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| The Beautiful Douyi River, a Tributary of the Zhujiang |
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| The Beautiful Douyi River, a Tributary of the Zhujiang |
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The Pearl River Expedition of 1998 will consist of two events: a visit to the Maling River with the option of participating in a wildwater race on a championship kayak river course and the possibility of rafting, near the town of Xingyi, in Guizhou, China; followed by a 200 km float down the nearby Pearl River (Zhujiang) through approximately 35 moderate to challenging rapids and some of the most beautiful and rugged terrain in Guizhou Province.
Maling River Festival
Our first destination is the Maling Gorge area near Xingyi
located approximately 650 miles west of Hong Kong. We have been invited
by the Chinese Canoe Association of Beijing to participate in the Spring
1998 Wildwater Regatta April 9-12, 1998 on the Maling River (Mabie He).
The event will combine canoeing, rafting, sightseeing and visits to local
minority nationality villages, the home of the Buyi, Miao and others. The
race course on the Maling is a 12 km section that has 10 moderate but challenging
rapids reported to be class 3-5, while other parts have mostly slow current
and some easier rapids. Chinese crganizers can provide kayaks for participants'
use and have bought 45 fiberglass boats for the event, but participants
must bring their own paddle, helmet and spray-skirt, etc.
The Maling Gorge is a national scenic spot noted for its
unique rift valley and classic karst land forms. Along the way possible
attractions include China's largest waterfall - Huangguoshu Falls, Jiulong
Falls, the Stone Forest, and the scenic Duoyi and Bada Rivers. Our visit
will coincide with the Maling and Pan River Culture Festivals where we
will have the opportunity to see minority nationality dance performances
and displays, including
collections of ancient relics, gem stones, and traditional
clothing.
Pearl River Expedition
For the Pearl River expedition we will be joining an
experienced Chinese river team lead by Mr. Wang Qi, along
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| Rapids at Badahe |
Pearl Expedition participants have the option of doing either or both of these trips approximately one and two weeks respectively. The trip is being organized as a cooperative venture. The overall cost is expected to be air fare ($1500 estimated) plus about $500 for the Maling Festival week, or an average of $400 per week or less for the three week expedition, depending on the number of participants. This will cover local travel, food, river and host fees, and some accommodations (when we are not camping on the river).
A local government brochure describes the Maling River and Gorge as follows:
Situated 6 kilometers from the outskirts of Xingyi, the capital city of QianXiNan Buyi and Moao Autonomous Prefecture, Maling Gorge is 41 kilometers long around the outskirts. It is the only training base for canoe rapids in Guizhou Province.
Maling River, 74.8 kilometers long and 30-80 meters wide, and its banks 120-180 meters high, is a kind of rift valley on the earth's surface. Maling Gorge with an average of 100 meters wide is a type of geological structure that consists of a few layers and land form of karst plateau valley, which is the biggest and most marvelous of its kind ever known in the world. Because of this Maling Gorge is also regarded as the classic of the karst land forms.
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| Floating the Maling River |
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Characterized by its magnificence, marvelousness, perilousness and beautifulness where are full of air, sunshine, heavy mist, green land, jungles, cliffs, rapids and obstacles, all these are necessarily natural condition for the canoe rapids sport. As soon as you get into the valley, you'll feel that you have returned to nature with the enjoyment of its magnificence and beauty.
The scenery of Maling River is the most enchanting of
its kind ever known in China. Which is suitable for developing kayak drift
sport and reflecting the fascination of canoe rapids. Because of this the
river is honored as "No. 1 drift in China" by the experts from State Physical
Culture and Sports Commission. It has already been approved as the place
to hold the First International Canoe Championship at the end of October
1997. You are warmly welcome to Maling Gorge which is fascinating and enchanting.
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| The Zhujiang River |
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It as anticipated that during the Pearl River Expedition
the American participants will give informal talks and encourage discussion
regarding environmental protection, river conservation and water law in
both the US and China. Members of the group developed an awareness of
environmental protection issues and natural resources in China during the
Nujiang Expedition of 1996, organized by Jennifer Pyle
(White Pearl) and Xi Yi.
