# Guiyang travel guide (贵阳) Guizhou Province · Southwest, China · 11 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/guizhou/guiyang ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Qianling Hill → Jiaxiu Tower → Huaxi Park → Tianhe Pool - **Day 2:** Lovers' Valley → Xiangzhigou - **Day 3:** Nanjiang Grand Canyon → Xianghuo Rock - **Day 4:** Hongfeng Lake → Qingyan Ancient Town ## The feel of the place - **Mountains Everywhere:** This is probably the most direct description of the city: from almost any unobstructed angle, you can see mountains. Even within the urban area, apart from the flatter south gate direction, the other three directions all slope, and the farther you go from the centre, the more common this becomes. Further out, you soon hit winding mountain roads. - **Humid:** Even in the hottest season, you’ll feel the humidity keenly in Guiyang. Summer nights bring frequent rain, and the temperature drops as soon as it rains. As for winter, the persistent drizzle leaves the whole city as languid as a Song dynasty ci poem. - **Chilli:** Perhaps because of the damp climate, Guiyang people are very fond of chilli, and the ways of preparing and eating it are truly masterful. Some preparations can even be served as a dish in their own right, not just as a seasoning. - **Street Snacks:** When the snacks of neighbouring cities have already become formal dishes at banquets, Guiyang’s snacks have spread across open-air street stalls, forming rows and markets, and constantly evolving with new creations. - **Spending Ahead:** It’s hard to associate this phrase with a mountainous province, yet things often turn out surprisingly. “Even with just ¥10 in your pocket, you’ll take a taxi”: it is precisely this willingness to spend that has created the city’s bustling shopping crowds and its dazzling, glittering extravagance. ## The feel of the place ### Beware the “free photo” trap Qianling Hill in Guiyang and Zhijin Cave in Zhijin County offer “free photo” services, but these only provide wallet-size photos. Printing a 6-inch or larger photo costs extra. ### Navigation Self-drive travellers should be aware that city traffic is poor, congestion is serious and road signs are unclear, so it is best to use a navigation app. ### Preparation and Enquiries ### Language The Guiyang dialect belongs to the Northern (Mandarin) dialect family, and to outsiders it sounds very similar to Sichuanese and Yunnanese. Most Guiyang people can speak “Guiyang Mandarin,” so asking for directions and general communication are usually no problem. ### Climate and Travel Seasons Guiyang has a pleasant climate. Located in the subtropics, it has an annual average temperature of 15.4°C. Winters are not bitterly cold and summers are not scorching, so the city is cool in summer and mild in winter, earning it the nickname “Second Spring City.” Rainfall is abundant throughout the year, but it mostly falls at night, so daytime sightseeing is rarely affected. March and April are a good time to catch many traditional Miao festivals in Guizhou. Guiyang is known as “China's Summer Resort Capital,” so it is an ideal place to escape the summer heat. ### Festivals Guizhou is home to many ethnic groups living side by side. The local saying “Every three li brings a different wind, every five li a different custom; big festivals come every three or six days, and small ones happen every day” vividly captures the colourful ethnic culture of Guizhou's minority peoples. The Miao have the most festival activities. These include the Dragon Lantern Festival, held on the 14th and 15th days of the first lunar month; the Tiaochang, held on the 9th day of the first lunar month; the Tiaohua, held on the 15th day of the second lunar month, whose main content is antiphonal singing and lusheng reed-pipe dancing; and the Dragon Boat Festival, held from the 24th to the 27th day of the fifth lunar month. Other ethnic groups also have their own events. The Dong hold “Taiguanren” (“Carrying the Official”) activities on the 3rd and 4th days of the first lunar month, featuring Dong opera and Caitangtang (stepping-on-the-hall singing) performances. The Shui hold their Duanjie festival at the end of the ninth lunar month, among others. These events carry strong ethnic character, and anyone who has taken part will surely feel the exotic charm of the minority