Qianxinan Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 黔西南布依族苗族自治州 (qián xī nán bù yī zú miáo zú zì zhì zhōu)
Population: 3,140,000
Area: 16,804 square kilometers (6,488 square miles)
Location: in the southwest of Guizhou Province, southwest China
Administrative Division: 2 cities (Xingyi, Renyi); 7 counties (Xingren, Pu'an, Qinglong, Zhenfeng, Wangmo, Ceheng, Anlong)
Area Code: 0859
Zip Code: 562400
GDP (2018): CNY 1,163.77 billion (USD 175.9 billion) 
Nationalities: Han, Buyi, Miao

Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is located in the southeast of Guizhou Province, in neighborhood of Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The capital of Qianxinan is seating in Xingyi City, which is over 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Guiyang and Kunming. There is a wide distribution of high-quality gold. With beautiful mountains, pleasant climate and profound cultural heritage, it attracts many travelers. Maling River Canyon, Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks, and Wanfeng Lake are worth visiting. As a gathering place of various ethnic minorities, travelers can fully experience the customs, food, and culture of these minorities. Zhabai Song Festival is known as the “Valentine's Day” of the Buyi people. During June 21th to 23rd of lunar calendar, young people in festival costumes will sing and dance, so travelers can enjoy the fantastic performance.

 Maling River Canyon

It is a natural museum of karst featuring with multiple stratifications and categories. Here the must-see is a deep rift and miles of calcium sediments. Additionally, floating down the Maling River in a rubber dinghy is quite popular. The river has numerous shoals and turbulent torrents, which make the voyage full of excitement.

Situated on the middle lower reaches of Maling River, Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks is a scenic area built on karst formations. It comprises east and west peak forests. Countless peaks stand together like a great troop. The beautiful Nahui River flows into the peak forest, sets off the continuous strange mountains, crosses the villages of Buyi People and finally reaches the Wanfeng Lake. The lake adjoins Maling River at the mouth of the canyon. It's the fifth largest fresh lake in China. The name comes from the surrounding thousands of peaks which embrace the lake. In addition, the lake is known as the fishing paradise due to its abundance of fish.

Other Attractions in Qianxinan: Zhaodi Dyke, Fangmaping Medow, 24-Bend Road

As the capital of Qianxinan, Xingyi City is usually the first stop for visitors.

1. Xingyi Airport is situated 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Xingyi City proper and only 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the Malinghe Valley. Flights to Guiyang and Shenzhen are available at present.

2. There are two main bus stations in Xingyi City. The east station is located in Hunan Street, and the west station (the new station) lies in Pingdong Dadao. Buses from Xingyi to Guiyang leaves frequently, but the journey is long. It usually costs five hours.

Qianxinan enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate. Weather in this area is temperate and humid all the year round. Xingyi City is reputed as the 'Lesser Spring City'. As to the whole prefecture, the annual average temperature of January falls between 4.4 and 9.7 degree centigrade (40-49.5 degree Fahrenheit), and that of July remains between 21 and 26 degrees centigrade (69.8-78.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The rainy season usually lasts from May to September.

 When to Go: in spring, summer and autumn
 

 History: According to history records, Qianxinan was inhabited by several ethnic groups in southwestern China or governed by kingdoms they established in remote ages. The Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) put it under the administration of Xiang Shire, and it returned to the Yelang State, an ancient ethnic regime in old Guizhou. It is partly belonged to the central government and Yelang in the following hundreds of years. After that, overlapping reigns on this area were changed between the central Chinese government and kingdoms set up by local ethnic groups.

 Physical Features: Qianxinan stands in the slop area in southeast of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Its overall terrain slops downward from northwest to south east. Most part of the prefecture belonged to karst plateau, and Karst terrain occupies over seventy percent of its territory. Hilly area is in the second place, occupying a coverage of twenty percent.

 Local Highlights: Ethnic minorities occupy over forty percent of the prefecture's total population. Among these multitude of ethnic groups, Bouyei and Miao are the largest. Strong flavor of the ethnic minorities should be the most charming factor of Qianxinan.
Miao Folk-Custom Festival (around the eighth day of the eighth lunar month in Xingren County)
Buyi Folk-Custom Festival (around the sixth day of the sixth lunar month in Zhenfeng County)

 Special Local Products: ornamental stone, garment accessories of Buyi ethnic minority