Guizhou is an enchanting place with endless green mountains, huge waterfalls, mouthwatering foods, and villages where people still live the old way. It isn’t one of those fake, over-polished tourist spots—it’s just real, raw, and way cooler than most people realize. If you are looking to escape from city vibrancy, then starting a China Eco & Ethnic tour in Guizhou is a good idea. Since there are so many spots hidden in the mountains, how to plan a Guizhou tour? This is the ultimate Guizhou travel guide for you to get straight to the good stuff.

Must-See Places in Guizhou

Guizhou has many tourist attractions awaiting you to explore. Below is a list of must-visit attractions and highlights in Guizhou, which is especially useful for first-time visitors to Guizhou.

Top Things to Do in Guizhou

Huangguoshu Waterfall easily deserves a top spot on most Guizhou tours. Standing there with the thunder of water and mist in the air is something photos never fully capture. Also, Fanjing Mountain is a must-visit. Hiking the stone steps through clouds and old-growth forest in the mountain feels almost unreal. Besides, Libo’s karst landscapes and Chishui’s red Danxia landforms are all waiting for your exploration. It’s easy to see why Guizhou is such a dream for nature and adventure lovers.

Culture is where Guizhou really shines, making it an ideal destination for cultural travelers. Wander through ancient towns like Qingyan and Zhenyuan, admire old city walls and riverside houses, then dive into Miao villages for a real minority culture experience. Join a long-table banquet, watch batik being made, or just sit back as night falls over Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, when thousands of lights slowly turn on. If you’re in Guiyang, don’t miss Qianling Park—where monkeys roam freely—and definitely eat your way through the city. 

Best Time to Visit Guizhou

Summer (June to August) and autumn (September to November) are considered the best times to visit Guizhou. Summer is a golden time to plan a trip to Guizhou, during which the place becomes a natural air conditioner, with temperatures hovering around 20–28°C. Attractions like Huangguoshu Waterfall and Libo Xiaoqikong are at their best. Autumn is particularly ideal for Guizhou photography tours, during which you’ll see breathtaking golden rice terraces and clear skies.

Spring (March to May) is also an excellent time for a Guizhou trip. It’s quieter and surprisingly beautiful. Cherry blossoms in Pingba, azaleas in Bijie, and rapeseed flowers in Qiandongnan are all in full bloom. Though winter is the low season, it can be a peaceful time for an off-the-beaten-path China experience if you like fewer tourists, hot springs, and even snow-dusted mountains. Also see the top 10 reasons to visit Guizhou in winter

How Many Days to Spend in Guizhou

With so many things to explore, most travelers spend 5–7 days in Guizhou to fully enjoy it without rushing. But if you only have 3-4 days, you can also have fun here. Below is a Guizhou itinerary planning that works well for families, photographers, seniors, and cultural travelers alike.

Suggested Guizhou Itinerary Planning

Guizhou Food | What to Eat

Guizhou cuisine is famous for its ‌sour, spicy, fresh, and fragrant‌ flavors, and it’s a fusion of ethnic minority traditions and mountainous characteristics—one bite, and you’ll understand. 

When traveling in Guizhou, you should not miss sour soup fish. The tangy, spicy broth with super tender river fish is insanely appetizing. Guizhou spicy chicken is another specialty. It’s not the Sichuan/Chongqing-style crispy fried version—this one is stir-braised with ciba chili paste, so the chicken soaks up all that flavor, and the leftover sauce is basically made for mixing into rice. 

Zhe’ergen (fish mint) is also a signature food in Guizhou. Usually served as a cold salad, it is crunchy and tender with a distinctive herbal aroma that locals absolutely adore. Beyond these, Shuicheng Mutton Soup Pot, Qingyan Zhuangyuan Trotters, Dafang grilled pan dishes, and an early-morning bowl of beef rice noodles are must-try foods in Guizhou, so add them to your list when you plan a Guizhou tour.

Guizhou Hotels | Where to Stay in Guizhou

Accommodation in Guizhou is more flexible than many people expect, and choosing where to stay really depends on your travel route. If your Guizhou itinerary involves frequent day trips by high-speed train, take Guiyang as your base, as it’s the transport hub with various hotels to choose from, including international brands to economic home-stays. 

