Tianhe Pond is hailed as a condensed miniature landscape of Guizhou, and is a must-visit attraction in Guiyang
Tianhe Pond has the reputation of being a "condensed miniature landscape of Guizhou." It is a largely natural scenic spot that encompasses the charms of Guizhou, including small waterfalls, dry caves, water caves, the Lesser Seven Arches, and cherry blossom groves. Within the suburbs of Guiyang, it is a must-visit tourist attraction.
The scenic area is fairly far from the city center; get off at the terminal stop of Bus Route 211, then walk 500 m to the ticket office. The all-inclusive ticket covers the landscape waterfalls, the water cave, the dry cave, and the boat ride. The landscape scenery is quite distinctive, and the passage in the water cave features many fluorescent murals that are very ingenious. The dry cave takes 30-40 minutes to walk through, and most of the path is fairly narrow, but the scenery is still excellent; real thought clearly went into the design. The stalactites in the cave grow only 3 mm per year. The Creator's workmanship is awe-inspiring, with lifelike figures such as Sun Wukong, Guanyin, and the Jade Toad, and the time tunnel in the middle section is especially impressive. When you come out of the cave, you do not need to backtrack to the scenic area entrance; you can return along another path, or take a one-way electric shuttle back.
On choosing the sightseeing shuttle: if there are elderly people in your group, it is recommended to take the shuttle, because once inside the scenic area you will still walk through the dry cave, and the walking distance is considerable. If you are a hiking enthusiast, you can choose not to take the shuttle; the visitor center is not too far from the park entrance, about a 15-minute walk, passing through Guiyang Story Street. Note that the scenic area has two entrances: one is the main entrance, which is where the shuttle drops off visitors, and the other is the secondary entrance. The shuttle generally does not run on this route, so there is more walking, but you see more and more beautiful scenery, and you also need to walk to the shuttle station before going down to take the boat.
Overall, the scenic area is quite good and well worth a visit.