Guizhou 贵州Guìzhōu

About Guizhou

Guizhou is a rugged upland of karst hills, gorges and caves, and more than a third of its people belong to ethnic minorities. Miao villages such as Xijiang spill down hillsides in tiers of wooden stilt houses, while Dong villages gather around tall drum towers and roofed wind-and-rain bridges. Huangguoshu Waterfall, some of the world's highest road bridges and a cuisine built on sour and spicy flavours complete the picture.

Guizhou at a glance

Area

176,167 km²

Population

38.6 million 2020

Highest point

Jiucaiping 韭菜坪2,900 m

Borders

Chongqing, Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan

Area, population and highest point from Wikidata; the population is the latest census or official estimate there.

What to eat in Guizhou

• Sour soup fish (酸汤鱼)
• Huaxi beef rice noodles (花溪牛肉粉)
• Siwawa vegetable wraps (丝娃娃)

Places to visit in Guizhou

• 

  Huangguoshu Waterfall 黄果树瀑布

  A thundering curtain of water you can walk behind through a cave in the cliff

  Best time: Jun–Oct (strongest flow) · Time needed: 1 day · 5A scenic area

• 

  Xijiang Miao Village 西江千户苗寨

  More than a thousand wooden Miao homes climbing the hills, glittering like stars at night

  Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov; Miao New Year in late autumn · Time needed: 1–2 days · 4A scenic area

• 

  Fanjingshan 梵净山

  A Buddhist 'pure land' above the clouds, with temples on two rock pinnacles

  Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · Time needed: 1–2 days · 5A scenic area · UNESCO World Heritage

• 

  Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Area (Xiaoqikong and Daqikong) 荔波樟江景区

  Emerald pools, stepped waterfalls and trees growing from water in a karst forest

  Best time: May–Oct (water and greenery); Mar–Apr quieter · Time needed: 1–2 days · 5A scenic area · UNESCO World Heritage

• 

  Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨

  Five drum towers and covered bridges in one of China's largest Dong villages

  Best time: Spring and autumn; Niren Festival (Sep–Oct) · Time needed: Half a day to 1 day · 4A scenic area

• 

  FAST Radio Telescope (China Sky Eye) 中国天眼

  The world's largest single-dish radio telescope, set in a natural karst bowl

  Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct (clear views) · Time needed: Half a day · 4A scenic area

Listed sites in Guizhou

197 sites in Guizhou are on the official lists, 7 of them rated 5A and 64 protected as national heritage. They are listed by city, with what each is and how to get there.

Cities and prefectures of Guizhou

• Anshun 安顺 City
  Huangguoshu's falls, a boat ride through a cave and Ming garrison villages
• Bijie 毕节 City
  Wild rhododendron forests, a vast show cave and the high Yi uplands
• Guiyang 贵阳 City
  Stone garrison lanes, a pavilion in the river and macaques in a city park
• Liupanshui 六盘水 City
  Ski slopes on karst peaks, golden ginkgo groves and Guizhou's highest summit
• Qiandongnan 黔东南 Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture · Kaili
  Miao silver, Dong drum towers and terraced valleys in the south-east
• Qiannan 黔南 Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture · Duyun
  Turquoise karst rivers, a giant radio telescope and Duyun's green tea
• Qianxinan 黔西南 Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture · Xingyi
  A plain of 20,000 karst cones, a split-earth gorge and 24 hairpin bends
• Tongren 铜仁 City
  A sacred mountain of rock pinnacles, Tujia villages and old mercury mines
• Zunyi 遵义 City
  Moutai's home river, red sandstone gorges and a cliff-ringed tusi fortress

Before you go

• Visas and visa-free entry Can I visit China without a visa?
• Paying for things How do I pay for things in China without a Chinese bank account?
• Internet and apps Will Google and my other apps work in China?
• Trains and 12306 How do I book train tickets in China with a foreign passport?
• Book popular sights early Which sights in China need booking in advance, and how?
• When to go When is the best time to visit China?

On the map

Open Guizhou on the illustrated map to see where its places sit, how far apart they are, and to add them to a trip.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Official website
• Wikipedia (Chinese)