Northern Guizhou

All of Zunyi: Long March revolutionary sites, Chishui's Danxia landscapes, Maotai town, and the World Heritage Hailongtun tusi site.

Northern Guizhou corresponds to the whole of Zunyi, bordering Chongqing to the north and Sichuan to the west, and is Guizhou's gateway to the Chengdu–Chongqing region. In Zunyi's urban area, the Zunyi Conference site is the core landmark of "red tourism", with memorials such as Red Army Hill nearby. On the outskirts, Hailongtun, part of the tusi (native chieftain) sites World Heritage listing, is a mountain fortress with imposing passes and ramparts. Maotai Town in Renhuai sits on the Chishui River and is the leading home of sauce-aroma baijiu; you can visit distilleries and liquor museums and breathe in the aroma that drifts through the river valley. Chishui City is listed as part of China Danxia World Natural Heritage, and the Chishui Great Waterfall, Swallow Rock, Fo Guang Rock and the tree-fern reserve combine red cliffs, cascades and bamboo seas. Xishui's Tucheng is closely tied to the history of the Four Crossings of the Chishui River. In the east, Meitan is known for its vast tea plantations and tea culture. The classic route is 1–2 days in Zunyi city and Hailongtun, then 2–3 days along the Chishui River via Maotai Town to Chishui, for 4–5 days in all; you can enter and leave via Chongqing to make a Chengdu–Chongqing–Guizhou loop. For transport, Zunyi Xinzhou Airport and Renhuai's Maotai Airport provide flights, and the Chongqing–Guiyang railway links Chongqing, Zunyi and Guiyang. Chishui is close to Luzhou in Sichuan and to Chongqing, so you can drive in from that direction. The waterfalls are most spectacular in the mountain rainy season, but watch for slippery surfaces. Buy baijiu only from reputable outlets.

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