Get to know Guiyang City
Photo adjustments
Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
- Administrative area
- Prefecture-level city · 地级市
- Part of
- Guizhou
- Chinese name
- 贵阳市
- Local areas
- 10 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 8,034.00 km²
- Population · 2020 census
- 5,987,018
- Administrative seat
- Guanshanhu District
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Setting and landscape
The city lies on the eastern Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. The Wu River (乌江) runs along its northern edge, and the Nanming (南明河), Maotiao (猫跳河) and other rivers cross it. Altitude and a low latitude keep its subtropical plateau monsoon climate cool, and in 2004 the State Forestry Administration named Guiyang China's first National Forest City.
History
The area belonged to Zangke (牂牁) in the Spring and Autumn period and to the Yelang (夜郎) state in the Warring States. In 1413 the Ming made Guizhou a province with its administration at Guiyang, and in 1569 the prefecture here took the name Guiyang. In 1508 the philosopher Wang Yangming (王阳明), demoted to run the post station at Longchang (龙场), today's Xiuwen county town, began three years in a small cave there, during which his "Longchang enlightenment" took place. Guiyang became a city in 1941.
What to see
Jiaxiu Tower (甲秀楼), a three-storey pavilion about 20 metres high on the Aoji rock (鳌矶石) in the Nanming River, was first built in 1598 and has been rebuilt six times; with the Wenchang Pavilion (文昌阁) it is a national key cultural relic. Qingyan (青岩古镇), 25 kilometres from the city centre, grew from a garrison fort founded in 1391 into a town built of stone; its walls were built of stone in 1853, and a centenarian's memorial arch of 1843 stands inside the Dingguang Gate (定广门). The Yangming Cave (阳明洞) on Qixia Hill (栖霞山) in Xiuwen County (修文县) and the Xifeng concentration camp site (息烽集中营旧址) are also national key relics, and Huaxi Park (花溪公园) lies 17 kilometres from downtown.
Food and local products
Changwang noodles (肠旺面), a Guiyang breakfast since the Qing, combine egg noodles with pork intestine (chang) and pig's blood curd (wang) in a red, chilli-oil broth with crisp pork bits (脆哨); the name puns on "ever-prosperous". Guiyang also favours soured rice noodles (酸粉), made by fermentation, and Huaxi beef rice noodles (花溪牛肉粉), while street stalls sell white and soy-sauce-fried glutinous rice (糯米饭) packed with pickled radish, zhe'ergen (折耳根), chilli oil and crisp pork. Qingyan is known for its tofu and rose candy.
Getting oriented
Besides six urban districts, the city takes in Kaiyang (开阳县), Xifeng (息烽县) and Xiuwen counties and the county-level city of Qingzhen (清镇市); the city government sits in Guanshanhu District (观山湖区). Guiyang North station is the hub for the Guiyang–Guangzhou, Shanghai–Kunming, Chengdu–Guiyang and Chongqing–Guiyang lines, and Longdongbao International Airport (贵阳龙洞堡国际机场) is 11 kilometres east of the centre.
Highlights
- Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀楼: Three-storey pavilion on a rock in the Nanming River, first built in 1598; a national key cultural relic with the Wenchang Pavilion.
- Qingyan 青岩古镇: Stone-built town 25 km from the centre that grew from a Ming garrison fort of 1391.
- Yangming Cave 阳明洞: Small cave on Qixia Hill in Xiuwen where Wang Yangming lived from 1508; a national key cultural relic.
- Huaxi Park 花溪公园: Park of hills and fields in Huaxi District, 17 km from downtown.
- Changwang noodles 肠旺面: Egg noodles with pork intestine, blood curd and crisp pork bits in chilli-oil broth; a Guiyang breakfast since the Qing.
- Guiyang sticky-rice breakfast 贵阳糯米饭: White and soy-sauce-fried glutinous rice wrapped around pickled radish, zhe'ergen, chilli oil and crisp pork.
