Western Guizhou travel guide
贵州西线
Western Guizhou travel guide with a day by day itinerary, 12 places with tickets and opening hours, where to eat and stay, and how to get there.
12 places · In the guidebook: pages 478–488
Western Guizhou, Guizhou Province · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Western Guizhou in 3 days
- Day 1
- Huangguoshu Waterfall→
- Tianxingqiao (overnight in Huangguoshu)
- Day 2
- Gaodang Village→
- Longgong (Dragon Palace)→
- Tianlong Tunpu→
- Zhijin County (overnight in Zhijin County)
- Day 3
- Zhijin Cave→
- Malinghe Canyon
The feel of the place
Known as the “Pearl Tour,” the western route is Guizhou's golden itinerary. Huangguoshu Waterfall, the largest waterfall in China, draws huge crowds and has become the province's emblematic attraction. The waterfall cluster at Tianxingqiao nicely complements Huangguoshu's solitary grandeur. Longgong and Zhijin Cave are both limestone caves, yet each has its own distinctive character, and neither should be overlooked.
Things to see
To photograph Huangguoshu Waterfall, be sure to go down to the edge of Xiniu Pool (Rhino Pool). The scenery, angle and light there are ideal. Do not jostle with large crowds on the path to Shuilian Cave for the shot, since the angles and results are poor there. Other good vantage points include: Guanpu Pavilion (Waterfall Viewing Pavilion), which offers a panoramic view of the waterfall; beside the three-character “Shuilian Dong” (Water Curtain Cave) stone tablet, where skilled photographers can capture a double rainbow (the refraction zone is in the morning); and Wangshui Pavilion, which gives a bird's-eye view of the waterfall plunging down in full force.
Huangguoshu Waterfall
0.5–1 day · ¥160 (peak season), ¥150 (off-season); includes the Great Waterfall, Tianxing Bridge and Doupo Pond; excludes sightseeing shuttle fare
Xu Xiake, the famous traveler and geographer, could not help but exclaim: “‘A pearl curtain that never rolls up, a silk ribbon hanging from distant peaks’ are not enough to describe its grandeur. There are waterfalls several times taller, but never one this broad and vast.” With its majestic, thundering momentum, Huangguoshu Falls was selected by the China National Geography magazine as one of China's six most beautiful waterfalls. However, due to a shortage of water, the spectacular sight of river water crashing down with tremendous force has become increasingly rare. Huangguoshu Falls stands 74 meters high and 81 meters wide, making it the largest waterfall in China and one of the most spectacular in the world. Hidden behind the falls, halfway up the cliff, is Water Curtain Cave, a marvel of nature. Inside the cave, the waterfall is close enough to touch, and its thrilling power is easy to imagine. Rhinoceros Pool is where the great waterfall lands; it is rarely calm, and sunlight through the spray creates rings of rainbows that dazzle the eye.
Dragon Palace Scenic Area
3–4 hours · ¥119 (ticket + sightseeing shuttle + boat ticket + upward escalator + insurance)
The Longgong area has the highest concentration of water and dry karst caves in the world. The central scenic area is dotted with more than 90 water and dry caves of all sizes, a feat recognized by Guinness World Records. Many more beautiful caves have yet to be developed. Thanks to its long cave passages, the tallest waterfall inside a cave, and extremely low natural radiation, the Dragon Palace is known as the “Three Bests of Chinese Caves.” Xuantang on the southern edge of the scenic area is celebrated as the “Three Wonders of Chinese Water,” renowned for its whirling waters, numerous short rivers, and the vast Buddhist hall inside the cave.
Jiuzhou Ancient Town and Flower Fields
“Lost in a dream, I find myself in Jiuzhou.” Jiuzhou Ancient Town has a long history and is one of the Ten Ancient Towns of Guizhou. Its costumes, folk customs, Di Opera, and numerous Ming and Qing dynasty buildings are sure to captivate visitors. Beyond enjoying the Dielianhua and rapeseed flower seas during the blooming season, you can also sample the local free-range chicken and fermented tofu.
2–3 hours · Jiuzhou Ancient Town is free to enter. Shanli Jiangnan Scenic Area costs ¥100 and includes the Dielianhua Flower Sea and Xingfu Flower Field.
Pingba Ten-Thousand-Mu Cherry Blossom Garden
Located on the shores of Hongfeng Lake, the “Pearl of the Plateau,” the garden covers more than 24,000 mu (about 1,600 hectares) and contains over 700,000 prized cherry trees. Straddling the cities of Guiyang and Anshun, it is often called “one of the most beautiful cherry blossom gardens on the Blue Planet.”
2–4 hours · Free
Gaodang Buyi Village
The village retains its authentic stone-and-timber stilt houses, stone-slab dwellings, and village gates. Its population is mainly from the Yang and Wu clans. Because the village has long upheld the value of scholarship, it has produced many learned people over the centuries.
0.5–1 day · Free
Tianlong Tunpu Scenic Area
Tianlong Tunpu is a military garrison village established during the Ming dynasty. Its villagers have faithfully kept the Han Chinese customs passed down through the generations, preserving the spirit of the Ming era. Their language, costumes, residential architecture and forms of entertainment are markedly different from those of the surrounding ethnic minority villages. The buildings here are all built of stone, giving the village a distinctly military character. At the Martial Arts Hall, you can catch the unique Di Opera (地戏) performance, which dramatizes heroic tales of serving the nation and defeating enemies.
