Grand Guizhou Self-Drive Loop

A comprehensive self-drive loop starting and ending in Guiyang, covering all nine prefectures and cities, including waterfalls, Danxia, Fanjingshan, ethnic villages, and the FAST Telescope.

Covering nearly 3,000 km, this clockwise loop around Guizhou connects the peak forests of the west, the Chishui Danxia of the north, Fanjingshan of the east, and the ethnic villages and Libo of the south. The original itinerary had one very long driving day, which has been split here with an overnight stay in Zhijin. The average daily drive is about 3 hours along many mountain roads, so having two drivers to take turns is recommended. Perfect for travelers with plenty of time who want to see all of Guizhou in one go.

Avoid winter when mountain roads can freeze, and June–August when some sections carry landslide risks.

Day by day

Day 1 · Tunpu & Longpalace to Huangguoshu

Anshun（Tianlong Tunpu、Dragon Palace Cave (Longgong)）

Drive from Guiyang to Tianlong Tunpu (about 1 hour), then to Longpalace (about 40 minutes), covering about 130 km for the day.

Stay: Huangguoshu Town

Day 2 · Huangguoshu to Qinglong

Anshun（Huangguoshu Waterfall、Tianxing Bridge Scenic Area） → Qinglong

Explore the waterfalls in the morning, and take the highway to Qinglong in the afternoon (about 1.5 hours, covering 70 km).

Stay: Qinglong County Town

Day 3 · 24-Zig Road to Xingyi

Qinglong（24-Bend Road (Stilwell Road)） → Xingyi（Malinghe Canyon）

Drive from Qinglong via Xingren to the Maling River (about 2.5 hours), then continue to Nahui Village (about 1 hour), covering about 200 km for the day.

Stay: Nahui Village

Day 4 · Wanfenglin to Liupanshui

Xingyi（Wanfenglin Peak Forest） → Liupanshui（Minghu National Wetland Park）

Explore Wanfenglin in the morning, and take the highway to Liupanshui in the afternoon (about 3 hours, covering about 250 km).

Stay: Zhongshan District Downtown

Day 5 · Shuicheng to Zhijin Cave

Baili Rhododendron & Zhijin Cave（Zhijin Cave、Zhijin Old Town）

Drive from Liupanshui to Zhijin Cave (about 2.5 hours), spend about 2.5 hours inside the cave, and reach the county seat by evening.

Stay: Zhijin County

Day 6 · Head North to Maotai Liquor Town

Maotai Town（China Liquor Culture City、Maotai Old Street (Yangliuwan)）

Drive from Zhijin towards Bijie and take the highway to Maotai Town (about 3.5 hours), followed by a walking tour of the town in the afternoon.

Stay: Maotai Old Town

Day 7 · Meijiu River to Chishui

Chishui（Tucheng Ancient Town、Foguang Rock）

Drive along the Chishui River Valley Road to Tucheng (about 2.5 hours), then continue to Foguangyan and Chishui city center, covering about 160 km.

Stay: Chishui City Center

Day 8 · Great Waterfall & Bing'an to Zunyi

Chishui（Chishui Grand Waterfall (Shizhangdong)、Bing'an Ancient Town） → Zunyi & Meitan

Drive from the city center to the Great Waterfall (about 1 hour), then pass Bing'an to join the highway to Zunyi (about 3.5 hours), covering about 300 km for the day.

Stay: Honghuagang Area Around the Conference Site

Day 9 · Zunyi Conference Site to Fanjingshan

Zunyi & Meitan（Zunyi Conference Site、Red Army Street） → Tongren（Zhaisha Dong Village）

Explore the conference site on foot in the morning, and take the highway to the East Gate of Fanjingshan in the afternoon (about 3 hours, covering 260 km).

Stay: Zhaisha Dong Village

Day 10 · Climb Fanjingshan and Transfer to Zhenyuan

Tongren（Mushroom Rock、Red Cloud Golden Summit） → Xijiang Miao Village & Zhenyuan

Enter the mountain early, spend about half a day using the sightseeing bus and cable car, and drive to Zhenyuan in the afternoon (about 2.5 hours, covering 150 km).

Book East Route tickets in advance and aim for the earliest entry; otherwise, the afternoon drive will be tight.

Stay: Zhenyuan Old Town

Day 11 · Zhenyuan Ancient Town to Xijiang

Xijiang Miao Village & Zhenyuan（Zhenyuan Ancient Town、Qinglongdong Ancient Architectural Complex、Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village）

Explore the ancient town and Qinglong Cave in the morning, and drive via Kaili to Xijiang in the afternoon (about 2 hours).

Stay: Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village

Day 12 · Xijiang to Zhaoxing & Tang'an

Zhaoxing, Congjiang & Rongjiang Dong Villages（Tang'an Dong Village、Zhaoxing Dong Village）

Drive south from Xijiang to Zhaoxing (about 3 hours, covering about 250 km), and head up to Tang'an in the afternoon (about half an hour).

Stay: Zhaoxing Dong Village

Day 13 · Basha to Libo Ancient Town

Zhaoxing, Congjiang & Rongjiang Dong Villages（Basha Miao Village） → Libo（Libo Ancient Town）

Drive from Zhaoxing to Basha (about 1.5 hours), then take the highway to Libo (about 2.5 hours, covering about 180 km).

The roads are prone to landslides during the June–August rainy season; check road conditions before departing.

Stay: Libo County Seat

Day 14 · Xiaoqikong to Astronomical Town

Libo（Xiaoqikong Scenic Area、Water Forest (Shuishang Senlin)、Wolong Pool） → Pingtang（Pingtang Astronomy Town）

Drive from the county seat to the East Gate (about half an hour), explore for about 5 hours, and drive to Kedu in the afternoon (about 2.5 hours).

Stay: Kedu Astronomy Town

Day 15 · FAST Telescope & Qingyan to Guiyang

Pingtang（FAST Observation Deck） → Guiyang（Qingyan Ancient Town）

Go up to the observation deck in the morning (about 3 hours), drive back in the afternoon (about 2.5 hours), with a stop at Qingyan Ancient Town on the way.

The FAST Telescope requires real-name reservations in advance; electronic devices including car keys must be stored in lockers.