Xu Xiake visited in 1638 and wrote one of the earliest detailed descriptions, calling it the finest waterfall he had seen. The name comes from the huangguoshu (yellow fruit trees) that once lined the riverbank. Huangguoshu holds China's top 5A scenic-area rating, but here is a correction worth making: it is frequently marketed as part of the South China Karst UNESCO World Heritage site, when the actual inscribed Guizhou components are Libo (2007) and Shibing (2014) — not Huangguoshu. The falls sit within the same karst region and the geology is related, but the UNESCO plaque does not cover this park. That distinction matters less to visitors than to cartographers; the waterfall is still one of the most photographed natural sights in southwest China, and the 18 waterfalls sharing the same river system make this the densest waterfall cluster in the country.
Getting here is straightforward thanks to the HSR: 30 minutes from Guiyang North to Anshun West, then a 45-minute bus or a ¥120–150 DiDi to the park entrance. Budget a full day — 6 to 8 hours if you want all three zones, 2 to 3 hours if you only do the main falls and the cave. The cave path has stairs and gets slippery; an escalator (¥30) skips the stair climb to the main viewing platform. Crowds are the real problem: on summer weekends and during the May and October holidays, the Water Curtain Cave queue alone can exceed two hours. In winter (December–February) the flow drops to a fraction of its summer peak and the park is nearly empty — entry is ¥20 cheaper, but the roar is gone. If you want the full experience, go June through September and arrive at opening.
How to get there
HSR from Guiyang North Station (贵阳北站) to Anshun West (安顺西站): 30 minutes, ¥46–50, with trains roughly every 20–30 minutes from about 7 AM. From Anshun West, take the scenic-area shuttle bus (45 min, ¥22) or a DiDi/taxi (45 min, ¥120–150) to the Huangguoshu entrance. Alternatively, a direct tourist bus runs from Guiyang Jinyang Bus Station (金阳客车站) to Huangguoshu in about 2 hours for ¥60 — slower but no transfer. A DiDi direct from Guiyang costs ¥400–500 one way and is not worth it versus the HSR-plus-bus combo. Inside the park, the included shuttle bus connects all three zones (Huangguoshu, Tianxingqiao, Doupotang). There is no metro in Anshun; the HSR-plus-DiDi combination is the standard inbound-traveler route.
Best photo spots
- Main viewing platform — the classic full-width waterfall shot, best in morning light before the tour buses arrive
- Water Curtain Cave — shooting outward through the falling water curtain from one of the six rock windows
- Silver Chain Waterfall at Tianxingqiao — a fan-shaped cascade spilling over limestone terraces
- Doupotang — the widest section at 105 m across, best captured with a polarizing filter to cut glare on the water
Tips
- Bring a raincoat or buy a ¥5 poncho at the entrance — you will get soaked walking through the Water Curtain Cave, and the spray at the main viewing platform reaches 100 m
- Protect electronics in a ziplock bag — the spray at the main platform is like steady light rain, and phone screens fog up instantly
- Visit Tianxingqiao first (morning), then the Huangguoshu main falls (midday), then Doupotang (afternoon) to dodge the worst of the crowds at the cave
- The shuttle bus is already included in your ticket — do not pay extra for "express" buses hawked near the entrance; they go to the same stops
- In winter (Dec–Feb) the waterfall shrinks to a fraction of its summer volume; if you want the full roar, go June–September when the Baishui River is swollen with rain
Scams to avoid
- "Skip the line" tickets sold by touts at Anshun West station — these are either counterfeit or repackaged standard tickets at a markup. Buy at the official counter or via the Huangguoshu WeChat mini-program (黄果树). The same applies to "express shuttle" tickets hawked near the entrance — the shuttle bus is already included in your admission.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Huangguoshu Waterfall?
77.8 m high and 101 m wide, the largest waterfall in China. For comparison, Niagara's Horseshoe Falls is 57 m high and 790 m wide — wider but shorter. Huangguoshu is taller, and the Water Curtain Cave behind the falls is a feature Niagara does not have.
What is the Water Curtain Cave?
A 134 m natural tunnel behind the waterfall where you walk behind the curtain of falling water. It has 6 windows carved into the rock opening onto the back of the falls. You will get wet — ponchos cost ¥5 at the entrance. The path is stone, with some stairs; no climbing required.
