01City Guide
Qianling Mountain Park
黔灵山公园
All Ages
Admission
Free entry with real-name reservation. Paid extras include cableway, boats, and Hongfu Temple entry.
Typical Visit
3-4 hours
Quick Facts
Ticket
CNY 10 basic entry ticket. CNY 60 combo ticket covers selected smaller paid sites such as Zhuangyuan Mansion, Zhao Gong Shrine, and Longquan Temple.
Hours
Ancient town area is generally open through the day; selected paid sites and ticket checks keep their own visitor hours. Plan the main visit in daytime or early evening.
Transport
Huaxi Park (花溪公园), Line 3, then transfer to Bus 203 or 210 toward Qingyan Ancient Town.
Duration
1.5-2 hours for a light visit; 3-4 hours with walls and small sites
Best Time
Mar-May and Sep-Nov for comfortable walking; early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds
Visitors
All ages
How to Visit
1
Decide first whether you need the full pass
If you only want to walk the lanes, gates, Back Street, and food streets, the CNY 10 entry ticket is enough. If you want to enter smaller paid sites such as Zhuangyuan Mansion, Zhao Gong Shrine, or Longquan Temple, consider the CNY 60 combo ticket.
Tip:For a first visit, you do not always need the combo ticket. Buy it only if you care about historic interiors and small exhibitions.
2
Allow 40-70 minutes from central Guiyang
A taxi or ride-hailing car is the easiest option, especially for groups or travelers with luggage. By public transport, take Metro Line 3 to Huaxi Park Station, then transfer to Bus 203 or 210 to Qingyan Ancient Town.
Tip:Plan your return ride before leaving, especially on holidays. Do not wait until you are at the gate to start looking for a car.
3
Enter from the North Gate and start with the wall and Back Street
After entering from the North Gate, see Dingguang Gate and the town wall first, then walk Back Street, Zhuangyuan Street, and the main street. A light photo-and-snack visit takes about 1.5-2 hours; allow 3-4 hours if you want to walk the wall and enter smaller sites.
Tip:Back Street is quieter than the main street and shows more of Qingyan's stone lanes and old walls.
4
Avoid the midday and holiday rush
Arriving after 8:30 in the morning or around 4:00 in the afternoon is easier than visiting at midday. The main street gets crowded, and parking and photography become harder.
Tip:If you dislike commercial streets, spend more time on the wall, side lanes, and Back Street instead of staying only on the main street.
Highlights
- Dingguang Gate and the town wall give the clearest view of Qingyan's old rooftops and mountain-town layout.
- Back Street has narrow stone paving and layered old walls, making it better for photos than the main street.
- Zhuangyuan Mansion and Zhao Gong Shrine add useful context on Qingyan's exam culture and local history.
- Wanshou Palace and the Catholic church show Qingyan's mix of religious and trade history.
- Pig trotter, gaoba rice porridge, and rice tofu are best saved for the second half of the visit.
Insider Tips
✦Qingyan has many stone paths and steps. After rain, shoes matter more than clothing.
✦The main street feels commercial. For a quieter visit, move toward Back Street, the wall, and side lanes.
✦If you only want a short photo stop, skip the combo ticket.
✦Qingyan can be paired with Huaxi, Yelang Valley, or Tianhetan, but do not pack every stop too tightly.
✦At closing time or on holidays, use ride-hailing instead of negotiating with drivers at the gate.
More Guiyang Attractions
02Urban Landmark
Jiaxiu Pavilion
甲秀楼
All Ages
Admission
Free entry.
Typical Visit
45-60 minutes; longer if waiting for night exterior views
03Built Heritage
Cuiwei Garden
翠微园
All Ages
Admission
Free entry.
Typical Visit
45-60 minutes
04City Guide
Tianhetan Resort Area
天河潭旅游度假区
All Ages
Admission
CNY 10 basic entry ticket. Package with water cave, dry cave, and round-trip sightseeing shuttle is listed at CNY 80; online tickets often start from CNY 75. Bamboo rafting and high-altitude gliding cost extra.
Typical Visit
3-4 hours
05City Guide
Huaxi Yelang Valley
花溪夜郎谷
All Ages
Admission
CNY 20 adult ticket. CNY 10 for children, students, and visitors aged 60-69.
Typical Visit
1.5-2.5 hours
06Cultural Stop
Guizhou Provincial Museum
贵州省博物馆
All Ages
Admission
Free entry with real-name reservation.
Typical Visit
2-3 hours