Guizhou Hides a 22°C Summer: 600-Year-Old Buyi Village and Huangguoshu Waterfall Escape the Heat

Driven crazy by the 38°C heatwave, I discovered a "natural air-conditioned haven" in Anshun, Guizhou—wearing long sleeves by day and light blankets at night, staying in a 600-year-old stone castle where even the air smells of grass and trees! Best of all, it's just 15 minutes from Huangguoshu Waterfall. After sightseeing, retreat to this ancient village for pure relaxation—the perfect way to experience summer. 🏯 Living in a 600-Year-Old Buyi Tale Hidden in Pucha Ancient Village of Stone Village, Jianglu·Cunxiao preserves the legacy of the Buyi people, who began building stone houses during the Ming Dynasty. Over 600 years, the stone walls have weathered to a shine, the flagstone paths smoothed by generations of footsteps, and even the curves of the eaves bear the marks of time. The homestay transformed 66 old stone houses into 39 guest rooms, retaining original features like dry-column stilted structures—your room might have been a granary centuries ago, and the flagstone path outside your window may have carried generations of Buyi elders. Rooms are named using characters from the Wei family genealogy ("Wen," "Yong," "Deng"), a reminder that this isn’t just a homestay but a lived-in home. Walking through the village feels like time travel: elderly women in indigo dresses carry bamboo baskets, moss sprouts between flagstones, and distant Buyi folk songs (unintelligible but melodious like mountain streams) fill the air. At dusk, sit under a centuries-old banyan tree and listen to elders explain "why Stone Village never fears floods"—revealing ancestral wisdom in stone construction and reverence for nature. 📍 3-Day, 2-Night Summer Escape (With Hidden Gems) 👉 **Day 1: Huangguoshu Waterfall + Village Night Tales** - **Morning**: Head straight to Huangguoshu Waterfall. Take the route "Doupotang → Tianxingqiao → Great Waterfall" to avoid crowds. Standing beneath the falls, the mist instantly cools 30°C+ heat! - **After 3 PM**: Drive 15 minutes to Jianglu·Cunxiao. Check in and dive into the pool—nestled against stone houses and forests, it feels like a hidden tropical getaway. - **Evening**: Enjoy folk songs at the tent camp (local singers perform Buyi-style adaptations) or stroll with the butler to watch stars emerge over the mountains (minimal light pollution reveals the Milky Way!). 👉 **Day 2: Deep Dive into Stone Village** - **Morning**: Learn Buyi batik weaving from elders. Patterns of plants and birds adorn indigo-dyed cloth—take your creation home as a scarf. - **Noon**: Savor sour fish soup at the homestay. The broth, fermented from local tomatoes for 3 months, pairs perfectly with fresh river fish—tangy, spicy, and fruity. - **Afternoon**: Hike the back hills to "hunt for stones." Elders teach how to identify ideal building stones—hard, square ones hold secrets of craftsmanship. - **Dusk**: Unwind on your terrace as sunset paints stone walls gold, turning distant hills into ink paintings. This is serenity. 👉 **Day 3: Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures (Local Secrets)** - **Stone Village Scenic Area**: Less crowded than Huangguoshu, witness ancient papermaking and explore century-old stone granaries (rodent-proof!). - **Jiuzhou Ancient Town**: 40-minute drive to Ming-era Tunpu culture. Try "Duoduofen" (a hotpot-like dish) with icy bayberry drink—unmissable! 🚗 **Transport & Stay Tips** - **High-speed rail**: From Anshun West Station, take a 35-minute taxi (grab "Bobotang" sesame candy on the way). - **Self-drive**: Navigate to "Jianglu·Cunxiao." The final 5 km winds through cornfields and buffalo—a scenic therapy. - **Booking**: Peak season (July-August) requires 1-month advance reservations. Opt for "Deng" rooms with private courtyards, waking to birdsong and laundry-pounding rhythms. 🍜 **Must-Try Buyi Flavors (Secret Menu)** - **Sour Fish Soup**: Only at "Cunxiao Canteen." The broth, infused with litsea oil, carries a mountain breeze’s zest. - **You Tuan Ba**: A festive glutinous rice snack, crispy outside and soft within—once offered to mountain gods. - **Hidden Dish**: Request the "Buyi Eight Bowls." Stewed black pork knuckle with fish mint dip is plate-licking good! After three days, I realized summer doesn’t need air conditioning. Mornings begin with dew-kissed herbs, afternoons drift by in stone-cooled tranquility, and evenings hum with off-key Buyi songs... This crisp, slow-paced life is summer as it should be. (As I left, an elder gifted me dried honeysuckle for cooling tea—now each sip brings back Stone Village’s starry skies ✨)