Guiyang City travel tips - top China ethnic tour destination

Guiyang is the capital city of China’s southwest Guizhou province. Being a relatively remote destination, ethnic flavor and natural wonders are two pieces of candy drawing domestic and overseas travelers. Guiyang is a great place for you to explore the distinctive folk customs and cultures of the ethnic groups in China. 

Located at the heart of Guizhou province, it is less developed in economy as compared to other parts of China. As a result, a trip to Guiyang is generally cheaper, and you are able to appreciate a China that is less dabbed by modernization. One of the most popular tours that WindhorseTour clients choose is Guizhou Guilin Ethnic Tour with Li River Cruise.

No need to worry about high altitude sickness although Guiyang is the situated on the east of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau - the elevation is only 1,100 m. (3,609 ft.). Read on for more travel tips on how to get to Guiyang, top Guiyang attractions, local ethnic groups and folk customs, food recommendation and beyond.

Popular Things Todo in Guiyang Attractions

Jiaxiu Tower is a famous and magnificent three-level pavilion in Guiyang City known as a landmark of Guizhou Province. It is a must stop in your Guiyang City tour. This tower is a national cultural heritage under protection now. 

Built on the Fuyu Bridge over the Nanming River, it is famous for its unique architectural style and natural scenic spots surrounded.

If you come here at night, it will present with you another different scenic spots with colorful lanterns and the tower reflected in the water, which make the tower a dream land for tourism. Learn More Details to Plan Your Trip to Jiaxiu Tower.

Hongfeng Lake is the largest artificial lake on the Guizhou Plateau and is famous for its beautiful scenery and grand natural landscape surrounding.

Hongfeng Lake Scenic Area is a great combination of natural and artificial lake scenic spots and local ethnic custom. High hills are towering in the lake where you can hike to the top to get a panorama of the whole region. 

The water in the lake is so clear and taking a boat on the lake, you can enjoy the precipitous stone mountain, tranquil valleys which will surely glut your eyes. Learn More About Hongfeng Lake.

Qingyan Ancient Town is a unspoiled wonderland far away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Although small in size, Qingyan Ancient Town is hailed as the place most worthy of a visit in Guizhou. 

It is a paradise for travelers looking for a leisure tour. This ancient town is the most famous historical and cultural town in the southern suburb of Guiyang City.

Bearing a history of more than 620 years, Qingyan Ancient Town is a convergence of ancient architectural buildings, temples, palaces, compounds, towers. Learn More About Qingyan Ancient Town.

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Travel Tips to Get Into Guiyang and Get Away - Guiyang Transportation

Given that Guiyang lies in the southwestern part of China, getting there and away is actually not as hard as you might have thought - you can even reach here from Lhasa and Tai-pei. 

Guiyang is accessible to you via domestic flights from 47 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an and Guilin and international flights from Southeast Asian countries like Thailand. 

Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport is serving Guiyang city. At least 1,498 domestic flights and 42 international flights depart from Guiyang Airport every week now. Some of the staff in Civil Aviation Administration of China and China Southern Airlines speak English.

Guiyang is on the national expressway and railway grid, so it is very convenient if you chose to get there by land. Guiyang is a railway hub in southwest China, connecting Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hunan.

There are four high-speed rail lines to and from Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Kunming, and Changsha. Guiyang North Railway Station is serving the city in Guanshanhu District.

Get to Know Guiyang - Guiyang Climate And History

Guiyang boasts a rich history, distinct ethnic culture and natural splendor. Guiyang is the economic and commercial hub of Guizhou Province. It has 7 urban districts.

Covering an area of 8,034 sq. km. (3,102 sq. mi.), Guiyang has a population of 4,324,561 as of 2010. Its climate is very temperate - with an annual average temperature of 15 C (5 C/41F to 24 C/75 F). It has cool winters and agreeable summers.

The history of Guiyang City dates back to as early as 1283 AD during the Yuan Dynasty. It was called “Shunyuan” under the Mongol reign, meaning ‘obeying the Mongol rulers’. At that time the city served as a military outposts, and was not populated by Chinese. 

A few centuries later, Chinese begin to settle in Guiyang, and the town quickly became a prefecture under Chinese reign and was named Guiyang. It remains one of China's most attractive regions for ethnic tours.

Guiyang Ethnic Groups, Local Customs and Festivals

Renowned as one of the most popular places to explore the ethnic cultures in China, Guizhou province is the home to 48 China’s ethnic groups, second only to Yunnan Province.

As the capital city of Guizhou, Guiyang is the perfect place for you to appreciate the local customs and festivals. Every group has lived here for centuries and developed their own unique cultures and lifestyles.

When traveling there, visitors should not miss the chance to experience their simple and original living habits, appreciate the unique architectural styles and try their exotic and colorful costumes, etc.

You can choose to visit Langdeshang Miao Village or Xijiangqianhu Miao Village to admire their stilt-houses and colorful traditional clothes; go to China’s last gunmen’s tribe, Basha Miao Village, to experience their unique life styles; explore how this stone village was made without any other construction materials in Buyi Stone Village; or go to Dong villages to see Dong-style drum towers and wind-rain bridges, etc.

Over 1,000 festivals are celebrated by ethnic groups each year in Guizhou! Its people are probably the most joyous people on earth - they find everything to be worthy of celebration. The most famous festivals include Sanyuesan Festival and Sister's Meal Festival in the spring, Liuyueliu Festival in summer, and the Shui New Year Festival in autumn.

What to Eat in Guiyang - Guiyang Food recommendation

Food there mainly consists of Qian cuisine and local snacks. Hot, spicy and sour are the three most featured flavors of Qian cuisine. The most famous dishes include Suan Tang Yu (Sour Soup Fish) and griddle cooked dishes.

Well-known snacks include Chang Wang Noodle, Lian'ai Doufu Guo and Si Wa Wa.Another Guizhou specialty that you should totally try in Guiyang is Maotai Liquor.

It is the national liquor of China national liquor and one of the world’s three best distilled liquors along with whisky from the United Kingdom and French brandy. Rice wine made by local farmers is also a famous specialty. The area is also famous for its batik fabrics, silver decorations of the ethnic groups, bacon and Chinese medicine.

The best time to visit Guiyang is from March to October. Suggested time of stay in Guiyang is 3 days. Spare a week if you want to visit the magnificent Huangguoshu Falls. 

You might think that accommodations in Guiyang are not quite as fancy, but truth is there are 18 5-star hotels in Guiyang, along with countless hostels and guest houses. Choose the one that you heart.

Han people speak mandarin Chinese and something similar to the Sichuan dialect in Guiyang. Miao and Yao people speak their own languages.

Final travel tips for your safety: Guiyang is reported as one of the top cities affected by theft. Watch out for your bags when you go to public places packed with people. Other than that, it is very safe to travel around the city.

Guiyang is a great place to explore the rich and distinctive folk customs and cultures of the ethnic groups in China. Enjoy your ethnic tour to Guiyang!

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