Quick answer
Use two days for Qianling Mountain and Jiaxiu Tower, then Tianhetan, Qingyan and Huaxi. Hongfeng Lake is a flexible extension to the first day; the source’s Zunyi and Anshun circuit is a separate three-day road trip.
- Move Hongfeng Lake out of Day 1 if the morning mountain walk runs long. On Day 2, shorten Huaxi rather than rushing a reserved cave or town visit.
- Try Changwang noodles centrally, siwawa as a snack and Qingyan pork trotters in the ancient-town area. Ask separately about chilli and fish mint; a mild chilli request does not remove the herb.
- Complete main route
- 2 days
- Suggested base
- Penshuichi / Daximen · 喷水池 / 大西门 / Huaxi / Qingyan · 花溪 / 青岩
- Planning information reviewed
- 2026-10-15
How many days to spend
The supplied PDF offers a 2-day planning frame. The sequence below preserves its useful place groupings while leaving out time-sensitive operating details.
- 1 days: Day 1 · Qianling, Jiaxiu Tower and the western lake option
- 2 days: Use all 2 day outlines below, checking travel feasibility and current visitor notices for each area.
Where to stay
Penshuichi / Daximen · 喷水池 / 大西门
Best for: Central food and metro transfers
A useful base for evening food and the first day. Choose a quieter room away from late-night streets and check the station-to-hotel transfer.
Huaxi / Qingyan · 花溪 / 青岩
Best for: A slower southbound day
Stay south if Tianhetan and Qingyan are your main priorities. This reduces a late return but makes the Qianling day and high-speed rail transfer longer.
Best time to visit
- Guiyang’s leafy parks work well as a slower city visit, but carry a rain layer and use the current forecast for the mountain and cave portions.
- The PDF’s fixed annual weather and UV claims are not used as a forecast. Wet stone paths and lake or cave restrictions can change the day.
Getting around
Longdongbao Airport is on Metro Line 2. Guiyang North, Guiyang East and Guiyang railway station are distinct arrivals; choose the hotel transfer against the station on your ticket. Qianling Mountain is served by Line 3. For Qingyan, use the Line 3 Tongmuling area and a confirmed onward road transfer. Hongfeng Lake lies west of the urban sightseeing cluster; the Tianhetan–Qingyan–Huaxi day needs separate southern connections.
Arriving in Guiyang
Metro Line 2 serves Longdongbao Airport; check the current service for the terminal and arrival time.
A major high-speed rail arrival; confirm the onward metro or road connection.
A separate station requiring its own transfer plan; do not confuse it with Guiyang North.
Transport notes
Plan from the correct arrival point
Longdongbao Airport is on Metro Line 2. Guiyang North, Guiyang East and Guiyang railway station are distinct arrivals; choose the hotel transfer against the station on your ticket. Qianling Mountain is served by Line 3. For Qingyan, use the Line 3 Tongmuling area and a confirmed onward road transfer. Hongfeng Lake lies west of the urban sightseeing cluster; the Tianhetan–Qingyan–Huaxi day needs separate southern connections.
A practical 2-day outline
This is the city-level sequence. Open the day-by-day itinerary for detailed stops, timing, meals, transfers and backup options.
Day 1 · Qianling Mountain → central Nanming River → Hongfeng Lake if time permits
Day 1 · Qianling, Jiaxiu Tower and the western lake option
Start with a reserved Qianling visit, choosing the lake and Hongfu Temple paths that match your walking ability. Have lunch in town before Jiaxiu Tower and its riverfront. The PDF then goes west to Hongfeng Lake; retain it only with a confirmed lake visit and sufficient transfer time. Otherwise finish on the Nanming River and make the lake a separate outing.
Day 2 · Southern Guiyang / Huaxi district
Day 2 · Tianhetan, Qingyan and Huaxi
Follow the PDF’s southern sequence: Tianhetan’s karst scenery, the stone streets and gate of Qingyan, then a gentler riverside walk in Huaxi if daylight and connections allow. At Qingyan, look for braised pork trotters rather than rushing through the town solely for a photograph.
