# Southern Guizhou travel guide (贵州南线)

Guizhou Province · Southwest, China · 6 places
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/guizhou/southern-guizhou

## Quick itinerary

- **Day 1:** Libo County → Shuichunhe Canyon → Xiaoqikong → Daqikong → Libo County (overnight)
- **Day 2:** Libo County → Maolan Karst Primeval Forest
- **Day 3:** Libo County → Pingtang China Sky Eye (FAST)

## The feel of the place

Here you will find the Maolan Karst forest, a primeval ecosystem unmatched anywhere else at the same latitude in the world. It is a perfect blend of rugged, varied karst landscapes and a fresh, graceful forest world. The saying “Forest above, forest below in the caves, trees growing on rock, roots coiled in the cliffs” aptly describes the Zhangjiang scenic area of Libo. In Sandu, visitors can experience the long history of the Shui ethnic villages.


## Getting there & around

### By rail

Trains from Guiyang bound for Zhanjiang, Nanning and Liuzhou all stop at Duyun, from where you can continue by bus to Xiaoqikong. Frequent high-speed trains run daily from Guiyang to Duyun, the capital of the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, in about 40 minutes.

### By road

Take a bus from Guiyang to Xinzhai, alighting at Mawei Xia (about 3.5 hours), then transfer to a bus to Xiaoqikong, a journey of about 1.5 hours.

The drive from Xiaoqikong to Daqikong takes about 30 minutes. From Daqikong to Libo takes about 2 hours, and from Libo you continue to the Zhangjiang River.

- **Duyun Qichezhan (都匀汽车站, Duyun Bus Station)** —  (Jianjiang North Road, Duyun City, 0854-8330231)
- **Duyun Nan Zhan (都匀南站, Duyun South Station)** —  (No. 103 Jianjiang South Road, Duyun City, 0854-8365001)

## Eat & drink

Libo County is one of the country's designated hygienic counties. It has a well-planned layout and wide streets, and its main street is brilliantly lit in the evening. The barbecue here is outstanding: almost the entire snack street is made up of barbecue stalls, each table with its own charcoal brazier and grill, so you grill your own food and eat it on the spot. It is a must-try, and very inexpensive.

### Accommodation on the southern route

The best-equipped hotel in Libo County is the Sunshine Hotel (阳光大酒店). Everything else is roughly guesthouse-level. There is also accommodation inside Xiaoqikong scenic area, but its standard is basic.


## Things to see

- **Doupeng Mountain** (★★★★): Admission ¥50; Opening hours 9：00—18：00; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/doupeng-mountain
- **Sixty-Eight-Step Waterfall** (★★★★): Admission Included in the Xiaoqikong Scenic Area ticket; Opening hours 08:00-16:30; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/sixty-eight-step-waterfall
- **Xiaoqikong Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥130; Opening hours 8：00—16：00; Time needed 4–6 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xiaoqikong-scenic-area
- **Daqikong Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission Included in the Xiaoqikong ticket; Opening hours 8：00—16：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/daqikong-scenic-area
- **Maolan National Nature Reserve** (★★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 08:00-18:00; Time needed 1-2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/maolan-national-nature-reserve
- **FAST Science Education Base (China Sky Eye)** (★★★): Admission ¥140 (admission + shuttle bus + astronomy experience hall + planetarium + insurance); Opening hours 2026.01.01-2026.12.31 08:30-18:00; Time needed 4–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fast-science-education-base-china-sky-eye

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 488–493. 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.