Guizhou

Map

Key data

Items shown in Chinese are kept from the original Chinese source; no English name is available yet.

Highlights

Introduction

• Miao villages, Huangguoshu Waterfall and hidden karst landscapes.

History

• Guizhou was known in ancient times as Qian and Gui. During the Warring States and Qin-Han periods it was part of the territories of Yelang and other states, and the idiom "Yelang thinks too much of itself" has been passed down to this day. In the Tang dynasty the Qianzhong Circuit was established, and the central court's governance of the region gradually deepened; during the Song and Yuan periods the native chieftain system was implemented in Guizhou. In the Yongle era of the Ming dynasty the Guizhou Provincial Administration Commission was established, and Guizhou formally became a province. Over the following centuries, Tunpu migrants and the local ethnic groups lived and developed together, and mountain commerce and courier-route culture continued without interruption. Today's Guizhou, with bridges and tunnels cutting through mountains and valleys, has long since changed from a place where "there is no three li of level ground" into a transport hub with routes in all directions.

Culture

• Guizhou is truly a garden of ethnic cultures, home to all 56 ethnic groups, with the cultures of long-settled minorities such as the Miao, Bouyei, and Dong being rich and colorful. Miao silverwork is exquisitely crafted, Dong grand song is world-renowned, and Bouyei batik is simple yet lively. The local cuisine is sour and spicy and appetizing, with distinctive dishes such as sour soup fish and changwang noodles. Ethnic festivals such as the Miao New Year, Sister's Festival, and Dong New Year are lively and spectacular, and traditional buildings such as stilt houses, drum towers, and wind-and-rain bridges show great ingenuity. The azalea is designated the provincial flower and the golden pheasant the provincial bird, and the colorful landscapes nourish a colorful culture.

Science & Technology

• In recent years, Guizhou has seen frequent highlights in scientific and technological innovation, with talent support from universities such as Guizhou University and a number of research institutes. As China's first national-level big data comprehensive pilot zone, Guizhou has built multiple large data centers, and the "China Data Valley" is renowned nationwide, with Guiyang and Gui'an becoming a highland for the big data industry. Driven by FAST, the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, astronomical and radio research capabilities are gathering at an accelerated pace. Big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence are deeply integrated with the real economy, and the digital economy has become Guizhou's new calling card.

Economy

• In 2025, Guizhou's GDP reached 2,356.217 billion yuan, with per capita disposable income of 28,561 yuan (2024). In recent years, Guizhou's economic growth rate has long ranked among the top in the country, with big data and electronic information, sauce-flavored baijiu, eco-tourism, and specialty agriculture becoming standout calling cards. The baijiu industry, led by Moutai, is renowned worldwide, and Renhuai, the "China Capital of Liquor," shows a notable industrial clustering effect. Scenic areas such as Huangguoshu Waterfall and Fanjing Mountain boost the cultural tourism economy, while mountain specialty agriculture such as tea and roxburgh rose thrives, and ecological advantages are rapidly being converted into development advantages.