Sanla Waterfall in Guangnan County, Wenshan

Why is the Sanla Waterfall So Special?

Sanla waterfall is located in 20 km east of Babao Town, Guangnan County, Wenshan, near Sanla village, flowing from the Babao River into Babao Town, also known as Xiangquan waterfall响泉瀑布. Sanla waterfall is divided into three stages, respectively named Yuping Tai玉屏台, Muyu Tai沐浴台, Gonghua Tai弓花台. Yuping Tai, the first level waterfall, is 20 meters wide with a drop of 40 meters. The second level falls 30 meters, with the width of 20 meters, surrounded by verdant willow. The second level waterfall rushes through the green bushes and trees for more than 10 meters, then spills straightly out of the hanging wall and roared into the valley floor, forming the third level waterfall, 15 meters wide with a drop of 50 meters. Sanla waterfall is a great spectacle of Yunnan Falls.

Where is Sanla Waterfall?

Sanla waterfall, located at the Sanla village, 20 kilometers east of Babao town, is also known as "Xiangquan waterfall响泉瀑布". The Babao river flows here, pouring down from a cliff more than 10 meters wide, and the waterfall was divided into three levels, with a drop of more than 120 meters.

Nearby Attractions

1. Babao Scenic Area八宝风景区

Babao provincial-level scenic area is located in the southeast of Guangnan County, Wenshan Autonomous Prefecture, 160 kilometers away from Wenshan. The Babao scenic area is dominated by peaks cluster, peak forests and karst waterfalls. It is composed of four sections, including Babao, river, Tangna karst cave汤纳溶洞 and Sanla waterfall三腊瀑布, with a total area of 68 square kilometers.

2. Tangna Karst Cave汤纳溶洞

Bamei Village is surrounded by mountains and is not accessible by road. Bamei village mainly relies on two natural limestone karst caves to get in and out the village, one is behind the village, one is in the front of the village. The villagers have to touch the rock faces and take the bamboo raft, canoe or boat to pass through a water cave which is several kilometers long. This water cave is called Tangna Karst Cave.

3. Bamei Village坝美村

Bamei village of Bamei Town, Guangnan County is surrounded by mountains. Because of its unique karst landforms, caves, rivers and villages, people in and out of the village must sail through the cave. The land in front of the village is flat and open and behind the house there are green bamboos, which are similar to the Jin Dynasty litterateur Tao Yuanming陶渊明 described the Peach Blossom Spring桃花源, so it is called “The Last Xanadu”. People at Bamei are dominated by Zhuang people.

Best Time to Visit

Tour is suitable all year round, but the best time to visit is from June to October. It is satisfying to stand by the waterfall on a summer day.

How to Get There

You have two ways to get to Sanla Waterfall of Guangnan County, Wenshan. Sanla waterfall is about 20 kilometers from the east of Babao, there is no direct regular bus. Therefore, you can take the chartered bus. As for the price, you can discuss with the locals.

1. By Long-distance Bus

Long-distance route is Kunming-Wenshan-Guangnan-Babao-Sanla Village, you need to transfer four times. After arriving in Guangnan County, you can take the regular bus from Guangnan County to Babao Town, about 2 hours. Then another 0.5 hour is needed from Babao to Sanla Village.

Kunming East Bus Station-Wenshan Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 7:20-20:10

Price: 126 or 117 or 140 CNY

Distance: 317 kilometers

Consume Time: 4-4.5 hours

Wenshan Bus Terminal-Guangnan Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 6:20-17:40

Price: 47 CNY

Distance: 178 kilometers

Consume Time: 2.5-3 hours

Guangnan Bus Terminal-Babao Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 7:10

Price: 20 CNY

Distance: 80 kilometers

Consume Time: About 2 hours

Tips: The price and time are for reference only, specific with actual condition. More prices and departure times, you can ask for details at bus terminals.

2. By Railway

Now, train is more convenient and faster than long-distance bus from Kunming to Guangnan County. After arriving in Guangnan county, you can take the shuttle bus to Babao.

Kunming Station-Guangnan County Station

Departure Time: 10:36, 12:00, 12:19, 13:35, 13:52, 17:12

Price: 119.5 CNY

Distance: 424 kilometers

Consume Time: About 2.5 hours

Kunming South Station-Guangnan County Station

Departure Time: 7:30-17:40

Price: 109 CNY

Distance: 417 kilometers

Consume Time: About 2 hours

Accommodation at Sanla Waterfall

Sanla Waterfall is kind of remote, you ought to come back to Babao Town or Guangnan County for overnight.

1. Shiwai Taoyuan Hotel世外桃源大酒店

Address: No.18, Babao Road, Liancheng Town, Guangnan County, Wenshan文山州广南县莲城镇八宝路18号

Tel: 0876-5619999

Starting Price: 350 CNY

2. Guangnan TeAnNa Hotel广南特安呐酒店

Address: No.255, Beining Road, Guangnan County, Wenshan文山壮族苗族自治州广南县北宁路255号

Tel: 0876-5151299

Starting Price: 260 CNY

3. Yinhe Hotel广南银河大酒店

Address: Shangmao Street, Babao Town, Guangnan County, Wenshan文山州广南县八宝镇商贸街

Tel: 0876-3068286

Starting Price: 98 CNY

Useful Travel Tips

1. The road to Sanla waterfall is not so good. So pay attention to safety when walking and driving.

2. Zhuang People live around. So you are supposed to learn some culture and custom of Zhuang minority in advance, respect Zhuang minority culture.

3. In highland area, temperature difference is large between daytime and night, you must bring sun cream, sunhat, sun glasses, umbrella, coats and some medicines that protect from heatstroke.

Tours Including Sanla Waterfall

8 Days Yunnan-Guizhou Karst Landform Tour and Ethnic Minorities Discovery

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