After visiting the Huangguoshu or Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall, Xu Xiake, the well-known geographer and traveler of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), described what he was as follows:
A clear river overturned roars and rumbles vertically down,
Ten thousand silky white cascades descending from the skies.
In China there are more than one hundred waterfalls that are comparatively well-known and scores of what might be called multiple waterfalls. Some of these waterfalls are awe-inspiring sights, cascading down overwhelmingly as though a sea or a river had been overturned. Some of them are of a more gentle nature, hanging down from the precipices like a sheet of water, shimmering and wavering as if engaging in graceful dancing. Some of them are charmingly shy, half-hidden behind green leafy trees in deep elegant seclusion. Some of them are manifold in form, cascading down from one altitude to another and still another, now separating into a number of slender cascades and now uniting to from one mighty plunging waterfall. There are also waterfalls that come gushing out of a cave in the mountainside, looking like a silvery up-ended stream gushing into a pure crystal waterpool.

What is known as the Huangguoshu Waterfall does not compare favourably in all respects with other waterfalls in China. It does not have as big a fall as the Jiaolong or Flood Dragon Waterfall in Taiwan. It does not spread as wide as the Nuorilang Waterfall of Jiu'Zhai'Gou or Ravine of Nine Stockaded Villages in northern Sichuan. In terms of volume of water, it is inferior to the Hukou or Kettlespout Waterfall on the Yellow River. Nevertheless, the Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall has great appeal to the aesthetic sense of men because of its elegantly-proportioned shapeliness. For this it has earned the reputation of being "the most magnificent and exquisite karst waterfall in the world".

Huang'Guo'Shu or Yellow Fruit Tree is a region of great scenic charm situated along the border of the County of Zhenning and the County of Guanling in southwest Guizhou Province. The waterfall with the same name is situated on Baishui or White Water River about 15km southwest of the county sea of Zhenning. What is known as the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is a region dominated by limestone formations, higher at the western end and dropping gradually in the three other directions. Thanks to erosion by water, the region is characterized by numerous fissures and sinkholes in the land. When the White Water River reaches the neighbourhood of Huang'Guo'Shu, the riverbed drops steeply at nine successive points, forming thus a series of nine waterfalls. At Huang'Guo'Shu there is a sudden drop of over 70 metres and the width of the fall exceeds 80 metres. Here the large body of water comes plunging down one the rocks below, creating a thundering, soul-stirring boom that can be heard for miles around, like the noise of thousands of horses in stampede. Under the waterfall is a pool seventeen metres deep, known as the Rhinoceros Pool.

According to local tradition, a rhinoceros was once seen coming ashore from the pool to charge at an ox working in the fields. Hence the name. The waterpool which is surrounded on three sides by high mountains that look emerald green, contrasting sharply and to each other's advantage with the silk-coloured water in the White Water River. Where the cataract hits the pool, the water is tossing and tumbling like mad, throwing up silvery spray with fine particles of water reaching heights of tens of metres and then scattering in minute droplets, creating a pleasant coolness in the air. Looking up at the cascading waterfall by the poolside one sees sheer cragged precipice down which torrential waters roll irresistibly down, reminding the beholder of the beholder of the following lines in a poem by Li Bai, as translated by X.Y. Yang and Gladys Yang:
Down it cascades a sheer three thousand feet-
As if the Silver River were falling from heaven.
The Silver River is the Chinese name for the Milky Way.

In summer, when the sun strikes down on the misty vapour formed of minute droplets of water spraying from the cataract a rainbow will rise over the surrounding precipices setting off the white sheets of falling water and accentuating the beauty of the scenery around. At night, the temperature will drop sharply with the fine droplets of water thrown up by the descending water body forming a chill drizzle over Huang'Guo'Shu. Facing the cataract on a ledge on the cliff opposite is a traditional-style pavilion from which one can have a distant view of the waterfall. Veiled behind a light haze, it now comes into view and now recedes into nothingness, like a phantasmal presence.

In a recess in the rocky cliffs behind the cataract is a cave. Lying hidden by the sheets of water cascading down, it is known as the Water Curtain Cave. The cave is about 20 metres deep. On the walls of the cave are carved four big Chinese characters: Xue'Yin'Chuan'Xia or Beautiful Rainbow on a Ground of Snow. There are three openings in the cave out of which one can look and enjoy the wondrous sight of the waterfall. In this picturesque cave which many believe to be the most beautiful Water Curtain Caves in China, one can enjoy the sight of the majestic cataract and experience the thrill of being exposed to its thundering roars.

