Guizhou Travel Guide

Geographic location

Guizhou is situated in the eastern part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in southwest China. In this land of towering mountains and deep valleys, there are over 300 basins which are wide in the middle and narrow at both ends. The average annual temperature is between 14°C and 16°C (54-56F) Eighty percent of Guizhou is mountainous. The plateau is intersected with mountains, hills, basins and valleys, giving it a very rugged, erosion formed topography. In many areas underground streams have carved the limestone into fantastic caverns.

The area north of the Miaoling mountain range is drained by the Yangtze River, whose larger tributaries are the Wujiang, Chishui and Qingshui rivers. South of the range is the Zhujiang valley, where there are the Nanpan and Beipan rivers, both headstreams of the Xijiang River. The spectacular Huangguoshu Waterfall at the head waters of the Dabang River is Asia’s highest waterfall. The largest lake in Guizhou is Caohai.

Climate

Guizhou has a humid, sub-tropical monsoonal climate with warm winters, and mild summers, without seasonal contrasts. It has an average annual temperature of 15-17ºC (55-58F) and an average annual precipitation of 900-1,500 mm. Guiyang averages 220 cloudy days a year.

History and culture

Guizhou minorities offer the tourist a different and exotic experience. There are over 100 ethnic festivals a year. These include bull fights, dragon boat races, horse races, and Lusheng dancing. Some villages are untouched by tourists. The minorities retain most of their unique customs and are hospitable and warm, wearing brilliant and beautiful ethnic clothing. They hold elaborate welcoming ceremonies, worship their totems, and play intriguing music while dancing graceful dances.

Guizhou Festivals and Special Events

March - Miao Flower Festival
April - Dujuan Flower Festival
May - Anshun Batik Art Festival
June - Taijang Dragon Boat Festival
July - Bouyei Chabai Musical Festival
August - Tongren Miao Culture Festival
October - Zunyi Liquor Exposition
November - Kaili Lusheng Musical Festival
December - Caohai Bird-watching Day

People

The population of approximately 39.311 million is made up mainly of minority ethnic groups, Miao, Bouyei, Dong, Yi, Shui, Hui, Gelo, Zhuang, Yao, Manchu and Bai.

Travel suggestions

Guizhou is a newly rising tourist destination. Absolutely spectacular natural scenery, rich ethnic traditions, splendid cultural festivals, as well as a pleasant climate draw tourists to the province. Huangguoshu Waterfalls, Dragon Palace, Golden Brocade Cave, Red Maple Lake, Maling River Valley and the Shizhang Cave on the Chishui River, four national nature reserves (the Fanjing Mountain Botanic Garden, the Maolan Karst Primeval Forest, the Chishui Primeval Forest and the bird reserve at Caohai ), eight national cultural relic sites and many villages with distinctive ethnic minority customs and ways of life invite the traveler to experience a remarkable area.