Editing Guizhou

{{Short description|Province of southwestern China}}
{{other uses|Guizhou (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Guizhou
| native_name        = {{lang|zh-Hans|贵州}}
| settlement_type    = [[Province of China|Province]]
| translit_lang1     = Name
| translit_lang1_type = {{nobold|Chinese}}
| translit_lang1_info = {{lang|zh-Hans|贵州省}} ({{transliteration|zh|Guìzhōu Shěng}})
| translit_lang1_type1 = {{nobold|Abbreviation}}
| translit_lang1_info1 = GZ / {{linktext|lang=zh|黔}} or {{linktext|lang=zh-Hans|贵}} ({{lang-zh|p=Qián or Guì}})
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Huangguoshu Waterfall in October 2020, Picture04.jpg
| photo2a = Zhaoxing10.JPG
| photo2b = Fanjingshan-new.jpg
| photo3a= Guiyang, Guizhou, China.jpg
| photo3b = 荔波-卧龙坝 - panoramio.jpg
| photo4a = FAST Radio Telescope (captured from video).jpg
| position = center
| size = 280
| color = #F5F5F5
| border = 0
| color_border = white
| text = {{Center|(clockwise from top){{flatlist|
* [[Huangguoshu Waterfall]] 
* [[Fanjingshan]]
* [[Libo County|Libo]]
* [[Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope]]
* [[Guiyang]]
* [[Zhaoxing, Guizhou|Zhaoxing]]}}
}}
}}
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = Guizhou in China (+all claims hatched).svg
| mapsize            = 275px
| map_alt            = Map showing the location of Guizhou Province
| map_caption        = Map showing the location of Guizhou Province
| coordinates        = {{coord|26|50|N|106|50|E|type:adm1st|format=dms|display=it}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = China
| named_for          = Gui - Gui Mountains <br /> ''[[zhou (political division)|zhou]]'' (prefecture)
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Guiyang]]
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = [[Zunyi]]
| parts_type         = Divisions
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = 9 [[Prefectures of China|prefectures]]
| p2                 = 88 [[Counties of China|counties]]
| p3                 = 1539 [[Townships of China|townships]]
| government_type    = [[Provinces of China|Province]]
| governing_body     = [[Guizhou Provincial People's Congress]]
| leader_title       = [[Party Secretary of Guizhou|Party Secretary]]
| leader_name        = [[Xu Lin (born 1963)|Xu Lin]]
| leader_title1      = [[Guizhou Provincial People's Congress|Congress]] chairman
| leader_name1       = Xu Lin
| leader_title2      = [[Governor of Guizhou|Governor]]
| leader_name2       = [[Li Bingjun]]
| leader_title3      = [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference|CPPCC]] chairman
| leader_name3       = [[Zhao Yongqing]]
| leader_title4      = [[National People's Congress]] Representation
| leader_name4       = 71 deputies
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=mofcom>{{cite web|title=Doing Business in China - Survey|url=http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zt_business/lanmub/|publisher=Ministry Of Commerce - People's Republic Of China|access-date=5 August 2013|archive-date=5 August 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130805091244/http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zt_business/lanmub/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 176167
| area_rank          = [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by area|16th]]
| elevation_max_m    = 2900
| elevation_max_point = [[Mount Jiucaiping|Jiucaiping]]
| elevation_max_ft   = 
| elevation_max_rank = 
| elevation_min_m    = 
| elevation_min_point = 
| elevation_min_ft   = 
| elevation_min_rank = 
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|date=11 May 2021|title=Communiqué of the Seventh National Population Census (No. 3)|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202105/t20210510_1817188.html|access-date=11 May 2021|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]]}}</ref>
| population_total   = 38,562,148
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_rank    = [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by population|17th]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_rank = [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by population density|18th]]
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| demographics1_title1 = Ethnic composition
| demographics1_info1 = [[Han Chinese|Han]] - 62%<br />[[Miao people|Miao]] - 12%<br />[[Buyei people|Buyei]] - 8%<br />[[Dong people|Dong]] - 5%<br />[[Tujia people|Tujia]] - 4%<br />[[Yi people|Yi]] - 2%<br />[[Unrecognized ethnic groups in China|Undistinguished]] - 2%<br />[[Gelao people|Gelao]] - 2%<br />[[Sui people|Sui]] - 1%
| demographics1_title2 = Languages and dialects
| demographics1_info2 = [[Southwestern Mandarin]]

| demographics_type2   = [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] {{normal|(2023)}}<ref name="GDPdata">{{cite web|url=https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=E0103|title=National Data|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China|China NBS]]|date=March 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024}} see also {{cite web|url=https://www.guizhou.gov.cn/zwgk/zfsj/tjgb/202404/t20240430_84385915.html|title=zh: 贵州省2023年国民经济和社会发展统计公报|publisher=guizhou.gov.cn|date=April 30, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2022}} The average exchange rate of 2023 was CNY 7.0467 to 1 USD dollar {{cite press release | url=https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202402/t20240228_1947918.html| title=Statistical communiqué of the People's Republic of China on the 2023 national economic and social development| publisher=China NBS|date=February 29, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = [[CN¥]] 2,091 billion ([[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP|22th]])  
<br />US$ 297 billion 
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 54,172  ([[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP per capita|28th]])
<br />US$ 7,688

| iso_code           = CN-GZ
| blank4_name_sec2   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022)
| blank4_info_sec2   = 0.725<ref name="SHDI">{{cite web |title=Human Development Indices (8.0)- China |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/CHN/?levels=1+4&years=2022&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0 |access-date=23 September 2024 |website=Global Data Lab}}</ref> ([[List of Chinese administrative divisions by HDI|28th]]) – {{color|#090|high}}
| website            = http://www.gzgov.gov.cn<br/>([[Simplified Chinese characters|Simplified Chinese]])
| footnotes          = 
| official_name      = Province of Guizhou
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| pic = File:Guizhou (Chinese characters).svg
| piccap = "Guizhou" in [[Simplified Chinese characters|Simplified]] (top) and [[Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional]] (bottom) Chinese characters
| picupright = 0.425
| s = {{linktext|贵州}}
| t = {{linktext|貴州}}
<!--Mandarin-->| p = Guìzhōu
| psp = Kweichow
| gr = Gueyjou
| w = Kuei<sup>4</sup>-chou<sup>1</sup>
| myr = Gwèijōu
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|g|ui|4|.|zh|ou|1}}
| bpmf = ㄍㄨㄟˋ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄓㄡ
<!--Yue-->| j = Gwai3zau1
| y = Gwaijàu ''or'' Gwaijāu
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|gw|ai|3|.|z|au|7}} ''or'' {{IPAc-yue|gw|ai|3|.|z|au|1}} 
<!--Others-->| poj = Kùi-chiu
| wuu = Kwae-tseu
| order = st
| showflag = p
| c = 
| altname = 
| lang1 = Zhuang
| lang1_content = Gveicouh<br>贵州
| lang2 = [[Bouyei language|Bouyei]]
| lang2_content = Gvisxul
| lang3 = [[Yi language|Yi]]
| lang3_content = ꇭꍏ
}}

'''Guizhou'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|g|w|eɪ|'|dʒ|oʊ}};<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Guizhou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413015053/https://www.lexico.com/definition/guizhou |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |title=Guizhou |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> <!-- details in infobox -->{{lang-zh|c=贵州|labels=}}; [[Postal romanization|formerly]] '''Kweichow'''}} is an inland [[Provinces of China|province]] in [[Southwestern China]]. Its capital and largest city is [[Guiyang]], in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of [[Guangxi]] to the south, [[Yunnan]] to the west, [[Sichuan]] to the northwest, the municipality of [[Chongqing]] to the north, and [[Hunan]] to the east. Guizhou has a [[humid subtropical climate]]. It covers a total area of 176,200 square kilometers and consists of six [[Prefecture-level city|prefecture-level cities]] and three [[autonomous prefecture]]s. The population of Guizhou stands at 38.5 million, [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by population|ranking 18th]] among the provinces in China.