In recent years, several more waterfalls along with caves and picturesque rocks of scenic value have been discovered in the vicinity of the Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall, adding to the allure of the scenic spot. Near the Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall are now 18 falls at nine different levels, each with a drop of more than ten metres. And many are the waterpools formed by the cascading waters. The more notable of these waterfalls are the Steep Slope Waterfall, the Snail Bank Waterfall, the Dripping Bank Waterfall, the Giant Tree Rock Waterfall, the Skyhigh Waterfall, and the Guan Waterfall.

Surrounded by range upon range of high mountains and cascading mountain streams, the Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall is situated in the midst of superb natural scenery. There are many picturesque rocks and caves nearby. About three kilometers to the north of the waterfall is Zhedou Cave which penetrates 300 metres into the mountain with many spacious chambers inside and many interesting rock formations such as stalactites and stalagmites, columns and curtains. About one kilometer east of the county seat of Zhenning, on Dongpo Hill, is the Rhinoceros Cave which is 400 metres deep. This is a winding cave intricate in structure where the variform stalactites and stalagmites have a dazzling effect on the eye. Halfway into the cave is a big circular chamber known as "the palace" which is so spacious that there is room for a thousand men. The natural coffer ceiling is covered all over with necklace-like patterns. In the center is a solid thick rock pillar more than 30 metres high, standing firmly upright, with naturally formed nodes that divide the pillar into even sections which are covered with natural patterns in the form of fine thin ribs, liking like ivory carving. On the left hand side is a rock face that looks like a huge curtain hanging from the ceiling, complete with sweeping folds. The colours becoming, it looks very much like the velvet curtains in a theatre. At the end of the cave is a deep pool with lucid clear waters, 70 metres long, 20 metres wide and 27 metres in depth.

What are known as Guansuo Peak and Shajia Mountain are two other places of scenic interest. The former is situated some 20 km east of the county seat of Guanling. The road up the peak is zigzagged, consisting of 43 hairpin turns. At the sixteenth hairpin turn one enters a secluded world of luxuriant trees and mysterious caverns where there is the Dragon Spring Temple dedicated to Guan Yu the famous warrior of the Kingdom of Shuhan. Near the temple is the Galloping Horse Spring where the crystal-clear water has a delicate sweet taste and is compared to sweet dew by some people. According to a folk take, when during the Period of the Three Kingdoms(A.D. 220-280) Zhuge Liang mounted his expedition to the south, he had under him the third son of General Guan Yu whose name was Guan Suo. When the young commander arrived at this spot with his men, he felt very thirsty. Suddenly his horse started galloping round and water came gushing out automatically. Hence the name Galloping Horse Spring. A little to the right is another spring whose water, about a foot deep, never runs dry or overflows. Known as Ya'Quan or the Mute Spring, it is believed that anyone who drinks its water will become a mute. Abut these two springs Xu Xiake once made this comment: "How come that the two springs, so near to each other, can have such inconceivably different properties!" As people in ancient times could not explain why the spring water could make men lose the faculty of speech, they simply covered it up with a huge slab of stone and set up a stone tablet on which is inscribed a warning to passersby that since ancient times the spring has made mutes of men. What's known as Guansuo Peak is a towering, heave-reaching mountain whose forbidding appearance makes one marvel at this prodigious wonder of nature. On the peak stands a high tower on which is hung a horizontal board inscribed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with the four characters of Dian'Qian'Suo'Yue which means Key Strategic Point of Yunnan and Guizhou. By the side of the tower is a memorial temple dedicated to Guan Suo. According to the local people, Guan Suo was a great general who loved the people. Because of his contributions to the regions known as Gauzhou today, the temple was built in his memory and the peak was named after him.

Shaijia Mountain which is located about ten kilometers south of the county seat f Guanling is reputedly where Zhuge Liang had stationed his army temporarily on his southern expedition and where they had sunned their armour. Hence the name Shaijie or Sunning the Armour. The steep, precipitous summit is liver-coloured. Here is found what is known as Hong'Yan'Bei or Red Rock Tablet. Referred to as the "No.1 Wonder of South China, it is ten metres wide and 6 metres hig on which is seen as inscription consisting of some 40 characters, seemingly graven. The characters are irregular in size and shape. Looking up at it from down below, the characters are blue while the gound is deep red, looking like deep-graven large-size characters. But standing before it one cannot see any sign of carving. The script is indeterminate and indeterminable, neither of the Zhuan-style nor of the Big-Zhuan style and so exotic-looking that no one is able to decipher them. It is impossible to say whether they are the work of man or of nature. Having been a mystery since ancient times, it is still unsolved and insoluble today.

Other places of historical and cultural interest in Guizhou Province include: in the provincial capital Guiyang and Hongfu temple on Qianling Mountain, Wenchang Tower, Dongshan Temple, the Underground Park, Jiaxiu Tower, etc. the and drum towers of Dong nationality in Liping county.