Kaili (, Hmu: Kad Linx) is a county-level city under the administration of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, in southeastern Guizhou province, China. It is the center of Miao culture, hosting more than 120 festivals every year. Kaili has a population of 478,642 in 2010 and is a major producer of rice.

History

The name "Kaili" is from the Miao Hmu language, meaning "newly cultivated land". Kaili has a long history as an administrative center, earning the nickname "Little Capital" during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Ethnics

A significant population of Miao and Gejia (officially classified as Miao) live in Kaili. Kaili is host to more than 120 Miao festivals throughout the year. The Miao are known for arts and crafts, including jewelry, embroidery, brocade, batik, and papercutting.

Geography and climate

Kaili City is located on the eastern side of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, characterized by a terraced large slope zone. It has a subtropical humid monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 16.1°C, ranging from a maximum of 37°C to a minimum of -4 to -7°C. The city is traversed by 153 rivers and streams, including the Qingshui River, Chong'an River, and Bara River, with a total runoff of 3.989 billion cubic meters and theoretical hydropower resources of 54,000 kilowatts. Kaili is home to hundreds of species of wild animals, 428 species of medicinal plants, and mineral resources primarily consisting of coal, iron, quartz sandstone, petroleum, and natural gas, with one each of oil and gas mining sites.

Administrative divisions

Kaili City is divided 7 subdistricts and 11 towns. Dashizhi subdistrict is the city seat which houses Kaili City Government and Kaili City Council.

Education

Colleges

Technical school

Secondary school

Transportation

Road

Expressway

Railway

Airport

Kaili City is served by Kaili Huangping Airport located at Huangping County.

Tourism

The natural landscapes mainly include Xianglushan (Incense Burner Mountain), Jinquan Lake (Golden Spring Lake), and a number of uniquely scenic caves.

Festival

Kaili City is home to a total of 136 ethnic festivals, earning it the title of the "Town of a Hundred Festivals." The main traditional festivals include the Miao New Year, Climbing Festival, Eating New Year's Food Festival, Sisters' Festival, June Sixth Festival, Gucang Festival, and Reed Pipe Festival.

Craft

Kaili City is renowned for its diverse ethnic crafts, with notable specialties including embroidery, cross-stitching, brocade weaving, batik printing, and silver jewelry.