The widest crest of them all
Doupotang Waterfall lies about a kilometre upstream of the main Huangguoshu fall, some 105 m wide at the crest and about 21 m high — the widest crest in the Huangguoshu group. Water spreads down a tufa bar more than a hundred metres long, and above it a huge pool covers some 15,000 square metres, broad and gentle against the main fall's power.
Why it is called the "roaring fall"
Doupotang has a special trait: before a flood arrives, the fall gives off a low rumbling roar, hence the name "roaring fall." A local Bouyei legend tells of a young man named Jialong who tamed a flood-bringing dragon and agreed that it would roar to warn the villagers before the waters rose. The tale is old, but the rumble is real hydrology, best felt in the wet season.
A bond with a classic TV drama
In 1985 a classic television series filmed here, with the scene of the pilgrims leading their horse across the river shot around Doupotang, making this broad fall widely known. Figures and set pieces related to the scene stand nearby — a good spot for a pause and family photos.
How and when to visit
- Location: reachable by shuttle from the core area, usually linked with Tianxingqiao and the main fall;
- Highlight: the roar is grandest in the wet season; the broad curtain suits wide-format shots;
- Timing: late summer and autumn, with plentiful water, look best; allow 40 minutes to an hour;
- Tip: the area is misty and the ground slippery — keep to open paths and mind your footing.
