GUIZHOU Province has long suffered from a regional inferiority complex. A plateau in China’s southwest, the province has Sichuan and its world-famous pandas to the north; Yunnan, whose spectacular towns include Shangri-La(Zhongdian), to the west, and Hunan Province, home of much Communist Party lore, to the east.
　　But as those who have actually visited Guizhou can attest, the province has nothing to worry about. Guizhou boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in all of China. More than 90 percent of its land area is mountainous. Karst formations – vertiginous stone structures that resemble super-sized stalagmites – dominate the landscape. Karst scenery was the inspiration behind the spectacular “floating mountains” in James Cameron’s Avatar. In reality, one doesn’t need to make an interplanetary voyage to experience such otherworldly wonder; a trip to Guizhou will do just fine.
　　The fame of Guizhou’s neighbors means the province has long stayed off the touristic radar in China. Nowadays, though, a trickle of travelers are finding their way to the southwest’s best kept secret.
　　 stunning natural scenery
　　Chief among Guizhou’s attractions are, of course, the mountains. But for me personally, it is the bodies of water surrounding mountain chains that give the province’s topography its tranquil, timeless charm. The mountains are like the sharp features on the beautiful face of the land, one might say, but the water gives the face its beautiful, silken skin.
　　Mountains are everywhere in Guizhou. The Dalou Range forms the provincial border to the north; the Miaoling Mountains traverse the center; the Wuling Mountains extend down from Hunan Province, while the Wumeng Range towers high in the west.
　　According to statistics, karst topography accounts for 61.9 percent of the province’s total area, or 109,084 square kilometers. The structures – which have to be seen to be believed – were formed by the millennia-long erosion of soluble bedrock. Hard rock remained intact while the land level fell, eventually creating the karst landforms one sees today. They are grand, imposing structures, and represent a sort of stubbornness in the face of nature; a bold refusal to be ground down to size, and a testament to the awesome geology of our constantly changing planet.
　　Many rivers carve their way through the province. Guizhou is located upstream of the mighty Yangtze and Pearl rivers, and 69 of its counties fall into the conservation area of the shelter forest along the Yangtze River. These regions play an important role in protecting the pristine nature of these rivers that head down to South China’s most populous towns. They enter Guizhou in the west before flowing north, east and south of the province. 　　The Miaoling range forms a watershed between the Yangtze and Pearl river systems. North of the Miaoling Mountains is the domain of the Yangtze and the numerous tributaries that flow into it, while the south side falls to the Pearl River.
　　Thanks to these systems Guizhou boasts abundant hydropower potential. Guizhou is ideally situated to utilize hydropower on the grand river systems; upstream enough to ensure large waterflow, yet far enough downstream for dam construction is to be economically feasible. There are also many sections of the rivers where the water level drops sharply, providing ideal natural conditions for dam construction.
　　Statistics show that Guizhou’s hydro- power resources represent upwards of 18.745 million kilowatts, accounting for 4.4 percent of the national total and ranking sixth in the country.
　　The mountains, waters, forests and caves of Guizhou make it a natural paradise for many species of wild animals. The province is home to over 1,000 species that are classified as “rare” and hence come under state protection. One standout is the gray snub-nosed monkey, endemic to Guizhou. One of three species of snub-nosed monkey in China, Guizhou’s“gray” variety, with a total estimated population of less than 750 in the wild, is the most threatened.
　　Guizhou features a myriad of nationally recognized scenic spots, chief among which is the majestic Huangguoshu Waterfall. Another natural wonder is the Longgong Caves system, a sprawling system of underground cave formations, within which are found lakes, waterfalls and many ancient stalactites and stalagmites.
　　Noted national nature reserves in Guizhou include Fanjing Mountain in Tongren City, Maolan Karst Forest in Libo County, the Tree Fern (Cyathea spinulosa) Nature Reserve in Chishui City and Caohai Lake on Weining Mountain. The karst forests of Libo, along with the breathtaking red sandstone Danxia landforms have been inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Natural Heritages.
　　Besides natural wonders, the province also houses many historic sites. One such site is the venue of the Zunyi Conference, a pivotal meeting that put Mao Zedong at the helm of the retreating Communist Party and the Red Army. Another is the Chishui River, which Chairman Mao led the besieged Red Army to cross four times to escape the ring of encirclement set up by Kuomintang troops during the Long March.
　　Needless to say, Guizhou’s natural beauty, emphasized by a pleasant climate that is not too hot in summer and not too cold in winter, makes it an ideal tourist destination. And that’s to mention nothing of its other major draw card – its people. The province is among the most demographically diverse provinces in China. Ethnic minorities, accounting for roughly eight percent of China’s people, make up 37 percent of the population here. Over half of the province is designated as an ethnic autonomous area. This ensures local ethnic cultures are given room to flourish and preserve their traditions. 　　In total, members of 48 minority ethnic groups live in Guizhou. Each has its own history and traditions. Unique architectural styles can be found throughout the province. The Dong ethnic group’s buildings, which show a heavy dose of Thai influence; the tilted houses of the Miao, and the stone villages of the Bouyei all display an advanced degree of local architectural ingenuity.
　　


　　 History in spades
　　Guizhou is also reckoned as one of the earliest enclaves of human civilization in Asia. In Guanyin Cave in Qianxi County, researchers have found stone tools that suggest an early Paleolithic culture in the area south of the Yangtze River. Evidence of human settlements 16,000 years ago has also emerged in Anshun City’s Puding County.
　　Extant historical records show that Guizhou was inhabited by many tribes during the Spring and Autumn Period(770-476 BC). Towards the end of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), an alliance of tribes rose to power and established the Yelang Kingdom. In 25 BC the kingdom was wiped out and Guizhou became a county under the rule of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). It was made a province in 1413 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
　　Over its long history, Guizhou has produced many famous scholars, poets, calligraphers and painters who contributed to the prosperity of Chinese civilization. In recent history many Guizhou natives devoted themselves to the cause of the Chinese revolution, as embodied by the martyred spirits of Wang Ruofei and Huang Qisheng.
　　Since China’s reform and opening-up began three decades ago, the government of Guizhou has put its efforts into infrastructure construction and enhancing cultural exchanges between the province and other countries.
　　The government has been working to safeguard the province’s traditional culture, while encouraging new cultural industries to thrive. These two endeavors are symbolized by the governmentfunded Grand Theater, now a symbol of Guiyang, the provincial capital, and by the Guiyang Cultural and Creative Industrial Park, a venue that seeks to create business opportunities for custodians of cultural heritage.
　　In the last few years Guizhou’s service industry in particular has been enjoying boom times. Since last year many notable national conferences, expos and sporting events have been held in the province, including the National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities and the China International Alcoholic Beverage Expo.
　　Sound economic management, coupled with the province’s natural assets –mountains, rivers and, of course, its warm people, should ensure Guizhou won’t stay off the map for too much longer.