Guiyang rises as a coffee hotspot

Peng Jinyang, founder of Captain George – a local coffee brand in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, recently claimed the championship title at the 2025 World Brewers Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. How did a barista from Guiyang – a city that doesn't grow a single coffee bean – manage to win on the world stage?

Coffee is served at a café in Guiyang. [Photo/WeChat account of Shuangshuang Guiyang]

In recent years, coffee culture in Guiyang has expanded beyond young trendsetters to include all ages. With its mild climate, relaxing lifestyle, and welcoming spirit, the city offers the perfect environment for coffee to thrive. Here, urban café culture blends with Guiyang's local charm, creating a uniquely inviting vibe.

Despite having just over 6 million residents, Guiyang is home to more than 3,000 coffee shops – giving it the highest coffee shop density in China, even surpassing Shanghai. While its market is smaller, this competitive environment drives cafés to constantly innovate and improve.

"More and more customers want to learn about coffee, and many have become my friends," says Dong Haowen, manager of Captain George's Taiping Road branch, "People's tastes are becoming more refined." In his three years in the industry, he's noticed a shift from casual consumption to deep interest in brewing techniques and bean selection.

With its unique food culture, healthy café ecosystem, and shared passion for the market, Guiyang has charted its own path to becoming one of China's most vibrant coffee cities.