How do I get to Huangguoshu from Guiyang?
HSR to Anshun West (30 min, ¥46–50), then bus to Huangguoshu (45 min, ¥22). Or a direct tourist bus from Guiyang Jinyang Bus Station (2h, ¥60). A DiDi from Guiyang all the way costs ¥400–500 one way — not worth it versus the HSR-plus-bus combo.
When is the best time to visit?
June–August for maximum water volume; the falls are thunderous. September–October for pleasant weather and fewer people. Avoid Chinese public holidays (May 1–5, Oct 1–7) — narrow paths get dangerously crowded and the Water Curtain Cave queue can hit 2+ hours.
How much time do I need?
A full day (6–8h) for all three zones: Tianxingqiao (2–3h), Huangguoshu main falls (2h), Doupotang (1h). If you only have a half-day, skip Doupotang — Huangguoshu and Tianxingqiao are the highlights.
Is Huangguoshu a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Not exactly. It is frequently marketed alongside the South China Karst UNESCO property (inscribed 2007, extended 2014), but the inscribed Guizhou components are Libo (Phase 1) and Shibing (Phase 2) — not Huangguoshu. It is a national 5A scenic area (China's top domestic rating) and sits within the same karst region, but the UNESCO listing does not cover this park.
Is it accessible for older travelers or wheelchairs?
Partially. The main viewing platform is wheelchair-accessible, and a ¥30 escalator bypasses the stairs to it. The Water Curtain Cave path involves stairs and gets slippery. Tianxingqiao has long walking sections. The shuttle bus connects all zones, but walking distances add up to several kilometers.
Can I do Huangguoshu as a day trip from Guiyang?
Yes. Catch the 7:00–7:30 AM HSR from Guiyang North to Anshun West (30 min), bus to the park (45 min), spend 5–6 hours across the three zones, and return on an evening train (last departures around 9 PM). Total travel time each way is about 1.5 hours. It is the most popular day trip from Guiyang.
What should I bring?
Rain gear (essential — you will get soaked at the cave), a waterproof bag or ziplock for your phone, comfortable walking shoes with grip (paths are wet), 1–2 liters of water, and sunscreen for the exposed shuttle-bus stops. Cash backup is wise; Alipay and WeChat Pay work at most points but rural signal can drop.
Is the waterfall worth it in winter?
Only if you are already in the area. December–February flow drops sharply — the thunderous curtain becomes a quieter veil. The upside: almost no crowds and ¥20 cheaper entry. If you want the postcard roar, go June–September when the Baishui River is at full volume.
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Other things to do in Anshun
Huangguoshu Waterfall
China's largest waterfall — 77.8m high, 101m wide. Walk behind the curtain of water through Water Curtain Cave. ¥180. Full day from Guiyang.
Fanjingshan (Mount Fanjing)
Sacred Buddhist peak with the otherworldly Red Cloud Golden Summit — a split rock spire with two temples at 2,336m. UNESCO 2018. ¥110. 1-2 days from Guiyang.
Qingyan Ancient Town
A 648-year-old Ming military-garrison town 30 km south of Guiyang, ringed by a stone wall with four fortified gates. Plan 3-4 hours to walk the stone lanes, eat rose-sugar candy and 'top scholar's' braised trotters, and step into Buddhist, Taoist, and a 19th-century Catholic church — the streets are free, the interior sights need a ~¥10 ticket (as of 2026).
Xiaoqikong Scenic Area
Xiaoqikong (小七孔) is the emerald-water, seven-arch-bridge centerpiece of the Libo karst — Guizhou's slice of the South China Karst UNESCO site inscribed in 2007. Allow a full day (6–8 hours) to walk the 68-Level Waterfall, Water Forest, and Mandarin Duck Lake; entry is about ¥110 plus a ¥40 sightseeing bus (as of 2026, verify). Reach it via the 2023 HSR to Libo, roughly 90 minutes from Guiyang.
Qianling Mountain Park
Qianling Mountain Park is a roughly 426-hectare forested park in central Guiyang with Hongfu Temple (1672), Qianling Lake, a zoo, and 500-plus free-roaming macaques. Entry is ¥5; allow 3–4 hours for the main loop or 5–6 to hike the ~1,396 m summit (as of 2026).