Covering 1.17 milion acres, Chishui is also home to vast expanses of bamboo.  [Photo: ChinaDaily]

Among all the natural wonders of Guizhou province, the greatest could be the Chishui formation, a 1,280-sq-km geologic masterpiece formed by a thick layer of red sandstone that has been uplifted then weathered over the millennia.

Chishui - which means red water in Chinese - is a county-level city in the northwest of Guizhou province named for the river running through it.

Red rock formations along the Chishui River reach out of the lofty mountains and lush bamboo, looking like castles in the forest.

Danxia literally means red clouds in Chinese and refers to a specific topography found mainly in south China.

Molded by crust movement and water, its belt of red rock has been pushed up and weathered into fantastic shapes over millions of years. Minerals including ferric oxide and manganic oxide give Danxia formations their striking red color.

The force of nature has sculpted formations along Chishui River into fascinating shapes: some look like people, some like eagles, some like monkeys and turtles, and some even look like Buddha. The possibilities are many - often reflecting the viewer's own imagination.

Famed formations include Five Pillar Peaks, which resemble five fingers, as well as Red Cliff, which looks like it has hanging a map of China on it. Commander Rock is said to look like a general leading a battle, while the Stone of Buddha's Light offers an image of the setting sun.    

The waters of the Chishui River also play an important part in the scenic display, adding life to the mute rock. The area's rivers form thousands of waterfalls - more than 4,000 wider than three meters.