 Guizhou province is located in Southwest China and covers an area of 176,000 square kilometers including the Yungui plateau. This plateau is one of the most famous landmarks in China, reaching an altitude of 1,000 meters. Guizhou’s population has now reached 37,100,000.
Guizhou has beautiful natural scenery, with undulating hills and mountains, alternating with deep basins, known by the locals as Bazi.
Guizhou has two main rivers, the Wujiang River and the Chishui River, which eventually run into the Yangtze. These wild rivers wind through the mountainous terrain and form a picturesque landscape of lush valleys and waterfalls.
Guizhou has 49 ethnic groups. Next to Han, the Miao natoinality is the second largest in the province.
 This is a typical Miao villlage found in Guizhou. The houses are mainly built in a stilt style and the village is neatly laid－out, with surrounding mountains restricting urban sprawl. People living in these villages still wear the traditional Miao dress made by the local women .
 Traditional culture is important to the Miao nationality. At any significant festivals or celebrations throughout the year, men, women and children join the festivities, dressing in their finest clothes and singing and dancing late into the night. A popular musical instrument during these festivals is the Lusheng, which is either played by the men, while the women dance or played as the whole group dance.
Guizhou has an ancient theatrical tradition called the Ground Opera. Amateur actors wear wooden masks that depict their characters and perform in an open space for the audience. This art form was well received in Paris when a touring group performed there in 1986.
Wax Printing is one of the enduring arts of Guizhou’s ethnic people. The paintings are done using a knife and a hot wax liquid to form patterns on the white cloth, resulting in a unique and beautiful design. Guizhou’s culture and art has been well protected and is still thriving today.
In developing countries like China, poverty is more prevalent in the rural areas than the big cities. Ninety－seven percent of Guizhou is dominated by mountains, which has resulted in a weak economy with the GDP per capita for the province being the lowest in the country. There are only a few open plains in the region, with cities, including Guiyang and Anshun being located in them.
The slow process of industrialisation has kept the cultural diversity and natural environment in pristine condition. The magnificent scenery, colourful ethnic customs and rich history are the pride of Guizhou's people.
 The Huangguoshu waterfall has been described as a milky－way flowing down from the heavens, and it is certainly a sight to see. It is the largest waterfall in Asia, 74 meters high and 81 meters wide. There are many fantastic viewing positions at the falls, including a 134－meter cave which runs behind the waterfall.
In Guizhou there are other attractions, such as unusual mountain formations, beautiful rivers, karst caves and fascinating ethnic customs. Here there are eight significant national places of interest.
Chinese often say that without water the scene is not complete, and Hongfenghu lake is the ultimate proof of this. It is the largest artificial lake on Yungui Plateau, and here the mountains and the water are perfectly complementary. In Guizhou there are a lot of beautiful mountains and scenes, with one essential for the other.
In Guizhou plateau there is a varied landscape, including high mountains, steep valleys, winding rivers and quiet rural scenes.
 Guizhou’s very essence is linked to its mountains. From both the villages and cities one can see and feel the presence of the mountains. The cities that are located in the mountains are continually growing and developing. Guiyang is the most beautiful city in Guizhou, and the province’s capital.
Guizhou’s Aluminium manufacturing industry is the largest in China, with the ingot products from the plants being registered on London’s Metal Exchange. The leading technological innovations from the factories are helping to improve and modernise the aluminium processing, laying a good basis for expansion.
 Guizhou is also known in Southwest China as “The sea of coal”. There are 52.6 billion tons of verified coal deposits in the province. Even if 100 million tons of coal were mined each year, the coal resource would still last for another 500 years.
Guizhou is also very rich in hydro and thermal power resources with electricity here being the cheapest in China. The main industrial advantages of Guizhou are its energy resources, raw materials and processed products.
The proportion of educated people in Guizhou today is still very low. In some poor mountain regions many people have not had the opportunity to further their education.
Compared with eastern China, western China has a severe shortage of educated and trained people.
|
