Speaking of this trip to Guizhou, there wasn’t really much of a reason. Maybe it was just because my wife and I hadn’t had a romantic getaway in a long time, or maybe we just wanted to go somewhere unfamiliar, eat, drink, and have fun. Anyway, at some point, the idea just popped into our heads, and without much thought, we applied for annual leave and set off.
Before visiting, Guizhou didn’t seem as well-known to me as places like Zhangjiajie, Jiuzhaigou, or Yunnan. But perhaps it was precisely because there was less online information about it that this trip was shrouded in a sense of mystery. It was also this trip that gave me a particularly favorable impression of Guizhou—the pristine natural scenery, centuries-old Tusi culture, and exquisitely delicious local Guizhou cuisine. All of these made this first-time visitor feel inspired to promote travel to Guizhou. I may not be good with words, but my feelings are genuine. I hope our real travel experiences can offer some reference for friends planning to visit Guizhou.
Let’s talk about our route first. We flew directly from Beijing to Guiyang. After all, as the provincial capital, there are more flight options. For travelers from other places, I’d also recommend going to Guiyang first—it’ll make getting to other attractions much easier.
Day 1: Beijing – Guiyang – Huangguoshu
Day 2: Huangguoshu Scenic Area – Guiyang
Day 3: Guiyang – Libo
Day 4: Libo – Legendary Starry Sky Campsite
Day 5: Hailongtun Scenic Area, Hailongtun Tusi Town – Return Trip
Just like that, we took off. The photo above shows us arriving over Guiyang. Look at that blue sky and white clouds—so refreshing. Compared to the people in the capital who rush to post on social media whenever they catch a glimpse of blue sky, the happiness index of the people in Guizhou is through the roof.
Day 1: Guiyang – Huangguoshu
We arrived at Guiyang Airport around noon, so we decided to head straight to Huangguoshu. There’s no need to say much about Huangguoshu—it’s not just famous in China, but it’s also one of the top waterfalls in Asia. So, for our first stop in Guizhou, we chose this place. From Guiyang Airport, we took a taxi to Jinyang Coach Station, which cost 27 yuan, and then we took a direct bus to the scenic area. It took us about two hours to get there.
Then we checked into Huangguoshu Grand Hotel to rest and officially visited the scenic area the next day.
Day 2: Huangguoshu Scenic Area
The Huangguoshu Scenic Area is broadly divided into three major attractions: Doupotang, Tianxingqiao, and Huangguoshu Waterfall. The ticket price is 180 yuan. My wife loves taking photos, so we took our time and ended up spending over eight hours there. So, for those planning to visit Huangguoshu, remember to go early in the morning—otherwise, you’ll feel rushed.
The first attraction, Doupotang, is quite a beautiful place. Maybe it was the aperture settings, but my photos came out looking dull. In person, it’s really stunning.
The second attraction—Tianxingqiao. Along the way, there are over ten smaller attractions. Personally, I found the ones further along to be more scenic. From near Feipu Bridge to the exit, there’s a small cable car that’s not expensive—just 10 yuan—and it saves about 20 minutes. I think it’s worth taking, not necessarily for the experience, but to take a break and prepare for the main highlight—Huangguoshu Waterfall.
The last and most breathtaking attraction—Huangguoshu Waterfall. The surging river water cascades down over 70 meters from a cliff into the Rhinoceros Pool. If you’re lucky enough to catch the sunlight at the right angle, you might even see a rainbow. Unfortunately, my wife and I didn’t see a rainbow, and on our way from the waterfall to the Water Curtain Cave, we got drenched by the splashing water.
There’s a bus back to Guiyang right outside the scenic area gate, so everything went smoothly that day. After leaving Huangguoshu, we planned to stay overnight in Guiyang and head to Libo on the third day.
Day 3: Guiyang – Libo
To get to Libo, you’ll need to go to Guiyang East Bus Station. We took the 9:20 AM bus, which was the earliest one. There are five buses in total, with the latest one departing around 5 PM. The journey from Guiyang to Libo takes nearly four hours, so if you want to get to your destination and start exploring, the earlier, the better.
As for the highlights in Libo, it’s definitely the Xiaoqikong Bridge. The ticket price is 110 yuan. After seeing the grandeur of the waterfall yesterday, today’s Xiaoqikong Bridge felt like a contrast between a rugged man and a delicate lady.
The bridge is built with stone slabs, and the vines and ferns covering it show that it’s an ancient bridge with a long history. Coupled with the intoxicatingly green Hanbi Pool beneath it and the ancient trees lining both banks, I think even the most restless heart could find peace here.
Day 4: Libo – Hailongtun Legendary Starry Sky Campsite
To be honest, our original plan was to go from Libo to the Qianhu Miao Village. We changed our plans for three main reasons: First, we’ve seen similar villages before, and they didn’t feel very unique. Second, the Hailongtun area had just opened a new Legendary Starry Sky Campsite. My wife and I had never gone camping before, let alone stargazed together in a campsite, so we thought it would be a romantic experience. The third and most important reason was that the Hailongtun Scenic Area not only has a Tusi fortress with over 700 years of history but also a Tusi town with a Ming Dynasty style. This way, we could enjoy a romantic stay and explore a historically rich town—all in one trip. Why not?
