Located in southwest China’s hinterland, Guizhou boasts a unique mountain-surrounded landscape and humid climate. Combined with integration of Miao, Dong and Bouyei ethnic cultures, it has nurtured countless specialties with unique flavors and regional traits. For Guizhou tourists, choosing authentic specialties as souvenirs not only brings home wonderful memories but also shares Guizhou’s unique customs and humanistic charm with relatives and friends. This article selects top must-buy Guizhou specialties, from mellow tea to sweet glutinous pastries, from condiments to handicrafts. It details core features, shopping skills and purchase locations, helping every tourist easily select favorite souvenirs and make the trip more fulfilling.
Must-Buy Teas in Guizhou: Mellow Tea Aroma Carrying the Charm of Mountains and Rivers
Guizhou has long been renowned as the “Hometown of Tea in China”. The geographical conditions of high altitude, low sunshine, and frequent mist have enabled the tea here to accumulate rich nutrients, with a mellow taste and unique aroma. Whether for personal consumption or as a gift for relatives and friends, tea is one of the top choices for must-buy items in Guizhou.
Tea leaves
Meitan Cu Ya
Origin: Meitan County, Zunyi City
Product Features: A representative of Guizhou’s famous teas. The tea leaves are flat and smooth in shape with an emerald green color; when brewed, the soup color is clear and bright, the aroma is fresh and long-lasting, and the taste is fresh, mellow and sweet aftertaste.
Selection Tips: Pay attention to the color of the tea leaves—those that are uniformly emerald green and free of impurities are of high quality; smell the aroma—those with a fresh and odorless scent are better.
Purchase Channels & Prices: Recommended purchase channels include Meitan County Tea Trading Market or large tea specialty stores in Guiyang City. Prices range from 200 yuan to 1,000 yuan per catty depending on the grade.
Duyun Mao Jian
Origin: Duyun City, Qiannan Prefecture
Product Features: Also known as White Hair Tip, it is one of China’s Top Ten Famous Teas. The tea leaves are slender and curly, covered with white hairs, and have a green and moist color; when brewed, the soup color is green with a hint of yellow, the aroma is rich and elegant, and the taste is fresh and refreshing.
Selection Tips: Pay attention to the content of white hairs on the tea leaves—those with abundant white hairs are usually of better quality; at the same time, observe the shape of the tea leaves—slender, curly and uniform ones are high-quality products.
Purchase Channels & Prices: You can choose direct sales points of tea origin in Duyun City or large supermarkets in Guiyang City. Prices range from 300 yuan to 1,200 yuan per catty.
Warm Reminder: It is recommended to buy tea through formal channels to avoid purchasing counterfeit and shoddy products. If carrying by plane, it is advisable to choose sealed packaging to prevent the tea from getting damp or absorbing odors.
Must-Buy Pastries and Snacks in Guizhou: Taste the Sweetness of Qian Land in One Bite
Guizhou’s pastries and snacks integrate local ingredients with ethnic minority production techniques, featuring unique flavors and easy portability, making them one of the must-buy souvenirs for tourists. Whether it’s sweet and glutinous pastries or crispy snacks, they can let people feel the unique flavor of Guizhou.
Bobo Candy
Origin: Anshun City
Features: Made from maltose, peanuts and sesame seeds, with a crispy and sweet taste, melting in the mouth without sticking to the teeth
Purchasing Tips: Choose products with intact sealed packaging, observe the color of the candy; those that are golden and bright without impurities are of high quality
Reference Price: 20-50 yuan per catty
Qingyan Rose Candy
Origin: Qingyan Ancient Town, Guiyang City
Features: Made from glutinous rice, white sugar and rose petals, sweet with a light rose fragrance, soft and chewy texture
Purchasing Tips: Choose products with strong rose fragrance and no peculiar smell, pay attention to the shelf life; freshly made ones have better taste
Reference Price: 30-60 yuan per catty
Spicy Chicken (Ji La Zi)
Origin: Zunyi City
Features: Made from local free-range chicken and chili peppers, through deep-frying and pickling processes, crispy and delicious, moderately salty and spicy, can be eaten directly or used for cooking
Purchasing Tips: Choose products with clear oil and no sediment, those with regular manufacturers and production dates on the packaging are more reliable
Reference Price: 20-40 yuan per bottle
Rosa Roxburghii Cake
Origin: Local Guizhou
Features: Made from Guizhou’s specialty rosa roxburghii, QQ elastic texture, moderately sweet and sour, rich in vitamin C, a healthy snack
Purchasing Tips: Choose products with high pulp content and uniform sweetness and sourness, avoid those that are too sweet and greasy
Reference Price: 25-55 yuan per catty
Must-Buy Condiments in Guizhou: Take Away the Essence of Qian-Style Cooking
Guizhou cuisine is famous for its sour, spicy, fresh, and fragrant flavors, and its unique taste is inseparable from local specialty condiments. For tourists who love cooking, bringing a few Guizhou specialty condiments home allows them to recreate authentic Qian-style delicacies, so this is also an important category of must-buy items in Guizhou.
Guizhou Laoganma Chili Sauce
- Product Features: As a business card of Guizhou condiments, it is made from local specialty chili, Chinese prickly ash, soybean oil, etc., through traditional craftsmanship. It has a rich aroma, moderate spiciness, and unique flavor.
- Application Scenarios: Whether it’s mixed with noodles, rice, or used for cooking dishes, it can add a unique Qian flavor, with strong practicality.
- Shopping Tips: It is recommended to buy at formal supermarkets or specialty stores to avoid counterfeit products. You can choose different varieties according to your taste, such as Flavored Chicken Oil Chili and Spicy Vegetables.
- Reference Price: 15-30 yuan per bottle, affordable and cost-effective.
Chili Sauce
Sour Soup Base
- Product Features: As the core raw material for Guizhou’s classic dish Sour Soup Fish, Guizhou sour soup is divided into two types: red sour soup and white sour soup. Red sour soup is bright red in color and rich in sour aroma; white sour soup is clear in color and fresh in sour taste, each with unique flavors.
- Application Scenarios: Mainly used for making authentic Guizhou Sour Soup Fish. Taking it home allows you to easily recreate the classic Qian-style delicacy and share the sour, spicy, fresh, and fragrant Qian flavor with your family.
- Shopping Tips: You can choose red sour soup or white sour soup according to your taste preferences. It is recommended to select products with simple ingredient lists and no excessive additives for better quality.
- Purchase Channels and Prices: Recommended to buy at local farmers’ markets or large supermarkets. The price is 10-20 yuan per pack, cost-effective and convenient to buy.
Douchi Cake
- Product Features: Produced in southern Guizhou, made from soybeans through fermentation and sun-drying. It is shiny black in color and rich in aroma, making it a regional iconic specialty condiment.
- Application Scenarios: Often used for cooking meat, vegetables, and other dishes, it can add a unique sauce aroma to the dishes and is an important condiment for recreating authentic Guizhou cuisine.
- Shopping Tips: Observe the color; those that are uniformly shiny black are of high quality. Smell the aroma; choose products with a rich and odorless scent for better quality.
- Purchase Channels and Prices: Available at farmers’ markets in Qiannan Prefecture, Qianxinan Prefecture, etc. The price is 25-45 yuan per catty. Carrying Tip: It is hard in texture, so it is recommended to pack it in a hard carton to prevent breakage.
Must-Buy Handicrafts in Guizhou: Exquisite Collections Interpreting Ethnic Customs
Guizhou is a multi-ethnic settlement. The handicrafts of ethnic minorities such as Miao, Dong, and Bouyei have a long history, exquisite craftsmanship, and are full of strong ethnic customs. Such handicrafts not only have practical value but also collection and gifting value, making them unique must-buy souvenirs in Guizhou.
Miao ethnic silver jewelry, handcrafted entirely by hand
Miao Silver Jewelry
Product Features: A core symbol of Miao culture, with exquisite craftsmanship and unique designs; types include necklaces, bracelets, etc.; patterns are mainly flowers, birds and ethnic totems, implying auspiciousness.
Purchase Tips: Choose regular silver jewelry stores and check the silver content mark; prefer products with delicate craftsmanship and clear patterns.
Purchase Channels and Prices: Recommended places include Kaili Silver Jewelry Market and Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village; prices range from several hundred yuan to several thousand yuan depending on silver content and craftsmanship.
Batik Products
Product Features: A classic folk handicraft in Guizhou, made by wax-resist dyeing technique; the finished products have bright colors and elegant abstract patterns; types include clothing, decorative paintings, etc., which are both practical and ornamental.
Purchase Tips: Check that the patterns are complete without damage or bleeding; prefer cotton fabrics that are soft and silk fabrics with good luster.
Purchase Channels and Prices: Recommended places include Anshun Batik Street and Guiyang Handicraft Market; prices range from several dozen yuan to several thousand yuan depending on the type and fabric.
Dong Embroidery
Product Features: A traditional handicraft of the Dong people, with bright colors, exquisite patterns and unique stitching techniques; types include shawls, scarves, etc., and the patterns are taken from local landscapes and life scenes.
Purchase Tips: Observe that the stitching is uniform and dense; prefer products with saturated colors and no fading.
Purchase Channels and Prices: Recommended places include Zhaoxing Dong Village and Congjiang County Handicraft Stores; prices range from several dozen yuan to several hundred yuan depending on the product size and craftsmanship.
