Geographic coordinates: E106°07’- 107°17’     N26°11′- 27°22’   

Population: 3.598245 m (2007)

Area: 3,102 sq mi

Average altitude: 4,101 ft

Average temperature: 60 ℉ 

Average annual rainfall: 44.5 in

IDD: 86 – 0851

Guiyang，the capital of Guizhou Province, located in central Guizhou province, on the east of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The city of Guiyang is standing to the south of Mt. Guishan, hence the name Guiyang. Bamboo groves were abundant in ancient time in Guiyang which was famous for producing a kind of musical instrument Zhu made of bamboo. Consequently Guiyang is called Zhu for short. The forest coverage in Guiyang is the highest among the other capital cities in China so that it has another name “The city of Forests”.

The city was founded as early as 1283 during the Yuan Dynasty and called Shunyuan meaning obeying the Yuan (the Mongol rulers). Under the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) Dynasties, the town became the seat of a superior prefecture named Guiyang. As elsewhere in the southwest, considerable economic progress was made under the special circumstances of the Sino-Japanese War (1937–45). Road, transport infrastructure with Kunming, Chongqing and Hunan were established, and after 1949 this development was accelerated. Guiyang has grown almost exponentially since the 1990s.

Guiyang is the economic and commercial hub of Guizhou Province. It produces aluminum, fertilizers, rubbers and automobile tires and has textile plants and makes glass, paper, and other consumer goods.

Guiyang is home to more than 20 minority ethnic groups including Miao, Buyi, Dong and Hui, etc. Consequently the city abounds with unique folk culture and traditions that give rise to many colorful ethnic minority activities. It is one of China's Spring Cities like Kunming. The climate is often mild and moist, neither extremely hot nor very cold. Spring, summer and autumn are the best seasons for visiting Guiyang.

A great number of attractive sights are to be found here, the Hongfeng Lake (Red Maple Lake), Huaxi Park, Huangguoshu Waterfalls, 93 miles from Guiyang, and an abundance of historical relics of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, such as the Jiaxiu Tower, Wenchang Pavilion, Yangming Cave and the Qingyan Ancient Town. All of these scenic spots have their own interesting stories.

With a big number of minority groups, minority festivals and souvenirs are popular with tourists. Festival costumes, masks and embroideries of Miao, Dong minority people can be purchased in the shopping streets, Beijing Lu, Zhonghua Lu and Yan'an Lu. Local products such as the Maotai are widely available in the large supermarkets.

The local food is spicy but western cuisine or that of other parts of China will be found in star-rated hotels and quality restaurants. The life pace of Guiyang people is rather laid back compared to that of other cities. Life here seems quite easy going!  

Attractions

Huangguoshu Waterfalls   Hongfu Temple   Jiaxiu Tower   Xiangzhi Valley   Qingyan Ancient Town