Guiyang brews China's most competitive coffee scene

Guiyang's famous coffee brand Captain George. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, produces no coffee beans but boasts an astonishing coffee culture. With over 3,000 coffee shops citywide, 1,441 of which are registered cafés, it has approximately five coffee shops per 10,000 residents, surpassing even Shanghai in café density.

This vibrant scene is thriving thanks to a community of "champion baristas". Peng Jinyang, owner of Captain George, claimed the title at the 2025 World Brewers Cup. Hu Ying, owner of Duide Coffee, won the 2015 China National Barista Championship (WBC) and the 2016 World Coffee in the Good Spirits Championship China division. Qiang Hua, owner of Wujie Coffee, is a certified judge for the China Coffee Brewers League (CCL).

"Guiyang baristas regularly compete in professional contests to hone their skills and validate their creative concepts internationally," explains Lei Ming, owner of Heishi Coffee.

In addition to its champion baristas, the city excels in coffee quality. Multiple café owners emphasize that crafting exceptional coffee demands dedication. Their shared passion is delivering coffee that rivals top-tier cities right to the people of Guiyang.

The creativity of Guiyang's baristas consistently surprises visitors. Local ingredients like zhe'ergen (fish mint), mujiangzi (mountain pepper), and cili (chestnut rose) fuse unexpectedly with coffee, leading to the creation of adventurous beverages such as Cili Americano and Zhe'ergen Cold Brew.

At Hengguan Coffee Roastery on Dazhi Road, about 300 pounds (136 kg) of roasted beans are produced daily, supplying over 100 cafés nationwide – with over 30 percent going to Beijing and Shanghai. Owner Liu Kaisheng, with a decade of experience in the coffee business, maintains exacting standards for beans: "Guiyang ranks among China's top cities in number of people willing to invest generously in self-indulgence. This drives our pursuit of excellence."