Southwest · DESTINATION GUIDE

Guizhou 贵州

Guizhou is a southwestern province of mountain ridges, karst landscapes and deeply cut valleys, with Guiyang as its capital. The terrain helps explain why places close on a map can have different routes, buildings and cultural identities. Guiyang offers a lively food-and-city introduction; Anshun, Libo, Tongren, southeastern villages and southwestern Xingyi then lead in separate directions. Choose the combination that genuinely interests you. A small number of well-planned stays leaves more room to understand the communities and landscapes than an itinerary dominated by constant transfers.

Location of Guizhou in China

About Guizhou

Guizhou at a glance

Population
38,570,000Year-end resident population, entire provincial-level administrative area · 2025Source ↗
Income per person
30,001Mean annual disposable income per person, all residents · 2025 · CNYSource ↗
Languages & dialects
Mandarin and Southwestern Mandarin; Miao (苗语) and other community languages, varying by locality.Source ↗
Geography
Eastern Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau; mountainous karst terrain cut by rivers, generally higher in the west.Source ↗
Elevation
Provincial average about 1,100 m, with substantial variation between valleys and mountain ridges.An official approximate average, not the elevation of every city or village.Source ↗
Main gateway
GuiyangProvince
Huangguoshu Water Falls · 黄果树瀑布
Huangguoshu Water Falls · Guizhou · Kcx36 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Discover Guizhou

Allow Guiyang to be a destination

Changwang noodles offer a rich breakfast, while siwawa lets you assemble vegetable fillings in thin pancakes. Jiaxiu Pavilion and river walks add an urban setting, and contemporary cafes provide a different social pause between local meals. Try unfamiliar ingredients such as fish mint or sour broths separately before choosing a large shared dinner. The capital is more than an arrival point for rural excursions; its food and everyday life provide a useful introduction to the province's present.

Name the community and the actual village

Zhaoxing belongs to Dong cultural life, with drum towers, covered bridges and timber houses. Xijiang presents a different Miao village setting, while Zhenyuan is organised around a river townscape. These destinations should retain their names and identities rather than being combined as a generic village experience. Choose an overnight stay that permits a slower walk, a meal and local interpretation, remembering that homes and communal spaces remain part of ordinary daily life.

Pick a nature direction instead of a complete loop

Huangguoshu near Anshun, Libo's wooded karst waters and Fanjingshan in the Tongren area require different bases and scenic approaches. Wanfenglin near Xingyi adds another southwestern chapter of clustered peaks, cultivated valleys and village surroundings. Select the landscape that fits your wider journey and allow for the last road transfer after the train. The station name, county centre and visitor entrance may refer to different places, so confirm all three before booking accommodation.

Explore Guizhou

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Guizhou local specialties

贵州特色美食 · 125 specialties to discover

Photograph of Siwawa vegetable wraps (丝娃娃).Siwawa vegetable wraps 丝娃娃

The appeal is crisp vegetables, a soft wrapper and a bright sour-savory dressing. Fish mint can add a powerful herbal aroma when included.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Guiyang tofu balls · 贵阳豆腐圆子 · AI dish illustrationGuiyang tofu balls 贵阳豆腐圆子AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The shell cracks around a moist, airy tofu center, with a mild bean flavor beneath the stronger chili or other dipping ingredients.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Changwang noodles · 肠旺面 · AI dish illustrationChangwang noodles 肠旺面AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The bowl combines springy noodles, soft blood curd, chewy intestine and crunchy pork, with a rich savory-spicy broth.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Fish pieces in a red sour broth, identified by the photographer as suantangyu; photographed in Beijing.Sour-soup fish 酸汤鱼

The broth is sharply tangy and savory, balancing tender fish with a lively fermented aroma. Chili intensity depends on the soup and dip rather than the name alone.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: shizhao · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo adjustments

Resized proportionally to a maximum 640 px long edge, EXIF orientation applied where present, and encoded as WebP. No crop or subject alteration.

