Major city · China
Guiyang贵阳
Use Guiyang as a 2-night base for Guizhou: one day in the city, one day out to Qingyan or Huaxi, then move on to Anshun or Libo.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jun–Aug (rainy season, heavy downpours), Chinese New Year
- Airport
- KWE
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Guiyang is the capital of Guizhou and the transport hub for the province: high-speed rail to Chongqing, Kunming and Chengdu, plus buses to Anshun and Zunyi. The city itself is a half-day of sights — Jiaxiu Pavilion, Qianlingshan Park and two free museums — and most travellers use it as a bed between trips to Huangguoshu Waterfall, the Miao and Dong villages, and the karst country further south.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Guiyang, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyGuiyang is a low-crime city by Chinese standards; the real risks are summer downpours, traffic, and motorcycle taxis without helmets.
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckKWE Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (Metro Line 2 runs to the city; taxi about 15–20 min to the centre (check the flat rate)).
- Getting aroundMetro (GYURT) lines 1, 2, 3 and S1 cover the centre, both main rail stations and the airport; fares ¥2–6 (≈ under US$1).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥20–40 (≈ US$3–6)
- Street or quick mealNoodle bowl (suantang or beef noodles)¥10–25 (≈ US$2–4)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can at a shop¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5)¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi flagfall¥10 (≈ US$2)
- Metro or bus rideMetro ride¥2–6 (≈ under US$1)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryFree (most provincial museums)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCN¥60 (≈ US$9)
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomCN¥350 (≈ US$50)
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomCN¥700 (≈ US$100)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥250 (≈ US$35) · Mid CN¥500 (≈ US$70) · High CN¥1,000 (≈ US$140)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KWE Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (Metro Line 2 runs to the city; taxi about 15–20 min to the centre (check the flat rate))
Weather and climate
Guiyang: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C46°F
2°C35°F
15 rd
Feb
11°C52°F
4°C39°F
14 rd
Mar
16°C61°F
8°C46°F
16 rd
Apr
21°C70°F
12°C54°F
17 rd
May
24°C75°F
16°C60°F
18 rd
Jun
25°C78°F
19°C65°F
17 rd
Jul
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
16 rd
Aug
28°C82°F
20°C67°F
15 rd
Sep
25°C77°F
17°C63°F
13 rd
Oct
20°C67°F
13°C55°F
14 rd
Nov
15°C60°F
9°C47°F
12 rd
Dec
9°C49°F
3°C38°F
12 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Metro (GYURT) lines 1, 2, 3 and S1 cover the centre, both main rail stations and the airport; fares ¥2–6. Buses cost ¥2 and are Chinese-only. Taxis flag at ¥10, more late at night. Motorcycle taxis exist but no helmet is provided — agree the price first.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Qingyan Ancient Town
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Bus 203 from Guiyang railway station, or bus 210 from Huaguoyuan Wetlands Park
Ming-era stone town; ¥20 basic entry, ¥80 covers the historic buildings (check).
Huaxi Park and Tianhe Lake
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Bus 8 or 404 to Huaxi, then bus 211 or 701 to Tianhe Lake
Park entry ¥6; Tianhe Lake cave-and-waterfall tickets from ¥10 to ¥82 (check).
Anshun and Huangguoshu Waterfall
overnightDoor to door: 2–2.5 h
High-speed rail or long-distance bus to Anshun, then a local bus to the falls
The falls deserve a full day; sleep in Anshun rather than return.
Zunyi
goDoor to door: About 1 h by rail
High-speed rail from Guiyang North
Revolutionary-history sites and Maotai country; easy day or one night.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Nanming district (Jiaxiu Pavilion, railway station)
Central, walkable to the river sights and the old Guiyang railway station; best for a short stay.
Yunyan district (Beijing Road, Qianlingshan)
North of the centre, close to Qianlingshan Park and the art museum; quieter streets.
Guanshanhu district (Jinyang)
New district around Guiyang North railway station; convenient for high-speed rail but 12 km from the old centre.New district around Guiyang North railway station; convenient for high-speed rail but 7.5 mi from the old centre.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥250–450 (≈ US$35–65) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥450–900 (≈ US$65–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥900 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 2 nights × CN¥350 | CN¥700 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × CN¥500 | CN¥2,000 |
| Metro ride2 × CN¥4 · check | CN¥8 |
| Taxi across the centre1 × CN¥15 · check | CN¥15 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CN¥120 | CN¥240 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥296 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥815 per person per day, bed included | CN¥3,259≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in yuan; flights and rail tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Noodle bowl (suantang or beef noodles) | ¥10–25 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Sour fish hotpot, per person | ¥60–120 (≈ US$9–17) |
| Coffee | ¥20–40 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shop | ¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5) / ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Metro ride | ¥2–6 (≈ under US$1) |
| Taxi flagfall | ¥10 (≈ US$2) |
| Museum entry | Free (most provincial museums) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Three rail stations (Guiyang, Guiyang North, Guiyang East) are far apart: check which one your train uses before you leave.
- Summer is the rainy season — June to August brings the heaviest downpours.
- Qianlingshan's wild monkeys grab food and bags: keep snacks inside your pack.
- Some museums require a reservation through a Chinese mini-app; staff usually let foreign visitors in without one, but allow time.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Guiyang贵阳
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
Most countries' embassies are in Beijing; the US, UK and others have consulates-general in Chengdu, Chongqing and Guangzhou (check which covers Guizhou).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → city centre, taxi: about ¥60 (≈ US$9) flat, 15–20 min (check)
- Airport shuttle bus: about ¥10 (≈ US$2) (check)
- Metro ride: ¥2–6 (≈ under US$1)
- Taxi across the centre: about ¥10 (≈ US$2)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xiè)
- 多少钱？ — How much is it? (duō shǎo qián)
- 我不懂 — I don't understand (wǒ bù dǒng)
- 厕所在哪里？ — Where is the toilet? (cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ)
- 可以刷卡吗？ — Can I pay by card? (kě yǐ shuā kǎ ma)
Alipay and WeChat Pay work for almost everything; set them up before you fly.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Guiyang. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jun–Aug (rainy season, heavy downpours), Chinese New Year · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for KWE: Metro Line 2 last trains, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Jiaxiu Pavilion and the Nanming river, Qianlingshan and Hongfu Temple, the two museums, Guanshanhu.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Jiaxiu Pavilion, Qianlingshan, Guizhou Provincial Museum, Qingyan) and eat pages with last orders.
- Rain and monsoon fixtures so outdoor days can flip to museum days.
Sources
- officialGuiyang municipal government
- officialChina Railway 12306
- secondaryWikivoyage: Guiyang, revision 5250338 (CC BY-SA 4.0)