A cool, green provincial capital and gateway to Guizhou's ethnic villages.
Guiyang is the easy-going capital of Guizhou, one of China's coolest provinces — literally, with comfortable summers that earned it the name 'the province of cool'. It is the launch pad to Miao and Dong villages, karst parks and the province's famous sour cuisine.
The city itself is green and hilly, with a riverside old town and the well-preserved stone fort of Qingyan nearby.
Here are the highlights worth your time in Guiyang.
A hillside park with wild macaques and a hilltop temple.
Tickets ¥5A Ming river pavilion, the city's symbol.
FreeA stone walled town with Ming-Qing forts and snacks.
Tickets ¥10The new lakeside district and city square.
FreeA small riverside garden by Jiaxiu Tower.
FreeA large urban forest for hiking.
FreeGuiyang has its own kitchen — here are the dishes to try.
Fish in a tangy tomato-fermented broth — Guizhou's signature.
Noodles with blood and intestine in chili oil.
Thin wraps rolled around shredded veg — 'baby in silk'.
Beef rice-noodle soup from the Huaxi district.
Fried tofu puffs with dips.
Jiaxiu Tower lit on the Nanming River.
Endless street-food alleys.
Breweries and bars in the new district.
High-speed from Guiyang North to most of China.
Guiyang Longdongbao (KWE) is international.
Lines 1–3, bilingual, growing.
Works with foreign cards.
To Qingyan and the parks.
Where you stay shapes the trip. Three good bases:
By Jiaxiu Tower.
Modern hotels by the lake.
Stay in the old stone town.
Ethnic-culture travellers, foodies, backpackers.