About the Area
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| Nine Dragon Waterfall |
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| The 'National Girl'
of the River Sides |
The biggest tourist attraction of Guizhou is the Huangguoshu Falls, China's largest. The falls are at their best during the rainy season, peaking a few days after a heavy rain. The climate in this province is mild year-round, but it is often cloudy. The wet season is from about May to October.
Approximately 65% of Guizhou's population is Han and the remainder is a mixture of minorities including Bai, Bouyei, Dong, Gelao, Hui, Miao, Shui, Tujiao, Yi, and Zhuang. These minorities celebrate nearly 1000 festivals each year which serve to preserve their cultures and which express them through crafts, performance and dress.
In south-east Guizhou, the area where the Pearl River
Expedition is planned, around 72% of the population is Miao, Dong and a
mixture of other minorities. Many of the Miao are cave dwellers with no
interest in modern life. The minorities in this region are largely self-sufficient,
living without TV, radio, and electricity, but not without liquior. Guizhou
is famous for its Maotai liquor, named for the village of its origin in
Renhuai County.
Lodging
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| The Wildwater Regatta will held at Xingyi |
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In the Maling Gorge area we will be hosted by the China Canoe Association and local people. Lodging will be in a 2-star hotel in Xingyi or with local minority nationality families. On the Pearl River we will be mostly camping along the river, particularly where the river goes through mountainous terrain and there are no nearby access roads.
Travel Information
There are several routes to reach the Pearl River Expedition. Air travel from the States would first arrive to Hong Kong, Beijing, Bangkok, or Shanghai. From there one can fly either to Kunming or Guiyang. Flying to Kunming is preferred since it is closer. Travel from the USA is about a 12-hour flight to Hong Kong or longer to Singapore and other ports, followed by about a 2-hour flight from Hong Kong to either Kunming or Guiyang, the respective capitals of Yunnan and Guizhou Provinces. The distance to the put-in is roughly equidistant from these airports but the roads from Kunming are believed to be better.
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| Beautiful Scenes Along the Zhujiang |
From either Kunming or Guiyang, overland travel to Xingyi
will require approximately 12 hours by public bus. There are frequent public
buses, including overnight sleepers. Our Chinese Canoe Association hosts
in Xingyi have tentatively agreed to provide Wildwater Regatta participants
with food, lodging and possibly transportation from the Guiyang airport
to Xingyi. Following the Festival at Xingyi, we will accompany Wang Qi
to the second put-in at Badahe on the Pearl River.
Pearl River Expedition Maps
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| Sketch Map of Proposed Pearl River Trip with Tributaries |
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| Highway Map of River Trip Area (click map for blowup) |
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| Proposed Itinerary | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maling Festival/Wildwater Race & Pearl Trip | Pearl River Expedition (only) | ||
| Sat | 04 04 | Leave USA | |
| Sun | 04 05 | Lost in Dateline | |
| Mon | 04 06 | Arrive Kunming or Guiyang | |
| Tue | 04 07 | Shopping, Touring, Buy Supplies | |
| Wed | 04 08 | Prep River Equipment for Transport | |
| Thu | 04 09 | Touring Stone Forest or Huangguoshu Falls | |
| Fri | 04 10 | Arrival Xingyi | |
| Sat | 04 11 | Training, Opening Ceremony, Wildwater Race | Leave USA |
| Sun | 04 12 | Wildwater race and Visit Exhibitions | Lost in Dateline |
| Mon | 04 13 | Visit Juilong Falls | Arrival in Guiyang or Kunming (airport) |
| Tue | 04 14 | Visit Duoyi River | Arrive Xingyi |
| Wed | 04 15 | Visit Bada River | Arrive Bada River, etc. |
| Thu | 04 16 | Put-in at Badahe Float Zhujiang | |
| Fri | 04 17 | Float Zhujiang | |
| Sat | 04 18 | Float Zhujiang | |
| Sun | 04 19 | Float Zhujiang | |
| Mon | 04 20 | Float Zhujiang | |
| Tue | 04 21 | Float Zhujiang | |
| Wed | 04 22 | Float Zhujiang | |
| Thu | 04 23 | Float Zhujiang | |
| Fri | 04 24 | Overland to Kunming or Guiyang | |
| Sat | 04 25 | Touring/Shopping or Return to Hong Kong/USA | |
| Sun | 04 26 | Return to Hong Kong/USA | |
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