Getting There

Daily flights connect Guiyang to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Kunming, Guilin, Nanning, Chongqing, and Hong Kong. Tickets can be purchased at the CAAC office at Zunyi Lu 264 (tel. 0855/597-7777) from 8:30am to 8pm. A China Southwest Airlines office, located in the Taiwan Dasha at Zhonghua Nan Lu (tel. 0851/581-1222), is open from 8am to 10pm. The 12km (8-mile) taxi ride to the airport should cost ¥50 ($6.50/£3.25). Airport buses depart from the CAAC office every half-hour for a fare of ¥10 ($1.30/65p); the CAAC office is open from 8:30am to 6:30pm. Getting to the airport is more of a problem. Most drivers demand ¥50 ($6.50/£3.25) for what is actually a ¥25 ($3.25/£1.65) journey, but it is an unavoidable rip-off that is almost worth it if you get to go on the notorious shortcut.

Guiyang's railway station (tel. 0851/818-1222) in the southern part of town is a modern building with computerized ticketing and all your usual touts. From here, several trains a day run to Kaili (3-4 hr.; ¥25/$3.25/£1.65). Theoretically it's much faster to take the 2-hour bus, but poor driving skills mean that buses are often involved in minor collisions that double the journey time as drivers argue incessantly about who was to blame. The K946 originates in Guiyang at 7:40am, so it's easier to get an assigned seat on it. The 2079 departs for Kunming (12 1/2 hr.; ¥234/$30/£15 soft sleeper) at 6:50pm; the K922 leaves for Chengdu (17 hr.; ¥226/$23/£15 soft sleeper) at 4pm; and the 5608 departs for Chongqing (10 hr.; ¥150/$20/£9.75 soft sleeper) at 7:40pm. The T88 departing at 10:36pm is the quickest option for getting to Beijing (32 hr.; ¥754/$98/£49 soft sleeper). The K112 runs to Shanghai (33 hr.; ¥556/$72/£36) at 9:30pm; and the 1688 heads for Guangzhou (33 hr.; ¥337/$54/£22) at 9am, stopping at Guilin (17 hr.) along the way.

Guiyang has several bus stations, but the main one that should serve most travelers' needs is the Sports Stadium Bus Station (Tiyuguan Keyun Zhan) near the railway station at Zunyi Lu and Jiefang Lu (tel. 0851/579-3381). Buses run to Kaili (2 hr.; ¥35/$4.55/£2.30) every half-hour from 7:30am to 7:30pm; to Anshun (1 1/2 hr.; ¥15/$1.95/£1) every 20 minutes from 7:05am to 7:30pm; and to Rong Jiang (7 hr.; ¥70/$9.10/£4.55) at 1:50pm. Tour buses to Huangguoshu Falls and Dragon Palace Cave depart from the bus stand just outside the railway station.

Getting Around

Taxis cost ¥10 ($1.30/65p) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.60 (20¢/10p) per kilometer, and ¥1.90 (25¢/10p) per kilometer after 10km (6 miles). From 10pm to 7am, prices rise to ¥12 ($1.55/80p) for 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.90 (25¢/10p) per kilometer, and then ¥2.40 (30¢/15p) per kilometer after 10km (6 miles).

Tours & Guides

Companies outside the Tongda Fandian near the railway station offer various tours of the Huangguoshu Falls. For about ¥200 ($26/£13), you get transportation, meals, and a guided tour (in Chinese) of the falls, as well as a Miao village. You also get either Tianxing Qiao (Heavenly Star Bridge) or Longgong Dong (Dragon Palace Caves). Another option is a round-trip bus ride to the falls for ¥60 ($9.10/£4.55). CITS, at Hequn Lu 1, Longquan Dasha, seventh floor (tel. 0851/690-1660), can arrange private tours of the same with English-speaking guides, but rates are much higher (starting at around ¥800/$104/£42 a day for car and guide).

Fast Facts

Banks, Foreign Exchange and ATMs -- The main branch of the Bank of China (tel. 0851/586-9790; open Mon-Fri 8:30-11:30am and 2:30-6pm/2-5:30pm in winter) is located at Dusi Lu 30. The branch has an ATM.

Internet Access -- A 24-hour Internet cafe at Yan'an Dong Lu 20, just east of the Trade Point Hotel, charges ¥2 (25¢/15p) an hour. A cleaner, quieter alternative is the third floor of the provincial library on Beijing Road, which is open from 9am to 8:30pm.

Post Office -- The main post office (open 8:30am-7pm) is at Zhonghua Nan Lu 68.

Visa Extensions -- The PSB is at Zhuxin Lu 5 (tel. 0851/676-5230; open Mon-Fri 8:30am-noon and 2-5pm). Allow 5 business days for a month-long extension.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.