Guiyang is the capital of Guizhou province, located at an elevation of 3,000 feet in the very center of the southwest province. It is dominated by mist-shrouded hills surrounding the Wujiang Valley. The climate is mild throughout the year, much like that in Kunming, the capital of neighboring Yunnan Province.

The most interesting scenic spot in the city is the Southern Cave, or Underground Park as the locals call it. About half a mile in length, the cave contains spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

A three-hour journey west from Guiyang is the Huangguoshu waterfall, one of the biggest falls in China, 316 feet high and 346 feet wide. Water pours down a cliff into the Xiniu Pool. Sunlight is diffracted through the drops of water, producing glorious rainbows. There is a natural cave behind the waterfall, 131 feet above Xiniu Pool. Standing inside and watching the water pouring down is an unforgettable sight. Around the Huangguoshu are 18 smaller falls and 30 karst caves.