Best time to visit China

Yelang Valley in China

Gaze into the forever open eyes of these giant rocky creatures!

Best time: all year round

Yelang Valley

Giant rocky figures are relatively new creations of a former professor, cartoonist, and artist, 76-year-old Song Peilun. In 20 years time he designed this stunning sculpture garden with face featured towers, large stone castles, and big lakes on a space of two million square feet.

Yelang Valley is the way of remembering and honouring the Yelang tribes that lived in the province of Guizhou nearly 2,000 years ago. Members of these tribes hallowed many different traditions. Dancing with Nuo masks was the brightest one. Masks were believed to keep strength during hardships as well as to hold power against evil spirits. Inspired by all that, Song, with the support of Huaxi locals knowledgeable in stonework, pieced together giant stone creatures with bright Nuo faces.

The plan of building Yelang Valley came to Song after exploring the Crazy Horse Memorial, and his dream and aim were to construct a mystical sculpture park out of stone. By the way, he considered using metal or wood as stuff to make the sculptures but then chose rock which is both cheap and environmentally friendly.

Song wanted his valley to become an inhabited community, so many musicians and painters are now living in Yelang Valley. Even buildings of the university opened nearby. Students also helped Peilun continue constructing his artwork.

Practical info

Where is the sculpture garden located?

The sculpture garden can be found in China's Guizhou province, occupying a space of two million square feet. The area is home to diverse residents, including musicians, painters, as well as students from a nearby university. Show more

Over what period was Yelang Valley created?

It took Song Peilun, a former professor and artist, 20 years to build the Yelang Valley of sculptures. He began constructing the park in the 1990s as a tribute to the nearly 2,000 years old Yelang tribes that once lived there. Since then, Peilun has continued to work on the project. Show more

What influenced Song Peilun in creating the sculpture park?

Song Peilun was motivated to create the mystical sculpture park by his exploration of the Crazy Horse Memorial, which sparked his dream to build a park out of stone. With the assistance of locals skilled in stonework, he constructed giant stone creatures with bright Nuo faces. Although he initially considered other materials, he ultimately chose rock due to its affordability and eco-friendliness. Show more

What purpose did the Nuo masks serve?

The Nuo masks featured in the sculpture park were pivotal to the Yelang tribes' traditions as they held power against evil spirits and brought strength during challenging times. The artist, Song Peilun, drew inspiration from them and incorporated their brightly colored faces into his sculptures that can be seen in Yelang Valley today. Show more

Who else resides in Yelang Valley besides the sculptor?

Yelang Valley is inhabited by diverse residents, including musicians, painters, and students from a nearby university who continue to help Song Peilun with the construction of his artwork. The valley was created as a communal space for people to live and has already attracted numerous residents who now call it home. Show more

Ask a question

Find hotels and airbnbs near Yelang Valley (Map)

Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin