9-Day Hidden Beauty of Southwest China Tour

After the breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and driven to Mopanshan Pier. There is no better way to approach Yangshuo than by boat, cruising along the Li River, surrounded by magical river scenery of rolling hills and distinctive karst peaks that have inspired poets and artists down the ages. This peaceful ancient town with its traditional folk culture now bustles with local and international tourists interested in the rivers, caves and temples. Explore the bars, cafes, restaurants and markets that service the surge in commerce when you stay overnight in this beautiful place.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch on Li River cruise

Note: Although lunch is included in the Li River cruise ticket, your local guide can help you arrange an alternative before boarding the boat.

Return to Guilin in the morning to visit top attractions in the area. Entering the Reed Flute Cave, a dream like world welcomes you in a palace of natural sculptures, full of oddly shaped rocks and stone pillars illuminated by multicolored lights. Elephant Trunk Hill, a significant landmark of Guilin, holds extraordinary resemblance to an elephant standing in the water. At the end of the day you will be transferred to the hotel in Guilin.

Meals included: Breakfast

Depart Guilin this morning for a leisurely two hour drive to Longsheng, to see the imposing beauty of the Longji Terrace Rice Fields and be intrigued by ancient minority villages scattered around. A striking panoramic view of the fields can be seen by hiking the winding road to a commanding point.

On a visit to Yao Village, home of the Yao Minority group in the mountainous Longsheng area, you will be able to admire the unique character, ethnic architecture, food and customs of the Yao people.

From Yao Village, your tour continues to Sanjiang, where you will check-in to the pre-booked hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Over the coming days you will be taken back in time when exposed to several minority people, each unique, that have maintained their ethic culture for centuries. Delight in the difference and the stories behind them all. First will be Sanjiang, home of the Dong Minority, featuring wooden houses of traditional Dong architecture, drum towers and bridges such as the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge. From Sanjiang you will catch a high speed train to Congjiang, the nearest train station to Zhaoxing, another region famous for large scale Dong villages. Tang’an Dong village is nestles peacefully in amazing scenery of terrace fields surrounded by mountains. Enjoy the colorful people of the village living a vivid local life. You will enjoy an overnight stay in the boutique hotel in Zhaoxing.

Meals included: Breakfast

After the breakfast, start the tour to enjoy the largest and most beautiful of the Dong Villages, Zhaoxing Dong Village. Villagers play Dong ethnic folk music regularly and you may have a chance to enjoy a striking performance. Afterwards travel on to Basha Miao Village in Congjiang. This ancient Miao Village and its remarkable ethnic minority will make a strong impression on you. Each day, villagers dress in their traditional ethic costumes and the males retain a unique hairstyle of long hair with a braid.

Later you will head to Rongjiang to visit Chejiang Dong Village, the most populous of the Dong Villages, renowned for its traditional architecture, drum towers and temples.

At the end of the day, you will be taken to the pre-booked hotel in Rongjiang for an overnight stay.

Meals included: Breakfast

Today you will set out for Kaili to explore a series of colorful Miao villages. Traversing the wonderful scenery of Leigong Mountain, you will arrive at Matang Gejia Village, where colorful batik is a specialty, made using unique techniques. You may have a chance to watch the production process. Travelling further you will visit Jidao Miao Village, to capture interesting scenes of village life, including an ancient barn which has stored grain for the locals for hundreds of years.

You will be transferred to the pre-booked hotel in Kaili by the end of the day.

Meals included: Breakfast

More Miao villages to be explored today will introduce you to the folk art and exquisite handcrafts of the Miao Minority. After breakfast, drive to Shiqiao Miao Village, where you can see paper making using ancient traditions and techniques which have been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Watch how the locals make tree bark and roots into paper, as well as colorful decorative pieces.

Later make your way to Qingman Miao Village, home of Miao Minority embroidery. See young and old women, dressed in amazing ethnic costumes and sporting traditional hairstyle from the Tang Dynasty, engrossed in doing embroidery. Wander the lanes of the village to capture the ambience of minority culture before transferring to the capital city of Guiyang to check in the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

In the morning your tour will take you to Qingyan Ancient Town in the southern suburbs of Guiyang. Take time on a walk around the town to appreciate the many examples of historical architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties in the distinctive buildings with detailed carvings. Temples also feature – ranging from ancient Chinese temples to an exotic Christian church.

Later, make your way to the 400 year old cultural landmark, Jiaxiu Tower, an ingenious structure built on a huge turtle shaped rock over Nanming River. Relics of the tower as the meeting place of ancient writers and poets can be found in the carvings, paintings and calligraphy works.

After the visit, your guide and driver will take you to the airport or train station for your next destination. The tour concludes today.

Meals included: Breakfast

Travel Note: We love helping our customers make the most of their available travel time. Need help planning your next destination? We can help. With a network that extends all over China, we can take care of every detail and arrange your departure train or flight from Guiyang – or anywhere else while you’re in China. Kindly note a surcharge will apply.