Malinghe Canyon is located in the northeast of Xingyi City, Qianxinan Bouyei, and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from the downtown. It’s a national scenic spot with steep cliffs, clear and rapid river water, diverse karst caves, lush bamboo, and various rare plants. Malinghe Canyon is 74.8 kilometers (46.5 miles) long in total, with a width of 50-150 meters (54.7-164 yards), and the deepest depth of 280 meters (918.6 feet). In a scenic area, you won’t the whole canyon but the most beautiful parts; rafting on the river is also popular and attracts a large number of tourists at home and abroad.
- Location: Xingyi City, Guizhou Province, China
- Opening Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Ticket Price: CNY 80 (from March 1st to November 30th), and CNY60 (from December 1st to February 28th of next year). Round-trip sightseeing elevator costs 30 yuan, and drifting costs 198 yuan.
- Time Needed: half a day
- Best Time to Visit: March to November
- Suited to: Nature lovers, hikers, adventurers
The Most Beautiful Scar on Earth
Malinghe Canyon is a rift valley combined with the down-cutting of the turbulent river. Looking down at the canyon, it is like a seam on the ground; and looking up at the bottom of the canyon, you can see the thin strip of sky. Malinghe Canyon is regarded as “the most beautiful scar on the earth”, boasting majestic and steep landscapes along the Malinghe River. It is also known as “one of the top rifts in the world” and “the best rafting place in China”. Malinghe Canyon is highly recommended for your tours in Guizhou.
Top Things to Do in Malinghe Grand Canyon
Marvelous Calcareous Rock Cliffs
The calcareous rock cliffs are the main feature of Malinghe Canyon, which is a non-renewable and precious natural heritage. The Malinghe river water contains a lot of calcium carbonate; when the flowing waterfalls into the canyon, it releases carbon dioxide quickly to make the calcium carbonate attached to the cliffs. As time goes by, the calcium carbonate material on the cliffs gets thicker and thicker, so huge travertine in various shapes is formed. You would see the natural wonders as well as the majestic stalactites in the Malinghe Canyon in person.
Stunning Tianxing Gallery
Tianxing Gallery is the core part and must-see of Malinghe Canyon, with the most famous large-scale waterfalls and calcareous rocks hanging on the cliffs. There are over 20 waterfalls within 1.7 kilometers (about 1 mile) of the Tianxing Gallery, such as Horses Roaring Waterfall, Pearl Waterfall, etc. These are so magnificent that you may marvel at the uncanny workmanship of nature.
Splendid Waterfall Cluster
The waterfall cluster in Malinghe Canyon is the best-known scenery. As soon as you enter the scenic area, you can hear the roars of the rumbling waterfall from afar. You can see a number of waterfalls of various widths when walking on the plank path at the bottom of Malinghe Canyon. In addition, there is also a group of waterfalls gathered together. As they pour toward the Malinghe River at the same time, and huge water vapor column soars into the sky, which is particularly spectacular. In the rainy season, the water volume would increase greatly, making the waterfalls more imposing.
Exciting Canyon Rafting
Malinghe Canyon is the only whitewater kayaking training base in Guizhou Province. In 1998, the first China International Kayak Rafting Competition was successfully held here. Every year, countless players come there for the thrills and coolness in summer. There are dozens of rapids, which make the rafting extremely breathtaking. Rafting down the Malinghe River on a rubber boat, you may also enjoy the peaks and cliffs on the sides, ancient bridges, ancient temples, and more in addition to the excitement. You needn’t row the boat, as there is a professional who operates the rudder for you. Whatever, take care of yourselves.
Attractions Nearby Maling River Canyon
- Wanfenglin Scenic Area: Stunning karst caves located in Xingyi
- Qianhu Miao Village: A traditional Miao minority village
- Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Area: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
How to Get to Malinghe Canyon
You can take the city bus No.4 or Xingyi Tourist Bus Line 1 in Xingyi downtown, to reach Malinghe Canyon directly. RMB 2 per person for the city bus No.4; and at most RMB 5 for the Xingyi Tourist Bus Line 1.
Recommended Guizhou Tours with Malinghe Canyon:
4 Days Guizhou Karst Landscape and Waterfall Tour
5 Days Yunnan Spring Photo Tour to Kunming, Luoping & Wanfenglin
