Qiannan Overview

Located in the central south of Guizhou province, Qiannan is a golden passage leading from Guizhou province and even the whole southwest region to the south China coast, is the south gate of Guizhou province. Qiannan is located in the sloping area from the southeast of Yunnan-Guizhou plateau to the hilly area of Guangxi, it is high in the northwest and low in the southeast. With an average altitude of 997 meters, Qiannan enjoys a typical subtropical warm and humid monsoon climate with no severe cold in winter and no intense heat in summer. 

Basic Information

• Chinese Name: 黔南布依族和苗族自治州
• Location: South of Guizhou Province
• Government Seat: Duyun City(都匀市)
• Area: 26197 square kilometers
• Population: An approximate population of 3,280,900
• Minorities: Bijie is home to 43 ethnic groups including Han, Bouyei, Miao, Shui, Maonan, Yao, Zhuang, Dongand Gelao.
• Language: Southwest Mandarin, Biyi Language, Miao Language
• Airport: Qiannan Libo Airport(黔南荔波机场)
• Important Festivals: Main ethnic festivals include “San Yue San”, “Liu Yue Liu” and “Gengjian Festival(更建节)” of Bouyei; “Si Yue Ba”, “First Harvest of the Year” and Miao’s New Year of Miao; Duan Festival, Mao Festival and Jingxia Festival(敬霞节) of Shui; The Torch Festival of Maonan; Panwang Festival of Yao, etc. 
• Railway Stations: Duyun East Railway Station, Duyun Railway Station, Fuquan Railway Station, Guiding North Railway Station, Sandu County Railway Station.
• Famous Attractions: Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, Daqikong Scenic Area, Zhangjiang Scenic Area and Libo Maolan Karst Forest. 

Geography

Qiannan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture is located in the south central part of Guizhou Province, connected to Qiandongnan in the east, adjacent to Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous regionin the south, Anshun City and Qianxinan prefecture in the west, Guiyang City, the capital of Guizhou Province in the north. It covers an area of 26197 square kilometers, accounting for 15% of the whole province. 

Qiannan is located in the sloping area from the southeast of Yunnan-Guizhou plateau to the hilly area of Guangxi, the terrain is high in the northwest and low in the southeast. The Doupeng mountain between Guiding and Duyun is 1,961 meters above sea level, which is the highest point in the prefecture. At the exit of Hongshui river in Luodian, it is 242 meters above sea level, which is the lowest point in the prefecture, with an altitude difference of 1,719 meters. Under the warm and rainy climate conditions, karst landforms are widely developed in all parts of the prefecture, forming a variety of complex surface and underground karst landscapes. Karst landforms types include peak forest, peak cluster, trough valley, depression, ponors, karst caves, underground river, stone-drain, clint, etc., and Huishui, Pingtang, Dushan and Libo are most concentrated. 

Climate

Qiannan prefecture has a subtropical monsoon humid climate. The average frost-free period in Qiannan prefecture is 292 days, and in most of the areas, the daily illumination is about 30%. Annual average temperature is 13.6℃-19.6℃, increasing gradually from north to south, from west to east. Qiannan prefecture is one of the rainiest areas in Guizhou province, with annual precipitation of more than 1200 mm. 

Best Time to Visit

Although Qiannan travel is possible throughout the year, June to August has the most beautiful natural scenery. So the best time to visit Qiannan is June to August. 

Administrative Divisions

Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture has jurisdiction over 2 county-level cities, 9 counties and 1 autonomous county. The seat of government is in Duyun City. 

• 2 County-level Cities: Duyun City(都匀市) and Fuquan City(福泉市).
• 9 Counties: Libo County(荔波县), Guiding County(贵定县), Wengan County(瓮安县), Dushan County(独山县), Pingtang County(平塘县), Luodian County(罗甸县), Changshun County(长顺县), Longli County(龙里县), Huishui County(惠水县).
• 1 Autonomous County: Sandu Shui Autonomous County(三都水族自治县)

Ethnic Culture

People in Qiannan prefecture are plain, hardworking, kind-hearted and hospitable. Each ethnic group with their own intelligence and wisdom created a better home at the same time to create a colorful ethnic culture, forming a unique customs. Festivals and entertainment activities with profound cultural heritage, as well as beautiful folk handicrafts and residential buildings, have become a unique tourism resource in Qiannan. 

Transportation

Qiannan is the only way which must be passed from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Chongqing to Hunan, Hubei and east China. Guizhou-Guangxi railway, Guiyang-Xinzhai high class highway, national highway 320 and 321 and provincial highway 207 run north and south. Qiannan is only 120 kilometers away from Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport. The convenient transportation provides the superior condition for traveling in Qiannan prefecture. You can get to Qiannan by air, train or long-distance bus. 

What to Do in Qiannan

The biggest highlight of Qiannan tour is in Libo. There are famous Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, Daqikong Scenic Area, Zhangjiang Scenic Area in Libo County. 

Zhangjiang Scenic Area(樟江风景区)

Libo Zhangjiang scenic area is located in Libo county of Qiannan prefecture, Guizhou province, covering a total area of 118.8 square kilometers. The scenic area is composed of Daqikong and Xiaoqikong scenic areas, Shuichun river scenic area and Zhangjiang scenic belt. The scenic area is characterized by karst landforms, Zhangjiang waterscape and primitive forest, as well as various rare species of plants and animals. It is the first world natural heritage site in Guizhou with its unique mountain and water natural landscapes and ethnic features of local Buyi, Shui and Yao minorities.

Located in the south of Libo, Daqikong Scenic Area(大七孔景区) is a scenic spot mainly composed of primeval forests, valleys, underground rivers and lakes, 25 kilometers away from the county seat. It got its name from a seven-hole bridge over the Dagouhe river(or Mengtang river) near Mengtang village in Wangmeng township. The bridge is 7 meters high, 4.5 meters wide and 35 meters long, spanning east and west.

Xiaoqikong scenic area is located in a cluster of peaks more than 30 kilometers south of Libo county, Guizhou province. It is 5 kilometers away from Daqikong scenic spot, with a total length of 7 kilometers and an area of about 10 square kilometers. It is an original wonder that integrates mountains, water, forests, caves, lakes and waterfalls. It was listed as a national nature reserve in 1988. A seven-hole arch bridge made of bluestone crosses the Xiangshui river in Xiaoqikong scenic spot, and it was built in the 15th year of Daoguan. Xiaoqikong scenic area(小七孔景区) thus got the name. Because the scenic spot has the unique natural beauty, in addition, it is full of the strong Buyi, Shui, Miao, and Yao customs, which attracts many tourists from home and abroad.