Guiyang

About Guiyang

Guiyang is the gateway to Guizhou, a province of karst mountains, waterfalls and minority villages, and the city itself sits in a green bowl of hills at more than 1,000 metres. The altitude keeps summers mild, which draws visitors escaping the heat elsewhere in China. Around six million people live in the wider city.

Its best-loved landmark is Jiaxiu Pavilion, a Ming-dynasty tower standing in the Nanming River, while Qianling Park in the middle of town shelters a Buddhist temple, forest trails and troops of macaques. On the southern edge, the old garrison town of Qingyan keeps its stone gates, temples and a church. Guizhou is home to many Miao, Bouyei and Dong people, whose crafts and festivals fill the provincial museum.

The city is known for sour and spicy food, from sour fish soup to rice noodles and late-night barbecue. Fast trains reach Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing and Kunming, and Longdongbao International Airport links it with the rest of China. It is the natural base for trips to Huangguoshu Waterfall and the villages of eastern Guizhou.