Sources for this guide
Basic Facts · Guiyang Municipal People's Government (English site)
Historical Transformation · Guiyang Municipal People's Government (English site)
Jiaxiu Tower · Guiyang Municipal People's Government (English site)
Huaxi Park · Guiyang Municipal People's Government (English site)
贵阳市 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
青岩 · Guiyang Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
甲秀楼 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
早餐，开启黔地风味 - 贵州省人民政府 · Guizhou Pictorial (贵州画报), on the Guizhou Provincial People's Government portal
阳明洞 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-09-30.
Explore Guiyang City
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Qianling Park 黔灵山公园
Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀楼
Qingyan 青岩古镇
Guizhou Provincial Museum 贵州省博物馆
Tianhetan 天河潭
Guiyang 贵阳
Qianling Mountain 黔灵山
Guiyang Wenchang Pavilion 贵阳文昌阁
Yangming Shrine 阳明祠
Huaxi Park 花溪公园
Guizhou Geological Museum 贵州地质博物馆
Wenchang Pavilion and Diantai Street 文昌阁与电台街
Taoyuan River Gorge 桃源河
Yangming Culture Park 阳明文化园
Qingyun Road Pedestrian Street 青云路步行街
Nanjiang Grand Canyon 南江大峡谷
Xifeng Concentration Camp Memorial Hall 息烽集中营革命历史纪念馆
Hongfeng Lake 红枫湖
Huaxi Park and Shili Hetan Wetland 花溪公园与十里河滩
Gaopo Miao Township 高坡苗乡
Guizhou Geological Museum 贵州省地质博物馆
Guanshanhu Park 观山湖公园
Nanming District 南明区
Yunyan District 云岩区
Huaxi District 花溪区
Wudang District 乌当区
Baiyun District 白云区
Guanshanhu District 观山湖区
Kaiyang County 开阳县
Xifeng County 息烽县
Xiuwen County 修文县
Qingzhen City 清镇市
Places to explore around Guiyang City
Qianling Park · 黔灵山公园Qianling Park黔灵山公园
Qianling Park rises through wooded hills within Guiyang. Hongfu Temple and the surrounding hilltop outlooks add architectural and scenic stops, while tea gardens provide a slower part of the visit. Wild monkeys also inhabit the…
Read the place guide →
Jiaxiu Pavilion beside the Nanming River in Guiyang, June 2018.Jiaxiu Tower甲秀楼
Jiaxiu Tower rises from a rock in the Nanming River, with Fuyu Bridge connecting its setting to the banks. The bridge’s Hanbi Pavilion and the nearby Cuiwei Garden turn the tower into a short sequence of waterside architecture…
Read the place guide →
Qingyan Ancient Town · 青岩古镇Qingyan青岩古镇
Qingyan’s old-town visit can be organised around its gates and historic civic buildings. Dingguang Gate and the North Gate mark the fortified settlement, while Wenchang Pavilion and the former residence of Zhao Yijiong provide…
Read the place guide →
The angular facade of Guizhou Provincial Museum, Guanshanhu District, Guiyang · 贵阳市观山湖区贵州省博物馆建筑外观 Source-recorded photograph date: 2021-06-26 13:10:52.Guizhou Provincial Museum贵州省博物馆
Guizhou Provincial Museum’s main historical exhibition follows the province from prehistory through the Qing period. The collection includes bronze drums and an inscribed Ming bronze bell, objects that connect local material…
Read the place guide →
Karst cliffs and a lake at Tianhetan scenic area, Huaxi District, Guiyang · 贵阳花溪区天河潭风景区 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 4 July 2015.Tianhetan天河潭
Tianhetan combines water-filled caves, channels and a waterfall landscape in Guiyang’s Huaxi district. The cascade passes through a narrow rock opening, while the cave route reveals the underground side of the karst terrain…
Read the place guide →
Jiaxiu Pavilion beside the river in Guiyang. Photograph date recorded by the source: 2018-06-10 12:27.Guiyang贵阳
