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.
- Public
- High-speed rail connects Guiyang with major cities and regional hubs; Guiyang has a three-line metro and an extensive bus network
- Taxi
- Taxis and Didi are cheap and plentiful in cities and towns; rural areas have fewer cars
- Rental
- Foreign visitors cannot easily self-drive in China because a Chinese licence is required
- Walking
- Old towns and scenic areas are walkable, but Guiyang and mountain towns are hilly
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 4/5
- Taxi
- 4/5
- Rental
- 1/5
- Walking
- 3/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| About CNY 5-100, approx USD 1-15 |
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Guiyang
- Metro
- Guiyang Metro runs Lines 1, 2 and 3 serving the city centre, Guiyang North and the airport. Fares start at about CNY 2 (about USD 0.30) and rise with distance.
- Buses
- Extensive city bus network; fares about CNY 1-2 (about USD 0.15-0.30), payable by Alipay QR or transport card.
- Taxis
- Taxis and Didi are widely available; flag fall around CNY 10 (about USD 1.50) plus a per-km charge.
- Walking
- Central Guiyang is hilly; Qianling Park and the old city are walkable but plan for slopes.
Regional
- Cars
- Self-drive rental needs a Chinese driving licence (foreign licences are not valid), so most visitors use trains, buses, Didi or chartered cars with drivers.
- Chartered cars
- Chartering a car with driver for a day costs about CNY 500-900 (about USD 74-132), useful for Libo, Xijiang and Zhenyuan.
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Taxis are metered and cheap; Didi is widely used and often easier for foreign visitors.
- Flag Fall
- About CNY 10 (approx USD 1.50) in Guiyang
- Per Km
- About CNY 2-3 (approx USD 0.30-0.45)
- Tips
- Have the destination written in Chinese, Insist on the meter, Use Didi for fixed pricing
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Overview
High-speed rail is the best option between major destinations; buses reach smaller towns.
Key Routes
- From
- Guiyang North
- To
- Guangzhou South
- Duration
- About 4 hours
- Frequency
- Multiple daily trains
- Cost
- About CNY 330-420, approx USD 49-62
- Train type
- G (high-speed)
- From
- Guiyang North
- To
- Kunming South
- Duration
- About 2-2.5 hours
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Cost
- About CNY 200-260, approx USD 29-38
- Train type
- G (high-speed)
- From
- Guiyang North
- To
- Chongqing West
- Duration
- About 2 hours
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Cost
- About CNY 160-200, approx USD 24-29
- Train type
- G (high-speed)
- From
- Guiyang North
- To
- Chengdu East
- Duration
- About 3.5-4 hours
- Frequency
- Several daily
- Cost
- About CNY 260-330, approx USD 38-49
- Train type
- G (high-speed)
- From
- Guiyang North
- To
- Anshun West (Huangguoshu)
- Duration
- About 30-40 minutes
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Cost
- About CNY 40-60, approx USD 6-9
- Train type
- G / D
- From
- Guiyang East
- To
- Kaili South (Xijiang)
- Duration
- About 40-50 minutes
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Cost
- About CNY 50-70, approx USD 7-10
- Train type
- G / D
- From
- Guiyang
- To
- Libo (Maolan, Xiaoqikong)
- Duration
- About 2 hours
- Frequency
- Several daily
- Cost
- About CNY 100-140, approx USD 15-21
- Train type
- G / D
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Guizhou is well connected by air and high-speed rail, with the main hub at Guiyang. Fast trains reach Anshun (Huangguoshu), Kaili (Xijiang), Libo and Tongren, and several regional airports serve scenic areas. Within cities, metro, bus, taxi and Didi are cheap, while rural sights require buses or chartered cars.
Airports
Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport
Anshun Huangguoshu Airport
Tongren Fenghuang Airport
Libo Airport
Xingyi Wanfenglin Airport
Zunyi Xinzhou Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Didi
Amap (Gaode Maps)
12306
Trip.com
Alipay / WeChat Pay
Baidu Maps
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Install Didi, Amap (Gaode) and 12306; set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card
Book high-speed rail tickets on 12306 or Trip.com and carry a passport
Guiyang North is the main high-speed station; Guiyang East is closer to the airport
Use Didi or Amap taxis to avoid language problems
Prices are in CNY with USD at about 6.8 CNY per USD
Chartering a car with driver is the practical way to reach Libo, Xijiang and Zhenyuan villages in one day