They say the land shapes its people, so the fairy-like beauty of Tianhe Pool must have nurtured someone with a story. No need for words—just standing casually by the street, and you can’t look away. The past, like mountains, rivers, and moonlit nights, is woven into his very being. One glance isn’t enough—you have to take another…
Some say the best way to understand a city is to wander its alleys, where not only moving stories await, but also childhood nostalgia.
“Ding-ding candy—ding-ding candy—ding-dang-dang ding candy—ding-ding candy—”
When the street vendors of Guiyang Story Street call out, it’s as if you’ve been transported back to your childhood days playing in front of the courtyard. Suddenly hearing that cry, it reverberates from one end of the street to the other, drawing children from every household to run outside and crowd around, all for a taste of that ding-ding candy.
The wind blows, and the dream fades, yet the air still carries traces of sweetness and floral fragrance. Petals from Tianhe Pool’s mountains drift with the breeze, settling on the rushing streams and gentle creeks, floating and dancing on the tip of your heart. Young lad, it’s only when you grow older that you realize indelible memories are homesickness, and the figure that walks away will eventually return home.
Guiyang Story Street boasts all the familiar sights of the Republic of China era—the Dazhongsi and Xiaozhongsi districts and Fountain Pool of the 1920s and 30s, the old department store, post office building, office buildings, and old bank of the 1950s… Each spot is a scene from those times. Walk a little, pause a little, and you’ll marvel at the passage of time. The ink-painted cheongsams of memory, the Sino-Western architecture you dash past—all carry a unique flavor of the past. Every mountain and stream retains its old face, every beam and column tells its own tale.
Here, you can also sample a variety of Guiyang snacks: marinated rice noodles, Anshun rolls, silk babies, Number One Scholar’s Pig Trotter, Love Tofu Puffs, corn candy, tofu balls, ice pops, yam sticks… Whether you’ve heard of them or not, you can try them all here. Take a bite, look around, and see the merchants dressed in Republic of China attire calling out to passersby in their distinctive tones. Turn around, and a rickshaw puller weaves through the street market—right beside you, a stylishly elegant woman sits in the rickshaw, her every smile and glance sweeping you into a long corridor of time, as if you’ve stepped straight into the bustling life of those days, rich and vibrant. Oh, and don’t forget your loved one—pick out a little love token for both of you here.
Since you’re at Tianhe Pool, visiting Guiyang’s most famous mansions and residences is an unmissable experience. Through the rise and fall of dynasties, celebrities and warlords built numerous estates and mansions in Guiyang, the most renowned of which is the “Mao Mansion.” When you hear “Mao Mansion,” you probably think you know the story. But the truth is more surprising than you’d expect. Though it bears the name “Mao,” it was actually Chiang Kai-shek—Mao Zedong’s longtime rival—who lived here for quite some time. It’s called the Mao Mansion because its original owner was Mao Guangxiang, the Chairman of Guizhou Province during the Republic of China era. A native of Tongzi, Guizhou, this high-ranking former head of the Guizhou Provincial Military Affairs Department was once a dominant figure, but due to a timid nature and shifting circumstances, he often faced constraints and achieved little. In the memories of old Guiyang residents, the Mao Mansion was unimaginably vast. It’s said that even today’s Guiyang Liuguangmen Sports Stadium was once the Maos’ horse-riding grounds. With such a figure and such grandeur, how could you not pay it a visit?
And rivaling the Mao Mansion is the Wang Jialie Mansion, also known as the Hufeng Villa. Influenced by European Romanesque architecture, it stands out for its overall design and is a masterpiece of East-meets-West style—absolutely worth seeing. This was the private residence of Wang Jialie, the last Chairman of Guizhou Province during the Nationalist government era and a warlord of the Guizhou clique. Wang Jialie, once the deputy to Mao Guangxiang, was known within the Tongzi military-political clique for his steadiness, straightforwardness, and skill in battle. Unlike Mao Guangxiang’s passive resistance in his later years, Wang Jialie cared about Guizhou’s development and the lives of its people. These efforts also added a glorious chapter to his military career.
The wheels of history roll forward relentlessly, and those who once held the fate of Guizhou in their hands have all turned to dust and vanished without a trace. History is endless, and one day, even the present will become history, leaving behind only a few wisps of breeze wandering among the mountains, waters, and clouds, accompanied by flowers and birdsong.
Hundreds of millions of years ago, the area now known as Tianhe Pool was once an ocean. Through the shifting of time and the transformation of landscapes, that ancient sea has become the unique terrain of Guizhou today. In the core scenic area of Tianhe Pool, the distinctive karst landforms take the forms of mountains, water, caves, pools, waterfalls, natural bridges, and canyons. You can take a boat through a water cave covered in stalactites, witness cascading waterfalls, or hike through a cave that feels like another world. Surrounded by mountains and water, with interconnected caves and streams, you’ll move through different attractions as if strolling through entirely different worlds.
Even just strolling around the picturesque Moon Lake along the lakeside wooden boardwalk can let you feel the unique charm of Tianhe Pool. As evening falls, couples pause in the waterfront leisure area, order a cup of latte, and enjoy an international-style water show—“The Charm of Tianhe.” The majestic water screen and delicate song and dance blend perfectly, vividly reflecting the fairyland seen during the day. With the melody of “High Mountains and Flowing Water,” a water curtain shoots into the sky, showcasing the perfect harmony of ethnic flavor and modern performance. Amid the awe, all fatigue and worries melt away, immersing you in the unique sentiment of Guizhou’s ethnic cultures, awakening long-forgotten memories deep in your heart, and letting you fully experience the distinct essence of Guizhou.
To understand the sentiments of the past, appreciate the flavors of the present, and envision the possibilities of the future—just like Tianhe Pool, which endures wind, frost, snow, and rain, and stands strong against the passage of time, remaining beautiful. The land shapes its people, and the landscape shapes its charm. The soul of Guiyang lies hidden within the breathtaking beauty of Tianhe Pool, as if gently cleansed, carrying responsibility, stories, and layers of meaning to ponder.
Spend the most leisurely time at Tianhe Pool, and meet the best version of yourself.