The [[Dian Kingdom]], which inhabited the present-day area of Guizhou, [[Han conquest of Dian|was annexed]] by the [[Han dynasty]] in 106 BC.<ref>Shennan, Stephen (1989). ''Archaeological approaches to cultural identity'' (illustrated ed.). Unwin Hyman. {{ISBN|0-04-445016-8}}.</ref> Guizhou was formally made a province in 1413 during the [[Ming dynasty]]. After the [[Xinhai Revolution|overthrow of the Qing]] in 1911 and following the [[Chinese Civil War]], the [[Chinese Communist Party]] took refuge in Guizhou during the [[Long March]] between 1934 and 1935.<ref name="lp" /> After the establishment of the [[China|People's Republic of China]], [[Mao Zedong]] promoted the relocation of [[heavy industry]] into inland provinces such as Guizhou, to better protect them from potential foreign attacks.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Located in the hinterland of the southwestern inland region, Guizhou is a transportation hub in the southwest area and an important part of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Yangtze River Economic Belt of China |url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Yangtze-River-Economic-Belt-of-China_fig1_324771205}}</ref> It is the country's first national-level comprehensive pilot zone for big data,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colorful Guizhou {{!}} english.scio.gov.cn |url=http://english.scio.gov.cn/m/featured/chinakeywords/2022-01/04/content_77969567.htm |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=english.scio.gov.cn}}</ref> a mountain tourism destination and a major mountain tourism province,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guizhou, a world-class travel destination in China - People's Daily Online |url=http://en.people.cn/n3/2024/0412/c90000-20156327.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=en.people.cn}}</ref> a national ecological civilization pilot zone,<ref>{{Cite web |title=National ecological civilization pilot zone |url=https://english.mee.gov.cn/News_service/media_news/201710/t20171010_423164.shtml |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=english.mee.gov.cn}}</ref> and an inland open economic pilot zone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colorful Guizhou {{!}} english.scio.gov.cn |url=http://english.scio.gov.cn/m/featured/chinakeywords/2022-01/04/content_77969569.htm |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=english.scio.gov.cn}}</ref>

The representative historical culture is "Qian Gui culture"(黔贵文化).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colorful Guizhou, a magic land known for its unique ethnic culture and natural sceneries |url=https://www.imsilkroad.com/z/191120/index.shtml#g309514=1 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=www.imsilkroad.com}}</ref> In addition, Guizhou is also one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese humans and ancient [[Chinese culture]], with ancient humans living on this land since about half a million years ago.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introduction to Guizhou - Asia Harvest |url=https://www.asiaharvest.org/china-resources/guizhou/introduction-to-guizhou |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=www.asiaharvest.org |language=en}}</ref>

Guizhou is rich in natural, cultural and environmental resources. Its natural industry includes timber and forestry, and the [[Energy industry|energy]] and [[mining]] industries constitute an important part of its economy. Notwithstanding, Guizhou is considered a relatively undeveloped province, with the [[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP per capita|fourth-lowest GDP per capita]] in China as of 2020. However, it is also one of China's fastest-growing economies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201903/27/WS5c9ade86a3104842260b2d07.html|title=Guizhou takes the green road to growth - Chinadaily.com.cn|last=董志成|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref> The Chinese government is looking to develop Guizhou as a data hub.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20190514-how-the-trade-war-could-impact-china-s-big-data-hub-guizhou/|title=How the trade war could impact China's big data hub Guizhou|date=2019-05-14|website=EJ Insight|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.ce.cn/Business/topnews/201905/28/t20190528_32199157.shtml|title=Huawei, Guizhou to deepen partnership in big data area--China Economic Net|website=en.ce.cn|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref>

Guizhou is a mountainous province, with its higher altitudes in the west and centre. It lies at the eastern end of the [[Yungui Plateau]]. Demographically, it is one of China's most diverse provinces. Minority groups account for more than 37% of the population, including sizable populations of the [[Miao people|Miao]], [[Bouyei people|Bouyei]], [[Kam people|Dong]], [[Tujia people|Tujia]] and [[Yi people|Yi]] peoples, all of whom speak languages distinct from Chinese. The main language spoken in Guizhou is [[Southwestern Mandarin]], a variety of [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]].

==Name==
The area was first organized as an [[History of Chinese administrative regions|administrative region]] of a [[imperial China|Chinese empire]] under the [[Tang dynasty|Tang]], when it was named '''Juzhou''' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|矩州}}}}), pronounced ''Kjú-jyuw'' in the [[Middle Chinese]] of the period.{{sfnp|Wilkinson|2012|p=233}} During the [[Mongol]]-led [[Yuan dynasty]], the character {{lang|zh|{{linktext|矩}}}} (''ju'', "carpenter's square") was changed to the more refined {{lang|zh|{{linktext|貴}}}} (''gui'', "precious or expensive").{{sfnp|Wilkinson|2012|p=233}} The region formally became a province in 1413; the capital of the province was originally called "Guizhou", but it is currently known as [[Guiyang]].{{sfnp|Wilkinson|2012|p=233}}

== History ==
[[File:Atlas Van der Hagen-KW1049B13 050-QVEICHEV, IMPERII SINARVM PROVINCIA DECIMAQUATRA.jpeg|thumb|left|Guizhou in 1655.]]
Evidence of settlement by humans during the [[Middle Palaeolithic]] is indicated by stone artefacts, including [[Levallois technique|Levallois]] pieces, found during archaeological excavations at [[Guanyindong|Guanyindong Cave]]. These artefacts have been dated to approximately 170,000–80,000 years ago using [[optically stimulated luminescence]] methods.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hu |first1=Yue |last2=Marwick |first2=Ben |last3=Zhang |first3=Jia-Fu |last4=Rui |first4=Xue |last5=Hou |first5=Ya-Mei |last6=Yue |first6=Jian-Ping |last7=Chen |first7=Wen-Rong |last8=Huang |first8=Wei-Wen |last9=Li |first9=Bo |title=Late Middle Pleistocene Levallois stone-tool technology in southwest China |journal=Nature |volume=565 |issue=7737 |pages=82–85 |date=19 November 2018 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0710-1|pmid=30455423 |s2cid=53873016 }}</ref>

From around 1046 BC to the emergence of the [[Qin (state)|State of Qin]], northwest Guizhou was part of the [[Shu (state)|State of Shu]].<ref name=lp>{{cite book|title=South-West China|edition=2|first1=Bradley|last1=Maygew|first2=Korina|last2=Miller|first3=Alex|last3=English|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2002|chapter=Facts about South-West China - History|pages=16–20, 24}}</ref> During the [[Warring States period]], the Chinese state of [[Chu (state)|Chu]] conquered the area, and control later passed to the [[Dian Kingdom]]. During the Chinese [[Han dynasty]] (206 BC–220 AD), to which the Dian was tributary, Guizhou was home to the [[Yelang]] collection of tribes, which largely governed themselves before the Han consolidated control in the southwest and established the [[Lingnan]] province.<ref name=lp/> During the [[Three Kingdoms]] period, parts of Guizhou were governed by the [[Shu Han]] state based in [[Sichuan]], followed by [[Cao Wei]] (220–266) and the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Jin dynasty]] (266–420).<ref name=lp/>

During the 8th and 9th centuries in the [[Tang dynasty]], Chinese soldiers moved into Guizhou (Kweichow) and married native women. Their descendants are known as ''Lǎohànrén'' ({{lang|zh|老汉人}}), in contrast to new Chinese who populated Guizhou at later times. They still speak an archaic dialect.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eG8cAAAAMAAJ&q=In+some+parts,+as+for+example+in+Kweichow,+the+distinction+is+made+between+the+Lao-han-jen+or+%22+Original+Chinese+%22+and+the++claim+ancestry+in+the+region+from+as+early+as+the+eighth+and+ninth+centuries+%3B+these+ancestors+were+as+a+rule+soldier-colonists+who+married+native+women,+and+their+descendants+speak+an+archaic+dialect.+The+new+Chinese,+much+more|title=Scottish geographical magazine, Volumes 45-46|author=Scottish Geographical Society|year=1929|publisher=Royal Scottish Geographical Society.|page=70|access-date=2010-06-28}}</ref> Many immigrants to Guizhou were descended from these soldiers in garrisons who married these pre-Chinese women.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqcSAAAAIAAJ&q=Among+them+were+forced+or+voluntary+immigrants+who+came+as+families+or+clans,+garrison+soldiers+without+families+who+married+women+from+non-Chinese+groups,+and+in+more+recent+years+farmers,+business+and+professional+men,+and+officials.|title=The Cowrie Shell Miao of Kweichow, Volume 32, Issue 1|author=Margaret Portia Mickey|year=1947|publisher=The Museum|page=6|access-date=2010-06-28}}</ref>

[[Kublai Khan]] and [[Möngke Khan]] conquered the Chinese southwest in the process of defeating the Song during the [[Mongol conquest of China|Mongol invasion of China]], and the newly established [[Yuan dynasty]] (1279–1368) saw the importation of [[Chinese Muslim]] administrators and settlers from [[Bukhara]] in Central Asia.<ref name=lp/>

[[File:海龙屯 新王宫遗址.jpg|thumb|In 1600, [[Hailongtun]] fortress in [[Zunyi]] saw the last battle of the 10-year-long [[Bozhou Rebellion]].]]

