Guizhou Showcases China's Heritage In High-Tech Era
China’s modern cities, towering skyscrapers and cutting-edge technology are recognised globally. Yet behind this contemporary façade, the nation remains firmly anchored to its historical roots, preserving the legacies of past civilisations as the foundation of its identity and the continuity of its cultural heritage.
Bernama recently participated in two forums – 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road and the 11th 10+3 Media Cooperation Forum – held consecutively in Kunming in Southwest China’s Yunnan province, hosted by the People's Daily, Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province and attended by over 200 participants from 87 countries.
One clear takeaway was how carefully the organisers shaped the narrative they wished to convey to participants. From the selection of tours arranged on the sidelines of the forums, it was clear that the intention was to highlight the greatness of the civilisations that once flourished on that land, alongside China’s achievements since opening its doors to the world.
A group of 21 journalists from ASEAN member states, as well as China, South Korea and Japan, were first taken to Zunyi City in Guizhou province, travelling from Kunming in a high-speed train at an average speed of between 250 to 270 kilometres per hour (km/h). It is understood that the highest speed the train can reach is 300-350 km/h.
According to an information book titled ‘Colorful Guizhou: A Splendid Guizhou Awaits You to Explore’, as of 2022, the total length of Guizhou’s railway tracks stood at 4,019 km, including 1,608 km of high-speed lines. Its railway network now connects 53 countries, with high-speed railway services reaching 36 of them. This extensive transportation network clearly benefits the economy and well-being of the local residents.
WELL-PRESERVED HISTORICAL LEGACY
The journalists also travelled to Anshun City (also in Guizhou province), where they visited the Anshun Urban Area, a fortress dating back to the Ming Dynasty that still stands firm today. What makes the site particularly remarkable is not only the well-preserved rows of ancient buildings, but also the fact that descendants of the original inhabitants continue to live there.
They remain deeply committed to their traditions, including wearing traditional attire in their daily lives. Through narrow alleyways and chest-high stone fences, glimpses of their everyday world unfold. Visitors can observe their daily life up close: children cycling and running, elderly men seated on wooden platforms at the front of their homes, and neighbours exchanging greetings. In the back lanes, mothers and grandmothers can be seen cooking over wood-fired stoves. It is akin to stepping into the set of an old Chinese period drama, made all the more ironic by the sight of locally-made electric vehicles parked along the narrow lanes.
After that immersive historical experience and a restful night, it was time to visit a natural wonder, Huangguoshu Waterfall in Anshun, the largest waterfall in Asia. But this excursion was physically demanding as it took three hours to complete a full 360-degree walk around the waterfall area.
Fortunately, the trails across the hilly terrain were clean and well-maintained. Although certain sections were soaked by the waterfall’s spray, wooden walkways are provided to prevent slippery conditions, along with warning signs at various points to ensure visitor safety. Enclosed paths cutting through caves are equipped with handrails and colourful lighting to ease movement, while resting platforms are placed at several locations for visitors to take a breather.
The route leading to the waterfall was filled with the fresh fragrance of Osmanthus flowers, which bloom only in autumn. Lining both sides of the path, the Osmanthus trees – similar to the Tanjung tree found in Malaysia – were adorned with clusters of tiny white and yellow blossoms. The Osmanthus flower is considered auspicious in China and is commonly used in sacred rituals and festive celebrations.
30,000 HIGHWAY BRIDGES
Also located in Anshun is one of China’s latest impressive landmarks – the 625-metre-high Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, the world’s tallest bridge.
Guizhou Institute of Transport Planning and Design chief engineer Yang Jian informed the visiting journalists that construction of the bridge began in 2020 and was carried out by a predominantly young team with an average age of 32.
According to him, the Chinese government places strong confidence in its local expertise, particularly young professionals, adding that success after success has been achieved through the completion of various construction projects, including those once considered impossible.
Yang said Guizhou alone is home to nearly 30,000 highway bridge connections, and almost half of the world’s 100 highest bridges are located in Guizhou. This province was once among China’s poorest regions, largely due to its rugged, mountainous terrain, which made development especially challenging.
He explained that the extensive bridge network was not built with the aim of breaking world records, but rather out of necessity. Given Guizhou’s mountainous landscape, constructing elevated routes proved more cost-effective and practical than excavating tunnels or levelling mountains. It is simpler and less costly, he said, to build straight routes at higher elevations than to undertake large-scale earthworks.
Building within narrow mountain gorges required meticulous planning and execution to ensure every phase is completed to exacting standards. The construction team’s success in completing the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge within just three years stands as a testament to China’s engineering competence and advanced technological capabilities.
The bridge has also set records for having the world’s longest main span among mountain bridges, as well as being the highest bridge in a mountainous region.
Meanwhile, a tourism complex was also developed in tandem with the bridge’s construction. Guizhou Institute of History and Literature researcher and Guizhou Normal University professor Zhang Ziaosong told the visiting journalists that the complex is located within an archaeological area containing Triassic-era fossils dating back some 250 million years.
The Guizhou Triassic Fossil Site is currently on UNESCO’s tentative list and is expected to be fully recognised as a World Heritage Site by 2027.
GUIZHOU A TECHNOLOGY HUB
Its rich historical past aside, Guizhou is now known for technology-driven enterprises and globally competitive new energy industries.
The journalists got to visit a renowned health food processing factory located in Puding district, which operates with 95 percent robotic automation. They also toured a local phosphorus and coal-based chemical plant in Xiaozhaiba City in Xifeng district. These facilities rely minimally on human labour and increasingly on artificial intelligence to produce high-quality plastics, paper and packaging materials for customers around the world.
The group also visited the Geely Automobile Manufacturing Base in Guiyang, where they witnessed the assembly of electric vehicles, including the Proton e.MAS. Observing a vehicle being built from the frame to a fully functional car, complete with seats, windows, wiring, accessories and safety equipment, in such a short time was truly impressive. Again, the workforce was predominantly young, mostly in their early 20s to 30s.
Before winding up their tour, the visiting journalists, as well as local media representatives, met up to discuss insights from the visit. The hosts also shared more about Guizhou’s strategic direction as a technology hub and major data centre destination. The province has attracted global tech giants like Apple, Huawei, Tencent and YIDUCLOUD.
