Guizhou is an inland province in the southwest of China, with a total area of 176,128 square kilometers. It is a multiethnic province with 49 ethnic groups. Meanwhile, Guizhou is a famous “Mountain Kingdom”, and its dominant karst landforms shape a proportion unparalleled in the world. Guizhou has a humid subtropical monsoon climate---no extremes of heat or cold. Therefore, it is a good choice of traveling.
I. East
1. Mt. Fanjing
Fanjing Mountain is often compared to a huge treasury filled with all kinds of physical and visual wonders. First of all, Mt. Fanjing is famous for its height. As the highest mountain in Guizhou, the peak is 2572 meters above sea level. Mt. Fanjing is known for it history. Its age is about from 1 to 1.4 billion years. Mt. Fanjing is one of the five most famous Buddhist mountains in China, serving as the only Daochang (a place for Buddhist rites) for Maitreya. Mt. Fanjing also holds many other interesting cultures. In addition, Mt. Fanjing is regarded as a rare ecological paradise as well as a wonderful tourist site. In 1986, it was designated as a state level natural reserve by the state council.
2. The Villages of the Dong Nationality in Liping
Liping is rich in tourist resources characterized by high taste and authentic flavor. It is highly praised by tourist experts both home and abroad. Liping Tianshen Qiao (Nature- Made Bridge), Shudong Single- Log Drum Tower, Yingcheng Age – Old Underground Fir and Zhaoxing Drum Towers have been inscribed in the Guinness World Records respectively. Liping boasts a strong ethnic flavor featuring primeval and colorful art forms, highly developed architectural skills, historic sites and pleasant weather and beautiful landscape.
II．South
1. Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Zone
The Zhangjiang Scenic Zone consists of three parts, namely the Daqikong, the Xiaoqikong and the Shuichun River Valley. It is a scenic zone with rich ethnic cultures of the Yao, Shui and Buyi minority people along the Zhangjiang River. With a natural combination of montains, water, caves and trees together, the Zhangjiang Scenic Zone enjoys unique features.
2. The Marlinghe Valley Scenic Spot
Originated form Baiguo Mountain of the Wumeng Mountain system, the Marlinghe river flows extraordinary rapid. From the source to the estuary, the height of the fall is about one thousand meters. There is a total of more than one hundred waterfalls in the valley. As many tributaries on both sides flow slower than the main stream, a lot of waterfalls with a height of over one hundred meters come into being. If you take a boat and drift along the river, you will feel as if you have fallen into a deep abysm. When you look upward, the sky will be as small as a thread.
3. Tianlong Tunpu in Pingba County
With more than 600 years’ history, Tianlong Tunpu is a typical age – old Tunpu town and serves as a cultural sight to show the lifestyle of the Ming dynasty. Tiantai Mountain used to be a military fortress in the middle ages. Featuring unique architectures and elaborate layout, it enjoys the reputation of “The Peak of Chinese Rock Buildings in Hilly Area”.
III. West
1. Huangguoshu Waterfalls
Huangguoshu Waterfall is the largest waterfall in Asia as well as one of the most famous waterfalls in the world. It is rated as one of China’s major scenic spots by the State Council of People’s Republic of China. Huangguoshu Waterfall is 77.8 high and the famous ones are Doupotang (Steep Slope Pool) Waterfall and Luositan (Snail Bank) Waterfall. It will be an unforgettable experience sighting from Shuiliandong at different angles.
2. Dragon Palace
Dragon Palace is one of the National 5A Grade Scenic Spots in China and is the representative of karst landscape. Dragon Palace, the underground caves intertwine with one and another, forms a wonderful underground cave system with both extremely high scientific and practical values and high tourist value. The main sites, like Wolong Tan, Dragon Gate Waterfall, Tianti (Heavenly) Cave, Bangke (Clamshell) Cliff, Xuantang (the Revolving Pond) and etc. add more beauty to the palace.
3. Zhijin Cave
Zhijin Cave is located at Guanzai Town, populated by the Miao Nationality. The Zhijin Cave scenic spot is rich in cultural and ethnic features of the Yi Nationality. The most notable features of Zhijin Cave are “large size” “amazing sceneries” and “complete limestone formations”. Firstly, the dimension of Zhijin Cave is large. Secondly, the sceneries and the structures of the cave are amazing with high aesthetic values. Thirdly, the sceneries in the cave are extremely abundant. The underground world will stimulate visitors’ imagination.
IV. North
1. The Site of the Zunyi Meeting
The Zunyi Meeting is the first meeting in which the Communist Party of China applied the basic principles of Marxism and Leninism independently to solve the problems concerning its ways, principles and politics. It was a vital turning point in the history of the Communist Party of China, indicating the maturity of the Party. The site of Zunyi Meeting keeps a large number of materials of that time, which play a crucial role in learning about the history.
2. Chishui Scenic Spot
Chishui is located in the northwest of Guizhou, which is rugged in topography with the relative height difference of 1500m. There are two rivers flowing through its territory from southeast to northwest, namely the Chishui River and the Xishui River. Due to the erosion of the steams, this area becomes a valley land with red sandstone stratum, called Danxia Landform, or Reddish Landform. There are four typical tourist attractions in Chishui: the grand Shizhangdong Waterfalls, the elegant Sidonggou Valley, the Kingdom of Age – old Spinulose Tree Ferns and the Hometown of Nan Bamboos.
