Guiyang

Basic Overview

Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou Province, is known as the “Summer Resort City” of China. Located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, it features cool and pleasant summer weather, fresh air and unique karst landforms. Integrating urban landscapes, plateau forests, cave wonders and diverse ethnic cultures of Miao and Dong groups, it serves as the core transportation hub and the best starting point for exploring all classic scenic spots in Guizhou for overseas tourists.

Natural Landscapes

Guiyang is dominated by typical karst landforms, with crisscrossing mountains, dense forests, mysterious underground caves and alpine wetlands, forming unique primitive ecological scenery.

• Qianling Mountain Park: The core urban forest park in Guiyang, with dense vegetation, ancient temples and mountain lakes. It offers a panoramic overlook of the whole city and retains perfect urban ecological scenery.
• Huangguoshu Waterfall Viewing Belt (Guiyang Section): Connected to Anshun’s waterfall scenic area, with layered mountain streams and valley landscapes, presenting the unique water scenery of Guizhou.
• Huaxi Wetland Park: Known as “Guiyang’s Back Garden”, featuring clear water, green mountains, flower seas and pastoral scenery, suitable for leisure sightseeing.
• Xianqun Cave Group: Typical karst cave landscape with various strange stalactites, colorful lights and unique underground stone landscapes.

Historical and Cultural Sites

Guiyang has a long history of plateau ethnic civilization, retaining ancient post road relics, traditional ethnic buildings and modern historical sites.

• Guizhou Provincial Museum: The top-level museum in Guizhou, collecting a large number of Miao and Dong ethnic costumes, silver ornaments, ancient bronze relics and karst geological specimens.
• Guiyang Ancient Town: Restored ancient architectural complex with Ming and Qing styles, gathering traditional Guizhou folk culture and handicraft shops.
• Jiaxiu Tower: The city symbol of Guiyang, an ancient tower built on the river, with elegant structure and profound literary heritage.
• Ancient Yunnan-Guizhou Post Road Relics: Remains of the ancient plateau trade road, witnessing the historical cultural exchange of southwest China.

Local culture experiences

Guiyang gathers the folk customs of various ethnic groups in Guizhou, with rich immersive intangible heritage experience projects.

• Miao Silver Ornament Handicraft Experience: Learn traditional Miao silver carving craft and make exclusive ethnic souvenirs.
• Ethnic Song and Dance Show: Appreciate original Miao and Dong folk songs, dances and folk custom performances.
• Guizhou Folk Tea Culture Experience: Taste local plateau wild tea and experience traditional tea-making craft.
• Ancient Tower and River Sightseeing: Stroll along the riverside, visit Jiaxiu Tower and feel the gentle urban cultural atmosphere.

Local cuisine

Guiyang cuisine features sour and spicy unique plateau flavor, focusing on fresh mountain ingredients and traditional ethnic cooking methods.

• Siwawa (Guiyang Vegetable Rolls): A classic local snack with various fresh seasonal vegetables wrapped in thin pancake, matched with special sour and spicy sauce.
• Sour Soup Fish: Representative Guizhou specialty, cooked with natural fermented sour soup and fresh river fish, sour, fresh and appetizing.
• Spicy Crispy Pork: Golden and crispy fried local pork, salty and spicy, a popular local street food.
• Glutinous Rice Cake with Fillings: Traditional ethnic dessert with soft glutinous rice and sweet or savory fillings.

Recommended itinerary 

– Day1: Qianling Mountain Park → Guizhou Provincial Museum → Jiaxiu Tower Riverside Sightseeing
– Day2: Huaxi Wetland Park → Folk Custom Experience & Local Food Tasting

Travel tips

Best travel time: April-October, cool in summer and warm in winter. The plateau mountain area has humid climate and frequent light rain, please prepare portable rain gear. Local food is mainly sour and spicy, you can adjust the taste according to your preference.