Guizhou Province, often abbreviated as “Gui” or “Qian”, boasts Guiyang as its capital city. Situated in the southwestern part of China, it rests atop the Yungui Plateau. The terrain slopes from west to east, characterized by numerous highland mountains, earning it the moniker “eight slices of mountains, one slice of river, and one slice of field.” It stands as the only province in China without plains. This unique landscape seems like a captivating gift from nature to China, with its mountains ranging from picturesque to rugged, and its waters varying from grandiose to serene. Amidst the rare plains lie distinctive ethnic villages, each exuding its own charm.
The southwestern part of Guizhou encompasses the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (Xingyi City), the southeastern part embraces the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (Kaili City), and the southern part hosts the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. These three autonomous prefectures encapsulate the entirety of Miao and Dong ethnic cultures, embodying their customs, traditions, and history. In towns like Zhenyuan, extensive ancient residential courtyards, alleyways, docks, and ethnic folk cultures blend into vibrant and diverse cultural tapestries.
Most Popular Guizhou Attractions
Tourist Attractions in Guizhou Cities
Detailed Guizhou Itineraries
Best Time to Visit Guizhou
Guizhou enjoys a mild climate with little temperature variation, averaging around 15°C. Due to its lower latitude, winters are not harsh, and summers are not excessively hot. In January, the coldest month, temperatures range from 3°C to 8°C, while in July, the hottest month, temperatures range from 18°C to 26°C.
Spring (March-May): Spring is the flower season in Guizhou, with various blossoms competing to bloom, creating a vibrant natural landscape. The pleasant climate makes it ideal for outdoor activities, allowing tourists to admire beautiful natural scenery such as Libo Xiaoqikong and Tianhetan, famous attractions in the region.
Summer (June-August): Summer marks the rainy season in Guizhou. Despite the abundant rainfall, it is the best time to admire waterfalls and streams. Huangguoshu Waterfall, with its abundant water flow, exhibits magnificent grandeur during this time. Additionally, visitors can experience tranquil summer days in ancient towns like Qingyan and Zhenyuan.
Autumn (September-November): Autumn is considered the prime tourist season in Guizhou, with cool weather perfect for outdoor activities. Many ethnic festivals take place during this time, offering visitors the chance to explore the villages of ethnic minorities such as the Miao and Dong in the Qiandongnan region and immerse themselves in rich ethnic cultures. Autumn also provides an excellent opportunity to admire red leaves and autumn scenery.
Guizhou Weather
Guizhou Food
We chose to stay near Guiyang Station, but if you plan to take the high-speed train to other provinces, I recommend staying near Guiyang North Station.
**Day 1:** Arrived at Longdongbao Airport – Hotel – Guanshan Lake Park – Guizhou Provincial Museum of Ethnology – Qingyun Market – Bai Gong Twin Towers
**Day 2:** Anshun Huangguoshu Scenic Area
**Day 3:** Libo Xiaoqikong and Daqikong
**Day 4:** Zhijin Cave + Zhijin Grand Canyon
**Day 5:** Caiguang Jinhong Farmers’ Market – Feizhiba Farmers’ Market
Weather in Guizhou from September to October: Temperatures range from 16 to 29 degrees Celsius, with plenty of sunny days, making it a great time for travel.
Currently, it shows that there will be rainfall during the national holiday week. However, there’s no need to worry too much; recently, the rain tends to stop after a short while. Just bring an extra jacket to avoid catching a cold!
On the first day in Zhaoxing Dong Village, we had sour soup beef hotpot. Out of the five people in our group, four ended up experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. The next day, two of us had high fevers and had to take fever-reducing medication. We hardly ate anything that day; the gastroenteritis was really torturous. I’m not sure where the problem originated.
I wanted to experience the summer heat of 19°C in Guizhou!
To my surprise, I ended up feeling like I was in a sauna! It’s just so hot!
As the uncle from Chongqing said, I came to Guizhou to escape the heat, but I never expected it to be even hotter than Chongqing!
Guizhou Weather Forecast:
July: 15~26°C
Average daytime temperature: 26°C. Recommended clothing: shirts, thin long skirts, thin t-shirts.
Average nighttime temperature: 15°C. Recommended clothing: suits, casual wear, thin outerwear.
August: 17~27°C
Average daytime temperature: 27°C. Recommended clothing: short-sleeved shirts, shorts, skirts.
Average nighttime temperature: 17°C. Recommended clothing: short suits, casual wear, thin outerwear.
Best Time to Visit Guizhou:
⭕ Recommended travel season in Guizhou is from March to October, with peak times in April, May, June, July, August, and September.
