A Poetess's Suiyang Complex

On July 11, at Qingxi Lake Pier in Qinggangtang Town, Suiyang County, colorful balloons and red flags fluttered proudly as this picturesque landscape of green mountains and clear waters welcomed a significant opportunity for development. "If we compare Qingxi Lake to a beautiful woman hidden away in a secluded boudoir," poet Gao Shangmei深情ly remarked during the 7th Suiyang County Tourism Industry Development Conference and the opening ceremony of the Qingxi Lake Scenic Area, "then today, I’m grateful that you’ve all come to witness this moment—let’s join forces to unveil her mysterious charm together."

Qingxi Lake Scenic Area is Jiangsu Yinhe Group's first scenic investment project signed in Suiyang, Guizhou. Deeply captivated by the region's stunning landscapes, the group has since continued to invest over the past two years in Suiyang’s Shuanghe Cave, as well as the You Tongxi Grand Canyon and the Shierbehui Scenic Area within the Kuokuo Shui Primitive Forest.

A female poet encounters the land of poetry.

The "Shuanghe Inn," which has gone viral online as Guizhou's most culturally sophisticated themed guesthouse within the Shuanghe Scenic Area, was recently visited by our reporter, who met its owner, Gao Shangmei.

It turns out that people’s temperament and taste align perfectly with those of architecture. Gao Shangmei, president of Jiangsu Yinhuo Group and writing under the pen name Mel, is the author of the poetry collection *The Weight of Sponge*. Last year, she was named one of "China’s Top Ten Female Poets" by a respected institution. She also serves as the president of Taiwan’s acclaimed poetry magazine *Qiu Shui*, which has been in publication for 42 years.

"Amid these mist-shrouded mountains, Along this path brimming with wildflowers— Where shall I wash away the glitter and glamour, So as not to smudge your verdant hem?" It was during her first visit to Guizhou that Gao Shangmei penned her poem, *"Impressions of Suiyang."* She shared with us that when her husband, Chen Jin—the chairman of Jiangsu Yinhuo Group—first explored Qingxi Lake by boat, a roughly 5-pound red carp leapt onto the bow. Reflexively, he reached out to grab it, but the fish slipped back into the water. Several of their companions couldn’t help but joke at the time, suggesting perhaps the very "master" of Qingxi Lake had made an appearance. Sure enough, not long after, Jiangsu Yinhuo Group signed an investment and development agreement with the Suiyang County government specifically for Qingxi Lake—seemingly confirming the legendary tale of the red carp once and for all.

“Suiyang is China’s ‘Poetry Township,’ and it seems like fate itself brought me here. After more than 20 years of rarely writing poetry, I’ve actually penned over 300 poems during my two-year stay in Guizhou—this past year or two. It’s truly an unexpected yet delightful byproduct of my decision to invest in this poetic haven. You see, money can always be earned again, but once the spark of poetic inspiration slips away, it’s gone forever!” said Gao Shangmei.

Over the past two-plus years, Gao Shangmei has fully immersed herself in the picturesque landscapes of "Poetry Village." In her poem "Dreaming Back to Qingxi Lake," she writes: "I am a pure fish,/Circling silently in the distant night,/Keeping centimeters away from the water."

Three major attractions shine brilliantly

Qingxi Lake was originally a canyon river, transformed into a long, narrow lake after the construction of a dam. The total navigable waterway stretches approximately 57 kilometers. Rich with numerous tributaries, the lake features an intricate network of inlets and channels, dotted with small islands that seem to scatter like stars across its surface. From high above, Qingxi Lake truly resembles a massive green dragon coiled gracefully along the land.

Gao Shangmei once wrote: "As I nestle by the tranquil Qingxi Lake, feeling her pure, emerald heart—oh, fairy, it is this deep affection that has given my journey thus far its true meaning."

After a grueling day of work, Qingxi Lake became the serene haven where Meixin Sang found solace for her soul. The entire Qingxi Lake scenic area boasts a mesmerizing array of natural wonders—towering peaks, rugged mountains, dramatic cliffs, sheer rock faces, cascading waterfalls, and even secluded islands—creating the perfect backdrop for adventures like Qingxi River rafting, the Qingxi Lake Landscape Gallery, as well as iconic spots such as Wufeng Ridge, Jiudao Gate, Shibaluo Han Mountain, and Jinzhong Mountain. Meanwhile, the area is also rich in cultural heritage, home to historic landmarks like Huilong Temple, Tonggu Temple, Wanshou Palace, and the Character Repository Pagoda. Indeed, Suiyang truly lives up to its reputation: "Look up—and you’ll see Zhangjiajie; look down—and you’ll discover Jiuzhaigou."

As a prime example of China’s karst landforms, Shuanghe Cave National Geological Park boasts unparalleled natural resource advantages and a rich historical legacy. The Shuanghe Cave System is an exceptionally rare, massive cave network featuring unique and breathtaking landscapes—so distinctive, diverse, and well-preserved that it has earned accolades from CCTV as the "Natural Cave Museum of Karst Landscapes" and the "Gateway to the Earth's Core." This remarkable system is home to the world’s largest celestite cave and the longest dolomite cave on the planet. In 2006, it was named by the Global Times as one of "50 Places in China Most Worth Visiting for Foreigners." Then, in December 2014, a groundbreaking Sino-French scientific expedition revealed that the Shuanghe Cave system stretches an astonishing 161.788 kilometers in length—making it not only China’s longest known cave but also the second-longest in Asia. What’s more, the expedition unearthed fossilized remains of rhinoceroses and what may be early evidence of giant pandas, a discovery that sent shockwaves across the global scientific community and sparked widespread media coverage both domestically and internationally.

Gaoshang Mei wrote in her poem series "Shuanghe Limestone Cave": "I can't tell you all my secrets—my secrets are still growing." In her eyes, as scientific expeditions and cave explorations continue, the length of Shuanghe Cave is constantly being pushed to new limits; as long as water flows within the cave, stalactites and stone flowers keep thriving day by day. And then there's China's only—and world-rare—"Shuanghe Crystal Flower Cave," a testament to the timeless allure of Shuanghe Limestone Cave, shaped over an astonishing 700 million years.

The Shierbehui Scenic Area has been hailed by Chen Jin as "China's last hidden gem," nestled deep within the pristine Kuankuoshui Primitive Forest in Suiyang. Its eerie, mysterious, and otherworldly beauty defies description. Once unveiled, this extraordinary destination is set to captivate audiences both at home and abroad—though for now, only seasoned, hardcore adventurers dare to make the journey.