A 7-Day Leisurely Trip to Guiyang: Explore Ancient Towns, Hot Springs, and Mountains via Two Suburban Routes

This seven-day, six-night itinerary is based on the principle of "visiting only two or three points each day," breaking down Guiyang's mountains, rivers, old streets, ancient towns, and hot springs into a leisurely itinerary. Days 3 and 4 offer two branches: Route A focuses on Qingyan Ancient Town and Huaxi's cultural attractions, while Route B focuses on Hongfeng Lake and Wudang Hot Springs' natural healing. Participants can choose one based on their physical condition, and the remaining days are fully compatible.

Day 1 | Arrive in Guiyang, see the night view of Jiaxiu Tower along the Nanming River

After arriving in the afternoon, check into a hotel near Dashizi or Jiaxiu Tower. In the evening, take a walk along the Nanming River. The night view of Jiaxiu Tower is one of Guiyang's most recognizable sights. It's recommended to walk from Fuyu Bridge to Hanbi Pavilion, then circle around to the Cuiwei Garden side for a better view; there are fewer people and the lights are reflected perfectly. For dinner, you can try sour fish soup nearby. For a milder option, choose the red sour soup; for older people and children, we recommend the white or clear broth.

Day 2 | Qianling Mountain Park and Guizhou Provincial Museum

Enter Qianling Mountain Park from the south gate in the morning. The gentle slope path leads to Hongfu Temple in about 20 minutes. There are many macaques along the way, but please do not feed them. To descend, you can take the cable car or walk slowly along the path. In the afternoon, visit the new Guizhou Provincial Museum, focusing on the ethnic artifacts and paleontology exhibition hall. The museum is well-air-conditioned and has a gentle layout, making it suitable for families with elderly people and children. In the evening, you can go to Qingyun Road Night Market. Grilled tofu, "silk doll" (a type of steamed bun), and ice jelly are all popular snacks for all ages. Be sure to choose a clean seat.

Day 3 | Route A: Qingyan Ancient Town + Yelang Valley; Route B: Hongfeng Lake + Wudang Hot Spring

Route A: In the morning, take a bus from the city center to Qingyan Ancient Town (approximately 40 minutes). Enter from the South Gate, first climb a gentle slope of the city wall for a panoramic view, then explore the back streets, Zhuangyuan Mansion, and Wanshou Palace. Lunch will be Qingyan pig's feet and rice porridge. In the afternoon, head to Huaxi Yelang Valley. The stone-built Nuo culture castle has a gentle walking path, perfect for strolling and taking photos. Overnight in Huaxi District.

Route B: In the morning, travel to Hongfeng Lake (approximately one hour's drive). At the Dongmiao Chong Scenic Area, take a boat tour to the island in the center of the lake; the lake is wide and the boat ride is smooth. In the afternoon, visit the hot springs in Wudang District. Both Poly International Hot Spring and Guiyu Hot Spring have children's pools and treatment areas; seniors can choose the low-temperature pool. Overnight at a Wudang Hot Spring Hotel.

Day 4 | Route A: Huaxi Park + Shili River Beach; Route B: Nanjiang Grand Canyon + Kaiyang Shili Gallery

Route A features the Hundred Steps Bridge and Linshan Trail in Huaxi Park, which are gentle slopes suitable for a morning stroll. Afterwards, rent a multi-person bicycle and ride or walk along the Shilihe Beach Wetland to see the waterwheels and rice paddies. Have beef noodles in Huaxi at noon before returning to the city.

Route B starts in the morning from Wudang to Nanjiang Grand Canyon (about one hour). It is recommended to choose the easy package ticket that includes sightseeing bus and boat. The boardwalk section is relatively flat and takes about 1.5 hours. The elderly and children can do it according to their physical condition. In the afternoon, on the return trip, stop at the Kaiyang Ten-Mile Gallery viewing platform to see the terraced fields and villages, and then return to the city.

Day 5 | Primarily Tianhetan, with flexible arrangements at Gaopo Yunding Grassland.

Tianhetan Scenic Area features a combination of karst caves, waterfalls, and boat tours in water caves, taking approximately three hours. The caves have many steps, but all have handrails. The boat tours in the water caves are slow and safe. In the afternoon, if the weather is fine and you have the energy, you can take a bus to Gaopo Yunding Grassland. The gentle slopes, meadows, and wind turbines are very expansive, and you can take the scenic area's electric shuttle bus to the viewing platform. If you don't want to hike, you can return directly to the city to rest. Light meals are available within the Tianhetan Scenic Area, or you can bring your own snacks; it's windy at Gaopo Grassland, so a light jacket is recommended.

Day 6 | Citywalk through the old streets of the city: Wenchang Pavilion, Radio Street and Grand Cross

This route has almost no slope. Starting from Wenchang Pavilion, walk along Diantai Street to Dajue Temple, then walk to Dashizi Square. Along the way, there are many old walls, cafes, and small shops, so you can rest whenever you get tired. In the afternoon, you can return to Jiaxiu Tower to take more photos of the daytime scenery, or go to the riverside park to ride the Ferris wheel. Many old houses converted into teahouses and dessert shops on Diantai Street are suitable for taking a break, so you don't have to rush.

Day 7 | Flexible Arrangements Before Return Trip

If you're returning in the afternoon, you can visit the animal area at Guanshanhu Park or Qianlingshan Park in the morning; if you're returning in the morning, you can buy some crispy duck or dried prickly pear as souvenirs near the hotel.

Recommended gentle slope routes suitable for the elderly and children

From the south gate of Qianling Mountain to Hongfu Temple, it's a gentle slope that takes about 20 minutes, and you can take a cable car down the mountain. The southern section of the Qingyan Ancient Town wall has a slope of less than 15 degrees, and the steps are wide but not high. The entire route from Huaxi Park to Shilihe Beach is flat. You can take a boat trip through Tianhetan Water Cave without walking. The boat trip on Hongfeng Lake and the gentle boardwalk in Nanjiang Grand Canyon are also suitable for young or old tourists.

Local frequently used apps list

Gaode Map (navigation and real-time bus information), Didi Chuxing or Huaxiaozhu (ride-hailing), Meituan or Dianping (finding restaurants and group buying), Zhixing Train Tickets or 12306 (high-speed rail tickets), Guiyang Metro App or UnionPay (scan to ride), and Duocaibao (local government services and reservations).

Clothing suggestions for rainy and dry seasons

Guiyang's rainy season is concentrated from May to August, with frequent showers, so you need to bring a folding umbrella, non-slip shoes, and a light jacket. The dry season is from September to April of the following year, with large temperature differences between day and night. From November to February, you will need a light down jacket or fleece, and spring and autumn clothing during the day. No matter the season, it is common for the weather to be sunny for three consecutive days, so it is always a good idea to bring an umbrella and a sun hat.