Discover Hidden Cultural Threads of Guizhou with This 500-Year-Old Mountain Province's "Best Tour Guide

The summer vacation has ended, but the lively atmosphere in Guizhou is far from cooling down. Following this year’s buzzphrase "Huang Xiaoxi Having Dinner," visitors can quickly experience the charm of Guizhou as a mountainous province. However, as a region with breathtaking natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage, Guizhou’s brilliance extends far beyond this. If you wish to delve into Guizhou’s 600-year development through its nature, culture, and transportation, the most fitting "guide" would be Wang Yangming—a "Ming Dynasty trailblazer" who, over 500 years ago, attained enlightenment in Longchang, Guizhou, founded the globally influential Yangming School of Mind, left behind centuries of poetic acclaim, and whose disciples greatly advanced Guizhou’s cultural education.

Wang Yangming’s traces in Guizhou span four regions: Guiyang, Qiandongnan, Qiannan, and Bijie. "Yangming·Twelve Realms of Inquiry" is a classic study-tour route curated based on his major experiences and deeds across the Guizhou Plateau. The cultural and natural landmarks along this route are located along two critically important Ming-era transportation lines—the "Xiang-Qian Post Road" and "Longchang Nine Post Stations"—as well as around the core city of Guiyang, forming a series of fascinating clues to discover and understand Guizhou’s 600-year cultural history.

China Yangming Cultural Park in Xiuwen County.

Along one of Guizhou’s most ancient pathways, the Xiang-Qian Post Road, Wang Yangming left his mark at Ming-era military garrisons, post stations, and more. Today, these sites have transformed into the poetic waterways of Zhenyuan Ancient Town, the wondrous "Clouds Gather in Yunnan and Guizhou" scenery of Huangping’s Feiyun Cliff, and the perilous "Great Wall of Guizhou"—the ancient city wall of Fuquan by the Qipan Ridge. This route not only records Wang Yangming’s spiritual journey into and out of Guizhou but also tells the centuries-long story of Guizhou’s development as a southwestern hub connecting the Central Plains through transportation and cultural expansion.

Another vital pathway, the Longchang Nine Post Stations, traversing central and northwestern Guizhou, documents Wang Yangming’s pivotal moments of enlightenment and teaching, as well as his cultural exchanges with local communities. Today, we can sense the hardship of his enlightenment at the Wanyiwo Ruins; imagine the echoes of his lectures after enlightenment at the foot of Longgang Mountain; marvel at the stunning landscapes like Tianqiao Bridge and Liuguang River Gorge along the Wugongpo Ancient Trail; and reflect on the cultural exchanges among ethnic groups brought by transportation development at the Qianxi Elephant Shrine.

Guiyang, as Guizhou’s cultural and educational center, was where Wang Yangming preached, lectured, and expanded the School of Mind. Strolling through Guiyang’s Yangming landmarks—from the Yangming Temple at Fufeng Mountain to the Cuiwei Garden by Jiaxiu Tower, from the ruins of the Civilization Academy on Shifu Road to the Dade School (formerly the Nan Jiyun Shrine) on Zhonghua South Road—we witness the millennia-old cultural legacy of Guizhou, bridging past and present.

"Twelve Realms of Inquiry·Yangming" Route.

Illustration by Monk Yu Yitiao.

The Xiang-Qian Post Road, the most important route connecting ancient Guizhou to the Central Plains. In the early Ming Dynasty, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians from the Central Plains and Jiangnan entered Guizhou primarily through this route, laying the foundation for Guizhou’s provincial structure. To this day, the path of the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway into Guizhou largely overlaps with this ancient post road, forming a modern artery linking Guizhou to the Central Plains and the Southwest.

Wang Yangming entered Guizhou via the Xiang-Qian Post Road, passing through Pingxi Garrison (today’s Yuping County), Zhenyuan Prefecture (today’s Zhenyuan County), and Xinglong Garrison (today’s Huangping County), where he visited the "Number One Cave Heaven of Southern Guizhou." He then climbed Qipan Ridge in Pingyue Garrison (today’s Fuquan City), passed through Xintian Garrison (today’s Guiding County), reached the provincial capital Guiyang, and finally arrived at Longchang Post Station (today’s Xiuwen County), where he began his legendary journey of enlightenment and teaching.

Morning in Zhenyuan Ancient Town beneath towering mountains.

This road was traversed not only by Wang Yangming but also by the Ming Dynasty poet Yang Shen, who penned "The mighty Yangtze flows eastward, its waves washing away heroes"; Qing Dynasty classicist and literary figure Hong Liangji; statesman Lin Zexu; and professors and students relocating westward during the Anti-Japanese War. Along the remnants of early Ming military garrisons, they collectively praised Guizhou’s rugged landscapes in verse, lamented the challenges of transportation, and witnessed the province’s 600-year evolution.

Xinglong Garrison (today’s Huangping County), Pingyue Garrison (today’s Fuquan City), and Zhenyuan Prefecture (today’s Zhenyuan County) were three key nodes where Wang Yangming’s poetry and writings spread, showcasing how Guizhou, rooted in its perilous mountains, gradually transformed into a southwestern thoroughfare, revitalized culture and education, and cultivated its profound humanistic heritage.

Schematic map of the Xiang-Qian Post Road in Guizhou.

"The road to Guizhou enters from the mountain peaks; the people of Yelang come from beyond the sun."

This highly imaginative heptasyllabic poem captures Wang Yangming’s early impressions of Guizhou’s rugged landscapes after his arrival. A lifelong lover of mountains and rivers, Wang composed over 200 landscape poems, accounting for about a third of his lifetime works. The mountainous province of Guizhou undoubtedly became his creative treasure trove.

The "Number One Cave Heaven of Southern Guizhou"—Feiyun Cliff’s Yuetan Temple.

Photo by Chen Weihong.

At the nearby Feiyun Cliff’s Yuetan Temple in Xinglong Garrison, he penned "Record of Rebuilding Yuetan Temple and Constructing a Guesthouse," vividly describing the wonder of "Clouds Gather in Yunnan and Guizhou." In Wang Yangming’s words, the caves of Feiyun Cliff "float like clouds and rainbows, stretch like arches; open like towers and palace gates, hang like drums and chimes"—a small cliff concealing a vast universe.

Of course, Wang Yangming was not the only one to leave poetic traces here. As the "Number One Cave Heaven of Southern Guizhou," Feiyun Cliff’s Yuetan Temple boasts 16 Ming and Qing-era stone inscriptions praising its marvels, making it a quintessential representation of Guizhou’s cultural and natural beauty.

The cloud-like rocks on the cliffs of Feiyun (Flying Cloud) Grotto.

Photo by Chen Weihong

In February 1938, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Nankai University relocated from Changsha to Kunming, later forming the National Southwestern Associated University. Over 200 faculty and students from the three institutions formed the "Hunan-Guizhou-Yunnan Marching Corps." Led by professors such as Huang Yusheng, Wen Yiduo, and Yuan Fuli, they trekked 3,500 li (about 1,750 kilometers) over 68 days across Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan to reach Kunming—a journey later dubbed the "Long March in educational history." Following Wang Yangming’s footsteps into Guizhou, they passed through Zhenyuan, Huangping, Fuquan, and other areas, documenting Guizhou’s landscapes and cultural heritage.

Wen Yiduo once examined the stele inscription of Wang Yangming’s "Record of Rebuilding the Yuetan Temple and Constructing a Guesthouse." Little known is that Wen also received formal art training. After his survey, he sketched three drawings: "Pagoda of Feiyun Grotto," "Temple Gate of Feiyun Grotto," and "Feiyun Grotto," poetically capturing Guizhou’s scenery. Among the students accompanying Wen was Mu Dan, who composed the poem series "Three Thousand Li on Foot" during this arduous journey through Guizhou. His style grew robust, and he later became a master of modern poetry.

The April 8th folk customs of residents near Feiyun Grotto in Huangping County.

Photo by He Xiongzhou (top), Liang Wen (bottom)

Huangping is one of the best gateways to experience Guizhou’s mountainous landscapes and cultural heritage upon entering the province.

