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Yunfeng Bazhai is a scattering of traditional villages about 20 km northeast of Anshun. Introduced by the mildly interesting Tunpu Culture Museum (屯堡文化博物 馆 through ticket ¥50; 08:00-18:00), which serves as the point of entry, the village of Yunshan (云山), at the top of a steep set of steps from the road a 15-minute walk from the museum, is a gem. Hung with bright yellow dried corncobs and red lanterns, protected by a wall and a main gate and overlooked by the Yunjiu Shan (Cloud Vulture Mountain), the settlement is a charming and unruffled portrait of rural Guizhou. At the heart of the almost deserted village stands the rickety Money God Temple (Caishen Miao), opposite an ancient pavilion.;
These eight villages are close to each other, and mostly are preserved very well. Most houses are made of stones, even with stone slabs to make roofs for the house. As expected, villagers are the descendants of the soldiers from 600 years ago. They still keep on their traditional costumes, hairstyle, language. With so many army descendants everywhere, it is surprising that there are any minorities left.;
From Yunshan it is a 15-minute walk along the road to the village of Benzhai (本寨), also at the foot of Yunjiu Shan. With its old pinched alleyways, high walls, carved wood lintels, stone lions and ancient courtyard residences, Benzhai is brim-full of history and is also stone and slate and undergoing restoration. There are a lot of old women in local dress who are very happy to be photographed. It is great whether you are a photographer or not. The village has lovely stone houses with slate roofs. The slate is laid out to form a diamond pattern, which is visually interesting and good for photos. ;
Do not miss the chance to walk up to Yunjiu Temple (云鹫寺) at the top of Yunjiu Shan for some of the most extraordinary views in Guizhou. You can walk virtually all around the top of the temple for a sublime and unparalleled panorama of fields and peaks ranging off into the distance. In spring, flowering bright yellow rapeseed plants (youcaihua) add vibrant splashes of colour.;
To reach Yunfeng Bazhai, take a bus (¥5, 40 minutes, every 25 minutes, 07:00-18:00) from Anshun’s east bus station. The last bus from Yunfeng Bazhai to Anshun leaves at 18:20, passing through Benzhai. Coming from Tianlong, hop on a bus from the main road to Qiyanqiao (七眼桥; ¥5, 20 minutes) and then take a motorbike (¥10) for the 10-minute journey to the museum and the villages.
关岭化石群国家地质公园
Centered around a geological formation known as the Guanling Formation, which is notable for its Triassic fossils. A number of these fossils are displayed at an on-site museum. The museum includes three excavation pits where you can see fossils in situ. There is even a site where visitors are permitted to dig for fossils on their own (though whether you would be allowed to keep them and take them out of the country is another matter).