or Kuei-chou conventional Kweichow
Province (pop., 2000 est.: 35,250,000), southwestern China.
It is bordered by Yunnan , Sichuan , and Hunan provinces, Chongqing municipality, and Guangxi autonomous region. It has an area of 67,200 sq mi (174,000 sq km). Its capital is Guiyang . Guizhou has rough topography, poor communications, and consequent isolation. About three-fourths of the people are Han Chinese; there are also aboriginal peoples, including the Miao. Guizhou came under Chinese influence during the Ming dynasty (13681644), when it was made a province. During the Qing dynasty (16441911), struggles between the minorities, especially the Miao, were common. Serious revolts occurred in the 19th century and in 194144, as a result of exploitation by local warlords. The communists took the area in 1949. Its mineral resources are rich and support some mining.