Leaving Huangping’s scenic beauty, Wang Yangming encountered the perilous Qipan Ridge in Pingyue Guard (now Fuquan City), inspiring his verse: "The bird’s path winds down Qipan Ridge, ancient vines and trees echo cold gorge sounds" ("Qipan"). Many literati shared this sentiment. During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, the exiled poet Yang Shen composed seven "Qipan" poems describing the hardship of crossing this natural barrier.

Today, to trace the treacherous post road of "Qipan Ridge" described by Wang Yangming and Yang Shen, one must visit the "Qipan Mountain" five li southeast of Fuquan. Yet, only a towering cliff by the Chong’an River remains visible—the ancient path has vanished into the wilderness.

Fuquan’s ancient town preserves intact Ming-era city walls.

During the Wanli era, Ge Jing, a retired Pingyue native, spent his fortune building a bridge three times over the Maha River. In 1618, the Gejing Bridge—supported by cliffs and midstream reefs—was completed, providing a new shortcut. Later, during the wartime westward migration, engineer Mao Yisheng praised its ingenious design as "the crown of southwestern bridges."

Established in 1382 as Pingyue Guard and upgraded to a prefecture in 1601, Pingyue became a hub connecting Weng’an, Huangping, Guiding, and Majiang. Nearly 100 bridges built around it attest to this history. Like many Guizhou towns, it evolved from a post station to a military garrison and then an administrative center.

The Gejing Bridge’s design ingeniously leverages natural terrain.

Modern Fuquan, traversed by the Guiyin-Xinzhai Expressway, Wengma Expressway, and Zhuzhou-Liupanshui Railway, is a microcosm of Guizhou’s transformation from a mountainous region to a "high-speed plain," with just one hour to Guiyang and half an hour to Duyun.

Guizhou’s ancient towns thrived by conquering rugged terrain, opening trade routes, and fostering culture. Zhenyuan, Wang Yangming’s final stop—a gateway between Yunnan and Hunan—epitomizes this legacy.

In December 1509, Wang Yangming left Guizhou for Jiangxi, penning letters at a Zhenyuan inn to Longchang disciples—the first roster of his school’s followers. These disciples later spread his teachings across Guizhou. Earlier, Zhenyuan had hosted Jiang Xin, a pioneer of Wang’s school who later oversaw Guizhou’s education. Zhenyuan’s role in Wang’s legacy and Guizhou’s cultural revival was pivotal.

Zhenyuan’s ancient town features diverse regional architecture.

With over 2,000 years of history, Zhenyuan was part of Qianzhong Commandery during the Qin Dynasty. Since Guizhou’s founding, it has been a cornerstone of the province’s cultural, political, and economic development.

In 1413, Zhenyuan pioneered Guizhou’s "bureaucratization of native offices" under provincial administration—"Guizhou’s integration began with Zhenyuan" (Ming History). In 1890, Zhenyuan’s Qingxi Ironworks predated Wuhan’s Hanyang Ironworks by three years, marking it as a cradle of China’s modern heavy industry.

Zhenyuan’s prosperity stemmed from the Wuyang River, which flows from the Miaoling Mountains through Hunan to the Yangtze. At its peak, Zhenyuan had 12 major docks, shipping timber and herbs to Changsha and Wuhan while importing textiles and ceramics, making it a bustling hub.

The Jiangxi Guild Hall in the ancient town of Zhenyuan.

According to the Ming Dynasty's "Guizhou General Records" from the Jiajing era, the area around today's Fuxing Lane in Zhenyuan was once home to streets named Shawan, Chenzhou, Nanjing, and Jiangxi. Now, every visitor to Zhenyuan might encounter their "hometown" here.

From afar, the S-shaped Wuyang River divides Zhenyuan into the prefectural city and the garrison city, with docks lining up and streets branching out. At the entrances of these lanes stand Hui-style buildings with ink-washed blue tiles, while inside lie noble residences from the Central Plains, Jiangnan, Qilu, and Minyue regions, as well as guild halls, all calling forth the "Guizhou charm" of cultural fusion.

Starting from Zhenyuan, dragon boat culture thrives across southeastern Guizhou.

Photo by Yuan Fuhong (top) and Yang Wenbin (bottom).

