Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, does not produce its own coffee, but it boasts a remarkable coffee culture. There are over 3,000 coffee shops in the city, with 1,441 of them registered as cafes. It has nearly five coffee shops per ten thousand people – more per capita than even first-tier cities.

The Captain George Coffee. [Photo/Guiyang news network] 

The rise of Guiyang's coffee culture can be attributed to coffee lovers who serve as coffee shop owners, baristas, and purveyors of the city's coffee culture. Peng Jinyang, the owner of Captain George Coffee, won the championship at the 2025 World Brewers Cup. Hu Ying, the owner of Duide Coffee, clinched the championship at the 2015 World Barista Championship and the 2016 World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship. These "champion baristas" have propelled Guiyang's coffee scene onto the global stage.

Coffee is not just a drink – it is a way of life. Guiyang is using coffee to bridge past and future, allowing more people to experience the city's unique charm.