It was during the following [[Ming dynasty]], which was once again led by [[Han Chinese]], that Guizhou was formally made a province in 1413. The Ming established many [[garrison]]s in Guizhou from which to pacify the [[Yao people|Yao]] and [[Miao people|Miao]] minorities during the [[Miao Rebellions (Ming dynasty)|Miao Rebellions]].<ref name=lp/> Chinese-style agriculture flourished with the expertise of farmers from Sichuan, [[Hunan]] and its surrounding provinces into Guizhou. [[Wu Sangui]] was responsible for the ousting the Ming in Guizhou and [[Yunnan]] during the [[Transition from Ming to Qing|Manchu conquest of China]]. During the governorship-general of the [[Qing dynasty]]'s nobleman [[Ortai]], the ''[[tusi]]'' system of indirect governance of the southwest was abolished, prompting rebellions from disenfranchised chieftains and the further centralization of government. After the [[Second Opium War]], criminal [[Triad (organized crime)|triads]] set up shop in Guangxi and Guizhou to sell British [[opium]]. For a time, [[Taiping Rebellion|Taiping Rebels]] took control of Guizhou, but they were ultimately suppressed by the Qing.<ref name=lp/> Concurrently, Han Chinese soldiers moved into the [[Taijiang County|Taijiang]] region of Guizhou, married Miao women, and their children were brought up as Miao.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5wOBAAAAMAAJ&q=Despite+such+conflict,+Jin+Dan+informed+me+that,+in+the+past,+some+Miao+women+in+the+Taijiang+area+married+Han+soldiers,+though+the+children+were+raised+as+Miao.+Memories+also+exist+of+Nationalist+troops,+in+the+decades+before+1949|title=Contributions to Southeast Asian ethnography, Issue 7|year=1988|publisher=Board of Editors, Contributions to Southeast Asian Ethnography|page=99|access-date=2010-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HLERRaLvOXEC&q=taijiang+miao+rebellion&pg=PR17|title=Butterfly mother: Miao (Hmong) creation epics from Guizhou, China|author1=Dan Jin |author2=Xueliang Ma |author3=Mark Bender |year=2006|publisher=Hackett Publishing|isbn=0-87220-849-4|page=xvii|access-date=2010-06-28}}</ref>

More unsuccessful Miao rebellions occurred during the Qing, in [[Miao Rebellion (1735–36)|1735]], from [[Miao Rebellion (1795–1806)|1795–1806]]<ref name="elleman">{{cite book|last=Elleman|first=Bruce A.|title=Modern Chinese Warfare, 1795-1989|url=https://archive.org/details/modernchinesewar00elle|url-access=limited|year=2001|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-21474-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/modernchinesewar00elle/page/n19 7]–8|location=London|chapter=The Miao Revolt (1795–1806)}}</ref> and from [[Miao Rebellion (1854–73)|1854–1873]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Insurgency and Social Disorder in Guizhou: The "Miao" Rebellion, 1854-1873 |author=Robert D. Jenks |year=1994 |location=Honolulu |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |page=2 |isbn=0-8248-1589-0}}</ref> After the [[Xinhai Revolution|overthrow of the Qing]] in 1911 and following [[Chinese Civil War]], the [[Chinese Communist Party|Communists]] took refuge in Guizhou during the [[Long March]] (1934–1935).<ref name=lp/> While the province was formally ruled by the [[Warlord era|warlord]] [[Wang Jialie]], the [[Zunyi Conference]] in Guizhou established [[Mao Zedong]] as the leader of the Communist Party. As the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] pushed China's [[Nationalist Government]] to its southwest base of [[Chongqing]], transportation infrastructure improved as Guizhou was linked with the [[Burma Road]].<ref name="Hutchings">{{cite book|title=Modern China: A Guide to a Century of Change|first=Graham|last=Hutchings|publisher=Harvard University Press|year=2003|chapter=Guizhou Province|pages=176–177}}</ref> After the end of the War, a [[Chinese Revolution (1949)|1949 Revolution]] swept Mao into power, who promoted the relocation of heavy industry into inland provinces such as Guizhou, to better protect them from [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and American attacks. The [[1957–1958 influenza pandemic|1957 influenza pandemic]] started in Guizhou and killed a million people around the world. After the [[Chinese economic reform]] began in 1978, geographical factors led Guizhou to become the poorest province in China, with a GDP growth average of 9 percent from 1978 to 1993.<ref name="Hutchings"/>

== District planning ==
'''Regional history'''

In the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937), Guizhou established six administrative supervision areas, each in charge of several counties. In the 30th year (1941), Guiyang City was established. By the 37th year (1948), Guizhou had one direct jurisdiction area, six administrative supervision areas, and 78 counties (cities) under its administration.

On November 15, 1949, the Second Field Army of the [[People's Liberation Army|Chinese People's Liberation]] Army liberated [[Guiyang]]; on December 26, the People's Government of Guizhou<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact Us |url=http://www.eguizhou.gov.cn/2023-07/18/c_341683.htm |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=www.eguizhou.gov.cn}}</ref> Province was established. In the early period after liberation, the province had one directly managed city, eight special areas, and one special area city, totalling 79 counties.

In April 1956, the [[Guiyang]], [[Zhenyuan County, Guizhou|Zhenyuan]], and [[Duyun]] special areas were abolished, and the [[Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture]] and the [[Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture]] were established, with their administrative centers in [[Kaili City|Kaili]] (the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture was established in Zhenyuan on July 23 of the same year and later moved to Kaili in 1958).
In 1956, two villages from [[Qijiang, Chongqing|Qijiang County]](綦江县), [[Sichuan]] Province, were transferred to [[Xishui County, Guizhou|Xishui County]](习水县), Guizhou Province.

In 1960, the Langdai County(朗岱县) in [[Anshun]] Special Area was abolished and Liuzhi City was established, which was later changed back to [[Liuzhi Special District|Liuzhi]] County.

In 1965, the city status of Duyun was restored, serving as the capital of the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

In 1966, on the basis of Liuzhi County(六枝县) in the former Anshun Special Area, [[Shuicheng, Liupanshui|Shuicheng County]](水城县) in the [[Bijie]] Special Area, and [[Panzhou|Pan County]] in the [[Xingyi, Guizhou|Xingyi]] Special Area, Liuzhi Industrial and Mining Area, Shuicheng Industrial and Mining Area, and Pan County Industrial and Mining Area were established.

In 1970, the [[Wanshan, Tongren|Wanshan Special District]] was established, under the jurisdiction of [[Tongren]] Special Area. The Liuzhi, Pan County, and Shuicheng industrial and mining areas and their original counties were merged into [[Liuzhi Special District]], [[Panzhou|Pan County]] Special District, and [[Shuicheng, Liupanshui|Shuicheng]] Special District.

In December 1978, the [[Liupanshui]] Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Liupanshui was established, governing three special districts, with the municipal government located in Shuicheng Special District, becoming the second prefecture-level city in Guizhou Province.

In September 1981, the [[Xingyi, Guizhou|Xingyi]] Special Area was abolished and the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was established, with its administrative center in Xingyi.

In 1983, Kaili County in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture was abolished and the county-level [[Kaili City]] was established, serving as the capital of the autonomous prefecture.

In 1987, the Shuicheng Special District in Liupanshui City was abolished and Shuicheng County and [[Zhongshan, Liupanshui|Zhongshan District]] were established, with the Liupanshui municipal government moving to Zhongshan District; on August 21, Tongren County was abolished and [[Bijiang, Tongren|Tongren City]] was established; on November 6, with the approval of the State Council, Xingyi County was abolished and Xingyi City was established.

In 1990, Chishui County in the [[Zunyi]] Special Area was abolished and the county-level [[Chishui City]] was established. Anshun City and Anshun County were merged to serve as the [[Administrative centre|administrative center]] of Anshun Special Area.

In 1992, the Pan County Special District in Liupanshui City was abolished and Pan County was established. Qingzhen County in the Anshun Special Area was abolished and the county-level [[Qingzhen|Qingzhen City]] was established, still under the jurisdiction of Anshun Special Area.

In 1994, [[Renhuai]] County in the Zunyi Special Area was abolished and the county-level Renhuai City was established. Bijie County in the Bijie Special Area was abolished and the county-level Bijie City was established, serving as the administrative center of Bijie Special Area.

In 1996, Qingzhen City, [[Xiuwen County]], [[Kaiyang County]], and [[Xifeng County, Guizhou|Xifeng County]], originally belonging to the Anshun Special Area, were transferred to the jurisdiction of Guiyang City.

In 1997, the Zunyi Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Zunyi was established, with the original county-level Zunyi City being changed to [[Honghuagang, Zunyi|Honghuagang District]].
In 2000, the Anshun Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Anshun was established, with the original county-level Anshun City being changed to [[Xixiu, Anshun|Xixiu District]].

In 2003, parts of the Honghuagang District in Zunyi City were divided to establish the [[Huichuan, Zunyi|Huichuan District]] of Zunyi City.

In 2011, the [[Tongren]] Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Tongren was established, with the original county-level Tongren City being changed to [[Bijiang, Tongren|Bijiang District]], and the original [[Wanshan, Tongren|Wanshan]] Special District being changed to Wanshan District. Tongren City governs 2 districts and 8 counties. In the same year, the Bijie Special Area was abolished and the prefecture-level city of Bijie was established. The original county-level Bijie City was changed to [[Qixingguan, Bijie|Qixingguan District]].

In 2013, a pilot model of provincial direct management of counties was implemented, with the county-level [[Renhuai]] City, originally belonging to Zunyi City, and [[Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County|Weining County]], originally belonging to Bijie City, being designated as pilot counties for provincial direct management.

On January 6, 2014, the State Council agreed to establish the Guizhou Gui'an New District.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gui'an achieves good start in 2024 investment attraction |url=http://english.guiyang.gov.cn/2024-05/17/c_987368.htm |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=english.guiyang.gov.cn}}</ref> In the same year, Pingba County in Anshun City was abolished and [[Pingba, Anshun|Pingba District]] of Anshun City was established.

In 2016, Zunyi County in Zunyi City was abolished and the district-level [[Bozhou, Zunyi|Bozhou District]] was established.

In April 2017, the Ministry of Civil Affairs agreed to abolish Pan County in Liupanshui City and establish the county-level [[Panzhou]] City, managed by Liupanshui City.

In August 2018, with the approval of the State Council, Xingren County in the Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was abolished and the county-level [[Xingren]] City was established.