In the third year of the Zhengde era (1508), Wang Yangming, demoted to the post of Longchang Stationmaster, arrived at Longchang (today's Xiuwen). Longchang Station was the first of the nine Longchang post stations. As the first major route connecting central and northwestern Guizhou, the nine Longchang post stations held great significance.

In the early Ming Dynasty, the Yi leader Lady Shexiang personally led her people to open this "national highway" from Guiyang to Bijie. From then on, central and northwestern Guizhou became a unified whole. The nine Longchang post stations connected eastward to the Hunan-Guizhou and Sichuan-Guizhou routes, leading to Sichuan and Huguang, and westward to Yunnan via the Yunnan-Guizhou route. This also laid the foundation for Guizhou's later establishment as a province, serving as a historical witness to the political, economic, and cultural exchange and integration of the three southwestern provinces.

The ancient Centipede Slope path, a remnant of the old post road.

Tracing Wang Yangming's journey in Guizhou, Longchang (today's Xiuwen), located in the central region of Guizhou, was undoubtedly the most important.

After all, without Wang Yangming enduring countless hardships—"cooking by rocky caves, resting against stone piles" ("Finding the East Cave and Renaming It Yangming's Small Cave Heaven")—and his long introspection leading to the realization that "the way of the sages is inherent in our nature" ("Chronicle of Wang Yangming's Life"), there would have been no subsequent spread of Yangming's philosophy of mind.

Longgang Mountain can be seen at the China Yangming Cultural Park in Xiuwen County.

Meanwhile, Xiuwen's natural and cultural heritage, as well as its strategic location as a central hub in Guizhou, added bright touches to Wang Yangming's life in Guizhou.

He visited Tianqiao Bridge, the ancient Centipede Slope path, and the Liuguang River Grand Canyon, marveling at the natural wonders; he also lamented the fate of travelers, composing the famous "Burial of a Traveler." He attained enlightenment and lectured in Longchang, laying the foundation for Yangming's philosophy of mind and nurturing the first regional school of his disciples, the Qianzhong Wang School. His correspondence with the Shuixi chieftain An Guirong and his writing of "Record of the Elephant Shrine" became a celebrated tale of cultural exchange... Through these connections with locals and fellow travelers, Wang Yangming left behind profound and subtle cultural imprints on Guizhou.

The Liuguang River Grand Canyon, separating Xiuwen and Qianxi.

Wang Yangming's activities—enlightenment, lecturing, and writing—were all supported by the warm assistance of local residents. This aid not only addressed his daily needs but also held deeper historical significance.

Among the inscriptions left by literati at Yangming Cave, one stands out: "The Beloved Legacy of Master Yangming." Along with the inscription "Yangming's Playful Yi Cave" at the entrance of Wanyiwo, it marks two pivotal moments in Wang Yangming's life in Xiuwen: his enlightenment in Longchang and his lectures at Longgang. The inscription was made by An Guoheng, a Guizhou pacification commissioner, whose great-grandfather was An Guirong, the Shuixi chieftain who had close ties with Wang Yangming. Tracing further back, An Guirong was the eighth-generation descendant of Lady Shexiang, who led the opening of the nine Longchang post stations.

Wanyiwo, widely regarded by scholars as the site of Wang Yangming's enlightenment in Longchang.

Shuixi refers to the ancestral lands of the An chieftains—west of the Yachi River in the upper reaches of the Wujiang River. Due to the Shuixi chieftains, the term evolved from a geographical concept to a cultural one crucial to Guizhou's early Ming development. The heart of Shuixi lay near the ancient Elephant Shrine mentioned in Wang Yangming's "Record of the Elephant Shrine"—the area around Qianxi.

The core territory of Shuixi chieftain An Guirong was in today's Qianxi and Dafang, but his influence extended far beyond "Shuixi," covering much of Bijie and parts of Anshun, Liupanshui, and Guiyang. Longchang, where Wang Yangming resided, was also under his jurisdiction.

When Wang Yangming first arrived in Longchang, destitute and without provisions, An Guirong sent servants, gold, silk, horses, firewood, and poultry. Deeply moved, Wang Yangming kept only the food and wrote a letter of thanks. Thereafter, An Guirong sought Wang Yangming's counsel on major matters, beginning a celebrated chapter of cultural exchange.

The current site of the Xiang Temple is on Lingbo Mountain in Supu Town, Qianxi City.

