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| Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, Liboi Zhangjiang, Guizhou |
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| Daqikong Scenic Area, Libo Zhangjiang, Guizhou |
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| Wolong Pool Xiaoqikong Scenic Area |
Wednesday March 19 2025 (Day 2 - Guiyang & Libo, Guizhou) - our tour group's 1st day in Guiyang & today we had 2 major visits in Libo, Guizhou (approx 250km from Guiyang) ie Xiaoqikong & Daqikong Scenic Area, my first time visit to Libo ! A great start after seeing the historic Xiaoqikong Ancient Bridge & Wolong Pool, and the Evil Wind Cave & Natural Bridge in Daqikong Scenic Area (by a boat ride) !
1) Our tour group's 1st night hotel accommodation in Tulip Inn Hotel, Guiyang - close to mid-night for our hotel check-in due to a delay airport exit (bureaucracy in filing of a damaged luggage claim report by one of our tour members) so at best for tonight, we had only a few hours of sleep & might have to resort to a power nap in the tour bus the next morning .....
2) Our tour group buffet breakfast (07.00) in Tulip Inn Hotel, Guiyang - excellent choice of breakfast food to my delight, so me & my wife just enjoyed & ate our breakfast in the comfort of the hotel's dining hall ! For the ensuing days & evenings (8 days 7 nights), all our tour members would have the opportunity to taste a variety of Guizhou style breakfasts, lunches & dinners in hotels & restaurants so all would be well fed & gained some body weight towards the end of this see well, eat well & stay well overseas trip !
3) One for the album in front of Tulip Inn Hotel, Guiyang - a nice hotel for our tour group's 1st night stay (short & sweet) in Guiyang, Guizhou, hotel check-out at 08.30, cool weather of 9c > 18c so a light jacket wear for the day !
4) Our China VIP 2 + 1 Coach - soft seat & comfortable sitting for our entire 9 days sightseeing Exploring of Guizhou visit !
5) Cityscape of Guiyang City, suburban & countryside scenery (very picturesque) as viewed from the moving tour bus from Guiyang > Libo for our 1st sightseeing visit to Xiaoqikong & Daqikong Scenic Area
6) A brief stopover in a R & R Service Centre off the highway for toilet run - wake-up time for those who took a deep slumber in the tour bus !
7) Countryside scenery from R & R Service Center > Libo - another 1.5 hour of bus ride before arriving Libo in time for a lunch - my 1st taste of Miao food dishes !
8) Our tour group lunch in a local restaurant near Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, Libo, Guizhou - enjoyed eating the roasted duck, mutton rib chops, steamed white chicken & fried pawns, my favourite dishes - Miao-style !
9) After the lunch, a short walk to the Xiaoqikong Scenic Area (West Gate)
10) Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, Libo, Guizhou - best known for the 7 arched Xiaoqikong Bridge, which is a landmark at the Zhangjiang Scenic Area; also known as the Little Jiuzhaigou, in a long valley of the gorge, easy to walk, waterfalls & turquoise lakes are beautiful & breathtaking !
11) Xiaoqikong Scenic Area (West Gate) Ticketing Counter & Entrance
12) An introduction to Xiaoqikong Scenic Area - Xiaoqikong is one of the most important part of Zhangjiang national landscape in Libo County, it consists of Daqikong & Xiaoqikong both have been recognised as a national scenic attraction by the state council in 1994. In April 1996, it was approved as a member of Man & Biosphere Program by UNESCO. On July 2007, it was gazetted as the South Karst of China as well as the 1st batch of the World Natural Heritage of Guizhou Province. In July 2015, it became a natural 5A tourist attraction.
Xiaoqikong is located in the south of Guizhou Plateau covering an area of 46 sq km. It integrates forests, caves, lakes & stones. It is honored as an excellent minicape, the spot is famous for its ingenuity, elegance, delicacy, & primitive simplicity. The ancient Xiaoqikong bridge, Laya Waterfall, the 68th level plunge waterfall, Forest on Stone & Forest on Water, Wild Pig Forest, Tianzhong Cave, Wolong Pool & Yuanyang Lake are all included.