Looking to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall early or late in the day? Staying in a hotel in Anshun city. If you plan to explore Fanjing Mountain, Libo, or Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, then you can consider staying inside or near scenic areas, especially when you want to catch the sunrise or night photography. 

Note that Guizhou offers everything from upscale hotels and comfortable mid-range chains to character-filled ethnic guesthouses, but during summer and festival seasons, popular spots and scenic-area hotels should always be booked in advance.

Guizhou Festivals

Guizhou has a wide variety of ethnic groups and festivals, particularly in the Qiandongnan minority area, and you can plan a Guizhou ethnic tour during a local festival to truly get to know this place. 

Among all these festivals, the Dong New Year and the Miao New Year are highly representative traditional celebrations. During the Dong New Year, celebrated in December, there are grand costume parades, lusheng (reed-pipe instrument) competitions, the "Thousand-Person Long Table Banquet" (a communal feast), and bonfire parties. You can savor Dong ethnic delicacies such as chilled fish and sticky rice in the Dong ethnic villages. 

The Miao Year in November features grand events such as a "Ten-Thousand-Person Parade" and traditional bullfights, which allow tourists to participate. Besides, Sister’s Meal Festival and Lusheng Festival are also important Miao festivals in Guizhou, during which you can see show drum dances, fish-catching, and five-colored glutinous rice rituals on your Guizhou festival tours.

>> Recommended: 8-day Guizhou Miao and Dong tribes adventure tour | 14 Days Guizhou Lunar New Year Festival Tour

Guizhou Travel Tips

1. Guizhou cuisine features spicy and sour flavors—pack stomach medicine if you're sensitive.
2. Despite Guizhou's dense forests, UV rays remain intense. So apply sunscreen or wear a sun hat to prevent tanning and sunburn.
3. Guizhou’s weather changes quickly, and bring rain gear for the unpredictable weather.
4. There is a large temperature difference between daytime and night, so bring a light jacket for chilly mornings and cool nights, even on warm days.
5. The mountain roads are winding in Guizhou, and it is wise to wear lightweight sneakers for easier walking. 

Guizhou Transportation | How to Get to/around Guizhou

How to Get to Guizhou

By Air

Guizhou has achieved full airport coverage across all its prefecture-level cities, becoming one of only two provinces in China to accomplish this milestone. There are 11 civil airports, with Guiyang Longdongbao Airport as the main hub. There are frequent flights to Guiyang from major cities in China, and you can take a plane here to start your Guizhou tours. Typically, it takes about 3 hours to travel from Beijing or Shanghai to Guiyang by air.

By Train

Guiyang has four railway stations, with Guiyang Station and Guiyang North being the most commonly used. High-speed rails and overnight trains connect Guizhou with major cities across the country. Generally, 3-4 hours are needed to get to Guizhou from cities in southwest China like Chengdu and Kunming by high-speed train.

How to Travel Around Guizhou

By High-Speed Train

The high-speed train is one of the best ways for an eco-tour in Guizhou, because nearly the entire province is connected. It allows you to travel between Guiyang and Kaili (35min), Anshun (29min), Libo (1.5hr), and Tongren (1.5hr) straightforwardly. 

Pro tip: Stay near Guiyang North Railway Station if you want to do day trips around Guizhou without changing hotels.

By Tourist Shuttle Buses

With its advanced highway network, Guizhou offers direct shuttle services to major tourist attractions—perfect for relaxed Guizhou private tours or family trips. ‌Guiyang Tourism Distribution Center is the primary departure hub for most scenic spot shuttles. You can take ‌Bus No. 60‌ at the Guiyang North Railway Station, get off at Touqiao 1 Bus Station, and then walk a few minutes to get there.‌

Plan a Guizhou Tour with ETC

Planning a Guizhou tour may sound like too much work. Don’t worry, Easy Tour China can help you make it simple. With over 20 years of experience crafting tailor-made China tours, we can customize your Guizhou tours from Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries to actually fit your travel styles. Below are some of our top-rated China Eco & Ethnic tours that include Guizhou.

15-Day Yunnan and Guizhou Getaway Tour

11-Day Guangxi & Guizhou Mountain Tribe Adventure