Southwest Guizhou Self-Drive Loop: Peaks & Canyons
A self-drive loop from Guiyang via Huangguoshu and the 24-Zig Road to the peak forests of Xingyi, returning via the Huajiang Canyon Bridge.
Head out along the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway to see the waterfalls and the Stilwell Road, spend two nights in Xingyi to explore Wanfenglin (Ten Thousand Peaks Forest) and Maling River Canyon, and return via the Liuan Expressway to visit the Huajiang Canyon Bridge without backtracking. This route is perfect for road trip enthusiasts and returning visitors who have already seen eastern Guizhou. If you are not driving, you can take the Panxing High-Speed Railway to Xingyi South Station and just do the second half.
Visit Wanfenglin in spring for canola flowers, or from September to October for golden rice paddies.
Day by day
Day 1 · Longpalace to Huangguoshu
Anshun（Dragon Palace Cave (Longgong)、Shitouzhai Buyi Village）
Drive from Guiyang along the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway to Longpalace (about 1.5 hours), and continue to Huangguoshu Town (about 1 hour) after your visit.
Stay: Huangguoshu Town
Day 2 · Huangguoshu to Qinglong
Anshun（Huangguoshu Waterfall、Tianxing Bridge Scenic Area） → Qinglong（Amei Qituo Town）
Explore the waterfalls in the morning, then drive along the highway to Qinglong in the afternoon, taking about 1.5 hours for the 70 km journey.
Stay: Qinglong County Town
Day 3 · 24-Zig Road to Maling River
Qinglong（24-Bend Road (Stilwell Road)、24-Bend Anti-war Museum） → Xingyi（Malinghe Canyon）
Visit the 24-Zig Road in the morning, drive via Xingren to the Maling River (about 2.5 hours), and continue to Nahui Village (about 1 hour).
The canyon floor is wet and slippery, so wear non-slip shoes; the mountain roads around the 24-Zig are narrow, so slow down when passing oncoming cars.
Stay: Nahui Village
Day 4 · Wanfenglin & Wanfeng Lake
Xingyi（Wanfenglin Peak Forest、Wanfo Temple, Wanfenglin、Nahui Village、Wanfeng Lake）
Take a sightseeing bus or ride a bicycle in Wanfenglin, drive to Wanfeng Lake in the afternoon (about half an hour), and return to Nahui Village for the night.
Stay: Nahui Village
Day 5 · Huajiang Canyon Bridge & Return to Guiyang
Xingyi（Xingyi Breakfast & Snacks） → Anshun（Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge） → Guiyang
Drive from Xingyi along the highway to the Huajiang Bridge Visitor Center (about 2.5 hours), and return to Guiyang after your visit (about 2 hours and 40 minutes).
Navigate to the tourist area's visitor service center; parking is not allowed on the bridge deck, so check reservation requirements beforehand.