Chishui River Valley Self-Drive: Red History & Danxia Landforms
Follow the Chishui River from Zunyi to the Danxia waterfall clusters, connecting Long March sites, liquor towns, and ancient towns.
Starting from the Zunyi Conference Site and Hailongtun, descend to Maotai Town, and follow the Chishui River Valley Road through Tucheng to Chishui to see Danxia landforms, waterfalls, and bamboo-forested ancient towns. The route overlaps with the Red Army's historic "Four Crossings of the Chishui River," offering clear historical context. With many mountain roads, self-driving offers the most freedom. This itinerary adds an extra day compared to the 4-day version to explore the waterfalls and Datong Ancient Town, making it ideal for families and older self-drive travelers.
Waterfalls are in full flow from April to October; watch out for falling rocks and landslides along the valley roads during the rainy season.
Day by day
Day 1 · Zunyi Conference Site & Hailongtun
Zunyi & Meitan（Zunyi Conference Site、Red Army Street、Hailongtun Fortress）
Explore the Red tourism sites in the old town on foot, drive to Hailongtun in the afternoon (about 40 minutes), and return to the old town for the night.
Allow half a day for Hailongtun; the climb up the mountain is steep, and the shuttle buses stop running around 17:00.
Stay: Honghuagang Area Around the Conference Site
Day 2 · Zunyi to Maotai Liquor Town
Maotai Town（China Liquor Culture City、Maotai Old Street (Yangliuwan)、Maotai Ferry & Red Army Chishui Crossing Memorial、Chishui River Riverside, Maotai）
Drive from Zunyi along the highway to Maotai Town (about 2 hours), explore the town on foot, and enjoy a night walk along the Chishui River.
Stay: Maotai Old Town
Day 3 · River Valley Road to Tucheng
Chishui（Memorial Hall of the Four Crossings of the Chishui River、Tucheng Ancient Town）
Drive along the Chishui River Valley Road to Tucheng, covering about 110 km in approximately 2.5 hours, and explore the ancient town on foot.
Stay: Tucheng Ancient Town
Day 4 · Foguangyan & Bing'an Ancient Town
Chishui（Foguang Rock、Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve、Bing'an Ancient Town）
Drive from Tucheng to Foguangyan (about half an hour), continue to Bing'an in the afternoon (about 1 hour), and reach Chishui city center by evening.
Stay: Chishui City Center
Day 5 · Chishui Great Waterfall & Datong
Chishui（Chishui Grand Waterfall (Shizhangdong)、Yanziyan National Forest Park、Datong Ancient Town）
Drive from the city center to the Great Waterfall (about 1 hour), transfer to Yanziyan in the afternoon, and reach Datong Ancient Town by evening (about half an hour).
Stay: Datong Ancient Town
Day 6 · Hongshiyegu & Return to Zunyi
Chishui（Hongshi Yegu (Red Rock Wild Valley)） → Zunyi & Meitan
Explore Hongshiyegu for about 2 hours in the morning, and take the highway back to Zunyi in the afternoon, covering about 270 km in approximately 3.5 hours.