Western Guizhou

The western Guizhou plateau of Bijie, Liupanshui and Qianxinan offers karst peak forests, caves, azalea seas and a cool climate.

Western Guizhou includes Bijie, Liupanshui and the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It lies in the Wumeng Mountains of western Guizhou, where Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi meet, and its high average elevation keeps summers cool. Xingyi in Qianxinan is the classic karst peak-forest destination: the Wanfenglin countryside is dotted with Buyi villages, and the Maling River Gorge has clusters of waterfalls. The 24 Bends at Qinglong is a famous switchback section of the wartime Yunnan–Guizhou highway and bears witness to the history of the Stilwell Road. Liupanshui is known as "China's Cool City" for its low summer temperatures, and Panzhou's Wumeng Grassland and winter ski resort are both popular. In Bijie, the Baili Azalea Reserve blooms across the hills every spring, and Zhijin Cave is known for its vast halls and richly varied stalactites. Weining's Caohai is a plateau freshwater lake where black-necked cranes and other migratory birds spend the winter. There are two classic routes: a spring trip of about three days along Bijie's flower fields and Zhijin Cave, and a summer self-drive of about 4–5 days from Xingyi via Qinglong to Liupanshui to escape the heat. Covering the whole region takes seven days or more. For transport, Xingyi, Liupanshui and Bijie all have airports, the Shanghai–Kunming high-speed line passes through northern Qianxinan and Panzhou in Liupanshui, and the Chengdu–Guiyang high-speed line serves some counties and cities in Bijie. Mountain roads are winding, steep and often foggy, so drive carefully. When birdwatching at Caohai, keep your distance and do not disturb the flocks.

Destinations

Itineraries