Stand on the ridge road above Wanfenglin Scenic Area in the late afternoon and the landscape resolves into something closer to a painting than a place: hundreds of green karst peaks rising out of fields, with farmers still working the ground between them. Xingyi rewards travellers who like their scenery on a human scale, with villages, markets and festivals woven through it rather than fenced off from it.
The city suits walkers, cyclists and photographers who are happy to spend a day in the valley floor rather than ticking off viewpoints, and anyone interested in the cultures of the Buyi, Miao and Yi peoples who live across this part of Guizhou. This guide covers the named sights in and around the city, the festivals worth timing a trip around, and how to string the best of it together if you have only one day.
Top things to do in Xingyi
1. Wanfenglin Scenic Area
Commonly known as the Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks, this is the landscape most visitors come to Xingyi for: emerald green karst peaks, golden rapeseed fields in season, and traditional villages where locals can be seen tending their fields or strolling in the evening. A tour bus circuit runs around the park from the Main Gate, roughly 15km and about two hours, giving you both a bird's-eye view from the ridge road and a ground-level view of the peaks.
A practical point many visitors miss: the ticket and sightseeing bus cover the ridge-road viewpoints, but the valley floor below — the villages, rice paddies and lanes among the peaks — sits on ordinary public roads with no gate and can be walked, cycled or driven for free. Bicycles, e-bikes and small electric buggies hire out along the valley road, though in peak season bikes are not allowed on the shuttle road during the day. Food inside the attraction is limited and outside options taste better; a food market at the end of the circuit is a good place to eat. Standard adult tickets are ¥70 from March to November and ¥60 from December to February, with the tour bus at ¥50.
2. Maling River Canyon
A national key scenic spot where the valley is deep, the water runs fast and waterfalls drop through a narrow gap between the cliffs. It is a well-known rafting resort in China — the first China International Kayak Rafting Competition was held here in 1998 — but most visitors come for the scenery rather than the rafting, and the waterfalls are at their fullest after rain.
A sightseeing lift (about ¥40 return) saves the roughly three-hour walk down into the gorge and back up, and half a day is enough for the visit. Admission is around ¥70.
3. Qianxinan Prefecture Museum
If you are interested in history and culture, this museum is the place to learn about the historical evolution, ethnic cultures and natural resources of the region. Its displays cover the heritage of the Bouyei (Buyi) and Miao ethnic groups as well as geological exhibits related to karst landforms. Entry is free.
It occupies Level 2 of the Ethnic Culture Center at Jushan Square and is open 09:00–17:00, closed on the eve of Chinese New Year. Several city bus routes and the High-Speed Rail Tourist Bus 2 stop nearby, so it pairs easily with a half-day in the city.
4. Liu's Manor
In the Xiawutun Sub-district Office south of the city, this is the largest "Tunbao" style landlord and warlord building complex in China, made up of 13 courtyard houses in a combination of Chinese and Western styles. It is the former residence of Liu Xianqian.
Come for the architecture and the sense of a self-contained fortified estate rather than for a quick photo stop; the scale of the complex is the point.
5. Nidang Stone Forest
This provincial-level scenic spot is described as being in various poses and with different forms, like a maze — a place to wander rather than to view from a single platform.
Wear shoes you can walk in and allow time to lose your bearings a little; the pleasure here is in the winding route through the stones.
6. Lubuge deep valley lake
A deep valley lake where vine trees are hidden and winding paths lead to secluded places. It suits travellers who want a quieter counterpoint to the big viewpoints of Wanfenglin and Maling River Canyon.
Treat it as a slow half-day rather than a checklist stop, and combine it with the rest of a day out of the city.
7. Wanfeng Forest
One of the most famous scenic spots in Xingyi, known for its karst mountain topography. Here you can hike, ride or take a sightseeing tour, taking in the peaks, green fields and flowing rivers. It is sometimes called the "little Guilin of the East", and the varied peak shapes make it well suited to photographers and natural explorers.
Because hiking, cycling and sightseeing are all possible here, decide your mode of transport before you arrive — it changes how much of the area you can cover.
8. Natural Bridge
A typical karst cave landscape with clear streams running underneath it. You can hike into the area and take in the spectacle of the formation, with the flowing water beneath the bridge making it a good subject for photography and exploration.
It is an outdoor hike rather than a built attraction, so plan it for a dry stretch of weather.
9. Buyi and Miao culture and village visits
Xingyi is the capital of Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, and visitors can visit local ethnic villages, join traditional festivals, learn handicraft making, and experience Miao and Buyi dances, singing and ethnic costumes. In the rural areas around the city you can visit traditional villages of the Buyi and Miao ethnic groups, most of which retain traditional wooden architecture and folklore, with villagers known for their hospitality.
