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.
馬嶺河大峽谷
馬嶺河峽谷位于興義市城東北4千米處,被譽為“天溝地縫百瀑谷”,源于清中后期修建的踩水渡驛道,建成后形似在天心中的走廊,后被稱為“天星畫廊”,在1994年被原建設部批準成為第三批國家級重點風景名勝區。馬嶺河發源于云南烏蒙山系白果嶺,上游為清水河,中游因流經兩岸的馬別大寨和馬嶺寨而得名。從河源至河口長約100千米的流程內,河水落差近千米,河水水量充沛,下切速度快,在海拔1200米的坦蕩平川上切割出長達74.8千米、谷寬50-150米、谷深120-280米的馬嶺河峽谷,構成了世界喀斯特地貌中最典型最完整的峽谷奇觀。
馬嶺河峽谷是喀斯特多層次地貌景觀的典型代表,以地縫嶂谷、群瀑懸練、鈣華壁掛而著名,集雄、奇、險、秀、幽、壯、美為一體,被中科院專家評價為“一有黃果之壯,二有三峽之險,三有黃龍之奇,四有九寨之美,五有桂林之秀”。峽谷兩岸峭崖對峙,谷深流急,銀瀑飛瀉;灘險急流處,水石相搏、驚濤拍岸、震耳欲聾,崖畫、千泉、萬洞兩岸懸掛。從河床昂首兩岸,在藍天白云的映襯下,猶如天溝,從峽谷大橋俯視谷底,湍急的河流恰似地縫,原始生態保護完整,巖畫壯美多嬌,構成了“西南奇縫,天下奇觀”。
