Maling River Canyon
The Maling River Canyon, located four kilometers northeast of Xingyi City, is known as the "Valley of Great Chasm and Numerous Waterfalls". It originated with the Caishuidu Post Road built in the mid- and late Qing Dynasty, which resembled a corridor in the center of heaven and was later named "Star Gallery". In 1994, it was put by the then Ministry of Construction on the country's third list of national parks. The Maling River originates in the Baiguo Mountain of the Wumeng Mountains in Yunnan Province. It is called the Qingshui River in the upper reaches, and the Maling River in the middle reaches for the Grand Mabie Village and Maling Village on the banks. In the 100-kilometer-long distance from the river source to the estuary, there is a drop of nearly one kilometer, and the river water is abundant and flows down fast, leading to the formation of the Maling River Canyon, which is 74.8 kilometers long, 50-150 meters wide and 120-280 meters deep on the plain at an altitude of 1,200 meters. This spectacular valley is the world's most typical and intact example of karst landscape.
The Maling River Canyon is a typical example of multi-tiered karst landforms, famous for its crevices, valleys, waterfalls, and hanging travertine walls. As experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have commented, it incorporates the magnificence of the Huangguoshu Waterfall, the thrill of the Three Gorges, the wonder of Huanglong, the beauty of the Jiuzhai Valley, and the elegance of Guilin. On both sides of the canyon are steep cliffs and in the deep valleys are fast-flowing currents, along with cascading waterfalls. Where the currents are treacherous, roaring waves would beat rocks and the shore. You can also find cliff paintings, countless springs, and many caves. When looking up from the riverbed, you may find a heavenly ravine against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds; when looking down from the canyon bridge to the bottom of the valley, you may find the fast-flowing river is just like a fissure of the earth. The intact original landscape and the amazing rock paintings make a natural wonder of southwestern China.
马岭河大峡谷
马岭河峡谷位于兴义市城东北4千米处,被誉为“天沟地缝百瀑谷”,源于清中后期修建的踩水渡驿道,建成后形似在天心中的走廊,后被称为“天星画廊”,在1994年被原建设部批准成为第三批国家级重点风景名胜区。马岭河发源于云南乌蒙山系白果岭,上游为清水河,中游因流经两岸的马别大寨和马岭寨而得名。从河源至河口长约100千米的流程内,河水落差近千米,河水水量充沛,下切速度快,在海拔1200米的坦荡平川上切割出长达74.8千米、谷宽50-150米、谷深120-280米的马岭河峡谷,构成了世界喀斯特地貌中最典型最完整的峡谷奇观。
马岭河峡谷是喀斯特多层次地貌景观的典型代表,以地缝嶂谷、群瀑悬练、钙华壁挂而著名,集雄、奇、险、秀、幽、壮、美为一体,被中科院专家评价为“一有黄果之壮,二有三峡之险,三有黄龙之奇,四有九寨之美,五有桂林之秀”。峡谷两岸峭崖对峙,谷深流急,银瀑飞泻;滩险急流处,水石相搏、惊涛拍岸、震耳欲聋,崖画、千泉、万洞两岸悬挂。从河床昂首两岸,在蓝天白云的映衬下,犹如天沟,从峡谷大桥俯视谷底,湍急的河流恰似地缝,原始生态保护完整,岩画壮美多娇,构成了“西南奇缝,天下奇观”。
