Guiyang

Guiyang is the capital of Guizhou province and the main gateway to the karst highlands of southwest China. Spread across the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau at about 1,100 metres above sea level, it is surrounded by forested hills and is known as the Forest City and China's summer capital for its green landscape and cool, comfortable summers.

Around the Nanming River, a compact historic core sits beside fast-growing modern districts. Jiaxiu Tower, a Ming-dynasty pavilion standing on a rock in the river, is Guiyang's best-known landmark, while the hilltop Hongfu Temple in Qianling Mountain Park and the Ming- and Qing-era lanes of Qingyan Ancient Town show the area's long history.

Central districts such as Yunyan and Nanming hold older shopping streets, markets and monuments, while Guanshanhu has become a newer administrative, business and exhibition centre. To the south, Huaxi offers riverside parks, wetland scenery and a university atmosphere, and the surrounding countryside opens onto karst valleys, lakes and villages.

Guiyang has grown into one of China's leading big-data and technology centres, hosting the annual China International Big Data Industry Expo and attracting investment in cloud computing, high-tech manufacturing and e-commerce. This economic role gives the city a steady flow of business events alongside its tourism appeal.

Local food is distinctive: Guizhou cooking favours sour and spicy flavours, with sour fish soup, Changwang noodles and the DIY rice-paper rolls known as siwawa among the signature dishes. As the gateway to attractions such as Huangguoshu Waterfall and the region's Miao and Buyi villages, Guiyang serves both leisure visitors and business travellers.