Guiyang’s central landmarks combine the Nanming River with wooded hills and a strong local food culture. Jiaxiu Tower and Fuyu Bridge introduce the riverside city, while Qianling Mountain adds a temple and lake within an urban…
Read the place guide →
Qianling Mountain Park and its urban setting · 黔灵山 Photograph date recorded by the source: 2021-06-25 16:07:06.Qianling Mountain黔灵山
Qianling Mountain brings wooded hills and a lake into the edge of central Guiyang. The winding Nine Turns route leads towards Hongfu Temple, whose decorated halls form the principal cultural stop. Higher paths offer views over…
Read the place guide →
Wenchang Pavilion, a Ming-dynasty tower in Yunyan District, Guiyang · 贵阳文昌阁，位于云岩区的明代楼阁 Source-recorded photograph date: 2021-07-11 16:31:33.Guiyang Wenchang Pavilion贵阳文昌阁
Guiyang’s Wenchang Pavilion stands near the former East Gate, with a roofline that rewards a careful look from below. Its square lower storey changes to nine-sided upper levels, and the repeated roof corners give the building an…
Read the place guide →
Entrance to the Yangming Shrine, Yunyan District, Guiyang · 贵阳市云岩区阳明祠大门 Source-recorded photograph date: 2019-06-25 10:49:45.Yangming Shrine阳明祠
Yangming Shrine sits on the lower slopes of Fufeng Hill and commemorates the philosopher Wang Yangming. Its courtyards and corridors preserve a collection of inscriptions, including portraits and texts associated with Wang and…
Read the place guide →
AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Huaxi Park花溪公园
Huaxi Park is organised around streams, pavilions and tea gardens south of central Guiyang. Its watercourses give the grounds a clear landscape structure, with resting places set among the planting. A short visit works well as a…
Read the place guide →
Guizhou Geological Museum (贵州地质博物馆), Guiyang. Photograph: "贵州省地质博物馆".Guizhou Geological Museum贵州地质博物馆
Guizhou Geology Museum explains the province through fossils, karst landscapes and mineral resources. The entrance hall’s Guanling crinoid fossil slab is a useful first stop: its branching sea-lily forms reveal a marine world…
Read the place guide →
Wenchang Pavilion and Diantai Street · 文昌阁与电台街Wenchang Pavilion and Diantai Street文昌阁与电台街
Wenchangge is a nine-cornered pavilion on the moon wall of the old East Gate of Guiyang, in Yunyan District, and Diantai Street is one of the old lanes near it, beside Wenchang North Road.
Read the place guide →
AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Taoyuan River Gorge桃源河
Taoyuanhe is a gorge scenic area with clear water running through it, inside the Taoyuan ecological tourism resort in Liutun town, Xiuwen County, in the Guiyang municipality of Guizhou.
Read the place guide →
Yangming Culture Park · 阳明文化园Yangming Culture Park阳明文化园
The China Yangming Culture Park is a cultural tourism park in Xiuwen County, in the Guiyang municipality of Guizhou, laid out around the Yangming Cave in the county anciently called Longchang, the post station to which Wang Yangming was demoted in 1508.
Read the place guide →
Qingyun Road Pedestrian Street · 青云路步行街Qingyun Road Pedestrian Street青云路步行街
Qingyun Road is a street in Nanming District of Guiyang, laid out in 1927 and rebuilt between 2019 and 2022 as a pedestrian block of three sections, the food-and-drink section holding an indoor market made out of the old works of the Guiyang knitting factory.
Read the place guide →
Nanjiang Grand Canyon · 南江大峡谷Nanjiang Grand Canyon南江大峡谷
The Nanjiang Grand Canyon is a karst gorge at Longguang village in Kaiyang County, in the Guiyang municipality of Guizhou, and one of the three scenic areas that make up the Kaiyang provincial scenic and historic area.