From Libo, we took a train from Mawei to Zunyi first, and then from Zunyi Railway Station, there’s a direct shuttle bus to Hailongtun. The transportation is quite convenient, though it takes a bit longer—over six hours. By the time we arrived at the Hailongtun Legendary Starry Sky Campsite, it was already evening, just in time to check in.
Since this place is called the Legendary Starry Sky Campsite, stargazing is naturally the key highlight of camping here. Although it’s often said that Guizhou has “no three sunny days” and it rains frequently, my wife and I were really lucky this time—the sky was clear, and the stars were unusually bright. Of course, when I say “camping,” don’t imagine a shabby tent. It’s said to be one of the top-tier high-end campgrounds in China, with design standards certified by major European brands. It combines the charm of tents in nature with the comfort of a hotel. All the European-style tent cabins are built against the mountain, facing Hailongtun, offering a very wide view.
Day 5: Hailongtun Scenic Area, Tusi Town
Staying at the Legendary Starry Sky Campsite was probably the most comfortable sleep we had in Guizhou. We woke up naturally to the sound of birds. The mountain air was incredibly fresh—compared to waking up feeling groggy in a big city, here it felt invigorating. Of course, the starry sky campsite isn’t just about stargazing. There’s also a tea factory area where most of the items are tea-related products, and you can even try making tea yourself. This really excited my wife, who enjoys a bit of a refined lifestyle, as she got to personally experience the process of picking and making tea.
After leaving the starry sky campsite, we headed straight for the Hailongtun Scenic Area, which has an entrance fee of 80 yuan. Hailongtun is a military ancient fortress built on precipitous terrain, seemingly constructed during the Song and Ming dynasties. It was originally built to block invasions from enemies, somewhat similar to the Great Wall, though in the end it wasn’t invaded by outsiders but was instead captured by troops dispatched by the Ming Dynasty. Who can really say what the rights and wrongs of the story are? Still, it has left behind a fun place for us later generations.
Visiting Hailongtun definitely requires you to be prepared for some climbing—essentially it's an aerobic outdoor activity. At over a thousand meters above sea level, it’s quite tiring. There are a total of nine passes at Hailongtun: the first six before entering the fortress—Tongzhu Pass, Tiezhu Pass, Feihu Pass, Feilong Pass, Chaotian Pass, and Feifeng Pass—and the last three behind the fortress: Wan’an Pass, Erdao Pass, and Shoudao Pass. Don’t ask me why I remember all this so clearly—I rented an electronic guide. Otherwise, with historical sites like this, just looking won’t tell you much—you have to listen to the stories to gain some insight. The layered passes of Hailongtun each offer different views, especially Feihu Pass, which felt stunningly beautiful.
Next is the final stop of our trip: the Hailongtun Tusi Town. If you ask what the biggest highlight of this town is, it’s the sense of time travel—like stepping back into the Ming Dynasty. Even the security guards wear Ming-style attire, and the buildings are all in Ming style. Here, you can deeply experience Tusi culture.
The architecture consists of wooden and brick structures from the Ming Dynasty, including walls and gates, which have been meticulously crafted to look weathered and partially collapsed. You can also see Ming soldiers drilling, as well as some ancient recreational activities like archery.
That’s the full itinerary my wife and I had. You might be wondering—what did you eat? Did you buy any souvenirs? Hehe, actually I didn’t miss anything out, it’s just that we ate different things every day, so I’ll just give you a unified introduction here to a few dishes we think are worth trying. As for souvenirs, you can buy them at Hailongtun Tusi Town—they’re not expensive and have a unique local Tusi character. You can’t find them elsewhere, and they make great gifts or keepsakes.
When it comes to food, perhaps due to its proximity to Chongqing, the local cuisine here is influenced by Sichuan dishes. As you can imagine, the flavors are on the sour, spicy, and slightly numbing side. Of course, for us spice lovers, that’s totally acceptable, haha, so gaining a few pounds over the trip was pretty much unavoidable.
Guizhou Spicy Chicken
Just look at the vibrant color—isn’t it making your mouth water? The taste is genuinely excellent, and I strongly recommend you order it.
Beef Noodles
In Guiyang, beef noodles are generally divided into red-braised beef and clear broth beef. The broth requires simmering for over ten hours to achieve a rich and aromatic flavor, which is then combined with seasonings to make a bowl of noodles that never gets old. Add some diced beef and beef slices—delicious!
Vegetarian Noodles
You might ask, why recommend these? Because they’re flavorful and refreshing. When you’re completely exhausted from hiking, this bowl of vegetarian noodles can quickly restore your energy, getting you ready to hit the next attraction.
Siwawa (Wrap Babies)
The ingredients are extremely varied—it’s one of the most distinctive local dishes. As for why it’s called “Siwawa” (Wrap Babies), well, let me show you how it’s wrapped.
There’s still plenty more to eat, drink, and do, but honestly, our vacation time in Guizhou was limited, so that’s all I can share with fellow travelers for now. I hope it provides some useful reference for your trip.