Daqikong covers 36 sq km & located in the east of Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, it integrates Karst landform & hydrological landscape, thrilling, magnificnet & marvellous. Ancient Daqikong bridge, Horrific canyon, inherent piercing hole, Yaofeng cave are all included. If we say Xiaoqikong is a born beauty, then Daqikong is a strong & firm man.
13) Shuttle bus ride from the main entrance to Wolong Pool, Xiaoqikong Scenic Area
14) Sightseeing No 1 - Wolong Pool, Xiaoqikong Scenic Area - " originally known as Wenglong Pool, is the outlet of Wolong River, a karst subterranean river. Based on scientific investigation, Wolong Pool was formed within the Huanglong limestone as the outlet of the Huanghou underground river where the water flows out from the Wenglong Peak basin. The formation of this area is mainly influenced by the terrain & the groundwater drainage outlets. As the river emerges from underground the pressure drops & the flow speed increases, causing carbon dioxide to be released from the water into the atmosphere. This leads to the precipitation of large amounts of calcium carbonate at the outlet, forming a calcium carbonate waterfall. Due to the relatively gentle & open terrain at the outlet, the underground water upon emerging, forms a narrow lake shaped by the lateral smoothing effect of surface water. A man-made dam has since been built at the lower section, raising the water level & submerging the original outlet. As a result, a long narrow lake has formed, approximately 160m in length & 70m in width. The surface of the pool is as calm as a mirror with water appears constantly changing with the light & time. From the edge to the center, the water appears to transition from emerald green to pale blue, bright blue & finally deep blue. Strange rocks & peculiar trees stall tall by the edge of the pool, while ancient trees stretch high above. The sound of rushing water echoes outside, with mist hanging in the air. The surrounding mountains, trees & forest are mirrored perfectly on the still water, creating a mesmerizing scene where it's hard to distinguish between the real landscape & its reflection, blending the mountains & water into a harmonious picture. When a mountain flood comes, the waves churn & crash, as if a mighty dragon is rising in all its power. Yet, at other times, the Wolong Pool remains tranquil & serene, like a slumbering beauty, graceful, pristine & peaceful "
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| Wolong Pool (Little Jiuzjhaigou) |
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| Man-made Dam, Wolong Pool |
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| Wolong Valley Drifting |
15) Exiting the Xiaoqikong Scenic Area & entering the Daqikong Station / Daxikong Scenic Area.
16) Daqikong Sightseeing Bus Station - boarding a shuttle vehicle to the front entrance of Daqikong Scenic Area.
17) Daqikong Scenic Area is famous for Daqikong Bridge, Dream Pond, Natural Bridge & Evil Wind Cave, Daqikong Bridge was built in 1877 & acted as an important trade route between Guizhou & Guangxi in ancient China.
18) Daqikong Tourist Boat Ticketing Counter - the start of our tour group's boat ride to Daqikong Scenic Area.
19) Evil Wind Cave, Daqikong Scenic Area, Libo - a major landmark !
20) Natural Bridge, Daqikong Scenic Area
21) Exiting the Daqikong Scenic Area & a short walk back to the Sightseeing Boat Pier for our return boat ride to visit our next destination, Xiaoqikong Ancient Bridge.
22) Boarding a Shuttle bus to Xiaoqikong Ancient Bridge - one of the highlights for today's visit.
20) Xioqikong Ancient Bridge, Libo, Zhangjiang Scenic Area - historic & a class of its own like one of the beauty of a Little "Jiuzhaigou" sparkling lake !
23) Laya Waterfall, Xiaoqikong Scenic Area - by the roadside, a spectacular sight !
24) Exiting the Daqikong West Gate to meet up with our tour bus thus ending our exciting day trip to Xiaoqikong & Daxqikong Scenic Area.
25) Boarding a shuttle bus to the Exit Point & a short walk to our restaurant for our tour group's dinner this evening before heading to Libo Landscape Resort Hotel for our hotel check-in.
26) Our group's dinner in the same restaurant we had our lunch this afternoon in Libo - dining room was cramped & not so comfortable to sit & dine !
27) Our tour group's overnight stay in Libo Landscape Resort Hotel, Guizhou - took a buggy ride from the main hotel complex to our resort room (2 minutes ride) for our hotel check-in. Good Night !
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