The Yushe Grasslands northwest of Liupanshui are high-altitude meadows on the Guizhou plateau, sitting at around 2,000 metres where the terrain transitions from Guizhou's typical karst topography to something closer to the grasslands of Yunnan and Sichuan. In summer, the grasslands are green and in flower, with Yi minority communities living on the plateau whose herding practices have shaped the landscape over centuries.
The elevation makes Yushe noticeably cooler than the lowlands even in July, which is part of what draws domestic tourists escaping the heat of Guizhou's cities. Horse riding is available through local Yi families. The landscape is not dramatic in the way of the canyon country to the south — it is wide, open, and quiet in a way that's quite different from the rest of the region.
The grasslands are about 40 kilometres north of Liupanshui by road, reachable by bus to the township and local transport or walking from there. They are best visited May through September when the higher ground is accessible without cold weather.