Guizhou is a mountainous province in southwest China, known for the Huangguoshu Waterfall, karst landscapes, and the most diverse ethnic minority culture in the country, including Miao and Dong villages. Its capital Guiyang is a cool, green city and the transport hub for the province.
Guizhou is a low-risk destination for tourists. Violent crime against visitors is rare, and the main concerns are pickpocketing in crowded stations and festival crowds, overcharging by unlicensed taxis and tour sellers, slippery trails near waterfalls, and seasonal flooding in the karst gorges. Standard precautions are sufficient for a trouble-free trip.
Current safety advisory
Low
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Guizhou is one of the safer provinces in China for visitors; violent crime against foreigners is rare and the main issues are petty theft on crowded buses and trains, overpriced tours, and natural hazards at waterfalls and karst caves
Carry passports at all times: foreigners must show them to enter museums, buy train tickets, and check into hotels, and police may spot-check identification
Roads in the mountainous south and east have steep drops and frequent fog; prefer high-speed rail over night buses, and avoid long-distance driving on rural roads after dark
Heavy rains between May and August can trigger flash floods and landslides in the karst gorges, closing roads and trails; check scenic area announcements before departure
Wet stone steps at Huangguoshu, Xiaoqikong, and Dragon Palace are slick; wear shoes with grip and keep children close to the water
Guiyang sits at about 1,100 m and western Guizhou (Weining, Hezhang) exceeds 2,200 m; the effect is mild but visitors with heart or lung conditions should take it easy on the first day
Tap water is not safe to drink; use bottled or boiled water and avoid ice from street vendors
Official travel advisory levels change; check the latest US State Department, UK FCDO, and Australian Smartraveller notices before departure
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Unlicensed taxi and black cab overcharging
Drivers at Guiyang Longdongbao Airport, Guiyang railway stations, and Anshun station approach arrivals offering fixed prices well above the metered fare
How to avoid: Use the official taxi queue, insist on the meter, or hail a car through DiDi, which displays the fare in advance
Tea house and art student scam
Friendly strangers in central city squares invite foreigners for tea or to view an art exhibition and then present a very large bill
How to avoid: Decline invitations from strangers to unfamiliar tea houses or galleries; if a venue is chosen, ask for the price list before ordering
Pushy tour sellers and shopping stops
Cheap day tours to Huangguoshu or Qiandongnan often route through silver, jade, or tea shops where guides earn commissions and pressure buyers
How to avoid: Book tours with licensed agencies on Trip.com or Klook, confirm the itinerary in writing, and decline unplanned shopping stops
Fake or inflated silver and jade
Silver jewellery and Miao ornaments in tourist villages may be low-grade alloy sold at silver prices
How to avoid: Buy from shops that give a receipt and a purity stamp (S925), compare prices, and avoid expensive purchases from vendors who approach first
Counterfeit notes and change
Counterfeit ¥50 and ¥100 notes occasionally appear in change at street stalls and with unlicensed taxi drivers
How to avoid: Pay by mobile app where possible, check the watermark and security thread on notes, and avoid changing money on the street
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No vaccines are mandatory for visitors arriving from most countries; routine vaccinations plus hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended, and a yellow fever certificate is needed only when arriving from a risk country. Check the latest CDC or WHO guidance before departure
- Water
- Tap water in Guiyang and Anshun is not recommended for drinking; use bottled water or boil it, and note that hotels supply kettles
- Food
- Food hygiene in established restaurants is generally good; Guizhou cuisine is notably spicy and sour, so ask for less chili (shao la, 少辣) if sensitive. Choose busy stalls with high turnover for street food
- Facilities
- Guiyang has the province's best hospitals, including the Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital and the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University; rural clinics are basic and English is rarely spoken. Pharmacies display a green cross sign and are widespread
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 110 (Police)
- Medical
- 120 (Ambulance)
- Fire
- 119 (Fire)
- General Emergency
- 110 for police, 120 for ambulance, 119 for fire, 122 for traffic accidents; 12301 for tourist complaints and consumer disputes
- Main Hospital
- Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital (贵州省人民医院), Guiyang
- Embassy Us
- US Embassy Beijing: +86 10 8531 4000; US Consulate General Chengdu (covers Guizhou): +86 28 8558 3992
- Embassy Uk
- British Embassy Beijing: +86 10 5192 4000; British Consulate-General Chongqing: +86 23 6369 1500