Guizhou Travel Itinerary for Families with Teenagers

A 10-day self-guided trip from Taiwan to Guizhou, tailored for a family with two teenagers. When planning the itinerary, we naturally considered activities that teenagers would enjoy. Transportation was mainly via high-speed rail, direct shuttle buses to scenic spots, and a two-day car rental. The beauty of a self-guided trip is the flexibility to arrange activities as you like. For instance, spending an entire afternoon relaxing in the hotel, enjoying the air conditioning, and admiring the greenery is perfectly fine. June in Guizhou is not yet peak tourist season, so there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from based on individual budgets. Overall, the hotels and guesthouses we stayed at were excellent and affordable, leaving us very satisfied. Additionally, Guizhou's high-speed rail and highways impressed me greatly. Despite the province's rugged terrain, its transportation network is seamlessly connected by bridges and tunnels, making travel convenient even without driving. Itinerary: Guiyang - Xijiang Miao Village - Libo Xiaoqikong (two nights) - FAST Telescope (Tianyan) - Huangguoshu Waterfall (two nights) - Longgong Cave + Anshun - Gaoguo River - Guiyang Here are the activities we and the teenagers enjoyed the most: 1. My personal favorite was Libo Xiaoqikong, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The emerald-green waters were stunning. We kayaked on Yuanyang Lake, took a boat ride at Daqikong, and explored the waterfalls and forests of Xiaoqikong, which the kids also loved. The Xiaoqikong scenic area is vast, and we spent a day and a half there, taking our time but still couldn't cover everything, such as the Stone Forest. It's a pity we missed it. I highly recommend spending two to three days exploring both Xiaoqikong and Daqikong. 2. The kids' favorite was white-water rafting at Gaoguo River Scenic Area, which was thrilling and fun. 3. Huangguoshu Waterfall consists of three scenic spots. Despite not being peak season, the crowds still affected the experience. We stayed at a hotel within the scenic area, connected to the main waterfall, allowing us to visit early at 7 AM. It was a leisurely and enjoyable experience. While the waterfalls at Doupotang and Qixingqiao are equally impressive, the crowds made them less enjoyable. The three scenic spots are relatively small, and two days felt a bit excessive. Overall, Huangguoshu Waterfall didn't leave me particularly amazed. 4. Longgong Cave Scenic Area surprised me. Visiting during the off-season meant no waiting, and we took four boat rides, making the ticket price well worth it. 5. Xijiang Miao Village, though commercialized, still has unique and beautiful aspects. It's worth the visit and the ticket price. 6. We spent a day in Anshun, exploring the ancient city and enjoying the night market, which was quite fun. 7. In Guiyang, we visited Huaxi Yelang Valley and biked along Shili River Beach. 8. We made a special trip to the FAST Telescope (Tianyan) Scenic Area to see the world's largest single-dish radio telescope! Upon closer inspection, you can observe many unique detection technologies. We're excited about the potential astronomical breakthroughs from Tianyan! In summary, Guizhou boasts stunning landscapes, unique karst terrain, caves, underground rivers, and waterfalls, making it a rare and beautiful World Natural Heritage site. The minority cultures (Miao, Bouyei, Yao) also broadened our horizons. This trip to southern and southeastern Guizhou has left our family with wonderful memories.