Guiyang Huaxi Park: it is a scenic spot in Guiyang City

Huaxi Park (花溪公园) sits about 17 km south of central Guiyang in Huaxi District, straddling the Huaxi River as it winds through karst hills, pine groves, and terraced rice fields. Opened to the public in 1939 and laid out in a naturalistic style that blends classical Chinese garden conventions with the surrounding countryside, the park has long been Guiyang's signature retreat — Zhou Enlai, Chen Yi and many other 20th-century figures stayed in the lodges here, and the area is sometimes nicknamed "Pearl of the Plateau" (高原明�). What sets Huaxi apart from manicured urban parks is that it is really a stretch of working landscape: the river is fordable on stepping stones, water buffalo still graze the banks in places, and Bouyei (Buyi) and Miao villages border the scenic area.

The park itself is compact and walkable, but the "Huaxi Scenic Area" extends well beyond the gates to take in Zhenshan Bouyei village, the Tianhetan karst gorge, and Qingyan Ancient Town a short drive away. Most visitors come for half a day; combining the park with Qingyan makes a comfortable full-day outing from Guiyang.

Climate is humid subtropical with a strong plateau influence: summers (Jun–Aug) are mild for China at 19–28 °C and a major reason Guiyang markets itself as a "summer cool capital," but they are also the wettest months. Spring (Apr–May) brings cherry, peach and rapeseed blossom along the riverbanks and is the prettiest season. Autumn (Sep–Oct) is dry and clear. Winters are cool, damp and frequently overcast (2–10 °C), with occasional freezing drizzle — pleasant if you don't mind grey skies, but the gardens lose their colour.

By Plane

The nearest airport is Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (KWE), about 25 km northeast of Huaxi Park. It has frequent domestic flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming and Chongqing, and a growing list of regional international routes (Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong).

• Taxi / Didi: roughly Â¥80–110 to Huaxi Park, 40–55 min depending on traffic.
• Metro Line 2 runs from the airport to central Guiyang; transfer to Line 3 at Tangerwan (changjiagou junction) for Huaxi.
• Airport shuttle bus Line 1 goes to Jinyang bus terminal in central Guiyang (Â¥10), from which city bus 203 or 248 continues to Huaxi.

By Train

Guiyang North Railway Station (贵阳北站) is the main high-speed hub, with bullet trains to Guangzhou (≈4 h), Kunming (≈2 h), Chongqing (≈2 h), Changsha (≈3.5 h) and direct services to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. Guiyang Railway Station (the older central station) handles slower conventional trains and a few HSR services. From either, take Metro Line 3 south to Huaxi Park Station (花溪公园站), which lets out a few hundred metres from the main gate.

Booking is easiest via the 12306 app or Trip.com; HSR seats to/from Guiyang North sell out on weekends and around holidays, so book 7–14 days ahead.

By Car / Road

Huaxi sits on the Guiyang–Xinzhai Expressway (S81), about 30–40 min by car from central Guiyang depending on traffic; the Huaxi District exit drops you within 2 km of the park.

• Anshun: ≈90 km / 1 h 15 min west via the G60 expressway — convenient if combining with Huangguoshu Waterfall.
• Kaili (Miao country): ≈190 km / 2 h 30 min east via G60.
• Chongqing: ≈460 km / 5 h via G75; HSR is faster.

Long-distance buses from Anshun, Kaili and other Guizhou cities arrive at Jinyang Bus Station in west Guiyang; transfer to Metro Line 1 → Line 3 for Huaxi Park.

The park itself is best explored on foot: the main loop along the Huaxi River, over Baibu Bridge ("Hundred-step Bridge" — flat stones across the river) and around Lin Island and She Island totals 3–4 km on level paved paths. Battery-powered shuttle carts circulate inside (≈¥10 per ride, hop-on/off).

Outside the park:

• Metro Line 3 is the fastest link to central Guiyang; Â¥2–7 depending on distance, runs roughly 06:30–22:30.
• City buses 203, 248 and K248 connect Huaxi with Hebin Park, the railway station and Jinyang. Flat fare Â¥2 cash or via Alipay/WeChat scan.
• Didi (滴滴出行) is the standard ride-hailing app and works well in Guiyang. A Huaxi → city centre ride is Â¥40–60.
• Bicycle rentals (Hellobike, Meituan Bike) are scattered around the Huaxi University campus across the road and along the river.

Walkability is good once inside the scenic area, but the wider district is car-oriented and pavements are uneven — wear sturdy shoes. Standard taxi scams are rare here; the main thing to watch is unmarked drivers at the airport quoting ¥200+ for the run to Huaxi. Insist on the meter, or use Didi.

