Name: Anshun

Chinese name: 安顺

Province: Guizhou

Status: Prefecture-level city

Population: 2,297,339 inhabitants

Area: 9,269 km²

Anshun is a small city in Chine that holds little intrinsic appeal on its own. However, it serves as an excellent base for departures to the picturesque natural sites in the surrounding area.

Located in the western region of Guizhou between Guiyang and Yunnan, Anshun is considered an ideal summer retreat destination.

History

The city of Anshun is relatively recent, having been founded in 1958.

Anshun was once an important hub for the opium and tea trade. It remains today a commercial crossroads of western Guizhou.

Today

Anshun is not a particularly attractive city and lacks major tourist sites. Travelers stop here because it provides convenient access to certain picturesque attractions such as the Huangguoshu Falls or the Longgong Caves.

Nevertheless, life in Anshun is quite lively on weekends. Villagers from the surrounding areas come here to sell their goods at the large market.

You can also relax at the Wen Miao Confucian Temple and meet Buddhist monks at the Donglin Temple.

Anshun is surrounded by villages populated by ethnic minorities. The Miao and Buyi ethnicities dominate the region, and it is not uncommon to encounter a local festival during a visit to Anshun. The villagers have managed to preserve their traditions, which are reflected in their clothing and village architecture.

Anshun is also an ideal starting point for visiting the majestic Huangguoshu waterfalls, Asia's largest waterfalls. The natural park surrounding the cascades is perfectly preserved and promises walks through fabulous landscapes.

You can also visit the Longgong Caves with their underground river, or the Zhijin Caves, the largest in Chine, and admire the richness of the underground water systems.

Climate

Like Guiyang and other cities in Guizhou, the weather in Anshun is pleasant throughout the year. Winters are not too cold and summers not too hot.

Rain can, however, be a hindrance for certain visits.

Train

Anshun has several bus stations that connect the city to Guiyang and Kunming.

Daily trains operate to Chongqing and Liupanshui.

Bus

The bus is often more practical and faster than trains for reaching Anshun from Guiyang.

Long-distance buses serve Anshun from cities within the province or cities in the southeastern provinces of Chine.

Minibuses are available to travel around the city from one point to another, particularly to connect the bus stations to the city center. Prices are very reasonable.

What to Do in Anshun?

• Discover Asia's largest waterfalls, the Huangguoshu Falls.
• Explore like a speleologist in the Zhijin Caves or the Longgong Caves.
• Meet the Miao or Buyi minorities in one of the surrounding villages.
• Visit the Donglin Temple and the Wen Miao Temple.