Bingjiang · 冰浆 · AI dish illustrationBingjiang 冰浆AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The texture is icy but creamy and slightly grainy, with fruit sweetness and chewy or crunchy additions depending on the stall.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Guiyang sticky-rice breakfast · 贵阳糯米饭 · AI dish illustrationGuiyang sticky-rice breakfast 贵阳糯米饭AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The rice is dense and sticky, while the toppings supply salty, crunchy and spicy contrasts. It can be a complete breakfast despite a compact shape.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Qingyan braised pork trotter · 青岩状元蹄 · AI dish illustrationQingyan braised pork trotter 青岩状元蹄AI illustration · AI 示意图

The texture is gelatinous around the skin and tendons, with firmer meat close to the bone. The dip adds sourness, heat or herbs depending on the shop.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Guiyang chili chicken · 贵阳辣子鸡 · AI dish illustrationGuiyang chili chicken 贵阳辣子鸡AI illustration · AI 示意图

The dish is savory, oily-fragrant and hot, with juicy chicken and a dense chili coating that clings to rice.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
All dish names · 全部菜名 (125)

Top sights in Guizhou

Trip.Best · Best Things to DoChecked 2026-09-20

  1. Fanjing Mountain · 梵净山TOP1

    Fanjing Mountain梵净山

    Show on map
    铜仁

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    Fanjingshan combines forested mountain slopes with exposed rock formations and Buddhist summit buildings.

    View guide →
  2. Huangguoshu Scenic Area · 黄果树景区TOP2

    Huangguoshu Scenic Area黄果树景区

    Show on map

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

  3. Libo Xiaoqikong Scenic Area · 荔波小七孔景区TOP3

    Libo Xiaoqikong荔波小七孔

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    荔波县

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Xiaoqikong takes its name from a seven-arched stone bridge over the river, but the wider visit follows a sequence of clear pools, cascades and forested water channels. The old bridge gives the landscape a human scale, while…

    View guide →
  4. Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village · 西江千户苗寨TOP4

    Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village西江千户苗寨

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    黔东南州

    4.3 / 5 · Trip.com

    Xijiang’s dark timber houses climb two adjacent hillsides above a river, creating a dense layered roofscape.

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  5. Zhijin Cave Scenic Area · 织金洞TOP5

    Zhijin Cave Scenic Area织金洞

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    毕节

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Zhijin Cave contains large karst chambers filled with stalactites, columns and other mineral deposits.

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  6. Yelang Valley · 花溪夜郎谷TOP6

    Yelang Valley花溪夜郎谷

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    花溪区

    4.4 / 5 · Trip.com

  7. Zhong Guo Tian Yan Jing Qu · 中国天眼景区TOP7

    Zhong Guo Tian Yan Jing Qu中国天眼景区

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    平塘县

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

  8. Wanfenglin Scenic Area · 万峰林景区TOP8

    Wanfenglin万峰林

    Show on map
    兴义市

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

    Wanfenglin’s karst peaks rise above a lived-in valley of fields, lanes and villages. The paid ridge-road circuit provides elevated views, while the valley floor gives a closer perspective on the agricultural landscape. These are…

    View guide →
  9. Qingyan Ancient Town · 青岩古镇TOP9

    Qingyan Ancient Town青岩古镇

    Show on map
    贵阳

    4.3 / 5 · Trip.com

    Qingyan’s old-town visit can be organised around its gates and historic civic buildings.

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  10. Maling River Canyon · 马岭河峡谷TOP10

    Maling River Canyon马岭河峡谷

    Show on map
    黔西南州

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

    Maling River Canyon cuts deeply into the ground north-east of Xingyi. Waterfalls descend along the gorge walls, with hanging vegetation and connected cave features adding detail to the narrow river landscape. Its main visual…

    View guide →
View more on Trip.com →

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Ranking source & photo credits

The first ten entries of Trip.Best Best Things to Do. Rankings reflect platform recommendations, not counts of international visitors. Read on 20 September 2026; platform pages may use cached snapshots.

  • Fanjing Mountain: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Huangguoshu Scenic Area: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Libo Xiaoqikong: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Zhijin Cave Scenic Area: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Yelang Valley: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Zhong Guo Tian Yan Jing Qu: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Wanfenglin: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Qingyan Ancient Town: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Maling River Canyon: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.

Our place guide directory →

EXPLORE THE NEXT LEVEL

Cities, counties & districts in Guizhou

9 areas belong directly to Guizhou.

9 areas

Prefecture-level city

Guiyang City贵阳市

Guiyang is the capital of Guizhou province in the People's Republic of China. It is centrally located within the province, on the eastern part of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, and sits on the north bank of the…

10 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Liupanshui City六盘水市

Liupanshui (simplified Chinese: 六盘水; traditional Chinese: 六盤水; pinyin: Liùpánshuǐ) is a city in western Guizhou province, People's Republic of China.

