Huaxi Yelang Valley (花溪夜郎谷), nestled in the heart of Gui’an New District in Guiyang, is an enchanting ecological park dominated by karst landscapes. Spanning 200,000 square meters, this ecological haven thrives within a gorge, with the legendary Cloak Mountain, believed to be the residence of the Queen of Yelang State, standing in opposition. At its summit, the remnants of the ancient Yelang stronghold still linger, earning the valley its evocative name.
Two thousand years ago, during the Qin and Han dynasties, the ancient Yelong State emerged, achieving greatness alongside renowned civilizations like Ancient Loulan and Ancient Qiemo. The Yelang Valley in Guizhou encapsulates the modern imagination of ancient Night Lang.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 20 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 19.00; Last admission: 18.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-15519106882 0086-13518518802 |
Location and Transportation
Yelang Valley is situated in a small gorge at the foothills of Cloak Mountain in Huaxi University City, within the Gui’an New Area of Guizhou Province. To get there, tourists can take bus 401 and get off at Kaixin Driving School Stop (凯信驾校站).
Beautiful Scenery in Yelang Valley
As you approach the scenic area, a vast forest screens out the urban clamor, providing an immediate escape into nature. Gazing into the distance, all that meets the eye is an expanse of trees. However, as you traverse the pine forest, hidden wonders gradually unfold. The canyon stretches languidly, resembling a giant’s fissure in the earth. Along the valley floor, charming bridges span over flowing waters, creating a serene atmosphere. Looking above, distant white clouds, towering cliffs, and perilous sandbanks come into view. Caves release numerous waterfalls, competing in a spectacular display. Drifting along this course for two kilometers promises an adventurous experience for the daring. Ascending the ancient fortress walls provides a conqueror’s thrill, offering panoramic views of lofty mountains, peculiar rocks, and the stone-built architecture characteristic of karst topography – a perfect marriage of nature’s artistry and human ingenuity.
This ecological park seamlessly integrates natural landscapes such as mountains, water, forests, and caves with cultural attractions like the “Ancient Fortress” and the “Love Bird Park.” It also includes stone houses and courtyards, all envisioned and crafted with ingenuity by the renowned Guiyang artist, Song Peilun. Strolling through the ecological park, one encounters landscapes that embody the creator’s pursuit and original intent. The “Love Bird Park,” adorned with various stone sculptures and artistic creations, sparks the imagination. Primitive and rustic stone houses, well-planned courtyards, and paths covered in pine needles create a harmonious and natural environment.
The entire scenic area is composed of small stone buildings, stone architectures, and numerous steps. The ground is also paved with broken blue stone slabs, giving it a feeling of returning to a primitive tribe. The area is not very large.
At 12:30 PM, there is a performance lasting about thirty minutes with three acts. The first act is a blessing ceremony, which involves interaction with the audience; at the end of the interaction, blessing tokens are given out. The second act features walking on knives. The third act involves eliminating evil and curing plague for the audience. If you have the time, it’s worth checking out. When we visited on Wednesday, there were only about twenty of us, and the performers took their roles seriously.
The entrance ticket was only 20 yuan, which allowed me to take a lot of amazing photos. Unfortunately, I was a bit rushed and only stayed for a little over an hour, so I missed the performance.
The area is not very large, but it’s great for taking photos and has a strong sense of exoticism. However, after seeing so many of these quirky little figures, you might start to feel a bit of aesthetic fatigue.
The Stone Man is quite interesting, but the downside of private attractions is that I couldn’t find a restroom.
On a rainy day, there were still plenty of people around. The strange rocks were quite fascinating. It took about half an hour to get here from the city center. The scenic area isn’t very large; you can explore it in about an hour.
The Yelang Valley in Huaxi is not particularly large, but it is very picturesque for taking photos, especially the stone fortress buildings across the small river in the middle. You need to walk to the other side and climb up and down some stairs to reach there, but overall it’s not very tiring.
Make sure to go early! There’s no crowd if you enter at 8 am. We arrived at 11 and there were already quite a few people, but it was manageable. When we were going to leave, a large crowd arrived! They had to line up to get in, but the inside was quite interesting.