Southern Guizhou

All of Qiannan Prefecture: Libo's karst scenery and Pingtang's FAST "China Sky Eye" stand side by side, with Buyi and Shui ethnic culture and tea country as well.

Southern Guizhou corresponds to the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, in the south of Guizhou next to Guangxi. Its best-known destination is Libo, part of the South China Karst World Natural Heritage site. Xiaoqikong is famed for its emerald-green water, ancient bridge and cascades, Daqikong is a deep, secluded gorge, and the Maolan Reserve preserves large tracts of primeval karst forest. In Kedu Town, Pingtang County, stands the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, known as "China Sky Eye", with an astronomy experience hall and viewing platform, making it a popular destination for science-minded travelers. The prefectural capital Duyun is famous for Duyun Maojian tea, and both banks of the Jian River are pleasant for an evening stroll. Sandu is a major Shui ethnic area, and the rapeseed and plum blossoms at Yinzhai in Guiding are well known in spring. The classic itinerary heads south from Guiyang: two days in Libo, one day at the Sky Eye in Pingtang, then back via Duyun, about four days in total. It can also be linked with routes in Qiandongnan and northern Guangxi. For transport, the Guiyang–Nanning high-speed line has a Libo station, the Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed line passes through Duyun, and Libo also has an airport. To reach the Sky Eye you need to travel by road from the county seat or nearby towns. Xiaoqikong is crowded in peak season, so enter the park early. At the Sky Eye viewing platform, phones, cameras and other electronic devices must be checked in to avoid interfering with observations, and visitor numbers are limited, so book ahead.

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Itineraries