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- Guizhou
- The Land of Minorities
A landlocked region in the southwestern part of China, Guizhou
is well known for its diversified minority culture, most of
them remaining intact. More than 30 percent of the 30 million
Guizhou population are minorities. With beautiful mountains,
waterfalls and ethnic embroidery, Guizhou is becoming more and
more popular among tourists from China and other foreign countries.
Still a relatively untapped frontier, Guizhou is exotic and
mysterious, offering a fresh touch of ethnicity and the pure
beauty of nature.
- Guiyang City
Ratings
- ** The
following ratings are based on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the
best.
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- Quick
Facts
- Area - 170
thousand square km
Population - 30 million
- When to
go
- Tourist Season
- May to October ;
Coldest Months - January, with temperature as low as -10C;
Hottest Months - July, with temperature as high as 30C;
- Getting
In and Out
- By Air - Guiyang
has direct flights with Hong Kong and 29 other Chinese cities.;
By Train - Guiyang is at the hub of railway lines with Chengdu
(967 km), Nanning (865 km), Kunming (639) and Changsha.
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History
- Guiyang
- The capital
of Guizhou, Guiyang is a modern city with nothing much unusual
to see. However, it is the major gateway to other tourist attractions
in the province.
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Local Culture/Unique Tour
- Dragon
Palace * *
- Located in
the western suburbs of Anshun city, the palace is an underground
cavern with lakes, waterfalls and other scenic spots. The cave
resembles the crystal palace of the Dragon King; hence the name.
On the right of the Dragon Gate is a 45-meter-long cave drop.
Above is Tianchi (Heavenly Pool), also known as Dragon Pool,
measuring over ten thousand square meters with an average depth
of 43 meters. It is the source of Dragon Gate Falls, and the
entrance of Dragon Palace. The whole of the Dragon Palace is
a string of beads composed of a narrow path, caves and caverns
with dripping stalactites and stalagmites in fantastic shapes.
- Chaiguan
Village * *
- Chaiguan Village
is a 9 km northeast of Anshun and about 60 km north of the Huangguoshu
Waterfalls. The masked peasant opera here is interesting. Mask
museums are worth a visit to see the carving process of masks
used in operas.
- Kaili Ethnic
Customs and Villages * * *
- Kaili is the
capital of Southeast Guizhou Miao and Dong Nationalities Autonomous
Prefecture. The customs and life styles of the nationalities
are rich and colorful. There are 135 grand and majestic ethnic
festivals. Most Miao and Dong villagers live in houses projecting
over the waters in their villages. There are lots of high drum
towers and wayside pavilions, temples and bridges, which serve
as shelters against wind and rain. Visitors will be treated
with rice wine, songs and dances accompanied by Lusheng, Mangtong
and other music instruments.
- Huaxi Ethnic
Scenic Spot * * *
- Huaxi, 17
kilometers southwest of Guiyang city, is a place where Miao,
Bouyi and Dong nationalities live in compact communities. Huaxi
Park is a nature reserve with underground caves known for their
crystal clear water and grotesque stalactites and stalagmites.
Here one can not only enjoy the Lusheng (reed pipes) evening
parties of singing and dancing with the ethnic folk, but visit
ancient buildings such as the ancient city of Qingqan, known
for its nine monasteries, eight temples, four towers and two
memorial temples. Acclaimed as Pearls on the Plateau, it is
a place embracing spectacular natural scenery, sites of historic
interest, colorful customs and life styles of ethnic minorities.
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Nature/ Scenic
- Huangguoshu
Waterfalls * * * * *
- Located 150
km west of Guiyang, the Huangguoshu Waterfalls are the largest
in Asia. The waterfalls measure 74 meters tall and 81 meters
wide with a total drop of 90 meters. In the middle part of the
falls a cave arches into the cliff-side and is fancifully curtained
by a sheet of water. There are other falls in the areas such
as Luositan Waterfall and Yinlianzhui Waterfall. In addition,
there are more than 10 caverns and Tianxinqiao Stone Forest,
with stalactites and stalagmites of curious shapes. The best
time to visit the falls is June to early October after the rains.
Still undeveloped for tourism, Huangguoshu Waterfalls are ideal
spots to appreciate the beauty of nature.
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