⭕ June, July, and August are the best period, not only to avoid the summer heat but also to enjoy beautiful natural scenery.
Guizhou Accommodation Guide: ✅Guiyang 1. Guanshanhu District: Easy access to the subway, good environment and high cost performance, but few dining options and far from attractions. 2. Jiaxiulou, along the Nanming River: Convenient for evening strolls at Jiaxiulou, with many nearby dining options. 3. Near the Fountain and Dashizi: Along the subway line, surrounded by many dining options, convenient for reaching the city center and various attractions. ✅Libo 1. Libo County Town: Convenient transportation, many dining options nearby, but not very close to the attractions. 2. Libo Ancient Town: Also within Libo County Town, more distinctive than the county town. 3. Near the East Gate of Xiqikong Scenic Area: Very close to Xiqikong, but limited eating choices. ✅Xijiang Miao Village 1. West Gate: High terrain, good view, mostly sightseeing inns with relatively higher prices. 2. North Gate: Recommend staying near Bridge 6, which is close to attractions and the pedestrian… Read more »
Recommended travel itinerary: Day 1 in Guiyang: Arrive in the morning, visit Qianling Mountain during the day, stroll for 10 minutes to Jiaxiu Tower in the afternoon, enjoy the night view, and then head to the White House. The next day, drive for 2.5 hours to Zhenyuan. Day 2 in Zhenyuan: Explore in the afternoon and take a boat trip to see the night view in the evening (costs 80 yuan, but it’s cheaper if purchased at the inn for 70 yuan). Day 3 at Miao Village (ticket 110 yuan): Leave early in the morning, drive for 1.5 hours, spend the whole day there, and you can stay at the foot of the mountain where there are cars going down as early as the morning (300 yuan for the stay). Alternatively, you can stay up on the mountain for 1000 yuan. Day 4 at Xiaqikong (ticket 120 yuan): Start early,… Read more »
Every year, we take the kids to a different city for their birthday. At the age of one, we visited Guizhou! This guide avoids crowds and is stroller-friendly throughout. The scenery is breathtaking and it’s perfect for taking photos. We flew from Beijing to Guiyang, and upon arrival, I recommend renting a car at the airport (since most attractions in Guizhou are 2-3 hours away from each other, renting a car is essential. I even bought a safety seat and had it delivered to our accommodation). Day 1: We stayed near Jiaxiu Tower in Guiyang, which was quite convenient. Since we weren’t focusing on Guiyang itself, we just settled in for the night and enjoyed the light show at Jiaxiu Tower. Day 2: From Guiyang, it’s a 4-hour drive to [destination]. The entire journey is through mountains, with few cars on the road and stunning high bridges. We stayed at… Read more »
Tips for traveling in Guizhou‼️ 1. The weather in Guizhou changes rapidly, so be sure to bring an umbrella, raincoat, and light jacket. 2. Avoid wearing high heels when traveling as Guizhou is mostly mountainous with many winding roads; comfortable sports shoes are recommended. 3. The attractions in Guizhou are often far apart, resulting in long travel times, so it’s advisable to bring motion sickness medication. 4. Guizhou can have significant temperature variations, so bring a couple of extra layers when visiting. 5. UV rays are strong in Guizhou throughout the seasons, so ensure you take appropriate sun protection measures. 6. Do not trust individuals in the scenic spots who claim to skip the lines and take you through shortcuts; many of them are scammers. 7. Xiaoqikong is stunning, but the paths can be damp and slippery, so watch your step to prevent accidents. 8. Huangguoshu Waterfall has a powerful… Read more »
Transportation in Guiyang ✈ Longdongbao International Airport: Located very close to the city center, you can take the subway to the city center High-speed train/train: Guiyang Station, Guiyang North Station, Guiyang South Station Subway: Guiyang has three subway lines, with some attractions in the city center accessible by subway Bus: Ticket fare is 2 yuan, public transportation is the main mode of transportation in Guiyang and very convenient Taxi: Starting fare is 10 yuan during the day and 12 yuan after 10 pm – Guizhou Travel Itinerary 1-day trip (Huangguoshu Waterfall) 1-day trip (Fanjing Mountain Scenic Area) 2-day trip (Xiaoqikong + Xijiang Miao Village) 3-day trip (Huangguoshu + Xiaoqikong + Xijiang Miao Village) 3-day trip (Xiaoqikong + Xijiang Miao Village + Zhenyuan + Fanjing Mountain) 4-day trip (Huangguoshu + Xiaoqikong + Xijiang Miao Village + Zhenyuan + Fanjing Mountain) 5-day trip (Huangguoshu + Xiaoqikong + Xijiang Miao Village + Qingyan… Read more »