Xiaoqikong, Libo Nestled in the southwest of Libo County, Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou Province of China, at the border between Guizhou and Guangxi, the scenic area gets its name from an ancient bluestone seven-arch bridge built in the 15th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty. Spanning Hanbi Pool on the Xiangshui River, the ancient bridge served as a vital section of the ancient salt-and-horse trade route linking Guizhou and Guangxi in ancient times. Weathered by over 200 years of wind and rain, the bridge is blanketed with moss and vines, its silhouette mirrored in clear green waters, making it the landmark of the entire resort. Covering a secluded canyon area of 46.4 square kilometers, it is a core part of the South China Karst World Natural Heritage Site and reputed as a "Super Miniature Landscape of Karst".
Water scenery defines the soul of Xiaoqikong. The 68-tier cascading waterfalls stretching along the Xiangshui River stand as a natural marvel. Within merely 1.6 kilometers of river valley, water cascades down tiered karst rocks, thundering in surging torrents or murmuring in gentle trickles. Beside it tumbles the Laya Waterfall, whose name means "beautiful goddess" in the Buyi language, with mist drifting onto wooden walkways in the wind. Hidden amid dense wooded mountains, Cuigu Waterfall spills down cliff faces in scattered streams, serene and lively. The contrast of dynamic falls and tranquil hills composes a unique natural rhythm of mountains and waters.
Wolong Pool and Yuanyang Lake are two stunning still-water attractions of the scenic spot. Boasting crystal-clear sapphire waters resembling natural jade, Wolong Pool features an arched dam pouring down delicate water curtains, turning into an ethereal paradise veiled in morning mist. Tucked deep in primeval forests, Yuanyang Lake boasts crisscrossing waterways forming an aquatic labyrinth. Visitors row boats past ancient trees lining the shore, where mountains and waters blend seamlessly into a peaceful retreat ideal for immersive communion with nature.
With a forest coverage rate exceeding 92%, the scenic area features the one-of-a-kind aquatic forest. Trees root among riverbed boulders while brooks trickle through crevices of bluestone, forming a rare landform where trees grow amid running water and streams weave through woods. Tourists can wade barefoot across stones under lush canopies. Blessed with air rich in negative oxygen ions and an average annual temperature of around 18℃, it is a natural wellness resort for fresh-air therapy.
Home to ethnic groups including Buyi, Yao, Shui and Miao for generations, the land nurtures indigenous folk customs while local culture embellishes natural landscapes. The ancient bridge has witnessed centuries of trade exchanges and cultural integration among various ethnic peoples, with authentic folk ballads echoing across mountain valleys now and then. Relying on its outstanding natural resources, the region has developed eco-tourism vigorously, evolving from a remote mountain passage into a national 5A-level scenic area. While preserving the precious karst ecosystem, it has grown into a signature tourism brand of Guizhou, showcasing the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature to visitors worldwide.