An Guirong once prided himself on his achievements and sought to abolish postal stations. In the second letter "To An Xuanwei," Wang Yangming emphasized that military postal stations were an imperial system, persuading An to abandon his petition to remove them and claim merit. In the third letter, Wang urged An to deploy troops to quell the rebellion of the Shuidong chieftain, safeguarding the peace of Guiyang and its surrounding areas. This episode, historically known as "Quelling Chaos with Letters," foreshadowed Wang's later skillful use of correspondence to aid in suppressing rebellions in Jiangxi and Guangxi.

The correspondence between Wang Yangming and An Guirong, along with Wang's timeless essay "Record of the Xiang Temple," written for An's renovation of the temple, testifies to the close cultural exchanges between central and northwestern Guizhou since the province's establishment, further integrating Guizhou into a "diverse yet unified" whole.

As the saying goes, "The nine postal routes were newly established, and the roads to Sanba were opened." Lady Shexiang pioneered the nine postal routes in Longchang, fostering prosperity in northwestern Guizhou. She also sent youths to the capital to study at the Imperial Academy, embracing Central Plains culture and aligning with Emperor Hongwu's policy of promoting education in border regions.

The Shexiang Museum in Dafang, Bijie, houses a bronze bell from the Chenghua era (1465–1487) inscribed with both Yi and Chinese scripts, alternating in parallel—a clear sign of robust cultural exchange between northwestern and central Guizhou. This laid the groundwork for Wang Yangming's warm reception by An Guirong and local villagers upon his arrival in Longchang.

Such native Guizhou simplicity and warmth naturally inspired Wang Yangming's reflections on universal human goodness, providing the inspiration for his famous line in "Record of the Xiang Temple": "There are no people in the world who cannot be transformed." Tracing its roots, this insight was also nurtured by such cultural exchanges.

The Yi ethnic group's Cuotaiji in Weining, northwestern Guizhou,

is a renowned Yi cultural custom.

Photo by Li Guiyun.

"Record of the Xiang Temple" was included in the *Gujin Guanzhi*, becoming a timeless masterpiece. In Supu Town, Qianxi City, where the newly rebuilt Xiang Temple stands, reciting the essay is now part of the local elementary school curriculum. Wang Yangming's work, echoed in children's voices, is regarded as part of Qianxi's cultural heritage and passed down through generations.

In 1941, to commemorate Wang Yangming's contributions to Guizhou's cultural and educational development, Qianming Road by the Nanming River was renamed "Yangming Road." As Guizhou's most visible tribute to Wang, this two-to-three-kilometer stretch connects the footprints of Wang and his Guizhou disciples in Guiyang while offering access to the city's cultural landmarks—a perfect thread for exploring Guiyang's humanities and understanding Guizhou.

Walking along Yangming Road by the Nanming River, one finds the Guizhou Provincial Ethnic Museum across the river. Less than 800 meters east stand Guiyang's historical landmarks—Jiaxiu Tower and Cuiwei Garden, which Wang once visited. A kilometer north lies the former site of Nan Jiyun's Shrine (now Dade School), where Wang once walked, and nearby are the ruins of the Wenming Academy, where he lectured at the invitation of Guizhou's education commissioner Xi Shu.

Jiaxiu Tower and Cuiwei Garden by the Nanming River.

Strolling among these cultural relics, we can reflect on Wang Yangming's time in Guiyang. Before assuming his post in Longchang, Wang visited old friend Zhan in Guiyang. At the end of 1508, he was invited to celebrate the New Year there, still preaching the teachings of sages: "With noble minds gathered in discussion, we sat past midnight by candlelight and clear wine" (*Snow on the Wooden Path*). The following spring and summer, he exchanged ideas with friends in Guiyang; in autumn and winter, he lectured at Wenming Academy, "first expounding the unity of knowledge and action."

Even when leaving Guizhou, Wang was seen off by many outside the southern gate, with disciples accompanying him through the snow for 60 li to Longli Guard (today's Longli County), as captured in his poem: "Snow blankets the mountain town at dusk; my heart wanders between departure and longing" (*Two Poems on the Farewell by Disciples to Longli Road*, I).

