Kaili

Kaili is a county-level city in Guizhou Province, China. It is the administrative center and economic, cultural hub of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. Located in southeastern Guizhou, the city sits in a hilly karst landscape and serves as a gateway to the region’s ethnic minority cultures.

The city hosts a mix of ethnic groups, with Miao (Hmong) and Dong communities forming a significant portion of the population. Traditional crafts, costume, music (such as the lusheng for Dong and silverwork for Miao), and local festivals are notable. The surrounding countryside features traditional villages.

Kaili’s economy blends agriculture, commerce, and evolving services. Key sectors include agriculture (rice, maize, vegetables), forestry, small-scale manufacturing, and tourism focused on ethnic culture and scenic areas. The city acts as a regional market town and transport hub for the prefecture.

Kaili administers several subdistricts and towns and is connected by road networks to other cities in Guizhou and neighboring provinces. The city is a base for exploring Qiandongnan’s ethnic communities, with tourist infrastructure serving visitors interested in culture, cuisine, and crafts.

Education and culture are prominent in Kaili, with institutions ranging from secondary schools to higher education, as well as cultural centers and museums related to Miao and Dong heritage. The area has a long history of interaction between its minority communities and Han Chinese residents.