Doupotang is the second major waterfall in the Huangguoshu complex, a few kilometres upstream from the main falls. It is lower — about 21 metres — but significantly wider, spreading across nearly 105 metres of river in a stepped cascade rather than a single vertical drop. The shape is distinctive: the water breaks over a series of horizontal limestone ledges, creating a broad staircase of white water that is more photogenic in some conditions than the main falls, particularly in lower-volume seasons when the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall narrows.
The gorge at Doupotang is narrower than the main falls gorge, which concentrates both the sound and the spray. A boardwalk path follows the edge of the river through the gorge, close enough to the falling water that you pass through periodic mist regardless of wind direction. The falls are included in the scenic area admission and reached by shuttle bus; most visitors treat them as a quick stop rather than a destination in themselves, which means they are rarely crowded even when the main falls are packed.