cultures. ### Be Cautious with Taxis For sights around Guiyang, we advise against taking taxis, as some drivers overcharge. Minibuses run to Huaxi and Qingyan. ### Fare to the Airport The airport shuttle bus departs from the area near the CAAC ticket office at the junction of Zunyi Road (遵义路) and Qingyun Road (青云路) in the city, and from outside the terminal building at the airport. The route is Airport — Hebin Park (河滨公园) — Sports Arena (体育馆) — CAAC ticket office. The fare is ¥10. A taxi from the urban area to the airport usually costs around ¥50, including expressway tolls. Alternatively, you can take a city bus from the railway station, Youzha Street (油榨街) or Hebin Park to the airport road junction, then walk the rest of the way. ### Ride Licensed Coaches Out-of-town visitors are best advised to take coaches run by licensed bus companies, to avoid private minibuses that touts passengers, grab customers or overcharge. ### Taxis Don't Use the Meter Although the authorities have cracked down hard, out of habit Guiyang taxi drivers still often don't use the meter. Trips that stay within the urban area usually cost ¥10, but after 22:00 the fare rises to ¥11. For long journeys to other places, it is best to agree on a price with the driver before getting in. - tip: “Rent” a Driver Guizhou's mountain roads are famously “eighteen bends,” with steep slopes and tight turns. If self-drive travellers are not very confident in their driving skills, they can “rent” a driver. ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out Guiyang is an inland city surrounded by mountains, so the main ways to get in and out are by air, rail and road. ### Air Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport is located on the eastern outskirts of Guiyang, just 10 km from the city centre. It has flights to major cities across China, as well as to Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan, and to international destinations such as Bangkok in Thailand and Seoul in South Korea. ### Rail Guiyang Railway Station is at 119 Zunyi Road. Direct trains run between Guiyang and Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Zhanjiang and Zunyi. Within the province, tourist trains have also been launched: Guiyang → Liupanshui (Huangguoshu), Guiyang → Yuping (Fanjingshan) and Guiyang → Duyun (Libo Xiaoqikong). Passenger trains also run between Guiyang and Tongzi, Kaili and Duyun. ### Road The Guiyang–Tongren Expressway is now open along its full length, so access in and out is very convenient. From Guiyang, direct coaches run to most places in the province. ### Long-distance bus stations and destinations ### Getting Around the City Guiyang has more than 30 urban bus routes, operating from 6:00 until late at night, with fares of ¥1–3. There are more than 20 suburban routes, running from 6:30 to 19:00, with a few lines running until 21:00. Several routes also serve the outskirts of the city, so getting around is quite convenient. ### Urban Rail Transit Lines 1, 2 and 3 are already built and in operation. - **Longdongbao International Airport** — - **Railway Station Bus Lines** — - **Jinyang Bus Station** — (Jinyang South Road, Yunyan District) - **Guiyang East Bus Station** — (No. 32 Yan'an West Road) ## Eat & drink Although Guizhou has no distinct cuisine of its own, its food absorbs influences from many regions. Whatever cuisine arrives in Guiyang takes on a "Guiyang character". Overall, the flavours are fairly close to Sichuan and Hunan cuisine, though the specific numbing and spicy notes differ. ### Recommended Food Streets Eating, drinking and having fun often go hand in hand, so there is no need to worry about food. ### Numbing and Spicy Flavours Guiyang's cuisine is known for its "numbing" (má) and "spicy" (là) character. The two are clearly distinguished in Guiyang, and they use different ingredients. Numbing flavour comes from a blend of several spices, while spiciness is mainly extracted from chilli. Savouring the numbing and spicy flavours of Guizhou while sipping a little local Maotai is truly a pleasure. ### Dingguan City The best is sour soup fish, with Jiang Huang fish being the finest. ### Yanglang Chicken 1. The Yanglang chicken on Caijia Street is good, but Tangji Restaurant stands out a little. 