Bamboo Weaving Handicrafts
Product Features: Woven from local bamboo, with diverse shapes, light texture and strong practicality; types include bamboo baskets, tea caddies, etc., full of natural charm.
Purchase Tips: Check that the weaving is tight and uniform; the bamboo should be free of moth-eaten and deformation.
Purchase Channels and Prices: Recommended places include local farmers’ markets and handicraft stores; the prices are affordable, ranging from several dozen yuan to several hundred yuan, which is economical and practical.
Shopping and Carrying Tips for Must-Buy Souvenirs in Guizhou
When purchasing must-buy souvenirs in Guizhou, in addition to paying attention to the quality and price of the products, it is also necessary to master some shopping and carrying tips to make the shopping process smoother and avoid unnecessary troubles.
Shopping Tips
- Prioritize purchasing through formal channels such as large supermarkets, specialty stores, and direct sales points of production areas. Products from these channels have guaranteed quality and can effectively avoid purchasing counterfeit and shoddy products.
- When buying, carefully check the packaging labels of the products, including the manufacturer, production date, shelf life, ingredient list, and other information to ensure the products are formal and qualified.
- Choose appropriate products according to the recipient. For example, you can choose tea and health-care specialties for elders; pastries, snacks, and handicrafts for friends; and condiments for relatives and friends who love cooking. At the same time, consider your own budget, plan the purchase amount reasonably, and avoid overspending.
Carrying Tips
- Liquid Products: Such as chili sauce and sour soup base, choose products with good sealing performance and wrap them in plastic bags to prevent leakage and pollution. When carrying by plane, you need to abide by the airline’s regulations: each bottle should not exceed 100 milliliters, and the total amount should not exceed 1 liter. Exceeding parts need to be checked in.
- Fragile Products: Such as silver jewelry and ceramic products, wrap them with bubble wrap or sponge and put them in a hard carton to avoid breakage during transportation.
- Large/Bulky Items: Such as bamboo weaving handicrafts and large tea gift boxes, you can choose to mail them home to reduce the carrying burden and improve the travel experience.
- Rights Protection Reminder: Ask the merchant for a shopping receipt when purchasing. If there is a quality problem with the product, it will be convenient for rights protection in the future.
Recommended Purchase Locations for Must-Buy Souvenirs in Guizhou
To facilitate tourists to buy must-buy souvenirs in Guizhou, the following are several recommended purchase locations with good reputation and complete varieties for tourists’ reference.
Hequn Road Pedestrian Street, Guiyang City
Hequn Road Pedestrian Street is one of the bustling commercial streets in Guiyang City. It gathers numerous specialty stores and handicraft stores, covering specialties from all over Guizhou, such as tea, pastries, chili sauce, silver jewelry, batik, etc., with a complete variety and a large range of choices. The merchants here have good service attitudes, and you can taste pastries, tea, and other products on site, which is convenient for tourists to choose. The transportation is convenient; you can reach it by bus or subway, making it one of the preferred places for tourists to buy must-buy souvenirs in Guizhou.
Anshun Batik Street
If you want to buy batik products, Anshun Batik Street is the best choice. There are numerous batik stores here with a rich variety of products, ranging from batik clothing and scarves to batik decorative paintings, and the prices are relatively affordable. Tourists can not only buy finished batik products but also watch the process of batik making by craftsmen on site, feeling the unique charm of batik craftsmanship.
Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village Specialty Market
Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is a Miao settlement. The specialty market here is full of strong Miao customs, mainly selling Miao silver jewelry, embroidery, batik, and other handicrafts, as well as local specialty pastries and tea. Buying Miao silver jewelry here allows you to choose authentic products and experience the Miao shopping culture. In addition, there are many local snack stalls in the market; tourists can taste food while choosing souvenirs, which is very pleasant.
Farmers’ Markets Everywhere
Farmers’ markets all over Guizhou are also good places to buy authentic specialties. For example, farmers’ markets in Zunyi City can buy authentic Meitan Green Buds and Chicken Spicy Sauce; farmers’ markets in Qiannan Prefecture can buy Douchi Cake and Dong Embroidery. The products in farmers’ markets are affordable and fresh in quality, allowing tourists to buy the most authentic Guizhou specialties. However, when buying in farmers’ markets, you need to carefully select and learn to bargain to get a more favorable price.
In short, there are various must-buy souvenirs in Guizhou, each carrying the natural charm and ethnic customs of Guizhou. Whether it’s tea, pastries, condiments, or handicrafts, they can let tourists take away the unique charm of Guizhou. It is hoped that this guide to must-buy souvenirs in Guizhou can provide practical reference for tourists who are about to visit Guizhou, allowing every tourist to select their favorite souvenirs and draw a perfect end to the trip.