In July 2020, Shuicheng County in Liupanshui City was abolished and the district-level [[Shuicheng, Liupanshui|Shuicheng District]] was established.

In March 2021, with the approval of the State Council, the [[Ministry of Civil Affairs]] agreed to abolish [[Qianxi, Guizhou|Qianxi County]] and establish the county-level Qianxi City.

== Geography ==
[[File:Mount Fanjing, 31 March 2020ii.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Mount Fanjing]] in Guizhou]]

=== Topography and landforms ===
Guizhou Province is located on the [[Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau|Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau]], between longitudes 103°36′ to 109°35′ east and latitudes 24°37′ to 29°13′ north. The average altitude is around 1100 meters. It borders Hunan to the east, [[Guangxi]] to the south, [[Yunnan]] to the west, and [[Sichuan]] and [[Chongqing]] to the north. It stretches approximately 595 kilometers from east to west and about 509 kilometers from north to south. The total area of Guizhou Province is 176,167 square kilometers, accounting for 1.8% of the total area of China. The easternmost point is in Di Lake Township, [[Tianzhu County, Guizhou|Tianzhu]] County, Qiandongnan Prefecture. The westernmost point is in Yulong Township(玉龙乡), [[Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County|Weining]] County, Bijie City. The southernmost point is in Luowan Township(洛万乡), [[Xingyi, Guizhou|Xingyi]] City, Qianxinan Prefecture. The northernmost point is in Yangxi Town(阳溪镇), [[Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County|Daozhen]] County, Zunyi City.

Guizhou is a mountainous province, although its higher altitudes are in the west and centre. It lies at the eastern end of the [[Yungui Plateau]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinatoday.com/city/guizhou.htm|title=Guizhou Province|publisher=ChinaToday.com|access-date=29 February 2016}}</ref> At {{convert|2900|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level, Jiucaiping is Guizhou's highest point.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://k.sina.com.cn/article_6126556993_16d2bd741001005vb1.html?from=travel |script-title=zh:贵州最高的山——韭菜坪，千年难得一见的美景 |quote={{lang|zh-hans|韭菜坪海拔2900米，是贵州最高的山峰，它位于六盘水市与赫章县的交界处，因每到8，9月份山上开满野生韭菜花故得其名。}} |website=[[Sina Corp|Sina]] }}</ref>

Guizhou Plateau is predominantly mountainous, and its topography can be generally divided into three basic types: [[plateau]] mountains, [[hill]]s, and basins(盆地), with 92.5% of the area being mountains and hills. There are numerous mountain ranges within the province, with overlapping ridges and peaks stretching across the landscape. In the north, there is the [[Dalou Mountains|Dalou Mountain]], which runs diagonally from the west to the northeast, with the important pass [[Loushan Pass]] at an altitude of 1444 meters; in the central and southern part, Miaoling Mountain(苗岭) <ref>{{Cite web |last=胡靓钰 |title=Scenery of Miaoling national geological park in SW China's Guizhou - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/07/c_136878240.htm |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.xinhuanet.com}}</ref> Range stretches across, with its main peak, Leigong Mountain(雷公山),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leigong Mountain - Opening Hours, Reviews & Photos [2024] |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/leishan/leigong-mountain-80909/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref> at 2178 meters; in the northeastern part, there is the [[Wuling Mountains|Wuling Mountain]] Range, which winds into Guizhou from Hunan, with its main peak, [[Fanjingshan|Fanjing Mountain]], at 2572 meters; in the west, there is the towering Wumeng Mountain(乌蒙山),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wumengshan National Geological Park - Tickets, Opening Hours, Reviews & Photos [2024] |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/liupanshui/wumengshan-national-geological-park-93693/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref> with the highest point in Guizhou being Jiucaiping(韭菜坪) in Zhushi Township(珠市乡), [[Hezhang County]], at an altitude of 2900.6 meters.

=== Climate ===
Guizhou has a [[humid subtropical climate]]. There are few seasonal changes. Its annual average temperature is roughly {{convert|10|-|20|C|abbr=on|sp=us}}, with January temperatures ranging from {{convert|1|-|10|C|abbr=on|sp=us}} and July temperatures ranging from {{convert|17|-|28|C|abbr=on|sp=us}}. with annual rainfall ranging from {{convert|1000|-|1400|mm|abbr=on|sp=us}}; the frost-free period lasts between 250 and 300 days. There is no severe cold in winter and no extreme heat in summer, with the coldest month of January averaging {{convert|4|-|6|C|abbr=on|sp=us}}, and the hottest month of July averaging {{convert|15|-|23|C|abbr=on|sp=us}}. The unique climatic characteristics make Guizhou an ideal place for leisure travel and summer retreats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discover the Guizhou Climate: Weather and Temperature |url=https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-region-guizhou-cn,China |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=World Weather & Climate Information |language=en}}</ref>
Precipitation is abundant, with a distinct rainy season, many cloudy days, and less sunshine, with the number of cloudy days generally exceeding 150 days throughout the year, and the annual relative humidity above 70%. Influenced by atmospheric circulation and terrain, Guizhou's climate is diverse. Additionally, the climate is unstable, with a variety of disastrous weather conditions such as [[drought]]s, autumn winds, [[freezing]], and [[hail]], which can have a significant impact on agricultural production.

Like in China's other southwest provinces, rural areas of Guizhou suffered severe drought during spring 2010. Beginning on 3 April 2010, China's premier [[Wen Jiabao]] went on a three-day inspection tour in the southwest drought-affected province of Guizhou, where he met villagers and called on agricultural scientists to develop drought-resistant technologies for the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-04/05/c_13238009.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409122914/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-04/05/c_13238009.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 9, 2010|title=China's premier concerned about drought in SW China|publisher=[[Xinhua]]|date=2010-04-05|access-date=2008-09-17}}</ref>

Because of its lesser development compared to many other provinces in China, Guizhou's environment is well-preserved.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Hu |first=Richard |title=Reinventing the Chinese City |date=2023 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-21101-7 |location=New York}}</ref>{{Rp|page=61}} As of at least 2023, its environment and favorable climate have been assets in attracting the new, increasingly digital, economy.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=61}}

=== Hydrology ===
Guizhou Province's rivers are located in the upper reaches of the [[Yangtze|Yangtze River]] and [[Pearl River]] basins, with 69 counties falling within the scope of the Yangtze River protective forest conservation area,<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAOLEX |url=https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-FAOC200902/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.fao.org}}</ref> making it an important ecological barrier for the upper reaches of both the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers. The water system of the province flows from the west and center towards the north, east, and south according to the terrain. Miao Ridge serves as the watershed between the Yangtze and Pearl River basins; to the north lies the Yangtze River basin, covering an area of 115,747 square kilometers, accounting for 65.7% of the province's total land area, with major rivers including: [[Wu River (Yangtze tributary)|Wu River]], [[Chishui River]], [[Qingshuijiang, Liling|Qingshuijiang]], Hongzhou River(洪州河), [[Wu River (Yuan River, north)|Wuyang River]], [[Jinjiang, Chengdu|Jinjiang]], Songtao River(松桃河), Songkan River(松坎河), Niulan River(牛栏江), Hengjiang(横江), etc.; to the south of Miao Ridge lies the Pearl River basin, covering an area of 60,420 square kilometers, accounting for 34.3% of the province's total land area, with major rivers including: [[Nanpan River]], [[Beipan River]], [[Hongshui River]], [[Duliu River]], Dagou River(打狗河), etc. Guizhou has a large number of rivers with continuous flow, and there are 984 rivers with a length of more than 10 kilometers.

== Natural resources ==

=== Water resources ===
Guizhou Province has a large number of rivers, with 984 rivers that are over 10 kilometers long. In 2002, the runoff volume of Guizhou's rivers reached 114.52 billion cubic meters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=道客巴巴 |title=贵州省2002年水资源公报 |url=https://www.doc88.com/p-5743113873196.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.doc88.com}}</ref> The mountainous characteristics of Guizhou's rivers are evident, with most rivers having broad valleys and gentle water flow in the upper reaches, with small water volume; the middle reaches have alternating tight and open valleys with rapid water flow; the lower reaches have deep and narrow valleys, with large water volume and abundant hydropower resources. The potential of hydropower resources is 18.745 million kilowatts, ranking sixth in China,<ref>{{Cite web |title=水资源公报 |url=http://www.mwr.gov.cn/sj/tjgb/szygb/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.mwr.gov.cn}}</ref> of which 16.833 million kilowatts are exploitable, accounting for 4.4% of China's total, with many concentrated river sections with large water level drops, and favorable development conditions.

