Nestled in southwest China’s mountains, Guizhou is a land of misty valleys, jagged limestone peaks, and villages where ethnic minorities keep centuries-old customs alive. Over 18 ethnic groups, including the Miao and Dong peoples, call this green paradise home. From thundering waterfalls to golden rice terraces, every corner tells a story of harmony between humans and nature.
Ethnic Villages
Guizhou’s ethnic villages, scattered like cultural jewels across its misty mountains, each village whispers stories of heritage. Matang Gejia Village dazzles with indigo batik patterns and silversmithing passed down through generations; Zhaoxing Dong Village resonates with the grandeur of drum towers and polyphonic folk ballads; Xijiang Miao Village captivates with its lantern-lit nights and mist-draped terraced fields.
Xiaoqikong Scenic Area
This UNESCO-listed karst wonder looks like a painting come to life. Emerald rivers flow under ancient stone bridges, while waterfalls splash into pools so clear you can see fish darting below. Wooden paths wind through forests where rare birds sing.
Huangguoshu Waterfall
As China’s largest waterfall, Huangguoshu drops 77 meters like a silver curtain into a crystal pool. Walk behind the cascading water through a natural cave—feel the spray on your face and spot rainbows dancing in the mist.
Jiabang Rice Terraces
Carved into steep mountains over 2,000 years, these terraces turn golden in autumn. Local Yao farmers still plant rice using buffalo-drawn plows. Stay in a local guesthouse to wake up to sunrise views of mist weaving through the layered fields—a scene photographers call “the breathing earth.”
Fanjing Mountain
A UNESCO site and Buddhist sacred peak, Fanjing’s twin temples sit atop a 2,570-meter “mushroom rock.” Hike through forests sheltering rare monkeys with golden fur (Guizhou snub-nosed monkeys), or ride the world’s highest cable car above seas of clouds.
Guizhou