Places and details in photos
Jiaxiu Tower at night
Qingyan town gate
Qianling Lake
Huaxi stepping stones
Sour-soup fish
Siwawa vegetable wraps
Hebin Park
Guiyang night-food street
Guiyang night-market stall
Nanming River near Jiaxiu
Tianhetan waterfall
Tianhetan karst gorge
Changwang noodles
Guiyang crispy duck
Qianling macaques
Huaxi in autumn
Jiaxiu Tower by day
Booking and access checks
Qianling uses advance reservations
The city’s April 2026 notice requires advance entry reservation through the official Qianlingshan account or Guikehui platform. General free admission does not mean walk-in entry; verify the available date and identity-document support.
Select the actual Tianhetan visit
Caves, boat segments and the outdoor landscape may have different booking or weather arrangements. Check the operator’s current product before booking; skip closed areas rather than following the old printed circuit.
Protect the southern transfers
Check Tongmuling-to-Qingyan transport for your date. The published 2024 shuttle was a weekend/holiday service, not proof of a daily through-bus today.
Food for the city and Qingyan day
Sour-soup fish · 酸汤鱼
A shared hotpot meal; check fish weight, total price and chilli level before ordering.
Siwawa vegetable wraps · 丝娃娃
Wrap shredded vegetables in the thin pancakes and add dipping sauce yourself; ask about fish mint.
Changwang noodles · 肠旺面
A substantial breakfast with intestine and blood curd; check the ingredients if those are unfamiliar.
Qingyan braised trotters · 青岩卤猪脚
A town specialty suited to the Qingyan lunch stop. Ask whether the price is per piece or weight.
Local planning tips
- Reserve Qianling before arrival even when general admission is free; use its official account or the current Guikehui platform.
- Keep food sealed and give macaques space; do not feed, touch or pose with them.
- Do not attempt the printed two-day route as a series of short metro hops: Hongfeng Lake is west and the second day is south.
- Historic museum addresses, night-market hours, bus numbers, boat fares and hotel prices in the PDF are not current instructions.
Common planning mistakes to avoid
- Reserve Qianling before arrival even when general admission is free; use its official account or the current Guikehui platform.
- Keep food sealed and give macaques space; do not feed, touch or pose with them.
- Do not attempt the printed two-day route as a series of short metro hops: Hongfeng Lake is west and the second day is south.
- Historic museum addresses, night-market hours, bus numbers, boat fares and hotel prices in the PDF are not current instructions.
How to make the route work
Keep a cut-first stop on each day
Move Hongfeng Lake out of Day 1 if the morning mountain walk runs long. On Day 2, shorten Huaxi rather than rushing a reserved cave or town visit.
Eat for the neighbourhood
Try Changwang noodles centrally, siwawa as a snack and Qingyan pork trotters in the ancient-town area. Ask separately about chilli and fish mint; a mild chilli request does not remove the herb.
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I allow for Guiyang?
Use two days for Qianling Mountain and Jiaxiu Tower, then Tianhetan, Qingyan and Huaxi. Hongfeng Lake is a flexible extension to the first day; the source’s Zunyi and Anshun circuit is a separate three-day road trip. Shorter alternatives below are separate choices; they do not replace the complete main route.
Where should I stay in Guiyang?
Penshuichi / Daximen · 喷水池 / 大西门: A useful base for evening food and the first day. Choose a quieter room away from late-night streets and check the station-to-hotel transfer. Huaxi / Qingyan · 花溪 / 青岩: Stay south if Tianhetan and Qingyan are your main priorities. This reduces a late return but makes the Qianling day and high-speed rail transfer longer.
What should I confirm before booking?
The city’s April 2026 notice requires advance entry reservation through the official Qianlingshan account or Guikehui platform. General free admission does not mean walk-in entry; verify the available date and identity-document support. Caves, boat segments and the outdoor landscape may have different booking or weather arrangements. Check the operator’s current product before booking; skip closed areas rather than following the old printed circuit. Check Tongmuling-to-Qingyan transport for your date. The published 2024 shuttle was a weekend/holiday service, not proof of a daily through-bus today.