=== Land resources ===
Guizhou Province's land resources are predominantly mountainous and hilly, with relatively few plains. The mountainous area is 108,740 square kilometers, accounting for 61.7% of the total land area of Guizhou Province. The hilly area is 54,197 square kilometers, accounting for 31.1% of the total land area of Guizhou Province. The area of mountainous flatlands is 13,230 square kilometers, only accounting for 7.5% of the total land area of Guizhou Province.<ref>{{Cite web |title=中国地理小知识｜"地无三里平"的贵州 原来没有这个？ {{!}} 人文地理 {{!}} 通识中国 |url=https://www.ourchinastory.com/cn/8220 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=当代中国}}</ref> There is a limited amount of land resources available for agricultural development. Due to the increasing population and the growth of non-agricultural land use, the area of arable land is continuously decreasing. By the end of 2002, the actual area of arable land in Guizhou Province was 17,694 square kilometers, a reduction of 629 square kilometers compared to 2001. The per capita area of arable land is less than 0.05 hectares, which is significantly lower than the national average of China. The proportion of arable land with thick soil layers, high fertility, and good water conditions is low.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Kyo Suk |last2=Lee |first2=Dong Sung |last3=Min |first3=Se Won |last4=Kim |first4=ung Chul |last5=Seo |first5=Il-Hwan |last6=Chung |first6=Doug Young |date=2018-11-30 |title=Spatial Changes and Land Use of Arable Land in China |url=https://www.kjssf.org/articles/xml/ojWj/www.kjssf.org/articles/article/ojWj/ |journal=Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer |language=ko-KR |volume=51 |issue=4 |pages=327–338 |doi=10.7745/KJSSF.2018.51.4.327 |issn=0367-6315|doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Biological resources ===
[[File:灰背伯劳贵州威宁20080615草海 46.jpg|thumb|alt=A bird photographed at Caohai.|[[Grey-backed shrike]] at Caohai.]]
The border mountains of Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hunan have been identified as one of the eight plant diversity hotspots in China. Guizhou Province is home to 9,982 species of vascular plants (including subspecies and varieties, the same below)，<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Bo |last2=Zhang |first2=Mei |last3=Bussmann |first3=W. Rainer |last4=Liu |first4=Hui-ming |last5=Liu |first5=Ying-ying |last6=Peng |first6=Yu-de |last7=Zu |first7=Kui-ling |last8=Zhao |first8=Yi-min |last9=Liu |first9=Zheng-bo |last10=Yu |first10=Sheng-xiang |date=2018-10-01 |title=Species richness and conservation gap analysis of karst areas: A case study of vascular plants from Guizhou, China |journal=Global Ecology and Conservation |volume=16 |pages=e00460 |doi=10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00460 |bibcode=2018GEcoC..1600460L |issn=2351-9894|doi-access=free }}</ref> The main ecosystem types include evergreen broad-leaved forest, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, and montane elfin forest. more than 700 of which are edible, and over 2,000 that are used for greening, beautification, and for pollution resistance and environmental improvement. Plant species [[endemic]] to this region include ''[[Abies ziyuanensis]]'', ''[[Cathaya argyrophylla]]'', and ''[[Keteleeria pubescens]]，[[Davidia involucrata]], Guizhou [[Cycas revoluta|Cycas]].''<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Zhang | first1 = Y. B. | last2 = Ma | first2 = K. P. | doi = 10.1007/s10531-008-9384-6 | title = Geographic distribution patterns and status assessment of threatened plants in China | journal = Biodiversity and Conservation | volume = 17 | issue = 7 | pages = 1783–1798| year = 2008 | bibcode = 2008BiCon..17.1783Z | s2cid = 25209911 | url = http://ir.ibcas.ac.cn/handle/2S10CLM1/17102 }}</ref> The province is also rich in wildlife resources, with 1,053 species of vertebrates, including 141 mammals, 509 birds, 104 reptiles, 74 amphibians, and 225 fish species.<ref>{{Cite web |last=童思九 |title=Guizhou's biodiversity ranks among top in China |url=https://govt.chinadaily.com.cn/s/202206/27/WS62b9926f498ea2749279bc2a/guizhous-biodiversity-ranks-among-top-in-china.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=govt.chinadaily.com.cn |language=en}}</ref> In broad terms, the [[Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau]] is one of the vertebrate diversity hotspots of China. At the level of counties, [[Xingyi, Guizhou|Xingyi]] is one of nine Chinese vertebrate (excluding birds) diversity hotspots.<ref>{{Cite journal| volume = 10| issue = 4| pages = 359–368| last = Chen| first = Yang |author2=An-Ping Chen |author3=Jing-Yun Fang| title = Geographical distribution patterns of endangered fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals and their hotspots in China: a study based on "China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals"| journal = Biodiversity Science| year = 2002| doi = 10.17520/biods.2002050| doi-access = free}}</ref> Animals only known from Guizhou include [[Leishan moustache toad]], [[Kuankuoshui salamander]], [[Shuicheng salamander]], [[Guizhou salamander]], and [[Zhijin warty newt]]. {{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

[[Caohai Lake]] with its surroundings is a wetland that is an important overwintering site for many birds. It is a [[Protected areas of China|National Nature Reserve]] and an [[Important Bird Area]] identified by [[BirdLife International]].<ref name=birdlife>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=15583 |title=Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cao Hai Nature Reserve |author=BirdLife International |year=2013 |access-date=24 February 2013}}</ref>
Guizhou is one of the four major medicinal material-producing areas in China. The province boasts 4,419 species of medicinal plants and 301 medicinal animals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Sizhao |last2=Zhang |first2=Beixi |last3=Lei |first3=Qiyi |last4=Zhou |first4=Jiangju |last5=Ali |first5=Maroof |last6=Long |first6=Chunlin |date=2023-05-30 |title=Diversity and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Shui people in Southwest China |journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=20 |doi=10.1186/s13002-023-00594-4 |doi-access=free |pmid=37254191 |issn=1746-4269|pmc=10230803 }}</ref> It is famous for its 50 "authentic medicinal materials" known both domestically and internationally. Over 350 types of Chinese medicinal resources have been developed and utilized, with [[Gastrodia elata]], [[Eucommia ulmoides]], [[Coptis chinensis]], [[Tetradium ruticarpum|Evodia rutaecarpa]], and [[Dendrobium]] being the five famous medicinal materials of Guizhou.

=== Mineral resources ===
Guizhou Province is rich in [[mineral resources]] and is a major province for mineral resources. More than 110 types of minerals have been discovered, among which 76 types have identified reserves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=关晓萌 |title=Guizhou lawmakers focus on mineral resources |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202403/09/WS65eb9c08a31082fc043bb9b4.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> Several have proven reserves that rank at the forefront nationwide. 
Those ranking first include [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], [[Baryte|barite]], fertilizer [[sandstone]], [[Metallurgy|metallurgical]] sandstone, decorative [[diabase]], and brick and tile sandstone, etc. Those ranking second include [[phosphorus]], [[bauxite]], [[Rare-earth element|rare earths]], etc.; those ranking third include [[magnesium]], [[manganese]], [[gallium]], etc. In addition, [[coal]], [[antimony]], gold, [[pyrite]], and other minerals hold significant positions in China. Coal reserves are substantial, with a complete range of coal types and excellent coal quality, with proven reserves at the end of 2002 being 49.227 billion tons; bauxite proven reserves are 424 million tons; phosphate rock reserves are 2.695 billion tons, accounting for over 40% of the national total; barite reserves account for one-third of the country's total; gold reserves rank twelfth in the nation, making it an emerging base for gold production in China.

== Scientific research ==
Major [[scientific research]] facilities in Guizhou include:

* The [[Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope|Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST)]], the world's largest radio telescope
* The [[Institute of Geochemistry|Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences]]

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of Guizhou|List of provincial leaders of the People's Republic of China}}

=== Guizhou Provincial Public Security Department ===
[[File:贵州省公安厅.jpg|thumb|The headquarters of the Guizhou PSD]]
The {{Ill|Guizhou Provincial Public Security Department|zh|贵州省公安厅}} ({{Zh|c=贵州省公安厅}}) is the primary provincial law enforcement agency in Guizhou.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Miao |first1=Chunyun |last2=An |first2=Quankun |date=2024-01-05 |title=实施"八大警务" 探索公安工作现代化"贵州经验" |url=https://news.cpd.com.cn/yw_30937/124/t_1118480.html |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Ministry of Public Security}}</ref> Between 2022 and 2023, official statistics reported that crime had decreased by 7.1%.<ref name=":1" />

==== Equipment ====

===== Vehicles =====

* [[NJ2045/2046|NJ2045]] armored truck - Used by SWAT<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-06-14 |title=【践行新使命 忠诚保大庆】"大满贯"的背后...... |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_3681219 |website=The Paper}}</ref>

===== Helicopters =====

* [[Harbin Z-9]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-24 |title=为生命护航-贵州公安搭起救援"空中通道" |url=https://www.gzstv.com/a/d7ad08bff85b49f6852678ca9968caab |access-date=2025-04-04 |website={{ill|Guizhou Radio TV station|zh|貴州廣播電視台}}}}</ref>

===== Firearms =====

* [[QBZ-95]] rifle - Used by SWAT<ref>{{Cite web |title=貴州黔東南公安特警實戰綜合技能大比武 |url=http://gz.people.com.cn/BIG5/n2/2021/1202/c344113-35032678-2.html |website=People's Daily}}</ref>
* [[QSZ-92]] pistol - Used by SWAT<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2021-12-02 |title=貴州黔東南公安特警實戰綜合技能大比武 |url=http://gz.people.com.cn/BIG5/n2/2021/1202/c344113-35032678.html |website=People's Daily}}</ref>
* [[CS/LR4]] sniper rifle - Used by SWAT<ref name=":2" />

