中国怒江大峡谷

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A Trip to Nujiang Grand Canyon

Located in the deep west of Yunnan Province, Nujiang is one of the most important rivers in southwest China. Flowing from north to south with a total length of 2,800 kilometers, it covers a drainage area of more than 300,000 square kilometers. With a huge water discharge, the torrents of Nujiang pour down in a never-ending waterfall, carving out one of the world's most outstanding gorges, the Nujiang Grand Canyon.

In today's show, let's follow our guide Da Min to the canyon to enjoy the spectacular natural scenery and rich ethnic culture there.

What you are hearing now is one of the toasting songs of the Lisu ethnic group. As one of China's ethnic minorities, most Lisu people live in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in the northwestern part of Yunnan Province.

Besides the Lisu, there are at least 10 other ethnic groups living in this prefecture, including the Nu, Dulong, Han, Pumi and Tibetan groups. Collectively, they make up 92 percent of the prefecture's total population.

Covering an area of about 14,000 square meters, the Nujiang Lisu Prefecture is located in the valley of the Hengduan Mountains in northwest Yunnan. Rushing rivers, including Nujiang River, Lancang River, Dulong River and several others cover much of this territory. Actually, the charming scenery of the Nujiang Grand Canyon is unknown to many due to its remoteness, making it more mysterious than other natural spots.

Local resident Chen Jun introduces tourists to his hometown.

"The scenery in my hometown is extremely beautiful and the people here are all very kind and hospitable. We believe the natural beauty of Nujiang River lies in the fact that all the sights are created by natural forces rather than man-made ones."
Zhao Wensheng works at the tourism bureau in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture.

"The Nujiang Grand Canyon is like a book which reveals the human and natural history of the area and from which you get different inspirations through different perspectives."

Nujiang Grand Canyon boasts dozens of extraordinary natural wonders, among which the "Stone Moon" scenic spot is the most fantastic.

Atop the Gaoligong Mountain is a big round cave that from afar looks like a full moon hanging in the sky among the verdant mountains. Through the cave, you can faintly see the entirely imaginary clouds.

During war with Japan in the 1930s, when the General of "Flying Tigers" Claire Chennault and his pilots were performing in the air without the ground-based navigation, they used the "Stone Moon" as a key landmark in navigating.