Getu River National Park (格凸河国家公园), spanning 18.6 square kilometers, embodies the essence of karst landscapes, combining rocks, mountains, water, caves, stones, and forests. It’s a rare gem of natural beauty, designated as a dual National Heritage Site for its natural and cultural significance. In 2006, it was recognized as one of the most beautiful places in China. The name “Getu” originates from the Miao language, meaning “sacred land of jumping flowers.”
Here, visitors can experience thrilling modern activities like low-altitude skydiving, bungee jumping, and wingsuit flying, alongside traditional Miao cultural displays such as the extraordinary feats of the Spider-Men, who climb cliffs bare-handed and navigate through fire and blades. There’s the enchanting allure of the Yaluwang culture and the tranquil sanctuary of Dahemiao Village, reminiscent of an idyllic utopia.
The park boasts unparalleled natural wonders like the immense Great Archway and the breathtaking Swallow Cave, along with the deepest vertical shaft in China and the world’s tallest and best-preserved ancient riverbed, the Blind Valley.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Map of Getu River National Park
- Highlights of Getu River National Park
- Vlog about Getu River National Park
- Attractions near Getu River
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 day |
| Ticket Price | 150 RMB including admission, shuttle bus, boat trip, and performance |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 18.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0851-38180888 |
Location and Transportation
Getu River National Park is located in Ziyun County, Anshun City, Guizhou Province, China. It is approximately 103 kilometers from the city center of Anshun and 164 kilometers from the provincial capital, Guiyang.
To reach Getu River National Park:
- Take a high-speed train from Guiyang North Station to Anshun West Station. The train ticket costs around 46.5 yuan and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
- Transfer to a bus at Anshun West Station heading to Ziyun County. The bus ticket costs about 65 yuan and the journey takes approximately 1 hour.
- Upon arrival in Ziyun County, take a taxi to Getu River Scenic Area. The taxi fare ranges from 90 to 150 yuan, and the journey takes about 45 minutes.
Map of Getu River National Park
Highlights of Getu River National Park
Great Archway Area
This area is characterized by several magnificent caves, including:
- Swallow Cave: Beneath a natural arch 116 meters high and 25 meters wide lies a 270-meter-long lake inhabited by hundreds of thousands of swallows. Witnessing their majestic flights at dawn and dusk is truly spectacular.
- Through Cave: A relic of an ancient underground river, this cave features a tunnel entrance 137 meters long, 70 meters wide, and 50 meters high – large enough for an airplane to pass through. Its floor is covered with various rare shrubs and vines.
- Blind Valley: This trough-shaped depression, approximately 1 kilometer long and 30–150 meters wide, is surrounded by steep cliffs ranging from 200 to 400 meters high. Accessible via a 20-meter-high vertical shaft, it offers a glimpse into a pristine natural setting.
- Heaven-reaching Cave: A massive vertical shaft cutting through limestone, this cave reaches a depth of 370 meters and spans 200 meters in width, resembling a heavenly skylight.
Space-time Tunnel (Sightseeing Elevator)
Nestled within Swallow Cave Area, the Getu River National Park’s sightseeing elevator is an engineering marvel. Consisting of a 370-meter-deep natural shaft and a 75-meter steel structure, the elevator operates at a speed of 1.75 meters per second. It features two single-layer fully transparent tempered glass elevators running in parallel, providing access to attractions such as the ancient riverbed, the primal forest of Blind Valley, the bamboo grove, and the Through Cave. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the morning light pouring into the cave from the top.
King Yan’s Palace Boardwalk
This boardwalk starts 100 meters from the park entrance and extends to the entrance of the sightseeing elevator. Carved into the cliffside, the construction of the boardwalk was daring and intricate. Built from reinforced concrete and Russian pine, it spans 440 meters, serving as a crucial pathway connecting various attractions like the sightseeing elevator, Through Cave, Bamboo Grove, and the primal forest of Blind Valley. Here, visitors can witness the awe-inspiring craftsmanship of nature, sculpted over thousands of years, as seen in the ancient riverbed remnants, showcasing the immense power of nature.
Sky Bridge of Heaven-reaching Cave
Serving as the essential link between the Swallow King Palace and the Heaven-reaching Cave, this suspension bridge is constructed from steel cables and treated wood, stretching a total length of 34 meters. Crossing this bridge offers visitors a firsthand view of how the Getu River flows into the hidden underworld, providing a thrilling perspective on the park’s geological wonders.
As the New Year approaches, there aren’t many tourists around. Being on a boat cruise along the river feels really cold… I’m almost frozen at 3°C.
Visiting the Divine Light at the Getu River can be a bit troublesome. The Getu River is quite far from Anshun, around 120 kilometers away. The Divine Light occurs in the morning, so if you’re departing from Anshun, you’ll need to get up early. It’s recommended to arrive the night before in the nearby Ziyun County, which is only 30 kilometers away, allowing you to sleep in a little longer in the morning.
Yesterday’s weather forecast predicted rain for today, and when I woke up in the morning, the sky was filled with haze. I was prepared to be flexible with my plans, but since I was already here, I decided to continue exploring. I never expected to witness such incredible rays of light shining through! As we approached the cave entrance, the beam of light became more and more apparent. Eventually, it turned into an absolutely stunning display of divine light!
It was drizzling on the way out in the morning. Fortunately, by the time we reached our destination, the rain had stopped, though there was no sunshine. The Ge Tuo River scenic area wasn’t very crowded, allowing my friends and me to stroll around leisurely.
The Heavenly Light appears between 8:30 and 9:30 am every year from September to February. The Earthly Light occurs between 8:30 and 10:30 am each year from April to September. The sunlight filters through a special position in the Daguan Cave and reflects on the surface of the Getu River.
We arrived at 12:30 and leisurely enjoyed our time taking photos and exploring until 6:00. If you’re in a hurry, you could finish exploring in four hours, but since we came late, we didn’t get to see the divine light. It’s said that you can catch a glimpse of it before 10:00 in the morning, and it’s incredibly breathtaking!
From the early days of avoiding wars and climbing caves in search of food to carrying coffins into caves… this is the life of the people of the Miao ethnic group in the Yalu River Miao Village, the birthplace of Asia King. The past way of life has now become a performance called “Spider-Man Rock Climbing”. There are only six people in the world who can perform this skill, with an average age of over 50. They walk on the… Read more »
The water level of the Getu River Scenic Area has dropped to the safe sailing level. The sightseeing boats in the scenic area has resumed operation since June 25th and can now receive visitors as usual. However, the Spiderman show has not yet resumed.
Recently, due to the rising water level, the boat rides and performances at Getu River have been suspended. As a result, there are not many people visiting. However, the breathtaking scenery is still magnificent and absolutely stunning!
There are roughly two sightseeing routes in Getu River Scenic Area: Route 1: Scenic Area ticket entrance → Yingyange (watch Spiderman performance in Yanzidong) → Wangtiandong → Tongtian cliff path → Tongtian cave entrance → Fangzhulin → Manggu valley → (return) Fangzhulin → Huoyingu valley → walk up to the observation platform inside the cave. This route is the most common path taken by visitors to the scenic area, but it is very tiring. There are over 3,000 steps uphill,… Read more »