==== Controversies ====
On February 26, 2025, the former chief of the Guizhou PSD's Traffic Management Bureau was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a 1.1 million RMB fine due to corruption related charges and stealing 369 rounds of ammunition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-26 |title=將369發手槍彈存放家中-貴州公安廳交管局原局長施長征獲刑12年 |url=https://www.hk01.com/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/60214604/%E5%B0%87369%E7%99%BC%E6%89%8B%E6%A7%8D%E5%BD%88%E5%AD%98%E6%94%BE%E5%AE%B6%E4%B8%AD-%E8%B2%B4%E5%B7%9E%E5%85%AC%E5%AE%89%E5%BB%B3%E4%BA%A4%E7%AE%A1%E5%B1%80%E5%8E%9F%E5%B1%80%E9%95%B7%E6%96%BD%E9%95%B7%E5%BE%81%E7%8D%B2%E5%88%9112%E5%B9%B4 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=HK01}}</ref>

==== Line of duty deaths ====
Since its establishment in 1949, there have been 655 [[Line of duty death|line of duty deaths]] of the Guizhou PSD, of which 199 were awarded martyr status. In 2024, 5 full-time officers and 7 auxiliary police of the Guizhou PSD died in the line of duty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shi |first=Jiansheng |date=2025-04-03 |editor-last=Li |editor-first=Taotao |editor2-last=Wu |editor2-first=Yu |title=贵州省公安厅举行2025年清明缅怀公安英烈纪念活动 |trans-title=Guizhou PSD commemorates heroes during 2025 [[Qingming Festival]] |url=http://gz.xinhuanet.com/20250403/97201f8c83194b41bcf52161adbe6d83/c.html |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=[[Xinhua News Agency]]}}</ref>

== Administrative divisions ==
{{Main|List of administrative divisions of Guizhou|List of township-level divisions of Guizhou}}
Guizhou is divided into nine [[Administrative divisions of China#Prefectural level|prefecture-level divisions]]: six [[Prefecture-level city|prefecture-level cities]] and three [[autonomous prefecture]]s:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; width:90%; font-size:smaller; text-align:center"
! colspan="9" |'''Administrative divisions of Guizhou'''
|-
| colspan="9" style="font-size:larger" | <div style="position: relative" class="center">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Guizhou.svg|width={{{1|696}}}|link=|font-size=85%}} 
{{Image label|x=575|y=525|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Guiyang]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=245|y=630|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Liupanshui]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=650|y=250|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Zunyi]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=430|y=700|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Anshun]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=300|y=470|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Bijie]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=940|y=280|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Tongren]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=310|y=840|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qianxinan<br>Aut. Prefecture]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=900|y=585|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture|Qiandongnan<br>Aut. Prefecture]]'''}}
{{Image label|x=650|y=700|scale={{{1|696}}}/1160|text='''[[Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qiannan<br>Aut. Prefecture]]'''}}
{{Image label end}}
</div>
|-
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | [[Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China|Division code]]<ref>{{cite web| language=zh-hans |url=http://files2.mca.gov.cn/cws/201502/20150225163817214.html |script-title=zh:中华人民共和国县以上行政区划代码 |publisher=[[Ministry of Civil Affairs]]}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Division
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Area in km<sup>2</sup><ref name="nj2013">{{lang-zh}}{{cite book|language=zh-hans|author=Shenzhen Bureau of Statistics|publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |script-title=zh:《深圳统计年鉴2014》|url=http://www.sztj.gov.cn/nj2014/indexce.htm|access-date=2015-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512184740/http://www.sztj.gov.cn/nj2014/indexce.htm|archive-date=2015-05-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Population 2010<ref>{{cite book| author1=Census Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China| author2=Population and Employment Statistics Division of the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China | script-title=zh:中国2010人口普查分乡、镇、街道资料|date=2012|publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |location=Beijing|isbn=978-7-5037-6660-2|edition=1}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Seat
!! scope="col" colspan="4" | Divisions<ref>{{cite book |language=zh-hans |author=Ministry of Civil Affairs |script-title=zh:《中国民政统计年鉴2014》|date=August 2014 |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |isbn= 978-7-5037-7130-9|author-link=Ministry of Civil Affairs }}</ref>
|-
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[District (China)|Districts]]*
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Counties of the People's Republic of China|Counties]]
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Autonomous counties of the People's Republic of China|Aut. counties]]
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[County-level city|CL cities]]
|- style="font-weight: bold"
! 520000 !! Guizhou Province
| 176,167.00 || 34,746,468 || [[Guiyang]] city || 17 || 51 || 11 || 9
|- 
! 520100 !! [[Guiyang]] city
| 8,046.67 || 4,324,561 || [[Guanshanhu District]] || 6 || 3 ||bgcolor="grey"|  || 1
|-
! 520200 !! [[Liupanshui]] city
| 9,965.37 || 2,851,180 || [[Zhongshan District, Liupanshui|Zhongshan District]] || 3 ||bgcolor="grey"|  ||bgcolor="grey"|  ||1
|-
! 520300 !! [[Zunyi]] city
| 30,780.73 || 6,127,009 || [[Huichuan District]] || 3 || 7 || 2 || 2
|-
! 520400 !! [[Anshun]] city
| 9,253.06 || 2,297,339 || [[Xixiu District]] || 2 || 1 || 3 ||bgcolor="grey"| 
|-
! 520500 !! [[Bijie]] city
| 26,844.45 || 6,536,370 || [[Qixingguan District]] || 1 || 6 || 1 ||bgcolor="grey"| 
|-
! 520600 !! [[Tongren]] city
| 18,006.41 || 3,092,365 || [[Bijiang District]] || 2 || 4 || 4 ||bgcolor="grey"| 
|-
! 522300 !! [[Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qianxinan Aut. Prefecture]]
| 16,785.93 || 2,805,857 || [[Xingyi, Guizhou|Xingyi]] city ||bgcolor="grey"|  || 6 ||bgcolor="grey"|  || 2
|-
! 522600 !! [[Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture|Qiandongnan Aut. Prefecture]]
| 30,278.06 || 3,480,626 || [[Kaili City|Kaili]] city ||bgcolor="grey"|  || 15 ||bgcolor="grey"|  || 1
|-
! 522700 !! [[Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qiannan Aut. Prefecture]]
| 26,191.78 || 3,231,161 || [[Duyun]] city ||bgcolor="grey"|  || 9 || 1 || 2
|- 
| colspan = "13" | <nowiki>*</nowiki> - including Special district
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="text-font:90%; width:auto; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
! colspan="5" |Administrative divisions in Chinese and varieties of romanizations
|-
! English !! Chinese !! Pinyin
|-
| '''Guizhou Province''' || {{lang|zh-Hans|贵州省}} || {{transliteration|zh|Guìzhōu Shěng}}
|-
| [[Guiyang]] city || {{lang|zh-Hans|贵阳市}} || {{transliteration|zh|Guìyáng Shì}}
|-
| [[Liupanshui]] city || {{lang|zh-Hans|六盘水市}} || {{transliteration|zh|Liùpánshuǐ Shì}}
|-
| [[Zunyi]] city || {{lang|zh-Hans|遵义市}} || {{transliteration|zh|Zūnyì Shì}}
|-
| [[Anshun]] city || {{lang|zh-Hans|安顺市}} || {{transliteration|zh|Ānshùn Shì}}
|-
| [[Bijie]] city || {{lang|zh-Hans|毕节市}} || {{transliteration|zh|Bìjié Shì}}
|-
| [[Tongren]] city || {{lang|zh-Hans|铜仁市}} || {{transliteration|zh|Tóngrén Shì}}
|-
| [[Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qianxinan Aut. Prefecture]] || {{lang|zh|黔西南自治州}} || {{transliteration|zh|Qiánxīnán Zìzhìzhōu}}
|-
| [[Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture|Qiandongnan Aut. Prefecture]] || {{lang|zh-Hans|黔东南自治州}} || {{transliteration|zh|Qiándōngnán Zìzhìzhōu}}
|-
| [[Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qiannan Aut. Prefecture]] || {{lang|zh|黔南自治州}} || {{transliteration|zh|Qiánnán Zìzhìzhōu}}
|}

These nine prefecture-level divisions are in turn subdivided into 88 [[county-level division]]s (14 [[District of China|district]]s, 7 [[county-level cities]], 55 [[County (People's Republic of China)|counties]], and 11 [[Autonomous counties of the People's Republic of China|autonomous counties]] and one [[District of China|special district]]).

