In 2025, Guiyang City and Gui'an New Area launched a new chapter in the integrated development of culture and tourism, operating at a vibrant "year-round pace" that marked the transformation of "Cool Guiyang" from a "Summer Resort Paradise" into a distinctive "Four-Season Cultural Tourism Destination".

From January to August, Guiyang recorded a 9.6 percent year-on-year increase in domestic tourist arrivals and a 9.8 percent rise in total tourism spending.

City culture and tourism brand renewal

Upgrading Guiyang's culture and tourism brand has been the key to breaking through in the competitive tourism market.

In February, Guiyang's Yuejie Cinema became a cultural phenomenon with Asia's widest IMAX GT screen, earning 20 million yuan at the box office in just 95 days and exceeding 35.65 million yuan by September – the year's first major culture and tourism success.

So far this year, Guiyang and Gui'an have hosted approximately 274,000 summer visits, characterized by a high proportion of older, out-of-province visitors coming for longer stays.

Yuejie Cinema in Guiyang is a top attraction for film buffs. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

"Four refined lifestyles" lead new business models

Guiyang's evolving urban lifestyle is built on the "four refined" pillars: boutique coffee, beer, dining, and intangible cultural heritage. This cross-industry synergy has fostered new business models and unlocked fresh consumer experiences.

By August 2025, Guiyang had over 3,000 coffee shops, roughly one per 2,000 residents – one of the highest rates in China. The victory of a local barista at the 2025 World Coffee Brewing Championship made "Guiyang coffee" an industry benchmark.

Minsheng Road, Qingyun Market, Caozhuangyuan Street, Taiping Road, and Xinyin Factory offer visitors a diverse mix of cuisine and culture, creating immersive dining experiences that blend modern flavor with local heritage.

"City of Music" resonates nationwide

Guiyang's reputation as a "City of Music" has grown even stronger in 2025. The Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, China's only privately operated symphony orchestra, has been promoting classical music for the past 16 years. In May, it performed at the National Excellent Orchestras Showcase in Shanghai, and in October, it made its fourth appearance at the Golden Bell Awards, solidifying its position among the country's top orchestras.

Roadside concerts have also become a symbol of Guiyang's urban culture. In the first half of 2025, 131 performances drew nearly 1.2 million spectators.

Guiyang Roadside Concert attracts many locals and visitors. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Expanding domestic and international reach

The slogan "Travel Colorful Guizhou, Start from Cool Guiyang" has been fully validated in 2025, as Guiyang and Gui'an successfully evolved from transit hubs into travel destinations.

As of Aug 12, over 33,000 people had entered or exited via Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport, a 209 percent increase year-on-year, with foreign arrivals up more than fivefold.

Convenient transportation continues to make Guiyang the preferred first stop for visitors. During the summer travel period from July 1 to Aug 31, Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport handled 4.87 million passengers and 32,800 flights, exceeding the national growth average and breaking three single-day records.