Starting from Yangming Road, tracing Wang Yangming's footsteps in Guiyang.

Thus, Guiyang not only bore the weight of Wang's teachings on the "School of Mind" but also served as his spiritual sanctuary—

a place to enjoy scenery ("From afar, children gather with jugs and baskets; my official cares fade with each step of my cane" *The Immortal's Cave*), to socialize and bid farewell ("Guests disperse from Three Bridges to prior plans; even at full gallop, the horse feels slow" *On Missing a Garden Gathering Due to Seeing Off Guests*, III), to reflect on history ("Where does the hero's soul linger after a thousand years? Year after year, locals honor him at the shrine" *Nan Jiyun's Shrine*), and to express self-expectation ("In future tales of Guizhou, let them speak of Yangming's humble cottage" *Staying Overnight at the Wang Family Garden*).

Some old place names in Wang's poems, like Touqiao, Erqiao, and Taici Bridge, still exist today. His verses not only record his own travels but also offer profound glimpses into Guiyang's cultural landscape.

If we extend our journey along this "Yangming Road" with imagination, what we uncover is not just Guiyang's cultural charm but also the millennial splendor of education and culture in Guizhou's fertile land.

During the Anti-Japanese War, Guiyang constructed new residential areas and renovated roads at Zhaojiapo in Yujiwan, south of the city near Yangming Road to accommodate the population surge caused by westward migration. The completed residential area featured roads named after Zheng Zhen, Mo Youzhi, Yin Daozhen, and another "Wang Shouren Road," all commemorating cultural luminaries who contributed significantly to Guizhou—truly a gathering of "distinguished scholars, young and old." Though only "Yangming Road" remains today due to changing times, we can trace the legacy of these Guizhou pioneers at another local landmark: the Yangming Temple.

In 1814, during the Qing Dynasty's Jiaqing era, the Yangming Temple was built at the foot of Fufeng Mountain east of Guiyang. Three years after its completion, scholars like Zheng Zhen and Mo Youzhi paid homage there, calling themselves "disciples of Wang Yangming." In 1916, the Yin Daozhen Temple was erected beside the Yangming Temple. Thus, from Yin Zhen's pioneering journey north to study in the Central Plains before returning to promote education, to Wang Yangming's enlightenment and teachings in Guizhou, and finally to the scholarly pinnacle represented by Zheng Zhen, Mo Youzhi, and other "Three Confucians of the Qing," the Yangming Temple and Yangming Road serve as touchstones to Guizhou's cultural and educational evolution.

Not far from Yangming Road lies the Nan Jiyun Temple (now Dade School), where Wang Yangming once visited and paid respects. It stands as a witness to Guizhou's cultural transformations across history.

The Nan Jiyun Temple was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty. Nan Jiyun, a famed Tang general, achieved repeated merits during the An Lushan Rebellion before dying as a captive in the defense of Suiyang. His loyalty endured for millennia. His son, Nan Chengsi, once served as the governor of Qingjiang in Guizhou, and the temple was erected to honor both.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the temple was repurposed as the Zhonglie Palace (Loyalty Temple). In 1901, Guizhou's first natural science research group, the Mathematics Institute, was founded there. Two years later, it expanded into the Dade Study Society, and by 1912, it had evolved into Dade School—Guiyang's first modern comprehensive institution with over 1,500 students and faculty. Revolutionary martyr Wang Ruofei also studied and taught there.

The transition from Nan Jiyun Temple to Dade School reflects the fusion of ancient and modern, Eastern and Western learning in Guiyang during the late Qing and early Republic eras.

Today, Wang Yangming's legacy endures in Guizhou, resonating with the region's contemporary cultural and educational vibrancy.

The Longgang Academy, where Wang once taught, has been revitalized as the bustling China Yangming Cultural Park. Guizhou Jingju Theatre's new play *Yangming's Enlightenment* debuted in Beijing to acclaim. In recent years, the avant-garde publisher Kongxian Academy Press released the 36-volume *Yangming Library*, offering a "Guizhou perspective" on Wang's global intellectual influence.

Through his deeds, achievements, and teachings, Wang Yangming has become a luminous cultural symbol for Guizhou, bridging its landscapes with the wider world.