Inside Huaxi Park (admission ¥10; daily 07:00–22:00, last entry 21:00):

• Baibu Bridge (百步桥) — a line of 100 flat stepping stones across the Huaxi River, the park's iconic image. Free with park entry; busiest 10:00–16:00.
• Lin Island & She Island (麟山, 蛇山) — twin hillocks in the river, joined by arched stone bridges and crowned with small pavilions offering views over the water and rice fields. Climb takes 10–15 min each.
• Flower Stream (花溪) itself — willow-lined banks where locals come to picnic, paint and play traditional instruments, especially on weekend mornings.
• Dongfeng Lake (东风湖) — the broader, dammed section of the river at the park's south end, with rowing-boat hire (≈¥40/hr).
• Former Residence of Dai An-Lan (戴安澜故居) and Zhou Enlai's holiday cottage — modest historical buildings within the park, included in admission.

Around the scenic area:

• Qingyan Ancient Town (é?’岩å?¤é•‡) — Ming-dynasty fortified town 10 km south of the park, with intact stone walls, four original gates, and a maze of temples, churches and Bouyei courtyard houses. Daily 08:00–22:00; through-ticket Â¥10, combined ticket including museums ≈¥80. Best half-day in the region.

• Tianhetan Scenic Area (天河潭) — limestone gorge with caves, waterfalls and a long boat ride through a karst tunnel, about 20 km west. Daily 08:30–17:30; Â¥48 entry, plus optional cave/boat packages Â¥30–80.

• Zhenshan Bouyei Village (镇山æ?‘) — 600-year-old stone-built ethnic Bouyei village above the Huaxi reservoir, 15 min by taxi from the park. Free entry; a quiet alternative to the busier Qingyan.

• Guizhou Nationalities Museum (贵州çœ?æ°‘æ—?å?šç‰©é¦†) — back in central Guiyang, the best primer on Miao, Bouyei, Dong and Shui culture. Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00, free with ID.

• Jiaxiu Pavilion (甲秀楼) — Ming-era pavilion on the Nanming River in central Guiyang, illuminated in the evening; free, exterior any time.

• Walk the river loop at dawn alongside locals practising tai chi, calligraphy on the flagstones with water-brushes, and morning xiangsheng singing groups — the park's living-room atmosphere is the real attraction.

• Hire a rowing or pedal boat on Dongfeng Lake (Â¥40–60/hr) for an hour on the water.

• Cycle the Tianhe greenway — a 12 km riverside cycle path links Huaxi Park with Tianhetan, mostly flat and well-shaded.

• Day trip to Qingyan for the food as much as the architecture (see Eat); easy half-day combined with the park.

• Catch a Bouyei or Miao festival if your timing is lucky: the Bouyei "Sister's Rice" festival (around Mar–Apr) and Miao Lusheng festivals around Lunar New Year both bring music and dance to nearby villages.

• Hot springs at Tianyi Hot Spring Resort (天怡温泉) in Huaxi District — ≈¥158 entry, open until 23:00, a good wind-down after a day's walking.

• Hiking the karst hills around Zhenshan village — informal trails, half-day, no permits needed.

Guizhou cuisine (黔�) is built around sour and spicy flavours — fermented red sour soup, pickled chillies, and the use of zhe'ergen (折耳根, a pungent fishy-smelling herb) which divides visitors sharply. Around Huaxi, Bouyei and Miao village cooking adds glutinous rice, smoked pork, and stuffed tofu to the mix.

Signature dishes to look for: suantangyu (酸汤鱼) sour-soup fish hotpot, siwawa (�娃娃) "silk doll" rice-paper rolls with shredded vegetables, changwang mian (肠旺�) intestine-and-blood noodles, Qingyan smoked tofu (�岩豆�), pork rib rice noodles (排骨粉), and Huaxi beef noodles (花溪牛肉粉) — the dish actually invented in this district.

Recommendations:

• Wang Ji Huaxi Niurou Fen (王记花溪牛肉粉), multiple branches in Huaxi District. The original Huaxi beef noodle, Â¥18–25 a bowl. Budget.
• Qingyan roadside stalls, lining the main lane of the ancient town, for rose-sugar candy, pig's-trotter stew (å?¤çŒªè„š) — Qingyan's must-try — and glutinous-rice cakes grilled on charcoal. Â¥10–40 per dish. Budget.
• Liaoji Suantangyu (è€?凯里酸汤鱼), branches throughout Guiyang including one near Huaxi Park east gate. The benchmark sour-soup fish hotpot; about Â¥120–180 for two. Mid-range.
• Sijia Niangdoufu (æ€?甲酿豆è…?) in Qingyan — stuffed grilled tofu pockets dipped in chilli oil, Â¥15–30. Budget.
• Guiyang Fanjiang Restaurant (饭江山庄) — Bouyei-style smoked pork, river fish and seasonal mountain vegetables in a courtyard setting near Zhenshan; Â¥150–250pp. Mid-range.
• Hyatt Regency Guiyang's Market Café for a Westernised buffet with some Guizhou dishes if you need a break from chilli; Â¥250–350pp. Upscale.

