Guiyang Tourist Attractions

Guiyang, also known as Zhu, lies in the center of Guizhou province and in the middle of a plateau flanked by high mountains. It stretches along the banks of the Nanminghe river, a tributary of the Wujiang. There are rail links with Chongqing and Kunming and air links with Beijing, Shanghai, Canton and other large Chinese cities.

Guiyang's origins lie in the dim and distant past. There is evidence that there was a town here at the time of the Han dynasty (206 BC to AD 220). It served as a military base in the Yuan era (1271-1368). Under the Mings (1368-1644) Xingui, as it was then called, enjoyed a considerable boom; the town walls which still stand date from that period. It has been called Guiyang since 1913. In recent years heavy industry has become established here, as well as chemicals, textiles and consumer-goods.

Huanggoushu Waterfall

The Huangguoshu Waterfall (Huanggshu Pubu) is over 60m/200ft high and 80m/260ft wide, making it the largest waterfall in China. It lies 150km/93mi southwest of Guiyang, where for more than 2km/1.25mi the Baishui river winds its way over nine steep tiers of rocks and the same number of waterfalls.

Pavilion of the Man of the Letters

This triple-roofed building in the town center stands 20m/66ft high and was built in 1689. The forecourt is adorned with two iron columns, one dating from 1732 and the other from 1797. There are pillars on the inside walls and tablets hanging from the ceiling contain many old inscriptions.

Qianlingshan Gongyuan Park

Qianlingshan Gongyuan Park lies 1.5km/1mi northwest of the town and covers an area of some 300ha/750acres. It is in fact a miniature nature park, with trees, medicinal herbs, 2500 different species of plants, dozens of rhesus monkeys and 50 species of birds. The park also boasts a picturesque lake encircled by hills.

Cave of the Unicorn

In another corner of the park lies the Cave of the Unicorn (Qilling Dong), which was discovered in 1531. For many years Generals Chang Hsueliang and Yang Hucheng were imprisoned here by the Guomindang (Kuomintang) nationalist government after having been found guilty in 1937 of collaborating with the Communist Party when Chiang Kai-shek was captured in Xi'an.

Guiyang Zoo

Nearby will be found Guiyang Zoo, with over 80 rare species of animal such as snub-nosed monkeys, tigers and pandas.

Mount Qianlingshan

In the center of Qianlingshan Park towers Mount Qianlingshan (1300m/4267ft). From its western peak there is a superb view of the town.

Obelisk

Behind Mount Qianlingshan an obelisk pierces the skyline above a pine forest. It is dedicated to the victims of the Civil War of 1949.

Temple of Great Fortune

The Temple of Great Fortune (Hongfu Si) was built on Mount Qianlingshan in 1672. It contains several halls.

Underground Gardens

The Underground Gardens (Dixia Gongyuan) in an extensive cave some 23km/14mi south of Guiyang were first discovered in 1965. The path through the 587m/1930ft deep cave leads past a number of stalactites and stalagmites, the surreal effect of which is intensified by an effective system of lights.

Yanwa Cave

Yanwa Cave is located 123 km from Guiyang and features three stories - one is a water cave, the other two are dry. During the spring and summer months, thousands of swifts call the cave home.

Surroundings

There are a few attractions to be visited in the areas surrounding Guiyang.

Huazi Gongyuan Park

Huaxi Gongyuan Park, 17km/10.5mi south of the town, lines the banks of the River of Flowers (Huaxi), which forms the Huaxi Waterfall near Bashang Bridge.

This area is called ''Flower of the Guizhou Plain'' by the local people because of the beautiful scenery. Features of the park include islands, bridges, pavilions and tea-houses.