4 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Zunyi City遵义市

Zunyi (simplified Chinese: 遵义; traditional Chinese: 遵義; pinyin: Zūnyì) is a prefecture-level city in northern Guizhou province, People's Republic of China, situated between the provincial capital Guiyang to…

14 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Anshun City安顺市

Anshun (simplified Chinese: 安顺; traditional Chinese: 安順; pinyin: Ānshùn) is a prefecture-level city located in southwestern Guizhou province, southwest China, near the Huangguoshu Waterfall, the tallest in…

6 local areas →
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Arrive, stay & get around Guizhou

交通枢纽、住宿与天气

YOUR ARRIVAL GATEWAY

Guiyang贵阳

This Guizhou entry uses Guiyang as its selected gateway city. It does not describe transport coverage across the entire region.

Airports

Railway stations

Metro & city transport

GET AROUND BY METRO · 地铁出行

Guiyang Metro Network 贵阳轨道交通线路图

Zoomable map · 可放大

The metro connects the city’s rail gateways and Longdongbao Airport; follow the official transfer guide for the station you booked.

  1. 1Find your stations确认起点与终点站
  2. 2Check interchanges查看换乘线路与站点
  3. 3Follow exit signs到站后按站内标识出站
Guiyang rail network diagram · 贵阳轨道交通线路图Explore the full network查看站名、线路与换乘Enlarge map点击放大线路图

Check the legend for closed, reserved or future sections. 停运、预留与规划区间，请按图例辨识。

Map edition: 2024-12-28 · Diagram reviewed 2026-09-06

Map: Buernia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Map coverage & sources 图示范围与来源说明

Full metro Lines 1, 2, 3 and S1. Printed map issue December 2024; current file 2024-12-28 includes S1. No future metro routes represented as operational.

Rasterized or resized to supplied image; white background where necessary; lossless WebP conversion. Network content unchanged.

Official information ↗
Amap · 高德地图Apple Maps · 苹果地图

Coaches, ferries & onward travel

Transport reference review: 2026-09-06. Consult the operator for current services and timetables.

More about getting around

Guiyang is the main air and rail gateway. Trains can shorten travel between regional hubs, but villages and waterfalls commonly require a further road journey. Check the actual station and scenic entrance on the map; a county name alone is insufficient for transfers.

Stay in Guizhou

Central Guiyang is convenient for meals and a first night. Choose accommodation near Huangguoshu or Libo if you want an early scenic-area start. In Zhaoxing, ask about sound insulation and stairs in timber buildings, and allow time to carry luggage through village lanes.

Find hotels on Trip.com →

Change your destination, dates and guests on Trip.com.

Guiyang weather

The current-hour forecast loads when this section is visible. It uses MET Norway model data for the named city, not station observations.

Seasons & when to go

Elevation moderates summer heat in many places, but cloud and rain remain important travel companions. Winter can feel damp and cold, especially in mountain accommodation. Bring layers and footwear with grip; a misty summit day may be better spent exploring lower valleys.

Local life & communication

Guizhou combines a current urban food-and-drink culture in Guiyang with sharply varied regional landscapes and communities. Dong Zhaoxing, Miao Xijiang, river-town Zhenyuan and the mountain habitats of Fanjingshan are distinct chapters, not interchangeable scenery.

Dong polyphonic singing, Miao textile traditions and the practices of other communities deserve specific names and context. Zhaoxing's drum towers serve communal purposes as well as attracting visitors. Ask before entering homes, and distinguish purchased performances from events organised by residents for themselves.

Language & communication

Mandarin helps with transport and accommodation, while local Chinese varieties and community languages are heard across the countryside. English interpretation is uneven. Carry a written itinerary with town, village and hotel names, and use your host to clarify an unfamiliar pickup location.

Useful local tips

  • A village's English label can hide different counties and cultures; use the supplied Chinese names when planning.
  • Ask about fish mint, pork offal and blood curd before ordering if unfamiliar ingredients matter to you.
  • Village visits are not automatic permission to enter homes or photograph residents.
  • Check mountain access and waterfall-area notices close to departure; no current trail opening is assumed here.

Written by China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-09-07

Sources & useful links