Yubulu Tiankeng, an unconventional village hidden in the mountains

Choose some niche attractions when driving in Guizhou. You can always get unexpected rewards if you don’t take the usual route😄 Yubulu Tiankeng is a scenic spot near Wanfenglin. With its dual charm of geological wonders and humanistic nostalgia, it has become a microcosm of the "paradise" in Southwest Guizhou. This place is not only a living teaching material of karst landform, but also an eternal witness to the harmonious coexistence of human beings and nature. It has been reported by many media outlets including CCTV's "Geographic China" and is also the filming location for the variety show "Where Are We Going, Dad 5?" When we went there during the summer vacation of 2022, we could feel that this place has not been overdeveloped and still retains its original local characteristics! There are not many tourists coming here. The local people are simple and honest, and they enjoy life leisurely. If you have time, you can come here for a walk and experience the unique local customs and culture! This mysterious little village has a history of 600 years. It has beautiful scenery and is surrounded by mountains. The buildings are basically stone walls, stone houses, and stone roads. Many century-old buildings and towering ancient trees have been well preserved. 1. Geological wonder: the "Eye of the Earth" of karst landform The Yubulu Tiankeng is located in Lianfeng Village, Qingshuihe Town, Xingyi City, Guizhou Province. It is a typical karst landform landscape and is known as the "first tiankeng in China". The tiankeng was formed more than 100 million years ago as a result of long-term erosion by an underground river and cave collapse. It is shaped like a morning glory, with a flat bottom and steep cliffs around it, with a height difference of more than 600 meters. Looking down from the air, it is like the "eyes of the earth". The fertile fields, ancient trees, stone houses and the natural contours of the tiankeng complement each other, showing the magnificent epic of geological evolution. 2. Humanistic Village: Nostalgia of the 600-year-old Stone Village Inside the tiankeng is an ancient village of the Buyi people with a history of more than 600 years. It is a rare inhabited tiankeng village in the world. Villagers use stones to build houses, stone walls and stone steps, forming a unique landscape of "stone village and stone houses". The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall in the village is well preserved. The small green-tiled building with a through-beam structure, towering ancient trees, ancient wells and caves together outline a tranquil pastoral picture. According to legend, members of the Chen clan moved here in the Ming Dynasty to avoid war, and took advantage of the tiankeng's easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack terrain to multiply and prosper. 3. Special landscape: the fusion of nature and art - Tiankeng floor drain: a landscape art work designed by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, with a giant funnel shape to enhance the geological characteristics. The 9-meter-diameter "floor drain" leads directly to the underground river, combining drainage function with visual impact, becoming a symbolic landscape that tourists must check in. - Observation Deck: Climb up to the observation deck on the north side of the cenote and you can overlook the entire village at the bottom of the cenote and the surrounding peaks and forests, as well as the steep waterfalls in the Maling River Canyon, and feel the magnificence of "seeing all the mountains as small". - Natural drainage system: There are underground river outlets and sinkholes on the east and west sides of the tiankeng, forming a natural drainage network to ensure the livelihood of villagers and irrigation of farmland, reflecting the intelligent symbiosis of nature and humans. 4. Cultural experience: a paradise where time has frozen The village retains the traditional customs of the Buyi people, such as the "Flag-Walking Festival" and the mountain temple worship activities. Under the ancient banyan tree, old people are chatting, children are playing and chasing each other, and women are working in the fields. The life scenes are like a vivid rural painting. 5. Travel Tips - Address and Transportation: Yubulu Village, Qingshuihe Town, Xingyi City, Guizhou Province, about 20 kilometers from the city. It is recommended to drive to the "Yubulu Tiankeng Scenic Area". Parking is free in the village. - Tickets and time: Free and open to the public. The village is not big and can be walked through in 1-2 hours. You can combine it with the surrounding attractions, which is suitable for photography and in-depth experience. - Best season: All seasons are suitable. Summer is cool and pleasant, and autumn is more poetic with golden rice fields.