Zunyi Overview

Located in the north of Guizhou province, Zunyi is the second largest city in Guizhou, about 2 hours' drive from Guiyang. The west bank of Xiangjiang river is where the old downtown of Zunyi is located. On the east bank of the river, the T-shaped road(Dingzikou), where three main roads meet, is the downtown of Zunyi. The reason why Zunyi is best known to the Chinese people is that in January 1935, the political bureau of the central committee held a famous Zunyi meeting here, and Zunyi was also included in the first batch of 24 famous historical and cultural cities published by the state council. In addition to a number of historical sites including Zunyi Meeting Site, Zunyi is also rich in natural resources, like national Chishui Scenic Area and other forest parks. Zunyi tourism is a perfect combination of natural resources and historical culture.

Basic Information

• Chinese Name: 遵义市
• Location: North of Guizhou Province
• Government Seat: Huichuan District(汇川区)
• Area: About 30762 square kilometers
• Population: An approximate population of 8,018,300
• Minorities: Tujia, Yi, Bai, Dai, Dai, Zhuang, Miao, Hui, Gelao, Lisu, Lahu, Wa, Naxi, Yao, Zang, Jingpo, Bulang, Buyi, Achang, Hani, Xibe, Pumi, Mongol, Nu, Jinuo, Deang, Shui, Man, Dulong, etc.
• Language: Southwest Mandarin
• Airport: Zunyi Xinzhou Airport, Zunyi Maotai Airport
• Universities: Zunyi Medical University and Maotai University
• Important Festivals: Caishan Festival(踩山节) of Miao Minority, The New Year of Gelao Minority and Ox King Festival
• Railway Stations: Zunyi railway station, Zunyi west railway station and Zunyi south railway station.
• Famous Attractions: Chishui Danxia Landform, Chishui Grand Waterfall and Chishui river.

Geography

Zunyi is located in the north of Guizhou province, between 106°17′22″—107°26′25″ east longitude and 27°13′15″—28°04′09″ north latitude. Zunyi stretches 247.5 kilometers from east to west and 232.5 kilometers from south to north, covering an area of 30780.73 square kilometers, accounting for 17.46% of the total area of Guizhou province. Zunyi city is adjacent to Tongren city, Qiandongnan and Qiannan in the east, Guiyang city and Bijie city in the south, Luzhou city in the west and Chongqing city in the north. The central urban area extends 144 kilometers south to the provincial capital Guiyang and 239 kilometers north to Chongqing. 

Zunyi city is located in the slope zone from Yunnan-Guizhou plateau to Hunan hills and Sichuan basin, with complex landform. Elevation height is in commonly 800-1300 meters, on 2nd level ladder of China's terrain. In Zunyi, Basin and valley basin area takes up 6.57%, hills accounts for 28.35%, mountain area accounts for 65.08%. Daloushan mountain range(大娄山山脉) is the watershed between the north and south water systems in the city, and Zunyi city is obviously divided into two large areas in terms of landform: south of the mountain is one of the main bodies of the Guizhou plateau, with the low and middle hills and wide valley basin as the main parts. Generally, the cultivated land is relatively concentrated and continuous, and the land utilization rate is relatively high. It is the main producing area of grain and oil crops.

Climate

Zunyi is located in the low latitude, cold air from Siberia arriving in Zunyi has been greatly weakened, so in the winter, extreme minimum temperature of the coldest period(in January) is -7.1℃ (on January 30, 1977), 0.2℃ higher than Zhijiang in the same latitude. And commonly affected by southwest monsoon in summer, extreme maximum temperature in the hottest period is 38.7℃ (on August 18, 1953), 1.7 ℃ lower than the neighboring Chongqing(40.4℃). Zhunyi annual average temperature is 15.1℃, 0.6 ℃ higher than Kunming City. Therefore, Zunyi has no intense heat in summer and severe cold in winter, with abundant rainfall and pleasant climate.

Best Time to Visit

Enjoying a subtropical humid monsoon climate, Zunyi has no intense heat in summer and no severe cold in winter. Like most areas in Guizhou, the climate in Zunyi is relatively moderate, and the annual average temperature is 13-18℃. The rainy season coincides with the heat season. There is abundant rainfall and sunshine in Zunyi. It is suitable to visit all year long.

Administrative Divisions

Zunyi has jurisdiction over 3 municipal districts, 7 counties, 2 autonomous counties and 2 county-level city. The municipal people's government is located in Huichuan district. At present, there are 181 towns, 21 townships(including 8 ethnic townships) and 50 subdistricts.

• 3 Districts: Honghuagang District(红花岗区), Huichuan District(汇川区) and Bozhou District(播州区).
• 7 Counties: Tongzi County(桐梓县), Suiyang County(绥阳县), Zhengan County(正安县), Fenggang County(凤冈县), Meitan County(湄潭县), Yuqing County(余庆县) and Xishui County(习水县).
• 2 Autonomous Counties: Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County(道真仡佬族苗族自治县) and Wuchuan Gelao and Miao Autonomous County(务川仡佬族苗族自治县).
• 2 County-level Cities: Chishui City(赤水市) and Renhuai City(仁怀市).

Culture

There are more than 28 ethnic groups in Zunyi, including Miao, Gelao, Tujia, etc. Main ethnic festivals and activities are Caishan Festival(踩山节) of Miao Minority, The New Year of Gelao Minority, Ox King Festival and First Harvest of the Year, etc. Except ethnic minority culture, there are also local cultures including red culture, tea culture and liquor culture.

Transportation

Zunyi is not only an important city in northern Guizhou, but also a transportation hub of the whole province. So the transportation in Zunyi is relatively convenient. You can choose to take plane, train, long-distance bus and other ways to get to Zunyi. Tourists can also go to Guiyang first and transfer from Guiyang to Zunyi. There are daily trains from Guiyang to Zunyi.

Things to Do in Zunyi

Chishui Danxia Landform

Chishui Danxia national geopark is located in Chishui city of Guizhou province, on the southern edge of Sichuan basin, close to the northern foot of Daluoshan mountain in northern Guizhou. It is the representative of Danxia landform in the early young phase, with an area of more than 1200 square kilometers. It is the largest, the most beautiful and spectacular Danxia landform in China.

Chishui Grand Waterfall

Chishui waterfall scenic spot, also known as Shizhangdong cave scenic spot, is located in the south of Chishui city, Guizhou province. It is on the upper reaches of Fengxi river, a tributary of Chishui river, more than 30 kilometers away from the urban area of Chishui city. Shizhangdong waterfall(Chishui grand waterfall) is 76 meters high and 80 meters wide. It is the largest waterfall on China's Danxia landform and the largest waterfall on China's Yangtze river basin.

Maotai Town of Renhuai City

In Maotai town, you can feel the vitality of national liquor. By the wooded river, there are traces of the red army. There are red army martyrs cemetery and Red Army's Four Crossings of the Chishui River. Maotai town integrates ancient salt culture, long march culture and liquor culture, and is known as "The No.1 liquor town in China".

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