GoGuiyang – The official guide to Guiyang (goguiyang.weebly.com)
for enlarged view of this map see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9567466269/sizes/l/in/photostream/
GoGuiyang is the only guide to Guiyang made by foreigners for foreigners. It is inspired by the amazing people we have met and places we have been since coming here and we wish to pass on that gift so you can get the most out of your time in Guiyang. If you would like to help contribute to the site please contact us: emyxter@gmail.com .
website: goguiyang.weebly.com/
Note: Listings change. Check website for latest updates.
Western Restaurants
Best Western Restaurants in Guiyang
1. Grandma’s Kitchen
2. Kempinski Buffet
3. Sheraton Hotel
4. Ramada’s Aroma Cafe
5. Highlands Coffee
(from goguiyang.weebly.com/western-food.html )
Bars / Nightlife
Bars
1. Pu Bar
Owned by a Guizhou coal boss, Pu Bar is one of the hippest and most international places in Guiyang. It is also the only bar that is known to bring in national and international rock / jazz acts to play shows. With a wide assortment of foreign beers and liquors, Pu Bar is definately a place to check out if you have the money.
Good = Live music, international atmosphere, imported beer / alcohol
Bad = Expensive, must buy beer in groups of at least six.
2. Small Circle of Friends
Owned by a collective of Guiyang’s most wealthy hipsters, Small Circle of Friends has two locations. Both double as a coffee shop during a day and a party spot at night. The Da Xi Men （大西门）location is also the home of Guiyang’s hip-hop scene, with some nights ending in intense Chinese rap battles.
Good = Local hip-hop culture, local sports car club, happening place to be in Guiyang
Bad = Expensive
3. Bar Street
Known by all the locals Bar Street has exactly what you would expect, a lot of cheap, Chinese style bars with street food right outside. Most of the bars offer the same type of coosy red sofa interiors where you and your friend buy a case of snow beer and some sunflower seeds for around 100 yuan while you play drinking games.
4. Tibetan Bar
5. Rooftop Bar
Located on the third floor of a swanky new Chinese hotel across the street of Guizhou Normal University’s back gate, this rooftop bar offers Guiyang’s only place where one can relax in a really modern setting without the pressure of having to drink a lot. The menu offers semi-expensive Chinese beer and Chinese/Imported red wine. If it is a nice day / night and you want to enjoy a conversation with friends over a glass of alochol, you have found the right spot.
6. Xiaohe BoBo Music Bar
Clubs
1. TT club
2. Soho
3. Muse
4. Pink
(from goguiyang.weebly.com/bars–nightlife.html )
Study Chinese
Guiyang has two Universities in which accept foreigners to learn Chinese.
1. Guizhou University – Known as the best University in Guizhou, Guizhou University accepts has the largest and most developed Chinese studying program in Guiyang. With over 200 foreign students (mostly from SE Asia) Chinese studies at Guizhou University are seperated into four different classes: Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Intermediate and Advanced. The teacher quality ranges from amazing to ok and the tution is some of the cheapest in the country. The standard student has 14-16 hours of classes a week all at Guizhou University’s Huaxi campus. The average class size is 10-20 for the beginner classrooms and 5-10 for the intermediate and advanced classes. One-on-one tutoring is also available.
2. Guizhou Normal University – Right in the heart of the city Guizhou Normal University is the only other University with a foreign language learning program. The tuition is really cheap, but most students at the school say the program is not structured nor are many of the students serious about studying.
(from goguiyang.weebly.com/work–study.html )
Jiaxiu Tower and Cuiwei Garden (甲秀楼)
Our take: The Jiaxiu tower is a symbol of Guiyang and it is neat to go to at least once in your trip or stay here. At night when the lights are on it can be a beautiful sight to behold. If you are not interested in the history behind the tower, there is a nice traditional Chinese tea house located at the tower. At the tea house we recommend going through a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. The tower is free for those who want to take a look, tea ceremony price ranges anywhere between 100-1000+ yuan depending on the tea you want.
China’s tourism bureru’s take: The Jiaxiu Tower is a symbol and a key historical monument under state protection. Standing on the huge Turtle Rock in the Nanming River, the Jiaxiu Tower is close to the Avalokitesvara Temple and Cuiwei Pavilion. IN 1598, the 26th year of the Wanli reign of the MIng Dynasty, Governor Jiang Dongzhi of Guizhou Province had an embankemnt and a tower built, which was named Jiaxiu Tower to encourage local scholars to win success in the imperial examinations.
