Flying Clouds Cliff (Feiyun Cliff)

Entrance of Flying Clouds Cliff

Boasting a group of ancient structures that includes archways, pavilions, temple halls and corridors, Flying Clouds Cliff (Feiyun Cliff) is a major ancient site of the Wuyang River Scenic Resort. It combines the marvelous natural scenery with exquisite buildings to form a truly fascinating and very highly rated place in south Guizhou.

This cliff is located at the foot of Mount Dongpo, 12 kilometers (7 miles) east of Huangping. It was originally built in 1443 of the Ming Dynasty and then restored several times during the Qing Dynasty. Occupying an area of 2,000 square meters (2392 square yards), it is composed of three main buildings: Moon Pond Temple, Moon Pond Palace and Fostering Cloud Pavilion, which encompass both the religious and the gardenesque architectural styles. When seen from afar, the grand and peculiar cliff is like flying clouds towering in mid air, which is how it got the name Flying Clouds Cliff.

Flying Clouds Cliff is heavily wooded and its ancient buildings are harmoniously covered by the shade of the trees. Graceful natural and man-made scenery has made the cliff characterize a fine spring day all year round. So there is no doubt that it's a beckoning tourist destination. Strolling there, one may feel as if you had entered a wonderland. Engraved archways have religious mystery and reveal advanced engraving art. Simply decorated pavilions sprinkle the courtyard and serve as a resting spot for people. Serene temple halls house Buddha statues in the middle, where you can smell the fragrance of the joss sticks from the distance. All of these sights and sounds, including picturesque cliff scenery, water chattering among the mountains and sounds of the birds in the woods, will wash away all your earthborn vexations and make you feel relaxed and comfortable. Numerous poets, scholars, officials and merchants visited the Flying Clouds Cliff, because the ancient post road of the Ming and Qing Dynasties passed through here. The visitors left a great number of stone inscriptions over the years.
 

Miao people's performance on the cliff

Yuetan Temple on Flying Clouds Cliff

Wang Yangming, a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, said 'Mountains under the heaven compare their beauty in Yunnan and Guizhou while the Flying Clouds Cliff is the most impressive and representative among them.'

Annually, on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, the ethnic minority people of neighboring areas gather at this cliff to hold their grand celebrations. During the celebrations, men play the Lusheng Pipe (a musical instrument made of bamboo), girls dance gracefully on large drums and some people burn joss sticks and pray to the God for blessings for their families. Other activities like horse racing and bullfighting are very popular too.

Admission Fee	Free
Opening Hours	08:00 – 18:00

 The scenic spot is located beside the highway linking Huangping County and Shibing County. Visitors can take a bus from Huangping to Shibing and get off after a 20-minute ride or so. The fare is around CNY 4. Or they can take a bus from Guiyang, Zhenyuan, or Shibing to there.