Guizhou, known as Qian for short, is situated in Southwest China. Its neighbors are Hunan Province to the east, Guangxi to the south, Yunnan to the west and Sichuan and Chongqing to the north. There are 9 cities (prefecture) including 3 prefecture-level cities (Guiyang, Zunyi and Liupanshui),3 prefectures (Anshun, Tongren and Bijie)and 3 autonomous prefectures of there minority nationality (Qiandongnan, Qiannan and Qiangxinan).There are 87 counties in this province (cities, special zone and prefectures).The capital of this province is Guiyang as a political, economical and cultural center throughout the province.
The total area of Guizhou is 176,000 sq.km, of which 61.7 per cent are mountains, 30.8 per cent hills and 7.5 per cent flat land between mountains. The average altitude of the province is about 1170 meters. The annual temperature averages 15 and the rainfall per annum are 1100-1300 millimeters. Guizhou's scenery is beautiful and its climate is temperate, without severe winters or very hot summers
Guizhou is an inland province with abundant resources and great potential for development. The province is rich in resources and one of big provinces of resources in China. Its energy, mineral, biology and tourism resources take important places in this country.
Agriculture: As the conditions for agricultural production has been improved gradually, the output of the staple crops shows a considerable increase. The production bases have been laid step by step for marketable crops, cured tobacco, rape seed, vegetable, pig, cattle, sheep and woods.
Industry: Owing to the advanced equipment and technology and a complete category of products, many of the products take the first place in this country in their quality, quantity and technical standard. The light and textile industry includes food industry, which takes name-brand liquors and cigarettes and mineral water production as its key component; textile industry, which is characterized by cotton, linen, wool, silk, synthetic fiber and leather processing, and other industry such as paper-making. Among them, cigarette-making and brewery take a national importance. The mineral water is good in quality, large in quantity, and have a considerably good prospect of development.
A national economy system consisting of energy, raw material, machinery and electronics, textiles and other light industry has taken shape that is characterized by the resource and technical superiority in this province. Guizhou possesses three manufacturing bases specializing in aerospace, aviation and electronics and a number of influential large-sized enterprises and enterprise groups in the fields of electrolytic aluminum, famous brand's cigarette and wine, electric power, coal, iron and steel, ferroalloy, abrasive materials and tools, instruments and meters tire, nitrogenous fertilizer, phosphorus ore and phosphate fertilizer, etc.
The infrastructural facilities are being improved constantly in Guizhou. There are 5 main railway lines, i.e. Guiyang-Kunming, Hunan-Guizhou, Sichuan-Guizhou, Guizhou-Guangxi and Nanning-Kunming passing through the province. The mileage of the electrified railway lines is among the longest nationally. Guizhou has a total length of highway of 33000 km, including 5 national highways and 30 provincial-level trunk roads. The high-grade highways of Guiyang-Huangguoshu, Guiyang-Zunyi and Encircling Guiyang City form Northeast have been put into use. The Zhuzhou-Liupanshui Railway Multiply Truck, Guiyang-Xinzai and Guiyang-Bijie High-Grade Highways began construction this year. Modern Guiyang Longdongbao Airport has been put into traffic since May 1977 and provides 200 scheduled flights service form Guiyang to 36 large-sized or medium-sized cities through the country and every week...The airport can satisfy the needs of airport of arrival and departure to 5 million person-times/y (2000 person-times/h at peak-hour). Post and telecommunications have developed rapidly. The tentative construction of a modern communication transmission network has been completed on the basis of comprehensively using advanced communication technique such as optical cable, satellite, digital microwave, etc. Over 2 million program controlled telephone exchangers have been installed in Guizhou Province.
If you come to Guizhou, what do you expect?
Local guides will tell you a lot about natural wonders, such as magnificent Huangguoshu Waterfalls, mysterious Dragon Palace and Zhijin Cave, Mt Fanjinshan, Malinghe Valley, Zhangjiang National Scenic spot and Zhenyuan Acient Town, one of the 48 historical and cultural towns in China. The guides will bring you to those fascinating ethnic cultural places. Tianlong Tunpu Old Town in Anshun where the Ming expedition was stationed, Xijiang Village that is the largest Miao community in China, Dong’s drum towers in Zhaoxin and Buyi’s Stone Houses in Zhenning. There are a lot of more to tell you.
Guizhou Province in the southwest of China is fairly unknown to visitors, but it has some of China's finest scenery, and a large ethnic minority population which still follow their ancient colorful traditions. Guizhou occupies an area of over 176,000 square kilometers (67,958 square miles) and has a population of over 35 million. Its climate is subtropical which means that it is not too cold in the winter, or too hot in the summer. Due to the wonderful natural and cultural resources, Guizhou is destined to become one of China's more popular tourist destinations.
