Explore the Ayiriver, a hidden gem in the hometown of the Miao people. Located in Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County of Chongqing, this national 5A-level eco-cultural tourism attraction is renowned as the No.1 rafting destination in Southwest China.
Upon entering the scenic zone, encounter the Azure Dragon Sky Ladder, Asia’s tallest outdoor sightseeing elevator with a vertical height of 148 meters. As the elevator descends slowly, the full panorama of Azure Dragon Valley unfolds before your eyes, flanked by towering sheer cliffs with the emerald river winding along the valley floor.
Hike along the cliff plank road of Azure Dragon Valley, stretching 1,600 meters through a 300-meter-deep canyon. Ancient vines twist across rock faces, and mountain springs cascade down the porous Sieve Rock to form misty waterfalls that drift over the walkway. Occasionally, macaques dart through the woods as you trek, filling the air with vivid wild vitality.
When you reach Seven-Mile Pond, don’t miss the poetic experience of singing on bamboo rafts. Glide on a slender bamboo raft across crystal-clear green ponds, framed by endless bamboo groves that block harsh sunlight. Miao young men and women stand at the raft bows, playing melodious tunes on leaf whistles as folk songs echo through the deep canyon.
The crown jewel of the scenic area is Ayiriver Rafting, stretching nearly 14 kilometers with a total playtime of six hours, divided into two distinct sections offering contrasting aquatic fun. The upper half features gentle, wide river channels with transparent shallow waters ideal for family water play and group water fights. Drift lazily on your kayak while soaking in the bamboo-lined canyon scenery for a laid-back, relaxing adventure.
The lower half, known as “Southwest’s Most Thrilling Whitewater Rafting”, boasts countless consecutive rapids and constant elevation drops. Your kayak plummets through surging currents as massive waves crash over you, with sheer canyon walls towering on either side. Nonstop screams of delight make this the ultimate summer getaway for young people eager to release stress and embrace wild fun.
Deep within the canyon lies Azure Dragon Cave, an underground karst wonder carved by nature over hundreds of millions of years. The cave stays a steady 18°C year-round, offering instant relief from summer heat upon entry. Countless stalactites and stalagmites take on fantastic shapes, glowing in vivid hues cast by artistic lighting. During rainy seasons, a nearly 200-meter-high underground waterfall thunders down from above, filling the cave with roaring sounds and billowing mist, resembling a dormant dragon beneath the earth.