=== Urban areas ===
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size:90%;"
! colspan=5 | Population by urban areas of prefecture & county cities
|-
! # !! Cities !! style="background-color: #aaaaff;"| 2020 Urban area<ref name="2020PRCcensus">{{cite book |author=国务院人口普查办公室、国家统计局人口和社会科技统计司编 |date=2022 |script-title=zh:中国2020年人口普查分县资料 |location=Beijing |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |isbn=978-7-5037-9772-9}}</ref> !! style="background-color: #aaaaff;"| 2010 Urban area<ref name="2010PRCcensus">{{cite book |author=国务院人口普查办公室、国家统计局人口和社会科技统计司编 |date=2012 |script-title=zh:中国2010年人口普查分县资料 |location=Beijing |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |isbn=978-7-5037-6659-6}}</ref> !! style="background-color: #ffaaaa;" | 2020 City proper
|-
|1||'''[[Guiyang]]'''||4,021,275||2,520,061||5,987,018
|-
|2||[[Zunyi]]||1,675,245||715,148{{efn|name=Zunyi|New district established after 2010 census: [[Bozhou District|Bozhou (Zunyi County)]]. The new district not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.}}||6,606,675
|-
|3||[[Liupanshui]]||818,753{{efn|name=Liupanshui|New district established after 2020 census: [[Shuicheng, Liupanshui|Shuicheng (Shuicheng County)]]. The new district not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.}}||491,438||3,031,602
|-
|4||[[Bijie]]||695,174||421,342{{efn|name=Bijie|Bijie Prefecture is currently known as Bijie PLC after 2010 census; Bijie CLC is currently known as [[Qixingguan District|Qixingguan]] after 2010 census.}}||6,899,636
|-
|5||[[Anshun]]||685,654||358,920{{efn|name=Anshun|New district established after 2010 census: [[Pingba District|Pingba (Pingba County)]]. The new district not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.}}||2,470,630
|-
|6||[[Xingyi, Guizhou|Xingyi]]||649,497||335,243||{{small|''part of [[Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qianxinan Prefecture]]''}}
|-
|7||[[Kaili City|Kaili]]||519,243||274,922||{{small|''part of [[Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture|Qiandongnan Prefecture]]''}}
|-
|8||[[Tongren]]||423,078||206,147{{efn|name=Tongren|Tongren Prefecture is currently known as Tongren PLC after 2010 census; Tongren CLC & Wanshan SD is currently known as [[Bijiang District|Bijiang]] & [[Wanshan District|Wanshan]] after 2010 census.}}||3,298,468
|-
|9||[[Panzhou]]||420,894||style="background:lightgrey;"|{{efn|name=Panzhou|Panxian County is currently known as Panzhou CLC after 2010 census.}}||{{small|''see Liupanshui''}}
|-
|10||[[Renhuai]]||361,723||171,005||{{small|''see Zunyi''}}
|-
|11||[[Qingzhen]]||350,665||166,916||{{small|''see Guiyang''}}
|-
|12||[[Duyun]]||348,954||217,091||{{small|''part of [[Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qiannan Prefecture]]''}}
|-
|13||[[Xingren]]||169,210||style="background:lightgrey;"|{{efn|name=Xingren|Xingren County is currently known as Xingren CLC after 2010 census.}}||{{small|''part of [[Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qianxinan Prefecture]]''}}
|-
|14||[[Fuquan, Guizhou|Fuquan]]||153,763||125,389||{{small|''part of [[Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture|Qiannan Prefecture]]''}}
|-
|15||[[Chishui City|Chishui]]||138,699||80,884||{{small|''see Zunyi''}}
|}
{{notelist}}

== Economy ==
[[File:1 xijiang panorama.jpg|thumb|centre|600px|Xijiang, a [[Miao people|Miao]] settlement in Eastern Guizhou]]
[[File:1 bapa dong village 2015.jpg|thumb|centre|600px|Bapa Dong, a [[Dong people|Dong]] village in Eastern Guizhou]]
[[File:1 zhenyuan panorama 2015.jpg|thumb|centre|600px|[[Zhenyuan County, Guizhou|Zhenyuan]], a county in Eastern Guizhou]]
As of the mid-19th century, Guizhou exported [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], gold, iron, lead, tobacco, incense and drugs.<ref name=Roberts1>{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Edmund|title=Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat|year=1837|publisher=Harper & Brothers|location=New York|page=123|url=https://www.wdl.org/en/item/7317/view/1/123/}}</ref>

Its natural industry includes timber and forestry.<ref name="autogenerated6">{{cite web|url=http://info.hktdc.com/mktprof/china/guizhou.htm|title=Market Profiles on Chinese Cities and Provinces : Guizhou Province|publisher=[[Hong Kong Trade Development Council]] (HKTD)/Guizhou Statistical Yearbook 2008|date=January 2009|access-date=2010-11-27}}</ref> Guizhou is also the third largest producer of tobacco in China, and home to the well-known brand Guizhou Tobacco.<ref name="thechinaperspective.com">{{Cite web |url=http://thechinaperspective.com/topics/province/guizhou-province/ |title=China Economy @ China Perspective |access-date=2011-11-01 |archive-date=2015-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208121019/http://thechinaperspective.com/topics/province/guizhou-province/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other important industries in the province include energy ([[electricity generation]]) - a large portion of which is exported to Guangdong and other provinces<ref name="thechinaperspective.com"/> - and mining, especially in coal, [[limestone]], [[arsenic]], [[gypsum]], and [[oil shale]].<ref name="autogenerated6"/> Guizhou's total output of coal was 118 million tons in 2008, a 7% growth from the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200512/24/eng20051224_230502.html|title=Coal output in SW China province tops 100 mln tons|publisher=[[People's Daily Online]]|date=2005-12-24|access-date=2008-07-06}}</ref> Guizhou's export of power to [[Guangdong]] equaled 12% of Guangdong's total power consumption. Over the next 5 years Guizhou hopes to increase this by as much as 50%.<ref>[http://www.thechinaperspective.com/topics/province/guizhou-province/ The China Perspective | Guizhou Economic Facts and Data]</ref>

Historically, Guizhou was a poorer province with lagging development.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=61}} It was a major recipient of China's investment in industrial capacity during the [[Third Front (China)|Third Front]] campaign.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Lan |first=Xiaohuan |title=How China Works: An Introduction to China's State-led Economic Development |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |year=2024 |isbn=978-981-97-0079-0 |translator-last=Topp |translator-first=Gary |doi=10.1007/978-981-97-0080-6}}</ref>{{Rp|page=298}}

The digital economy has grown significantly since 2015 and as of at least 2023 continues to develop Guizhou's growing reputation as a [[Big Data Guizhou|center for big data]] in China.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=61}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Beipanjiang Railway Bridge-4.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Beipan River Shuibai Railway Bridge|Beipan River Bridge]] on the [[Liupanshui–Baiguo Railway]] in western Guizhou is one of the [[List of highest bridges|highest railway bridges in the world]].]]

In 2017, [[Sun Zhigang]], the governor of Guizhou, announced plans to build {{convert|10000|km|-1}} of highways, {{convert|600|km|-1}} of inland waterways, {{convert|4000|km|-2}} of high-speed rail lines, and 17 airports in three years, in an effort to boost tourism in the province.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guizhou-one-of-chinas-underdeveloped-provinces-vows-to-build-10000-km-of-highway-more-than-all-of-france-300419303.html#continue-jump|title=Guizhou, One of China's Underdeveloped Provinces, Vows to Build 10,000 km of Highway, More Than All of France|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> Guizhou has continued to develop transportation infrastructure (as well as other infrastructure such as electric, water, and broadband infrastructure) to support the growing big data-related sections of the economy.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=61}}

=== Rail ===
Guizhou's rail network consists primarily of a cross formed by the [[Sichuan–Guizhou railway|Sichuan–Guizhou]], [[Guizhou–Guangxi Railway|Guangxi–Guizhou]] and [[Shanghai–Kunming railway|Shanghai–Kunming]] railways, which intersect at the provincial capital, [[Guiyang]], near the center of the province. The [[Liupanshui–Baiguo railway|Liupanshui–Baiguo]], [[Pan County West Railway|Pan County West]] and [[Weishe–Hongguo railway|Weishe–Hongguo]] railways form a rail corridor along Guizhou's western border with [[Yunnan]]. This corridor connects the [[Neijiang–Kunming railway]], which dips into northwestern Guizhou at [[Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County|Weining]], with the [[Nanning–Kunming railway]], which skirts the southwestern corner of Guizhou at [[Xingyi City|Xingyi]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

As of 2018, [[Shanghai–Kunming high-speed railway|Shanghai–Kunming]] and [[Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed railway|Guiyang–Guangzhou]] high-speed railways are operational. [[Chengdu–Guiyang high-speed railway]] is under construction.

==Demographics==
{{see also|List of unrecognized ethnic groups of Guizhou}}
{{Historical populations
|title       = Historical population
| percentages = pagr
|1912<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:1912年中国人口|url=http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo2.html|access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref>
|9,665,000
|1928<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:1928年中国人口|url=http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo3.htm|access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref>
|14,746,000
|1936-37<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:1936-37年中国人口|url=http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo4.htm|access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref>
|9,919,000
|1947<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:1947年全国人口|url=http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP97.9/fhyo5.htm|access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref>
|10,174,000
|1954<ref name="census1954">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16767.htm |script-title=zh:中华人民共和国国家统计局关于第一次全国人口调查登记结果的公报|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805174810/http://www.stats.gov.cn/TJGB/RKPCGB/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16767.htm|archive-date=2009-08-05}}</ref>
|15,037,310
|1964<ref name="census1964">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16768.htm |script-title=zh:第二次全国人口普查结果的几项主要统计数字|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914173158/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16768.htm|archive-date=2012-09-14}}</ref>
|17,140,521
|1982<ref name="census1982">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16769.htm |script-title=zh:中华人民共和国国家统计局关于一九八二年人口普查主要数字的公报|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510075429/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16769.htm|archive-date=2012-05-10}}</ref>
|28,552,997
|1990<ref name="census1990">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16772.htm |script-title=zh:中华人民共和国国家统计局关于一九九〇年人口普查主要数据的公报|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619002216/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020404_16772.htm|archive-date=2012-06-19}}</ref>
|32,391,066
|2000<ref name="census2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020331_15435.htm |script-title=zh:现将2000年第五次全国人口普查快速汇总的人口地区分布数据公布如下|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829052024/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20020331_15435.htm|archive-date=2012-08-29}}</ref>
|35,247,695
|2010<ref name="census2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/newsandcomingevents/t20110429_402722516.htm|title=Communiqué of the National Bureau of Statistics of People's Republic of China on Major Figures of the 2010 Population Census|publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of China]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727021210/http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/newsandcomingevents/t20110429_402722516.htm|archive-date=2013-07-27}}</ref>
|34,746,468
|2020<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/china-society-census-takeaways-idUSL4N2MY2I6|title = FACTBOX-Key takeaways from China's 2020 population census|newspaper = Reuters|date = 11 May 2021}}</ref>
|38,562,148
}}
In 1832, the population was estimated at five million.<ref name=Roberts1/>

