Guiyang Travel Guide
Guiyang is the capital of Guizhou Province, located in the eastern part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau on the watershed between the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers. Thanks to its cool and pleasant summers, it is known as "Refreshing Guiyang" and is truly a summer resort capital. The karst landscape here is well developed, with the city nestled among mountains and mountains within the city.
With Guiyang as a center, visitors can conveniently reach Guizhou's highlights such as Huangguoshu Waterfall, Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, Libo Xiaoqikong, Mount Fanjing, and Zhenyuan Ancient Town, making it a gateway for inbound travelers to explore karst landscapes and ethnic minority cultures.
Must-Visit Attractions
Jiaxiu Pavilion — a Guiyang landmark standing on Aojia Stone in the Nanming River, especially beautiful at night; Qianling Mountain Park — a mountain forest within the city where you can see macaques and visit Hongfu Temple; Qingyan Ancient Town — a Ming Dynasty military town with well-preserved stone-paved streets and city walls; Huaxi Park — landscape gardens and wetlands; Tianhetan — karst caves and waterfalls; Guizhou Provincial Museum — to learn about ethnic culture and local history.
Specialty Cuisine
Sour soup fish, silk dolls (spring rolls), intestine and blood vermicelli, Huaxi beef rice noodles, tofu balls, love tofu fruit, houttuynia salad, cake porridge, and famous liquors such as Guizhou Moutai.
Best Time to Travel
Suitable in all seasons, with summer (June–August) being the coolest and the top choice for escaping the heat; spring and autumn have mild climates and pleasant scenery; winter is rather cold and gloomy but has fewer tourists. Rainfall is abundant, so please bring rain gear.
Transportation Guide
Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport and Guiyang North Railway Station connect to major cities nationwide. High-speed rail provides quick access to Huangguoshu, Kaili (Xijiang Miao Village), Libo, and other places; between scenic areas within the province, high-speed rail, tourist shuttle lines, or chartered cars are the main options.
Suggested Itineraries
Classic two-day tour: Day 1 visit Jiaxiu Pavilion, Qianling Mountain, and Qingyan Ancient Town; Day 2 visit Huangguoshu Waterfall. A four-day tour can add Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, Zhenyuan Ancient Town, and Libo Xiaoqikong, forming a Guizhou landscape and ethnic loop.
Travel Tips
Guizhou is mountainous with frequent showers, so it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes and bring rain gear; distances between scenic areas are relatively long, so plan your itinerary reasonably; local flavors tend toward sour and spicy, and locals enjoy houttuynia (fish mint), so try according to your tolerance.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences
In the early morning, go to Qianling Mountain to watch locals do morning exercises and see macaques; in Qingyan Ancient Town, try rose candy and zhuangyuan trotters; take a night cruise along the Nanming River to see the lights; visit rural villages to experience long-table banquets and Miao silverwork and batik handicrafts.
One-Day Trips Around Guiyang
Huangguoshu Waterfall — a famous waterfall group in Asia; Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village — the world's largest Miao village; Zhenyuan Ancient Town — a thousand-year-old town by the Wuyang River; Libo Xiaoqikong — karst emerald waters and green valleys; Mount Fanjing — a famous mountain and World Natural Heritage Site.
