Travel Guides & Tips in this video
- Tip 1Meet Fiona and learn about Ha Guo Yuan’s scale and history; keep an open mind about visiting large residential complexes (0:32)
- Tip 2Shoes off at the door; respect shared spaces; observe family dynamics respectfully in a Chinese home (4:00)
- Tip 3Understand housing costs: buying versus renting; practicalities of old versus new housing in China; secondhand market (9:13)
- Tip 4Explore nearby malls and the balance of residential and commercial zones in Guiyang’s center; street-level life matters (14:20)
- Tip 5Acknowledge safety, cleanliness, and community in dense urban habitats; avoid tourist-only viewpoints (18:26)
In this episode of On Tour With Dridgers, the UK travel duo explores Guiyang, China’s astonishing mega apartment maze and one of the world’s most densely populated residential complexes. The tour is guided by Fiona, a local whose life within Ha Guo Yuan reveals a vivid tapestry of vertical living, community, and small daily rituals that outsiders rarely glimpse. The couple steps through a ground-floor kitchen that opens into a labyrinth of stairs, bunk beds, and compact rooms where a father works as a chef and a daughter builds a life in a space that feels both intimate and monumental. Through Fiona’s story, we learn how families navigate shared spaces, power usage, and the balance between tradition and modernity in a city whose towers loom large yet pulse with everyday warmth. The visit expands into a broader Guiyang portrait—cupping busy markets, clinics, kindergartens, and a shopping district that sits cheek to jowl with giant malls and a famous “dolphin” centerpiece. The day culmin
Next travel video: ( 133 / 148 )
More about the current video:( 132 / 148 )
The video follows a UK couple visiting Guiyang, China, guided by a local named Fiona who lives with her father in Ha Guo Yuan. They tour a vast mega apartment complex, exploring a ground floor kitchen, a cozy living room, and a high-rise bedroom setup that uses compact storage solutions. They discuss the cost of living, buying versus renting, and Fiona’s job history in restaurant management. The tour touches on Chinese dining customs such as drinking hot water, and the family’s use of a heating table to keep meals warm. The group visits a local market, a secondhand apartment purchase, and a nearby shopping district with malls and the famous White House building. They walk through a large park featuring a free-entry zoo with a viral monkey and pandas, observing daily life and chatter among residents. Throughout, Fiona explains community facilities, from clinics to kindergartens, and reflects on safety, cleanliness, and the sense of community in this densely packed urban habitat. The travelers discuss the city’s scale, compare it to Chongqing, and marvel at the blend of ultra-modern infrastructure with immense vertical living. They end by acknowledging the city’s underrated charm, vowing to return in the summer to explore more coffee and craft beer scenes and to keep in touch with Fiona for future tips.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Is Ha Guo Yuan dangerous for visitors?
- A: Locals and Fiona say it’s surprisingly calm and clean with plenty of open business spaces, though it’s wise to stay aware and respectful of residential life.
