Guizhou: Guiyang & Yelang Valley, Mar 2025

My trip to Guizhou this time is mainly to see the cherry blossoms just outside the capital of Guiyang.  Guizhou is a mountainous and relatively poor and undeveloped province, but having said that, it is one of the fastest growing economies in China.  Guizhou is famous for the fact that “the sky is never sunny for three days and the land is never flat for three miles” and so armed with my rain gear I flew from Shenzhen to Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province.  I stayed at the conveniently located Sofitel Hotel in Guiyang close to Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀樓.

My room at the Sofitel Hotel Guiyang
About 15 mins walk from the Softiel Guiyang is the symbol of Guiyang city, the 20-meters high Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀楼 first built in 1597 during the Ming Dynasty.  Jiaxiu means “best and graceful” in Chinese and was once the gathering place of scholars and literati.  The tower has been rebuilt and repaired many times and the one we see today was built in 1909.  The red girders and green tiled tower is most beautiful at night when the colorful lanterns reflect on Nanming River that runs in front of the tower.  On the bridgehead of the Fuyu Bridge, there is a stone-wood memorial archway inscribed with Chengnan Yiji 城南遗迹 (South City’s Remains), and on the bridge is a Hanbi Pavilion.  Jiaxiu Tower is a typical Chinese style building with flying ridges, overhaning eaves, and carved railings.  It has 3 floors each with different exhibitions demonstrating the history and culture of Guizhou.  Nearby are many tea houses from which you can enjoy a cup of tea or have a meal while admiring the beautiful views.
Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀楼

Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀楼

 

 

Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀楼

 

 

View of Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀楼 from my room

 

 

Quick stop at the Guiyang North Church.  I love this catholic church influenced by traditional Chinese architectural style!

 

 

On the left is the entrance to the church grounds, and on the right is the back side of the church which resembles a Chinese style pagoda.

 

 

Guiyang North Church

 

Guiyang North Church

About 40 mins south of Guiyang city is the fairy-tale Hauxi Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷.  In 1994, artist Song Peilun, inspired by the “Yugong moving mountains” spirit of Korczak Ziolkowski, built the entire Yelang Valley by himself over 20 years.  It is so named because the area was said to have been the residence of Jinzhusi, the successor of the Yelang King, and ruins of the Yelang Tunbao can still be found on the top of the mountain.  Yelang Valley is filled with fantasy castles, totems, and stone artworks.  Song claims that he would never finish building his fantasy world.
Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷

 

Yelang Valley 花溪夜郎谷
From Guiyang, I headed south to Libo.  Next post will be on the UNESCO Libo Xiaoqikong or Seven Small Arches Scenic Area.  Stay tuned!

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This year, my summer holiday starts in Beirut, Lebanon, which used to be regarded “The Paris of the Middle East”.  Being one of the oldest

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2 Responses

  1. good to see there’re still people around obsessed with their imagination, whatever the results may be.

    Reply

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