2. Though it is the supreme among spicy dishes, if your stomach is delicate, think twice. Of course, visiting Guizhou without a proper taste of spiciness is hard to justify. In fact, you may not feel the heat at first; it builds the more you eat, and the hotter it gets, the more you crave it. 3. Chicken blood can be eaten raw or cooked in hotpot; be sure to tell the restaurant in advance. ### Local Snacks Guiyang's local snacks are wonderfully varied, with over 100 traditional varieties. Examples include Huaxi Wang's beef noodles, Changwang noodles, liangfen (cold jelly), wan'er gao, Lei family tofu yuanzi, silk-wrapped rolls, posu bao (crispy buns), lotus leaf ciba, huang ba, yangyu ba ba, lian'ai tofu... ### Changwang Noodles Ordering a small dish of pickles with your Changwang noodles makes them taste even better; the restaurant provides it free of charge. ### Arrive Early for a Seat Diners concentrate at these places, so go early to grab a seat, ideally with a few companions. Otherwise, you may find yourself eating with five or six people standing behind you waiting for a seat, which is hard to ignore. ### Shaanxi Road Snack stalls line the street, much like those on Hezuo Qun Road. ### Be Careful at Night Markets 1. When shopping at night markets, check items carefully. Do not let the joy of low prices cloud your judgement; you may easily end up with defective goods. 2. Even if you don't buy anything, strolling the streets to admire the many beautiful women is a feast for the eyes. ### Bar-Going Tips Be especially careful when going to bars. Avoid small or secluded venues where possible. Guiyang's police respond quickly, so call 110 if you run into any trouble. ### Good Places for Tea Guiyang has plenty of good tea houses. Besides Yangming Shrine and Jinshuilou Tower, there are Jiaxiu Tower, Wenchang Pavilion, Dade School, Sanyuan Palace and Qianming Temple. Wandering around the city, you will find many good places to brew a pot of tea, whether for conversation or a game of chess. CC PARK A commercial district often called the “Venice of Guiyang.” White arcades and columns, and a ceiling of deep blue sky and white clouds, make it look almost exactly like Venice! - address: No. 155 Lincheng East Road, Guanshanhu District - transport: Near Yangjiawan (bus stop) - **Hequn Road** — A famous night market food street. The food stalls along the whole street are both cheap and relaxed. Trading runs from early evening until midnight, and the most common stalls are barbecue grills. Anything that can be grilled is available, including chicken skin, fresh fish, chicken offal and vegetables. Sour-and-spicy rice noodle stalls also draw the biggest crowds. - **Qianling West Road** — Right next to Hequn Road, Qianling West Road is where the food is most concentrated. Malatang, hot pot and home-style restaurants draw locals here. Good value and friendly service make it popular with office workers. Try the home-style dishes at Siheyuan, and the pig trotter hot pot at Daying Po. - **Xinhua Road** — Many of Guiyang's best-known restaurant brands are found along this road. Most of the restaurants along the street have stylish, distinctive interiors, and the food is excellent. Prices are a little higher than at ordinary eateries: a meal for three or four people costs about ¥200–300. - **Qingyun Road** — One of Guiyang's best-known night food streets. Lining both sides of the road are famous spots such as Liuyishou Grilled Fish, Adu Stir-Fried Crab, Spicy Chicken, cured meat, sour soup fish, bean and rice hot pot, and Wang's Dessert. - **Laokaili Sour Soup Fish** — If you visit Guiyang, sour soup fish is a must, and Laokaili is the best choice. Its sour soup fish is distinctive: the fish is tender, the broth is tangy and fragrant, and it has a little heat. The restaurant also serves Miao-style Jing Mi rice wine. (Xingye Street Colorful Guizhou Scenic Eye Creative Park, 0851-85841116) - **Jinbixuan (Qingyan Branch)** — You will see it as soon as you pass the gate into Qingyan Ancient Town. It is always busy and serves many Qingyan snacks. The braised pig trotters are particularly recommended. (No. 57 Beiming Qing Street, 13595101689) - **Jinpai Luo Ji Changwang Noodles** — Guiyang has many places serving changwang noodles, but this one has the longest queue outside. Changwang noodles have a long history in Guiyang. As the name suggests, they are noodles topped with pork intestines and pig blood. What