¥30
Yunman Lake International Leisure Resort
A multi-purpose resort with a Swiss flavor, featuring beaches and lakes, castles and attic-style lofts, and a wide range of amusement facilities. It feels like a peaceful, carefree fairy-tale world and is an ideal destination for family holidays.
¥60
Getting there & around
Getting there and away
By air
Anshun Huangguoshu Airport has direct flights to Beijing, Jinan, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Kunming, Lijiang, Xishuangbanna and Guangzhou.
By rail
Trains between Kunming and Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou all stop at Anshun. Take a train to Anshun, then transfer to a dedicated tourist shuttle bus to Huangguoshu, a journey of about 40 minutes. The “Huangguoshu” tourist train runs daily between Guiyang and Anshun. Anshun Huochezhan (安顺火车站, Anshun Railway Station) is on Zhonghua South Road, very close to Anshun South Bus Station.
By road
Take a long-distance bus to Anshun from the long-distance bus station opposite Guiyang Railway Station, or take the one-day Huangguoshu–Tianxingqiao–Miao Village tour bus from the Guiyang Tourism Passenger Transport Centre beside Qianling Mountain Park. Anshun South Bus Station, Anshun West Bus Station and the square in front of Anshun Railway Station all have dedicated shuttle buses to Huangguoshu and Longgong.
Anshun Huangguoshu Airport
Anshun Huangguoshu Airport- Phone:
- 0851-33383098/33383000
Anshun Huochezhan (安顺火车站, Anshun Railway Station)
Anshun Huochezhan (安顺火车站, Anshun Railway Station)- Address:
- Zhonghua South Road, Xixiu District, Anshun City
Anshun Qiche Keyun Dong Zhan (安顺汽车客运东站, Anshun East Bus Station)
Anshun Qiche Keyun Dong Zhan (安顺汽车客运东站, Anshun East Bus Station)- Address:
- At the junction of Huangguoshu Avenue and Industrial Avenue
Anshun Qiche Keyun Xi Zhan (安顺汽车客运西站, Anshun West Bus Station)
Anshun Qiche Keyun Xi Zhan (安顺汽车客运西站, Anshun West Bus Station)- Address:
- Zhonghua South Road, Xixiu District
Where to stay
If you are not in a hurry, consider staying in central Anshun, which offers good value for money. If you do not require high standards, you can also stay at a farmhouse guesthouse near the scenic area; some have rooftop terraces with views.
Shopping
Anshun Sandao (Three Knives), batik, Nuo opera masks, Buyi rugs and Bobo candy from Zhenning are all well-known specialties of Guizhou.
Day trips & beyond
Zhijin Cave
China National Geography magazine once described Zhijin Cave this way: “If you only visit one cave in your lifetime, it should be Zhijin Cave.” Known as “the nation’s No. 1 underground art treasury” and “the world’s unrivaled karst museum,” Zhijin Cave is celebrated for its size, its wonders, and its completeness. Its interior contains more than 40 types of karst formations, and treasures such as the Silver Rain Tree, Overlord Helmet, Hundred-Foot Curtain, and Curled Stone are the cave’s crown jewels. It encompasses every type of cave found around the world, and is currently the most original and complete giant cave discovered anywhere on Earth.
3 hours
Baili Azalea Scenic Area
Baili Azalea Scenic Area is the largest primeval azalea forest in China to date, and is known as the “Ribbon of the Earth” and “Garden of the World.” Within the scenic area, azaleas of many colors compete for attention, including Rhododendron delavayi, Rhododendron pachytrichum, and Rhododendron irroratum.
Hiking & Outdoors · Photography · Nature
Maling River Canyon Scenic Area
Multiple waterfalls rush through the canyon, bamboo hangs downward, and caves connect one to another, while ancient trees and famous old specimens dot the banks on both sides. Steep cliffs face each other across a deep, secluded river valley. Known for its grandeur, strangeness, danger, and beauty, it has earned the title “the most beautiful scar on Earth.”
2–3 hours
Wumeng Grassland
With an average temperature of 11.1°C and cool weather, Wumeng Grassland is an excellent place to escape the summer heat. It is a rare plateau grassland in Guizhou. It lacks the gentleness of lowland grasslands but offers a more rugged, primal beauty. Attractions include the ten-thousand-mu grassland pastures on the slopes, the ten-thousand-mu dwarf azalea forest, the Shahe Longtan Cave, Tianshengqiao (Natural Bridge), the Gesuo River Canyon, and the Dachushui Cave.
0.5–1 day
Getu River Scenic Area
Combining the essence of karst landscapes, mountains, water, caves, stones, and forests, Getu River Scenic Area unites grandeur, strangeness, danger, steepness, seclusion, and antiquity into one perfect scenic picture. It is a rare karst natural park. Being both a Chinese natural and cultural World Heritage Site, it is home to the captivating Yalu King culture, and is where the national intangible cultural heritage “Yalu King: Epic of the Miao People” was discovered.
Photography · Nature
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 478–488. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version