Guizhou is demographically one of China's most diverse provinces. Minority groups account for more than 37% of the population and they include [[Miao people|Miao]] (including [[Gha-Mu people|Gha-Mu]] and [[A-Hmao]]), [[Yao people|Yao]], [[Yi people|Yi]], [[Qiang people|Qiang]], [[Dong people|Dong]], [[Zhuang people|Zhuang]], [[Bouyei people|Bouyei]], [[Bai people|Bai]], [[Tujia people|Tujia]], [[Gelao people|Gelao]] and [[Sui people|Sui]]. 55.5% of the province area is designated as autonomous regions for ethnic minorities. Guizhou is the province with the highest [[Total fertility rate|fertility rate]] in China, standing at 2.19 (urban: 1.31; rural: 2.42).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://repository.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/3892/etd-tamu-2005A-SOCI-Terrell.pdf?sequence=1|title=Fertility in China in 2000 : A County Level Analysis (thesis, 140 p.)|publisher=[[Texas A & M University]]|author=Heather Kathleen Mary Terrell|date=May 2005|access-date=2010-11-27}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align = center
| direction = horizontal
| width = 150
| image1 = Ethnic minorities areas in Guizhou.png
| caption1 = Major autonomous areas within Guizhou, excluding [[Hui people|Hui]].
| image2 = Longhorn Miao China.jpg
| caption2 = The long-horn tribe, one of the small branches of [[Miao people|Miao]] living in the twelve villages near [[Zhijin County]], Guizhou. The wooden horns remain daily attire for most women.
| total_width = 
| alt1 = 
| image3 = 1 zhaoxing 2015.jpg
| caption3 = The [[Kam people|Dong]] village of [[Zhaoxing, Guizhou|Zhaoxing]]
}}

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
|caption = Religion in Guizhou<ref name="Wang2015">China General Social Survey 2009, Chinese Spiritual Life Survey (CSLS) 2007. Report by: [https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/baylor-ir/bitstream/handle/2104/9326/WANG-THESIS-2015.pdf?sequence=1 Xiuhua Wang (2015, p. 15)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925123928/https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/baylor-ir/bitstream/handle/2104/9326/WANG-THESIS-2015.pdf?sequence=1 |date=2015-09-25 }}</ref>{{refn|group=note|The data was collected by the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) of 2009 and by the Chinese Spiritual Life Survey (CSLS) of 2007, reported and assembled by Xiuhua Wang (2015)<ref name="Wang2015"/> in order to confront the proportion of people identifying with two similar social structures: ① Christian churches, and ② the traditional Chinese religion of the lineage (i. e. people believing and worshipping ancestral deities often organised into [[Chinese lineage associations|lineage "churches"]] and [[ancestral shrine]]s). Data for other religions with a significant presence in China (Buddhism, Confucianism, deity worships, Taoism, folk religious sects, Islam, religions practiced by ethnic minorities, et al.) was not reported by Wang.}}
|label1 = [[Chinese ancestral religion]]
|value1 = 31.18
|color1 = FireBrick
|label2 = [[Christianity]]
|value2 = 0.99
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = Other religions or non-religious persons{{refn|group=note|This may include:
* [[Buddhism|Buddhists]];
* [[Confucianism|Confucians]];
* [[Chinese folk religion|Deity worshippers]];
* [[Taoism|Taoists]];
* Members of [[Chinese salvationist religions|folk religious sects]];
* Small minorities of [[Muslim]]s;
* Indigenous religions of the ethnic minorities;
* And people not bounded to, nor practicing any, institutional or diffuse religion.}}
|value3 = 67.83
|color3 = Honeydew
}}
The predominant religions in Guizhou are [[Chinese folk religion]]s, [[Taoism|Taoist traditions]] and [[Chinese Buddhism]]. According to surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009, 31.18% of the population believes and is involved in [[Chinese ancestral religion|ancestor veneration]], while 0.99% of the population identifies as [[Christianity|Christian]], decreasing from 1.13% in 2004.<ref name="Wang2015"/>
[[File:Anshun Wumiao 2014.04.28 16-57-08.jpg|thumb|left|150px|''[[Martial temple|Wumiao]]'' (Temple of the God of War) dedicated to [[Guan Yu|Guandi]] in [[Anshun]].]]

The reports did not give figures for other types of religion; 67.83% of the population may be either irreligious or involved in [[Chinese folk religion|worship of nature deities]], Buddhism, [[Confucianism]], Taoism, [[Chinese salvationist religions|folk religious sects]], and small minorities of [[Muslim]]s. There are significant ethnic minority populations (the [[Miao people|Miao]] and the [[Buyei people|Buyei]]) who traditionally follow their autochthonous religions.
{{clear}}

==Cuisine==
{{main|Guizhou cuisine}}
[[File:Maotai - Kweichow Moutai Distillery China, Flasche (2).jpg|thumb|297x297px|Moutai]]
Guizhou is the home of the well-known [[Alcoholic drinks in China|Chinese liquor]] [[Moutai]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.cri.cn/2946/2008/01/08/195@311883.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306032925/http://english.cri.cn/2946/2008/01/08/195@311883.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2008|title=Maotai Remains Short in Supply in 2008|date=8 January 2008|publisher=CRIEnglish.com|access-date=27 March 2012}}</ref> as well as [[Lao Gan Ma]].

== Tourism ==
The province has many [[covered bridge]]s, called ''Wind and Rain Bridges''. These were built by the [[Dong people]].{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

The southeastern corner of the province is known for its unique Dong minority culture. Towns such as [[Rongjiang County|Rongjiang]], [[Liping County|Liping]], Diping and Zhaoxing are scattered amongst the hills along the border with Guangxi.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

=== Three recommended forms ===
The World Bank's "Strategic Environmental Assessment Study: Tourism Development in the Province of Guizhou, China" (May 25, 2007)<ref>{{Cite journal|date=May 25, 2007|title=Strategic Environmental Assessment Study: Tourism Development in the Province of Guizhou, China|url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEAPREGTOPENVIRONMENT/Resources/Guizhou_SEA_FINAL.pdf|journal=World Bank}} (needs a direct cite)</ref> points to three different forms of tourism that should be fostered and developed in Guizhou: Nature-based, heritage-based and rural. Heritage-based tourism provides ethnic minority groups with an opportunity to preserve their unique heritage while still making a living.{{clarify|date=November 2021}}

==Colleges and universities==
{{Main|List of universities and colleges in Guizhou}}
*[[Guizhou University]] (Guiyang)
*[[Guizhou Normal University]] (Guiyang)
*[[Guiyang Medical University]] (Guiyang)
*[[Guizhou Nationalities University]] (Guiyang)
*[[Guizhou Institute of Technology]] (Guiyang)
*[[Zunyi Medical College]] (Zunyi)
*[[Moutai University]] (Zunyi)
*Tongren University (Tongren)
*Kaili University (Kaili)

==Media==
*''[[Guizhou Daily]]''

==Notable people==
* [[Shi Jinmo]] (1881–1969), founder of medical colleges
* [[Sun Yafang]] (1955-), engineer, business executive and former Chairwoman of [[Huawei]] from 1999 to 2018
* [[Chuan He]] (1972-), biologist
* [[Huang Xiaoyun]] (1998-), singer and actress
* [[Zhou Shen]] (1992-), singer

== See also ==
* [[Major national historical and cultural sites (Guizhou)|Major national historical and cultural sites in Guizhou]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note|1}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book | first=Endymion |last=Wilkinson | title = Chinese History: A New Manual | year=2012 |location=Cambridge, MA |publisher=Harvard-Yenching Institute; Harvard University Asia Center | series=Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series '''84''' | isbn=978-0-674-06715-8 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20000511035141/http://www.gzgov.gov.cn/ Guizhou government website] {{in lang|zh-cn}}
*[http://en.gygov.gov.cn/engygov/4035225266123964416 Guiyang Government website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712081514/http://en.gygov.gov.cn/engygov/4035225266123964416/ |date=2010-07-12 }}
*[http://map.ps123.net/china/UploadFile/201507/2015072005240855.png Township level administrative map of Guizhou]
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Guizhou
|North     = [[Chongqing]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Hunan]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Guangxi]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Yunnan]]
|Northwest = [[Sichuan]]
}}

{{Province-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Guizhou}}
{{Guizhou topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Guizhou| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:South China]]
[[Category:Western China]]