matters most is how the noodles are made. The traditional version uses hand-rolled egg noodles, which never turn soggy no matter how long they cook, and have a satisfying chew. (Caijia Street, Yunyan District, 13885018029) - **Qian Uncle's Open-Air Eatery** — Despite the name “open-air eatery,” the environment is very clean and hygienic. Be sure to try Guiyang spicy chicken. Unlike the dry, fragrant version from Sichuan and Chongqing, Guiyang spicy chicken has a silky, tender texture that feels quite different. Glutinous rice sausage and spicy fried fish are also worth trying. (B2, Taixiang International, No. 186 Fushui South Road, 17308516662) ## Nightlife Guiyang has a lively nightlife, so there is no need to worry about nights being dull when you visit. ### Night Markets For Guiyang residents, night markets are the main evening activity. From 18:30 onward, as long as it is not pouring with rain, market stalls gradually set up along the pavements of the main streets. The most prominent are the food night market on Hequn Road and the department store night market on Yan'an Middle Road. ### Bars and Nightlife Some people say Guiyang's nightlife starts at 21:00. The city has more than ten cinemas, as well as many bowling alleys, entertainment centres, nightclubs, bars and cafés, all popular with young people. Most bars are concentrated around Shaanxi Road, Hequn Road, Beijing Road and the South Gate area. Muse The décor here has real style, the atmosphere is good, and it is a great place for young people to unwind. - address: Room 1, Laonian University, Hedong Road, Dashizi Square ### Tea Houses Tea houses have become popular in recent years. Most have tranquil settings, and in addition to fragrant tea, many offer folk performances. The most famous is undoubtedly Yangming Shrine at the foot of Fufeng Hill. - **Hequn Road Snack Street** — Food stalls line both sides of the street's sidewalks, offering everything from grilled skewers and clay-pot dishes to home-style stir-fries, desserts and local snacks. - **Shaanxi Road Bar Street** — Guiyang's densest concentration of nightlife, with several nightclubs, coffee bars, pubs and tea bars. Shangri-La is a popular bar with young people, and Zuori Chongxian is a well-known café with a nice atmosphere. (Shaanxi Road) - **Jinshui Lou** — The name comes from the proverb "the pavilion by the water catches the moon first." It's a great place to drink kung fu tea and watch a Taiwanese tea ceremony. Sitting by the water, you may feel as if you've returned to the old Qinhuai River of the past. (Next to Jiaxiu Tower, Dananmen) - **Yangming Shrine** — Moonlit evenings are the best time for tea here. Traditional architecture, the sound of the guzheng and pipa, and a cup of fine tea make for a perfect evening. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Osmanthus Hall fills with fragrance, and gazing at the bright moon while asking "When will the moon be bright?" is a real treat. Prices are naturally on the high side. (No. 13 Luosishan Road, Yunyan District) ## Shopping Guiyang's commercial center is concentrated on Zhonghua Road, especially Zhonghua Middle Road and Zhonghua South Road, the busiest stretch in the city. Large and medium-sized department stores, along with specialty shops selling clothing, shoes and jewelry, line the street, offering a dazzling array of choices. ### Recommended Shopping ### Local Specialties Guiyang has many crafts and local specialties with distinctive ethnic character. Among the most famous are dried beef, chili peppers, wooden art pieces, medicinal herbs, Miao silver and totem masks. Most of these specialty shops are concentrated along Beijing Road. Embroidery and cut-thread work are traditional ethnic crafts of Guiyang. Shops on Beijing Road carry many handmade embroidered pieces as well as a large number of batik products, many sourced from places such as Anshun. Prices range from a few yuan to several hundred yuan. Be sure to bargain when shopping. ### Browsing the Flower and Bird Market Weekends are the traditional market days at the Flower and Bird Market. It is crowded, but the selection is richer than on weekdays, and identical items are much cheaper than elsewhere. However, fossilized sea lilies and antique wooden doors and windows are hard to bargain down. If you're lucky, you can find good batik and embroidery