Read the place guide →
Xifeng Concentration Camp Memorial Hall · 息烽集中营革命历史纪念馆Xifeng Concentration Camp Memorial Hall息烽集中营革命历史纪念馆
The Xifeng Camp Revolutionary History Memorial Museum stands on the site of a secret wartime prison at Yanglangba, 6 km south of the county town of Xifeng in the Guiyang municipality of Guizhou; the site is a national key protected cultural relic.
Read the place guide →
Hongfeng Lake · 红枫湖Hongfeng Lake红枫湖
Karst plateau reservoir on the Maotiao River in Qingzhen, next to Guiyang, impounded from 1960 and listed as a national scenic area in 1988.
Read the place guide →
A leafy wetland park: a still green lake with lily pads and a wooded bank, a red-railed timber bridge crossing at the left, tall reeds and grasses with white flowers in the foreground, and a row of white apartment blocks on the ridge behind.Huaxi Park and Shili Hetan Wetland花溪公园与十里河滩
Huaxi Park is a city park in Huaxi District, Guiyang, strung on the Huaxi river, and the Shili Hetan is one of the features that river links to it; the forestry bureau lists the two separately within the Huaxi provincial scenic and historic area.
Read the place guide →
Gaopo Miao Township · 高坡苗乡Gaopo Miao Township高坡苗乡
Gaopo is a Miao township in Huaxi District, Guiyang; the Huaxi provincial scenic and historic area is divided into four scenic areas, a scenic group and an independent site, and one of the four scenic areas is named Gaopo Yunding.
Read the place guide →
Exterior of the Geological Museum of Guizhou, Guanshanhu District, Guiyang · 贵阳观山湖区贵州省地质博物馆外观 Source-recorded photograph date: 2021-08-24 16:46:18.Guizhou Geological Museum贵州省地质博物馆
Guiyang's provincial geology museum, opened in 2021, with over 100,000 fossils, rocks and minerals and galleries on Guizhou's fossils and karst.
Read the place guide →AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Guanshanhu Park观山湖公园
Guanshanhu Park is the park at the centre of Guanshanhu District in Guiyang, made in 2008 to 2010 out of a former farm and the Guanshan reservoir.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Guiyang City local specialties
贵阳市特色美食 · 23 specialties to discover
Changwang 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 →
Guiyang bean hotpot 贵阳豆米火锅AI illustration · AI 示意图
The broth is mellow and earthy, while chili dipping sauces provide sharper, spicy contrast. Added ingredients take up the bean flavor as cooking continues.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Guiyang 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 →
Guiyang 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 →
Guiyang 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 →
Huaxi beef rice noodles 花溪牛肉粉AI illustration · AI 示意图
The noodles are smooth and resilient, with savory beef stock and a fragrant finish from the toppings. Different beef cuts add tenderness or a firmer chew.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Lovers tofu pockets 贵阳恋爱豆腐果AI illustration · AI 示意图
A lightly browned surface contrasts with tender tofu and a sharp, spicy filling. Fish mint may add a particularly distinctive aroma.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Qingyan 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 →All dish names · 全部菜名 (23)
- Changwang noodles · 肠旺面
- Guiyang bean hotpot · 贵阳豆米火锅
- Guiyang chili chicken · 贵阳辣子鸡
- Guiyang sticky-rice breakfast · 贵阳糯米饭
- Guiyang tofu balls · 贵阳豆腐圆子
- Huaxi beef rice noodles · 花溪牛肉粉
- Lovers tofu pockets · 贵阳恋爱豆腐果
- Qingyan braised pork trotter · 青岩状元蹄
- Qingyan rice cake in sweet porridge · 青岩糕粑稀饭
- Siwawa vegetable wraps · 丝娃娃
- Guiyang crisp aromatic duck · 贵阳香酥鸭
- Guiyang pan-fried potato cakes · 贵阳洋芋粑
- Qingyan Braised Pig Trotters · 青岩猪脚
- Pan-Fried Potato Cakes · 洋芋粑
- Glutinous Rice Cakes in Sweet Congee · 糕粑稀饭
- Sour-soup fish · 酸汤鱼
- Chili Chicken · 辣子鸡
- Fish Mint Root Salad · 折耳根拌菜
- Sticky Rice · 糯米饭
- Bingjiang · 冰浆
- Guailu Mixed Fried Rice · 怪噜饭
- Bean Hot Pot · 豆米火锅
- Tabletop Griddle Barbecue · 烙锅
More dishes from across Guizhou are in the Guizhou food guide.
