Guiyang skyline at dusk, with Jiaxiu LouGuiyang skyline at dusk, with Jiaxiu Lou
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guiyang-skyline-2.PNG
Author: Olemissius
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Guiyang (贵阳) is the capital and biggest city in Guizhou Province, in southwestern China. The prefecture-level city covers 8,034 sq km (3,101.9 sq mi) and has a population of 3.9 million people. It is located at an elevation of 1,275 m (4,183 ft) above sea level, on the eastern side of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, on the northern bank of the Nanming River.

As with most capital cities in China today, Guiyang is a modern city with a fair share of skyscrapers. Its economic activity stems from its position as the commercial hub for Guizhou Province. It is where wholesalers for the province are based. The city also has a growing pharmaceutical industry specializing in traditional Chinese medicine as well as Western medicine. Today the city enjoys a GDP in excess of ¥24,585 (2009).

The city of Guiyang is divided into eleven districts. Right at the heart of the city is the Big Ten (大十字), which is the Chinese character for ten (十), so in a way, x marks the spot for Guiyang's city center. The city experiences a humid subtropical climate. The warmest month is August, when average temperature rises to 28.5°C (83.3°F). January is the coldest month with average lows of 2.7°C (36.9°F). June is the wettest month, receiving 225.2 mm (8.866 in) of precipitation.

Guiyang Railway StationGuiyang Railway Station
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guiyang_Station.jpg
Author: Zhangmoon618
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Guiyang was founded in the 13th century, when the Mongols ruled China. Its original name was Shunyuan, which means "obeying the Yuan (the Mongol rulers)". The area was already inhabited by various non Chinese tribes before Guiyang was founded. It only grew during the Yuan Dynasty, and later on under the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Planning your trip to Guiyang

Taking a domestic flight to Guiyang is the fastest way to get there. There are flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming and Chengdu. Going to Guiyang by rail will be slow. Even a trip from neighboring Chongqing will take 12 hours, one from Kunming is overnight.

Exploring Guiyang

Guiyang has a well-developed bus network. However, you do need to understand some Chinese to use it. The fare is quite low, just ¥1 to ¥2.

Places of Interest in Guiyang

  1. Cuiwei Garden
    Originally part of a temple for the Goddess of Mercy, today it is a collection of late-Qing era buildings.

  2. Guizhou Provincial Museum
    Museum showcasing local artifacts, including a 1-meter high (3 ft) Han-era bronze horse and chariot.

  3. Hongfu Temple
    This is a temple built during the Qing Dynasty. It is located in a forested hillside reachable by cable car and sedan chair rides.

  4. Huaxi Park
    A park with pavilions and tea gardens located to the south of Guiyang.

  5. Jiaxiu Lou
    A Guiyang landmark, this is an inspirational meeting place for scholars. The 16th century historical pavilion was erected on a rock jutting out of Nanming Lake.

  6. Qianling Shan Park
    This is a park in northern Guiyang includes forested hills. It's a good place to watch the locals. The park even has a zoo and a small amusement park.

  7. Tianhetan
    Located outside Guiyang, this is a nature site with a cave system, canal and waterfall. You can explore on foot as well as take a boat ride.

  8. Yangming Lane
    Lane bustling with market activities.

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Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

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