Guizhou is one of our favorite provinces in China. The province is home to Asia’s biggest waterfall, lush green forests, ancient historic villages, sacred hills, and an upbeat capital city.
However, what sets it apart is its people. Several ethnicities coexist peacefully in Guizhou. We think that’s why we loved its food so much. Rich, diverse, and very Chinese.
Though famous in China for its minority villages, not many foreigners visit. We prepared the following list with the best things to do in the province. You will fall in love with Guizhou!
Huangguoshu Waterfall
Spending a couple of nights inside Huangguoshu National Park was a great idea. We walked from our hotel to the entrance of the Grand Waterfall, the biggest. A huge escalator took us to its base.
From there a bus took us to Dupotang Waterfall. We walked along the river in awe, admiring the power of nature and beathing fresh air.
Another shuttle took us to the Tianxingqiao Scenic Area. It took us 2 hours to explore the massive karsts, waterfalls, caves, stone bridges and forests. We came back to our hotel exhausted and elated.
Guiyang, Guizhou’s Capital
Guizhou’s capital is authentic, historic, unique, and lots of fun. To our delight, Guiyang is totally off the beaten path. Our favorite spot in the center was Naming River, next to the iconic Jiaxiu Tower, built in 1598.
At night we went to Qingyun Market, and ate like kings. The next day we took a short taxi to Qianling Park, a huge green hill with epic views, monkeys, and a temple.
A longer taxi ride got us to the Tianhetan Scenic Spot and its incredible pools, bridges, and waterfalls. Then we took another taxi to Qingyan Ancient Town. The Ming Dynasty historic town blew our minds.
Xijiang Miao Village
Xijiang is the biggest Miao Village in China. We spent a couple of nights there and loved it. We spent hours walking along the river, crossing its historic bridges, and intaking its atmospheric vibe.
We walked all the way to the rice fields and took a shuttle bus to the top of the hill to enjoy unforgettable views.
We saw a traditional show, visited a museum, and sat down for coffee while people watching. Nights in Xijiang are magical. The locals greeted us and shared their food with us. Thanks!
Zhaoxing Dong Village
Zhaoxing is the biggest Dong village in the country. We believe it’s one the most beautiful towns in the world. Its history goes back to the year 1160!
Our hotel faced the river and had a balcony where we enjoyed tea and splendid views of the hills. The village follows the river and is full of aisles. Five massive towers dot Zhaoxing.
People gather in these towers to sing and socialize. We were invited to join them and had a great time. We stop to listen to the water flow and watch Chinese tourists take pictures at the ancient Flower Bridge.
Mount Fanjing
Mount Fanjing is a great place for adventurous travelers. The UNESCO listed mountain looks straight out of a science fiction movie. However, it is an ancient Buddhist sacred mountain.
The mountain in inside the Fanjingshang National Nature Reserve, a UNESCO listed biosphere reserve. Tall mountains tower above green forests. Fanjing is the tallest.
A bus took us from the entrance to the mountain. Though you can climb the 8000 steps to the top, we paid for the cable car. A bridge with epic views connects both temples.
How to Travel around Guizhou
We went to all of the above-mentioned places with fast trains. You can book your tickets safely on trip.com. You will most likely go through some of Guiyang’s main stations: Guiyangbei (Guiyang North), Guiyang, or Guiyangdong (Guiyang East).
You can go to the villages and Huangguoshu Waterfall as a day trip from the city. However, we strongly recommend spending at least a night in each place.
Taxis are not expensive in China. We took them whenever possible to save time and energy. Be sure to pay for all the cable cars and shuttles at the entrance of the villages and parks. No worries if you get hungry, there’s plenty of food.