These visits work best around a festival date rather than as an ordinary sightseeing stop, so check what is on before you fix your travel dates.
10. Jumingshan Park
A park with mountain scenery, lakes, ancient buildings and Buddhist culture, and a good place to climb, stroll and relax. You can climb the mountain, visit the ancient temples and enjoy the tranquil surroundings and religious atmosphere.
Note that it lies a little far from Xingyi, so give it its own slot in your itinerary rather than squeezing it between city sights.
11. Buyi Third Month Third festival
An important traditional festival of the Buyi people, held on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month to commemorate their ancestors. Buyi communities hold a grand ancestral rites ceremony alongside singing parties, dance performances and bullfighting competitions, and young people express their love through songs. Traditional foods such as glutinous rice are part of the day.
If your trip can be timed around it, this is one of the clearest windows into local culture; otherwise look for village-level celebrations in the surrounding countryside.
12. Miao Flower Jumping Festival
Held in January or February each year, with the specific date determined by the village, this is an important Miao festival celebrating the harvest and praying for blessings. People dance flower dances, sing Miao songs and hold traditional sports such as cockfighting and climbing flower poles, and it is an important occasion for young Miao men and women to communicate and convey feelings to each other.
Because the date varies by village, ask locally or at your accommodation for which village is celebrating during your stay.
13. Torch Festival
An important traditional festival of the Yi people, held on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, praying for good weather and warding off evil spirits. In the evening people light torches and dance around the fire, with horse racing and bullfighting during the day; the atmosphere is warm and reflects the courage and unity of the Yi people.
It is an evening-centred festival, so plan to be in the area after dark rather than travelling that day.
14. Buyi June 6th
Also known as "Dress Day" or "To the Cuckoo Festival", held on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month. Buyi households dry clothes and food at home on this day and celebrate the harvest with sticky rice, Ciba and other special foods, alongside singing and dancing performances and prayer activities in the village.
It is a good festival for food as much as for performance, so come hungry and expect to be offered things.
15. Xingyi Food and Culture Festival and Guizhou Southwest Ethnic Culture Festival
The Xingyi Food and Culture Festival runs before and after National Day each year, showcasing the local food culture — visitors can taste specialties such as grilled whole sheep, brush handle and Xingyi chicken soup pot. The Guizhou Southwest Ethnic Culture Festival takes place in mid-August and showcases the cultural essence of the Buyi, Miao and Yi ethnic groups, with traditional dances, folk songs, ethnic costumes and handicrafts exhibitions.
Both are straightforward ways to sample food and culture in one place; the August festival is the better choice if you want crafts and costumes rather than mainly food.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Wanfenglin Scenic Area. Take the tour bus circuit from the Main Gate for the ridge-road viewpoints over the peaks and fields, then continue on the valley floor, which is on ordinary public roads with no gate — hire a bicycle or e-bike along the valley road and ride among the villages and paddies.
Afternoon: Eat at the food market at the end of the circuit, then head into the city for the Qianxinan Prefecture Museum at Jushan Square, which is free and open 09:00–17:00. If you would rather stay outdoors, swap this for the walk down into Maling River Canyon using the sightseeing lift, which takes about half a day.
Evening: Return to the Wanfenglin area, where locals can be seen strolling in the evening and where modern, clean hotels and homestays are run by friendly locals, and eat at one of the options outside the attraction rather than inside it.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the waterfalls in Maling River Canyon?
The waterfalls are fullest after rain. Most visitors come for the scenery rather than the rafting, and a sightseeing lift saves the roughly three-hour walk down into the gorge and back up.
Do I need a ticket to walk among the villages in Wanfenglin Scenic Area?
No. The ticket and sightseeing bus cover the ridge-road viewpoints, but the valley floor below — the villages, rice paddies and lanes among the peaks — is on ordinary public roads with no gate and can be walked, cycled or driven for free.
Which festivals in Xingyi are worth timing a trip around?
The Buyi Third Month Third, the Miao Flower Jumping Festival, the Yi Torch Festival and the Buyi June 6th are the main traditional celebrations, along with the Xingyi Food and Culture Festival around National Day and the Guizhou Southwest Ethnic Culture Festival in mid-August.
Is the Qianxinan Prefecture Museum worth visiting if I am short on time?
It is free, open 09:00–17:00 and closed on the eve of Chinese New Year, and it covers the region's history, the cultures of the Bouyi and Miao ethnic groups and karst geology, so it works well as a compact city stop.
Decide which festival or season you want to build your trip around, then start planning your days in Xingyi from there.