Activities

Day 1

Upon arrival to Guiyang, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide transport into the city for check in.

Welcome to Guiyang City, the capital of Guizhou Province. Guizhou Province is the northeastern part of the Yungui plateau. Guizhou is a mountains province although its higher altitudes are in the west and center. Ethnic minorities’ culture is a big highlight of Guizhou Province.

En route to downtown Guiyang, take note of the the biggest residential District of Asia. Already housing 30,000 people, it is believed this region will be home to 400,000 in just a few years.

Continue with the guide to visit the Dade Book Club, located in the former Nanjiyun temple. Established in 1894, Dade Book Club was a school famous for rearing a number of highly intellectual people. Ultimately transformed into a tea house, Dade Book club remains an important part of Guiyang Culture today. During the visit, enjoy a local tea.

In the evening, take a walk along Guiyang’s food street to discover Guiyang’s local snacks.

Overnight in Guiyang

Optional: depending on arrival time, there may be a chance to visit the following:

- Qianming temple, close by the Nanming River

- Jiaxu pavilion and Cuiwei garden (Ming style)

- The flower and bird markets of Guiyang along Yanming road

Day 2

After breakfast, begin the Guizhou Miao tour with a visit to Kaili.

Kaili is an ethnic city housing a range of different ethnic groups including the Miao, Han, Dong, Mulao, She, Buyi, Shui, Yi, Zhuang, Yao and more. Kaili is also the hometown of Lu Sheng, a reed-pipe wind instrument made by bamboo.

In the morning, visit the Kaili Museum, an essential stop for anyone wishing to truly understand the characteristically multi-ethnic nature of this region.

After the museum visit, enjoy a local lunch; it is particularly advised to sample the sour and sweet fish soup.

In the afternoon, depart for Langde stopping by two of the most beautiful and authentic Miao villages of the region (Nanhua & Jidao).

In the quiet village of Nanhua, admire the architecture of the Miao houses, almost entirely made of wood. In Jidao, there is an optional visit to see a cultural show featuring typical songs and dances.

Later in the afternoon, arrive in the village of Langde for the chance to spend a night in a family-run guesthouse; the comforts are basic but the experience is truly unforgettable!

Dinner prepared by the guesthouse family and overnight in Langde.

Advice: For this evening, bring only a small bag with essentials for one night. Large luggage will be kept by the driver in the car.

Day 3

In the early morning, pay a visit to Langde village.

Langde village is a Miao ethnic village, home to classic Miao architecture. Miao houses are almost always made of wood (due to their good ventilation) and are typically made in three levels: the first floor is used to feed animals or stock sundries, the second floor is the living place and the third floor is used to store grains. The villages sit between the rivers and the mountains, often amidst rice fields, displaying a beautiful harmony between man and nature.

After this visit, head for the Datang Villages. En route, admire beautiful views of the rice terraces of Kaitun and observe the local life here. There is a great panoramic vista point at 2,200 meters, perfect for photography. In town, observe different traditional clothing and soak in the peaceful atmosphere of the surrounding mountains.

After visiting the Datang Village, depart for Rongjiang County. Its capital Rongjiang has a long and animated street at night.

Wrap up the day’s Guizhou Miao tour in Rongjiang

Day 4

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the local wet market. Morning is the liveliest time of the day to visit, as inhabitants gather to buy fresh food for the day.

After the market visit, depart for Baji Dong village.

Take a short ferry ride (5 min) to cross the river and reach Baji village. While much of the younger generation has left the area for work elsewhere, the elders of the village still inhabit the area, most of which still don the traditional attire.

Stops will be made around town for photo opportunities: the surrounding rice paddies are particularly photogenic. Stops include Jiuri Village, Donglang Village, Kongming Village and Baijiu Village.

Spend the evening in Dangniu Miao Village, close by Jiache. Accommodation here is in a comfortable and charming local hotel (room with private bathroom), with nice views on the rice terraces.

Optional: A second night in this village is possible for those who wish to soak in the scenery a bit more

Day 5

Begin the morning early with some trekking (about 2 hours) from Dangniu village. Depending on personal preference and physical fitness levels, there are two different routes to choose from.

Starting from Dangniu Village, continue into a vibrant world of rice terraces, passing from village to village. Wrap up the trek back in Dangniu Village for a refresher back at the hotel.

After lunch, the Guizhou minority tour departs for Zhaoxing. On the way, visit two other villages, Biapa and Huanggang.

Arrive to Zhaoxing. While Zhaoxing is home to many restaurants and shops, its parallel streets are ripe authenticity.

Enjoy dinner and an overnight in a nice guesthouse in Zhaoxing.

Day 6

Spend the day visiting Zhaoxing, the biggest Dong village in China (95% of the population are Dong.) Dong people are very proud of their artistic contribution and architecture; the Wind and Rain Bridge and Drum Tower are particularly of note for their elaborate design. All of these distinctive architectures are built by wood and stone, with not a single nail used during construction!

A number of optional activities are available on this day:

Option 1: Relax in town with time to explore independently

Option 2: Discover the village’s craft of dyeing, a traditional skill of the Dong people

Option 3: Enjoy trekking around the village

Overnight in Zhaoxing

Day 7

Wrapping up this Giuzhou minority tour, transport will be provided to the train station for departure to the next destination. For those interested in taking the high speed train, please consult us further.