Northwest Guizhou Highland Summer Escape Loop
A self-drive loop around the Wumeng Mountains from Guiyang, featuring Zhijin Cave, Baili Dujuan, Jiucaiping, Caohai Lake, and alpine grasslands.
Explore the highest altitude region of Guizhou, which remains cool in summer and sees fewer tourists than the eastern route. The itinerary features stops at a karst cave, azalea forests, Jiucaiping, Caohai Lake, and the Wumeng Grassland, keeping daily drives to around 3 hours. Since the azaleas and chive flowers bloom in different seasons, you will need to choose based on the month of your visit. Some sections exceed 2,800 meters in altitude, making this ideal for families and returning visitors looking for a cool summer road trip.
See azaleas in April and chive flowers in August (blooming seasons do not overlap); watch out for icy roads at high altitudes in winter.
Day by day
Day 1 · Zhijin Cave & Zhijin Ancient Town
Baili Rhododendron & Zhijin Cave（Zhijin Cave、Zhijin Old Town）
Drive from Guiyang along the highway to Zhijin Cave (about 1.5 to 2 hours), walk inside the cave for about 2.5 hours, and continue to the county seat (about half an hour).
Stay: Zhijin County
Day 2 · Huawu Village to Baili Dujuan
Baili Rhododendron & Zhijin Cave（Wujiang Source Gallery & Huawu Village、Baili Rhododendron Forest）
Drive from Zhijin to Huawu Village at the source of the Wujiang River (about 1 hour), then continue to Pudi (about 1.5 hours), and use the sightseeing buses inside the scenic area.
Stay: Pudi (Baili Azalea Forest)
Day 3 · Shexiang's Homeland to Jiucaiping
Baili Rhododendron & Zhijin Cave（Mu'ege Ancient City (Guizhou Pacification Commission Mansion)、Tomb of Shexiang & Shexiang Museum） → Weining (Caohai Lake)（Axilixi Grassland）
Drive from Pudi to Dafang (about 1 hour), then continue to the Hezhang area in the afternoon (about 2.5 hours) along winding mountain roads.
Stay: Hezhang County Seat
Day 4 · Greater Jiucaiping to Caohai
Weining (Caohai Lake)（Da Jiucaiping、Baicaoping Grassland、Caohai Lake）
Drive from Hezhang up to Greater Jiucaiping (about 1 hour), and after your visit, drive via Baicaoping to Caohai (about 2.5 hours).
Jiucaiping sits at an altitude of over 2,800 meters, so bring a jacket; parking is tight on August weekends.
Stay: Caohai Lakeside
Day 5 · Caohai to Shuicheng (Liupanshui)
Liupanshui（Guizhou Third Front Construction Museum、Shuicheng Ancient Town）
Watch birds by the lake at dawn, drive along the highway to Liupanshui in the morning (about 2 hours), and use local taxis for short trips within the city.
Stay: Shuicheng Ancient Town
Day 6 · Yeyuhai to Wumeng Grassland
Liupanshui（Yeyuhai Mountain Resort、Beipanjiang Bridge Duge、Wumeng Grassland）
Drive from Shuicheng to Yeyuhai (about 40 minutes), then cross the Beipanjiang River Bridge to the Wumeng Grassland (about 2 hours).
The Wumeng Grassland requires advance reservations; it gets foggy easily in the mornings and evenings, so keep warm.
Stay: Around Wumeng Grassland
Day 7 · Grassland Sunrise & Return to Guiyang
Watch the sunrise over the sea of clouds at dawn, then drive back to Guiyang along the Shanghai-Kunming direction in the morning, taking about 3.5 to 4 hours.