Guizhou Travel Guide
Located in southwestern China, Guizhou Province is an area of intense natural beauty and is popular with tourists who want to experience a different side of China from the roads often traveled.
There are a number of interesting towns and small cities to visit in Guizhou Province. The capital is Guiyang, which has a large airport with connections to a large number of places in China and beyond. This is a good place to use as a base to explore as many surrounding areas can be reached in less than two hours by bus.
Another popular place to hang out is the city of Anshun. This small city is particularly popular with tourists as a number of attractions are located nearby such as the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall. Those who want to visit the Miao and Dong minority regions will want to head over to Kaili as this is the main gateway to these two regions, while Zunyi is a major communist pilgrimage site.
Hiking is a popular activity as the area is mountainous and there are plenty of spectacular views to be seen along the way. There are also a number of caves to explore, especially in the area surrounding the city of Anshun. Those with an interest in history will want to spend some time in the northern city of Zunyi, which is the place that Mao Zedong became a full member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party.
Unfortunately, many foreign visitors to Guizhou find communicating a bit of a challenge as few people speak English. The local dialect of Guizhou is similar to that of Sichuan, and many people get around the language barrier by hiring a guide. The roads here are in good condition, making hiring a bicycle or motorbike a good way to get around.
Getting There & Away
The province capital of Guiyang has its own airport, which receives regular flights from the international airport at Shanghai (3 hours). Guiyang Airport receives flights from more than 40 Chinese destinations and a few international destinations such as Singapore and Bangkok. Buses travel to Guzhou from a range of destinations such as Guizhou (1 hour), Anshun (2 hours), Kaili and Zunyi.