Your first glimpse of this unique rift valley, situated just 6km (4 miles) from Xingyi, will likely be in the early hours, having just disembarked from the train. Mist rises eerily from this great gaping chasm, while the new suspension bridge at one end and the glass elevator tower at the other, provide very human endpoints to this natural scenery. Despite the high ticket price, the sheer number of waterfalls (and rainbows) do their best to give value for money. The walls of the canyon are lined with sinister looking travertine (the rock used to build the Colosseum in Rome), and tunnels wind in and out of the porous rock. Visits can be extended with a three hour rafting experience downriver on doubled up banana boats (more bucking bronco than white water rafting at times), or simply ascend the easy way on the 12-story elevator. Avoid the dinosaur museum on the way out, which is full of fakes.