The Jiaxiu tower is a three-story pavilion with three eaves, four corners and a pointed top. The fuyu Bride is like a jdae belt floating on water. Crossing the fuyu bridge, tourists will come to the Cuiwei garden which integrates a temple and a countyard and is decorated with sojme tourist attractions, such as Gongnan Pavilion and Longmen Academy.
Getting there: No. 15, 46, 52 and 62 buses
Qianling Park (黔灵公园)
Our Take: Qianling Mountain Park is Guiyang’s pride and joy. The park features extensive hiking trails, a large lake, a zoo, an amusement park as well as a large pack of wild monkeys who are famous for attacking walkers for their soda pop and snacks. Ticket price is 5 yuan. Downsides: Park is often very crowded. Upsides: climbing to the top of the mountain on the clear day gives you the best possible view of Guiyang city.
China’s tourism bureau’s take: Situated on the norwestern corner of Guiyang City, the Qianling Park is a national AAAA scenic zone. The park is named after Qianling Mountain, which is known as”No. 1 Mountain in SOuth Guizhou..” The scenic zone has towering mountains and green trees, and the forest cover an area of over four million sq m. It is a rarely seen forest park in the city. The Qianling Park is home to a wide variety of birds, and many macaques, which love to play with tourists, showing harmonious atmosphere between man and nature.
Getting there: No.1 or No.2 bus to Qianling Park （黔灵公园qianling gongyuan） stop
official website
Red Maple Lake (红枫湖)
Our Take: Red Maple Lake is really beautiful and rare place in China. The wonderful mountains that surround and exist in the lake, along with the large amounts of birds that fly through the area really makes it a sight to see in Guiyang. That being said the lake is slightly ruined by the tourism development. If you choose to go through the gate to see the lake the ticket price is cheap but the attraction is to go island hopping to see fake minority villages is not. Speed boats are 250 yuan a group and slower boats are around 100yuan. While interesting in its own right, I would highly recommend sneaking around the gate to find one of the many shorelines of the lake that are not develop for tourism. Here you will find hiking trails, local’s fishing and good places to have a picnic or fun in the sun.
China’s tourism bureau’s take: Situated in Qingzhen City in the west of Guiyang, it is a national scenic and historic interest zone, and a national AAAA scenic zone. With a water area of 57.2 km sq, Red Maple lLake is the largest man-made lake in Guizhou. The scenic zone is known for the karst landform and beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains. The islands in North Lake, the bay in Rear Lake, the caves in South Lake and the hills in Mid Lake are called the “four wonders” of Red Maple Lake. The surrounding ares are inhabited by Miao, Buyi, Yi and other ethnic minorities; hence the customs and lifestyle of ethnic minoities are an important component part of the tour of Red Maple Lake
Getting There: Go to Jinyang bus station. From there take a bus to QingZhen (10 yuan) This bus leaves every 10 minutes from morning until night. Once in QingZhen (about 20-30 minutes) take the No. 3 bus to its last stop Red Maple Lake (to get around the gate, go up the road, take a right into a village, walk about 15 minutes and arrive at the lakeshore)
Qingyan Ancient Town
Our take: Every city in China seems to have an acient town, but Qingyan really is something special. Unlike other acient towns much of the architecure is original or has not been done up to much. What’s more right outside of the town are actual villages where people spend their lives. The landscapes are beautiful, the buildings are actually old and the food is great. We highly recommend having the Qingyan pig’s feet and their local tofu.
China’s tourism bureau’s take: Qingyan town in Huaxi district is a famous historic and cultural town in China. The layout of the old town retains the architectural styles of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. NOw the old town preserves one city gate, four streets and 26 streets and lanes paved with flagstones, three stone memorial archways, and ancient wood-structure houses along the streets, showing the characteristics of the civilian residences in south China. In addition to the Buddhist and Taoist temples, the town also boasts a Catholic and Christian churches.
Getting there: At the gate of Hebin park there is a road. There you will find a line for the 210 bus. This bus takes you directly to Qingyan Ancient Town. You can also go to Huaxi using many different buses and from huaxi town find the special Qingyang Ancient Town bus that drops you off at the site.