Scenic Area of Aizhai Wonder, Shibadong Village, and Dehang Canyon

Scenic Area of Aizhai Wonder, Shibadong Village, and Dehang Canyon, Hunan province
(湖南省湘西土家族苗族自治州矮寨•十八洞•德夯大峡谷景区 ǎi zhài shí bā dòng dé hāng dà xiá gǔ jǐng qū)

Location: Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, Hunan province
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Opening hours:
Aizhai Wonder: 8:30 am-5:30 pm
Shibadong Village: All-day access
Dehang Canyon: 7:30 am-9:30 pm
Ticket Prices:
Aizhai Bridge: 115 yuan ($14.98)
Shibadong Village: Free
Dehang Canyon: 80 yuan
Notes:
1. Children under the age of 14 (exclusive), senior citizens aged 65 (inclusive) and above, people who have a disability and servicemen can enter free of charge.
2. Half-price tickets are available for minors aged between 14 (inclusive) and 18 (exclusive) and full-time university undergraduates.

This area is home to three scenic spots, namely the Aizhai Wonder, Shibadong Village and Dehang Canyon. Located in the Xiangxi UNESCO Global Geopark, it is a mainstay of Hunan’s tourism industry and showcases the province’s mysterious natural and cultural landscapes and folk customs.

Aizhai Wonder
The Aizhai Wonder consists of the Aizhai Bridge and the Jidou Miao Village.

The Aizhai Bridge in Aizhai town, Hunan province is a super-large suspension bridge spanning the Dehang Canyon on the Baomao Highway (G65). It is a steel truss suspension bridge with the largest span over a canyon in the world, spanning 1,176 meters.

Located at the junction of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Yuanma Basin, the Aizhai Bridge set four world records while it was under construction. Tourists can enjoy a breathtaking stroll amongst the clouds on a sightseeing passage that offers views of Dehang Canyon, the Aizhai Highway Wonders and local Miao villages.

In 2013, the Aizhai Bridge was rated by the American commercial broadcast television and radio network NBC as “one of the world’s 10 new landmarks that people can’t miss”. In 2017, it was crowned by the UK's Daily Mail as “the most beautiful bridge in the world.”

“Jidou” means “a Miao village on the back of an eagle” in the Miao dialect. Located at the top of the mountain, the Jidou Miao Village looks like a tranquil and pastoral scroll. The village’s terraces bestow a unique charm and have drawn people to shoot many films there.

Dehang Canyon

“Dehang” means “a beautiful canyon” in the Miao language. The scenic area of Dehang Canyon is home to two gorgeous canyons – Yuquanxi Canyon and Jiulongxi Canyon – and has combined the Miao culture with its natural scenery to wow visitors.

Located to the southeast of Jidou Miao Village, Yuquanxi Canyon is 2 kilometers in length and 100-260 meters in height. In the canyon, there are steep palisades. It is a masterpiece sculpted by erosion caused by flowing water, and its dense clefts create favorable conditions for rock pillars.

Shaped like a box, Jiulongxi Canyon is even higher and longer than Yulongxi Canyon. There are steep peaks on both sides of the canyon, and the cliffs are so magnificent that they could be mistaken for a painting. The tall, densely distributed rock pillars can also be seen in the canyon, and its cascading waterfalls, lush vegetation and dreamy clouds constitute a grand view.

With a height of 216 meters, the Flowing Yarn Waterfall in Dehang Canyon has the largest drop in China and it is one of the 10 most-beautiful waterfalls in the country.

Shibadong Village

Shibadong Village is a Miao village preserving the indigenous culture of the Miao ethnic group and it was rated as a traditional Chinese village in 2016.

Endowed with abundant natural resources, the village is home to many scenic spots. It was named after the Shiba Karst Caves, which are dubbed the “No 1 eccentric caves in Asia.”

With an average altitude of 700 meters, the village boasts a beautiful environment of alpine-karst landforms. However, in the past, it was a poor village due to transportation difficulties and barren land.

Since 2013, with the help of the local government, Shibadong Village has made great efforts to get rid of poverty. At present, the whole village has eradicated poverty and become better off.