Counties & districts in Guiyang City
10 areas belong directly to Guiyang City.
10 areas
Nanming District 南明区
Nanming District is one of 6 urban districts of the prefecture-level city of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, Southwest China.
Explore the area →DistrictYunyan District 云岩区
Yunyan District (simplified Chinese: 云岩区; traditional Chinese: 雲岩區; pinyin: Yúnyán Qū) is one of 6 urban districts of the prefecture-level city of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictHuaxi District 花溪区
Huaxi District is one of 6 urban districts of the prefecture-level city of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, Southwest China. It has a resort and a national minority cultural center.
Explore the area →DistrictWudang District 乌当区
Wudang District (simplified Chinese: 乌当区; traditional Chinese: 烏當區; pinyin: Wūdāng Qū) is one of 6 urban districts of the prefecture-level city of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, Southwest China.
Explore the area →Show fewer areas
Baiyun District 白云区
Baiyun District (simplified Chinese: 白云区; traditional Chinese: 白雲區; pinyin: Báiyún Qū) is one of six urban districts of the prefecture-level city of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictGuanshanhu District 观山湖区
Guanshanhu District (simplified Chinese: 观山湖区; traditional Chinese: 觀山湖區; pinyin: Guānshānhú Qū; lit. 'Guanshan Lake District'), formerly the Jinyang New Area (JYND; simplified Chinese: 金阳新区; traditional…
Explore the area →CountyKaiyang County 开阳县
Kaiyang County (simplified Chinese: 开阳县; traditional Chinese: 開陽縣; pinyin: Kāiyáng Xiàn) is a county of central Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of Guiyang City.
Explore the area →CountyXifeng County 息烽县
Xifeng is a county with 250,000 inhabitants under the administration of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China.
Explore the area →CountyXiuwen County 修文县
Xiuwen County (simplified Chinese: 修文县; traditional Chinese: 修文縣; pinyin: Xiūwén Xiàn) is a county in central Guizhou province, China.
Explore the area →County-level cityQingzhen City 清镇市
The term Qingzhen can also refer to Chinese Muslims, Chinese Islamic cuisine or the Hui ethnic group.
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 贵阳市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Qianling Park and Jiaxiu Tower are about 4 km apart in a straight line. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Guizhou →More in Guizhou
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Some facts checked against 贵阳市 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Some facts checked against 甲秀楼 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Some facts checked against 阳明洞 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Qianling Park · 維基小霸王 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.
Photo: Jiaxiu Tower · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Photo: Qingyan · Harry Alverson · CC BY-SA 2.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.
Photo: Guizhou Provincial Museum · 維基小霸王 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Tianhetan · rheins · CC BY 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Guiyang · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Qianling Mountain · 維基小霸王 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Guiyang Wenchang Pavilion · Buernia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Yangming Shrine · Augustohai · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Guizhou Geological Museum · Buernia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; EXIF orientation normalized, proportionally resized to at most 800 pixels and converted to WebP. No generated pixels or subject changes. Cards may crop the display.
Photo: Wenchang Pavilion and Diantai Street · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Yangming Culture Park · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Qingyun Road Pedestrian Street · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Nanjiang Grand Canyon · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Xifeng Concentration Camp Memorial Hall · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Hongfeng Lake · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Huaxi Park and Shili Hetan Wetland · rheins · CC BY 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Gaopo Miao Township · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Guizhou Geological Museum · Buernia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.