Bijie's roaring waterfall draws summer crowds

The three-tiered Xiangshuitan Falls drops more than 40 meters, sounding like thunder rolling through a valley. [Photo by Zhou Zhaoren/For chinadaily.com.cn]

With the rainy season at its peak in Southwest China's Guizhou province, Bijie city's waterfalls are at their most spectacular, drawing visitors from across the country.

The three-tiered Xiangshuitan Falls, whose name literally means "resounding water", drops more than 40 meters and is one of the few natural waterfalls found within an urban area.

After summer downpours, the river swells and surges over the cliff, sounding like thunder rolling through a valley.

The three-tiered Xiangshuitan Falls drops more than 40 meters, sounding like thunder rolling through a valley. [Photo by Zhou Zhaoren/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The three-tiered Xiangshuitan Falls drops more than 40 meters, sounding like thunder rolling through a valley. [Photo by Zhou Haidong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The three-tiered Xiangshuitan Falls drops more than 40 meters, sounding like thunder rolling through a valley. [Photo by Zhou Haidong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The three-tiered Xiangshuitan Falls drops more than 40 meters, sounding like thunder rolling through a valley. [Photo by Zhou Haidong/For chinadaily.com.cn]