贵州省

Why this place

Guizhou is the province of minority cultures and karst: Miao and Dong villages with drum towers and covered bridges, Huangguoshu — the largest waterfall in China — and Libo's forested karst. It is also high enough to be cool in summer, which is why it is becoming popular.

What to see

• The Miao and Dong villages of Qiandongnan — Xijiang, Zhaoxing and Zhenyuan
• Huangguoshu waterfall and the Dragon Palace caves at Anshun
• Libo's karst forest and the FAST radio telescope at Pingtang
• Fanjing Mountain's split-peak summit at Tongren
• The Wanfenglin cone hills at Xingyi

What to eat

• Sour fish soup, the province's signature; and chilli in every form
• Guizhou rice noodles, 'siwawa' wraps and the local cured meats
• Maotai baijiu, from the town of the same name

How to plan

A week: Guiyang one, Qiandongnan three, Anshun two.

Best time

April–October; the province is cool in summer

Practical tips

• The village festivals follow the lunar calendar — check dates before booking, they are the highlight

Cities 9

贵阳市 Guiyang六盘水市 Liupanshui遵义市 Zunyi安顺市 Anshun毕节市 Bijie铜仁市 Tongren黔西南布依族苗族自治州 Qianxinan黔东南苗族侗族自治州 Qiandongnan黔南布依族苗族自治州 Qiannan