At dusk, Xijiang Thousand-Household Miao Village.
The sunset dyes the stilt houses golden, cooking smoke rising gently. Miao girls in full dress perform the Lusheng dance in the square. Night falls, lights of ten thousand homes come on, the entire village like a sea of stars. Standing on the viewing platform, watching this spectacular scene, marveling at the charm of Miao culture.
This is China’s largest Miao settlement village.
Guizhou is a place that amazes you.
Province Profile#
- Location: Southwest China, eastern part of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau
- Best Travel Season: May-October
- Highlights: Hometown of waterfalls, ethnic customs, karst landforms, summer resort
Must-Visit Attractions#
Huangguoshu Waterfall: Asia’s Largest Waterfall#
Huangguoshu Waterfall is Asia’s largest waterfall, 77.8 meters high, 101 meters wide.
Water cascades from a cliff, sound like thunder, water mist permeating. Water Curtain Cave is hidden behind the waterfall—you can feel the shock of the waterfall up close. Tianxingqiao is part of Huangguoshu scenic area, with water stone forests and Silver Chain Waterfall—another world.
Best Experience: Come to Huangguoshu in summer, when water volume is abundant and most spectacular. Walk through Water Curtain Cave, feel the shock of water cascading from above.
Xijiang Thousand-Household Miao Village: Living Fossil of Miao Culture#
Xijiang Thousand-Household Miao Village is China’s largest Miao settlement village, with over 1,300 households.
Stilt houses are built against the mountain, layered and stacked—spectacular. Viewing Platform is the best place to see the village panorama—see morning mist at dawn, sunset at dusk, lights of ten thousand homes at night. Lusheng Ground is where Miao performances are held—you can watch Lusheng dance and Miao song and dance.
Best Experience: Stay in the village, eat a long-table banquet, drink “High Mountain Flowing Water” wine. Wake up early in the morning, see the village without tourists.
Libo Xiaoqikong: Emerald on Earth’s Belt#
Libo Xiaoqikong is a World Natural Heritage, praised as the “Emerald on Earth’s Belt.”
Xiaoqikong Ancient Bridge is the scenic area’s symbol, built in the Qing Dynasty, a stone arch bridge spanning emerald green water. Water Forest is a unique landscape, with trees growing in water, roots intertwined. Wolong Tan is an emerald deep pool, with cascading waterfalls—beautiful beyond words.
Best Experience: Come to Xiaoqikong in summer, walk in the water, feel the coolness.
Fanjing Mountain: Maitreya’s Dojo, Sky City#
Fanjing Mountain is a World Natural Heritage, a famous Buddhist mountain, Maitreya Bodhisattva’s dojo.
Red Clouds Golden Summit is Fanjing Mountain’s symbol, with two peaks connected by a bridge, like a sky city. Mushroom Stone is Fanjing Mountain’s wonder, a giant stone teetering yet standing for billions of years. Old Golden Summit is Fanjing Mountain’s highest point—you can see sunrise and sea of clouds.
Best Experience: Stay overnight on the mountain, watch sunrise and sea of clouds in the morning. If you’re lucky, you might see Buddha’s light.
Special Experiences#
Zhaoxing Dong Village#
Zhaoxing Dong Village is China’s largest Dong village, “First Dong Village.”
Drum Towers are the Dong village’s symbol, with five drum towers each unique. Wind and Rain Bridge spans the river, a masterpiece of Dong architecture. At night, you can listen to the Grand Song of the Dong People, feel the “Sounds of Heaven.”
Zhenyuan Ancient Town#
Zhenyuan Ancient Town has over 2,000 years of history, “Oriental Venice.”
The Wuyang River flows through the town, with Ming and Qing buildings on both banks. Qinglong Cave ancient building complex is built against the mountain, hanging on cliffs—an architectural miracle.
Guizhou Cuisine#
Guizhou cuisine is mainly sour and spicy. Sour Soup Fish is a Guizhou famous dish, with sour soup appetizing and fish tender. Changwang Noodles are a Guiyang snack, with blood curd, intestines, and noodles—numbing, spicy, and fragrant. Siwawa is a Guiyang specialty, thin pancakes wrapped with various vegetables, eaten dipped in sauce. Houttuynia is Guizhou people’s favorite—some love it, some hate it, must try.
Travel Tips#
- Transportation: Guiyang is Guizhou’s transportation hub, with airport and high-speed rail. Huangguoshu and Xijiang Miao Village both have direct buses.
- Accommodation: In Guiyang, stay in the city; in Xijiang Miao Village, stay within the scenic area; in Libo, stay near Xiaoqikong.
- Note: Guizhou has lots of rain—bring rain gear. Many mountain roads—prepare motion sickness medicine. In Miao and Dong villages, respect local customs.
Guizhou’s beauty is hidden in those landscapes and villages.
The magnificence of Huangguoshu Waterfall, the charm of Xijiang Miao Village, the emerald waters of Xiaoqikong, the Buddha’s light of Fanjing Mountain… each place is nature’s gift.
Come to Guizhou and feel the charm of colorful ethnic customs.
Tomorrow, we head to Yunnan to see the wind, flowers, snow, and moon of Dali and the ancient town night scenery of Lijiang.