Nature's Creation – A Three-Dimensional Gallery of Karst
The natural landscape of Yingxi Karst Forest is an eternal symphony of mountains, water, and caves.
- A Thousand Peaks Competing for Beauty: A Sculpture of the Earth
- Dense clusters of peaks: This is the most breathtaking visual feature of Yingxi. Thousands of limestone peaks rise abruptly from the ground, stretching endlessly to form a green sea of peaks. They come in countless shapes: some resemble towering bamboo shoots (Bamboo Shoot Peaks), some look like winding dragons (Dragon Ridge Peaks), and some resemble lotus buds about to bloom (Lotus Mountain). Hiking or cycling along the country lanes, the scenery changes with every step, and each peak displays a different side.
- Iconic Peak Forests: The peak forests of Gongzhengxi Village and Huanghua Town are the highlights. Especially at dawn and dusk, the sunlight gilds the peak forests with gold or casts long shadows, while clouds and mist swirl around the mountains, creating a fairyland-like scene. Around the "Little Zhaozhou Bridge" (Yongfeng Ancient Bridge), the ancient bridge, its reflection, and the distant mountains and nearby waters create a stunning picture.
- Flowing still water: the lifeline of the painting
- Huanghuaxi and Jiulonghe: These two main rivers, like emerald ribbons, meander through the peaks and forests. Where the water flows gently, reflections are created, perfectly replicating the mountains, bamboo groves, and sky; where the water rushes, small waterfalls and shallow pools form, accompanied by the murmuring of flowing water. At the entrance to the Tiger Valley underground river rafting, one can witness the spectacular sight of the river suddenly gushing into an underground cave.
- Dongtian Wonderland: This is a unique landscape of "penetrating a sinkhole". Entering by boat, you can see a waterfall cascading down from the sky in the huge sinkhole. Sunlight shines through the opening, and the cave is lush with greenery and has clear streams, as if you have entered another ecological world that is isolated from the world.
- Underground Secrets: The Fantastic World of Caves
- Pengjiaci Underground River (Tiger Valley Underground River): One of the most representative underground river caves in Asia. The river channel inside the cave is deep and secluded, with excellent stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone formations. Under the lights, they are colorful and strangely shaped, making it a veritable "underground art palace." One section offers an underground river rafting experience, allowing you to feel the thrill of adventure in the dark.
Humanistic craftsmanship – the warmth of human life adorning the landscape
The cultural landscape here is not an isolated historical site, but a living pastoral life that coexists and prospers with the karst peaks.
Ancient bridges and ancient roads: a link through the ages.
- Yongfeng Ancient Bridge (Little Zhaozhou Bridge): A single-arch stone bridge with a history of several hundred years, simple and vigorous. It is not only a transportation link, but also an iconic photography spot of Yingxi Karst Forest. Pedestrians on the bridge, their reflections below, and the distant karst peaks create a classic Lingnan ink painting.
- Tea and Salt Ancient Road: Once a stone-paved path for trade, it has now become a classic route for hiking enthusiasts. Walking along it allows you to feel the echoes of history and appreciate the peak forest from different perspectives.
Ancient Villages and Pastoral Scenes: A Picture of Life
- Peng Family Ancestral Hall: A defensive, fortified Hakka walled village built halfway up a mountain, known as the "Little Potala Palace." Climbing to the top offers a magnificent panoramic view of the vast fields and rolling peaks.
- Pastoral idyll: Lotus ponds amidst karst peaks (summer), golden waves of rice (autumn), and green rice seedlings (spring)—as the seasons change, the fields paint different colors across the karst landscape. At dawn or dusk, farmers can often be seen driving oxen to plow the fields, while egrets soar overhead—a living, breathing pastoral poem.
Tea gardens and farmhouses: the flavors of local life
Yingde is known as the hometown of black tea, and lush green tea gardens can often be seen among the karst peaks. Visiting farmhouses allows you to experience tea picking and processing, taste authentic Yingde black tea, and feel the rich flavor nurtured by this land.
Photography Tips:
The best panoramic shooting locations are along the roadside or on high ground in Gongzheng Village and Xicun Village of Huanghua Town, where you can capture a grand scene of peak forests and pastoral landscapes.
Yongfeng Ancient Bridge is a prime location for capturing the interplay of reflections and human elements, with sunrise and sunset being the best times to take photos.
The top of Pengjia Ancestral Hall offers an excellent vantage point for taking aerial photos of the peak forest and village structure.
Morning mist is the soul of Yingxi Karst Forest, and it is very likely to appear on clear mornings after rain, requiring early rising to wait for it. Drones can perfectly showcase the grandeur of the karst forest corridor.