at reasonable prices. Overall, it offers better value than the specialty Guizhou craft shops in the city center, so visitors wanting Guizhou specialties should not miss it. - **Shixi Commercial Street** — The province's largest wholesale market and distribution hub for small commodities. Products span high-, mid- and low-end ranges. If you don't mind crowds, you can find just about anything here, and it saves both money and effort. - **Flower and Bird Market** — Sells ornamental flowers and birds, unusual stones, antiques and calligraphy (some hard to tell real from fake), herbal medicines said to cure stubborn ailments, old wooden doors and windows from historic buildings, Miao embroidery and batik with Guizhou character, Nuo opera masks, and pets such as cats and dogs. (Guigang Li, Youzha Street) - **Dade Academy** — Located in the bustling city center, it houses a bookstore and a teahouse, making it an ideal place to rest after a day of shopping. - **Sisyphe Bookstore (Hengfeng Branch)** — Located next to the Provincial Department of Education on Zhongshan West Road, this is one of Guiyang's best-known bookstores. ## Where to stay Guiyang offers better accommodation than most other parts of the province, with a larger number of star-rated hotels. However, not all of them live up to their star ratings. Budget guesthouses and privately run inns cluster around the railway station and long-distance bus station. They are cheap, but safety at these private inns cannot be guaranteed. Large-scale redevelopment of the old city is also steadily reducing the number of such small hotels and guesthouses. - tip: Limited accommodation at scenic areas In general, you cannot travel from central Guiyang to the nearby scenic spots and return the same day. Accommodation within the scenic areas is relatively basic, mostly guesthouses. It is recommended that you stay in nearby small and medium-sized towns, where conditions are likely to be better. An artist uses cold wax batik to paint floral patterns on white silk canvas stretched over a wooden frame. ## Things to see - **Jiaxiu Tower** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Jiaxiu Tower (9:00–17:00); Cuiwei Garden (9:00–17:00); Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiaxiu-tower - **Qianling Mountain Park** (★★★★): Admission Admission ¥5 (an extra ¥2 for Hongfu Temple); cable car: ¥20 per person one way, ¥30 per person return; Opening hours 7：00—22：00; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qianling-mountain-park - **Qingyan Ancient Town** (★★★★): Admission ¥10; combined pass ¥60; Opening hours The old town can be visited in the evening, but please take care of your personal safety; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qingyan-ancient-town - **Tianhetan Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission Entrance ¥10; boat ticket ¥43; combined pass ¥50 (includes entrance and boat); round-trip electric cart ¥15; Opening hours 8：30—18：00; Time needed 4–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tianhetan-scenic-area - **Hongfeng Lake National Wetland Park** (★★★): Admission ¥40 (March–October), ¥30 (November–February); Shangdong Village drum tower: ¥5; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/hongfeng-lake-national-wetland-park - **Nanjiang Grand Canyon** (★★★★): Admission Peak season ¥58, off-season ¥50; leisure rafting ¥168; thrill rafting ¥188; sightseeing shuttle ¥20; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nanjiang-grand-canyon - **Xiangzhigou** (★★★★): Admission ¥10; Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 6 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xiangzhigou - **Huaxi Park** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 9：00—17：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/huaxi-park - **Lovers' Valley** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lovers-valley - **Guizhou Provincial Museum** (★★★): Opening hours 9:00–17:00 (closed Mondays); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/guizhou-provincial-museum - **Yelang Valley** (★★★): Admission ¥20; Opening hours 8:30–19:00 (winter hours); 8:30–19:30 (summer hours); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yelang-valley --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 456–477. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.