Guizhou is home to more than 15 ethnic minority groups(such as: Buyi ethnic minority, Dong ethinic minority, Miao ethnic minority, Yi ethnic minority, etc) and most of them have settled in the most breathtaking scenic areas in Guizhou. Visiting these minority groups is a wonderful experience. Because Guizhou does not get a lot of tourists, its minority groups have remained relatively untouched and live now as they always have. It is a great experience to witness traditional Chinese cultures relatively untainted by the modern world. Guizhou's minority festivals are filled with color and tradition. There are festivals held throughout the year and visitors who are lucky enough to visit Guizhou at this time, are openly welcomed to participate in the celebrations.
Guizhou's attraction is Huangguoshu (Yellow Fruit Tree) Falls. The falls is the largest in China, measuring 74 meters tall and 81 meters wide. In the middle part of the falls, a cave arches into the cliffside and is fancifully curtained by a sheet of water. The thunder of the falls can be heard for some distance and the falls are at their most spectacular about five days after heavy rain between May and October. In addition, there are other falls in the area such as the Luositan Waterfall and the Yinlianzhui Waterfall.
Guizhou offers a diverse environment rich in natural resources and recreational opportunities. Within the "Park Province" are a variety of special places for you to explore, from Guiyang's Lake Qianling to the karst caves of Zhijin and the Miao villages and festivals in the southeast part of the province. The unique karst attractions include the Zhijin Daji Cave, the Rhino Cave in Zhenning, the Dragon's Palace in Anshun, and the Flying Dragon Cave in Xingyi.
the Zhijin Caves
In the northwest of Zhijin County lies the Zhijin Caves with majestic stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is over 30,000 square meters in area and has an average height of 50-60 meters with the highest point measuring 185 meters and the widest measuring 175 meters. Eight large scenic areas, 19 halls, and 49 chambers are open for display to the public. The cave is spacious and has clear, blue ripples of underground lakes and waterfalls. Besides, there are lots of grotesque stone towers, pillars and stalagmites in the shapes of mountain forests.
Bordering Qingzhen Pingba County, Hingfeng Lake covers an area of 57.2 square kilometers. Other scenic attractions include North Lake, South Lake, Rear Lake and many other bays and gulfs surrounded by rippling mountains and gullies. Located in the middle of the lake is an island with caves and tunnels. This island contains 192 islands and peninsulas of various sizes. North Lake Island, South Lake Cavern and Rear Lake Island are known as the 11 Three Spectaculars of Hongfeng." A new Dong nationality courtyard has been developed and Dong girls, well versed in singing and dancing extend their warmth and hospitality to you.
Dragon Palace is located in the western suburbs of Anshun city. The palace is an underground cavern with lakes, waterfalls and other scenic spots. The cave resembles the crystal palace of the Dragon King and is why it is called this name.On the right of the Dragon Gate is a 45 meter high drop. Above is Tianchi (Heavenly Pool), also known as Dragon Pool measuring over ten thousand square meters with an average depth of 43 meters. It is the source of Dragon Gate Falls and the entrance of Dragon Palace. The entire Dragon Palace is a string of beads made up of narrow paths, caves, and caverns with dripping stalactites and stalagmites in fantastic shapes and sizes.
Guizhou is one of the birthplaces of Paleomankind. There are over 20 sites or places of the Stone Age, such as the Guanyindong site of Stone Age which was named the "Guanyindong Culture" and the Yanhui Cave and Xiaohui Cave where the fossils of "Tongzi Man" and "Shuicheng Man" had been unearthed, etc. During the long-term exploitation, the people of different nationalities in Guizhou left us a lot of ancient and modern scenic spots and historical sites. Now, the Jiaxiu Pavilion and the Hongfu Temple in Guiyang, the Black Dragon Cave in Zhenyuan county town, the Yangming Cave in Xiuwen County, the Eighteen Officials' Tomb in Anlong, the Yang Can Mausoleum in Zunyi and the Site of Zunyi Meeting are national key historical relics for the tourists to visit.
Guiyang City has a long history. There are many historic sites built in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Some of them, such as the Hongfu Temple, the Kylin Cave, the Jiaxiu Pavilion and the San Yuan Palace, have gone through several hundred years.
On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month every year, it is the traditional festival "Si Yue Ba" of the Miao nationality. On that day, the young Miaos living in Guiyang and nearby converge at the heart of the city. Dressed in their holiday best, they dance and sing all night long. It is a very lively festival.
Kaili Kaili is the capital of the Southeast Guizhou Miao & Dong Nationalities Autonomous Prefecture. There are many grand ethnic festivals in the region. The wooden drum dance is an important festival for the Miao of the Kaili area. In the hot summer, the Miao girls, living several miles away, will come with their parents to dance the wooden drum dance. In this wooden drum festival, while the young girls are dancing to the rhythm of the wooden drum, the young men are looking for their life partners. When the curtain of night comes down, the young women and men will express their affections for each other by antiphonal singing.
Minorities contribute to fascinating architecture and over 100 lively festivals a year. These include bull fights, dragon boats, 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 is the perfect destination for people who are interested in China's ethnic minority groups and their culture, and viewing some of the world's finest natural scenery. Guizhou does not have any major cities, which means that the people are more laid back and tend to enjoy life more. It makes for a more relaxing and slow-paced tour. Check out Guizhou, you'll be amazed what you discover.