Vegetarians can do well: stuffed tofu, grilled mushrooms, siwawa, and rice-noodle bowls without meat are all common — ask for "bu yao rou" (no meat) but note that broths often contain pork. Halal options are limited to Hui Muslim noodle shops in central Guiyang's Hequn Road area; few in Huaxi itself. Gluten-free is genuinely difficult given the prevalence of soy sauce and wheat noodles.

• Baijiu is the regional drink, and Guizhou makes the best: Moutai (茅å?°) is the icon, but Xijiu (ä¹ é…’) and Dongjiu (董酒) are widely drunk locally and far more affordable. A shot is the standard toasting unit at meals.
• Rice wine (米酒) in Bouyei and Miao villages is sweeter, lower-strength, and often served from a communal jar with bamboo straws.
• Tea: Duyun Maojian and Meitan Cuiya are the two Guizhou greens to try. Riverside teahouses in Huaxi Park serve a glass for Â¥15–30 with refills.
• Coffee: not a regional strong point, but Manner, Luckin and % Arabica have outlets in central Guiyang. In Huaxi, several independent cafés cluster around Guizhou University (across the road from the park) — student prices, Â¥20–35 for a flat white.
• Bars: Huaxi's nightlife is quiet; for a proper night out head into central Guiyang's Xinhua Road or Penshuichi areas, where craft-beer bars (try Guizhou Brewing Co.) and live-music spots cluster.

Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in China. Use bottled, boiled, or filtered water; hotels supply both kettle and bottled water as standard. Ice in chain restaurants and reputable hotels is fine; avoid it from street stalls.

Budget:

• Guiyang Huaxi University Youth Hostel (花溪é?’å¹´æ—…èˆ?) — dorms Â¥60–80, private doubles Â¥150–200, walking distance from the park's north gate.
• 7 Days Inn Huaxi Branch (7天酒店花溪店) — reliable budget chain, doubles Â¥180–230, near the metro.

Mid-range:

• Atour Hotel Huaxi (亚朵花溪店) — well-run mid-tier chain with good beds and a small library lounge; doubles Â¥380–500.
• Vienna International Hotel Huaxi (维也纳国际酒店花溪店) — solid business hotel, doubles Â¥350–450, walking distance to Qingyan-bound buses.

Upscale / heritage:

• Hilton Guiyang (central Guiyang, ≈25 min by Didi from the park) — the most reliable international upscale option; doubles Â¥900–1,300.
• Banyan Tree Guiyang Huaxi (悦榕庄花溪店) — resort-style villas in the Huaxi countryside with private plunge pools, the area's standout luxury stay; villas from Â¥2,000.

Huaxi is not a major shopping destination, but it is a good place to pick up Guizhou specialities at lower prices than central Guiyang.

• Huaxi Old Street market near the park's east gate sells batik textiles, Miao silver jewellery (look for the hallmark and weigh the piece — most "silver" sold to tourists is alloy, real Miao silver runs Â¥6–10/g over spot), and embroidery.
• Qingyan Ancient Town has the best souvenir mix in the area: rose-sugar candy (玫瑰糖) and glutinous rice cakes are local signatures, plus pickled chillies and lao gan ma chilli crisp (this is its home province).
• Liquor: Guizhou's prized Moutai (茅å?°) baijiu is widely sold but heavily counterfeited; buy from the official Moutai shop in central Guiyang (in Yunyan or at the airport duty-free) rather than roadside stalls.
• Tea: Duyun Maojian green tea, one of China's "ten famous teas," is grown in southern Guizhou and sold loose at most Guiyang tea markets from Â¥150/jin upward.

Bargaining is expected at markets and tourist-town stalls (start at 40–50% of the asking price), but prices in shops, supermarkets and chain stores are fixed. Mobile payment (WeChat Pay / Alipay) is universal; cash is rarely refused but increasingly inconvenient.

• Qingyan Ancient Town — 10 km south, 20 min by bus 210; Ming-era walled town and Guizhou's best food street.
• Tianhetan Scenic Area — 20 km west, 30 min by car; karst caves, waterfalls and an underground boat ride.
• Anshun & Huangguoshu Waterfall — 130 km / 1 h 30 min by HSR plus shuttle; the largest waterfall in Asia and a comfortable day trip.
• Zhijin Cave (织金洞) — 160 km / 3 h by car; one of China's largest and most spectacular show caves, often paired with an overnight in Anshun.
• Kaili & the Miao villages (Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village) — 200 km / 2 h 30 min by HSR + shuttle; the country's largest Miao settlement, terraced and dramatically lit at night.
• Libo (Xiaoqikong) — 290 km / 3 h 30 min by HSR; UNESCO-listed karst forests and turquoise river pools, best as a 1–2 night side trip.