Ethnic villages of Guizhou and Li River
Discover the ethnic minorities of the Dong and Miao in the Guizhou region and take a cruise down the Li River, through stunning limestone karst landscapes.
Spend 14 days touring Guizhou, one of China’s lesser known regions, and see the area’s fascinating ethnic minority groups and their beautiful villages. Start the tour in the bustling modern city of Shanghai and then fly down to the Guizhou region, where you will step back in time to explore ’the other side’ of China.
Visit the ancient village of Quingyan, the most famous historical and cultural town in the region and see the colourful Miao people at Kaili and Xijiang. Continue to Zhaoxing and Sanjiang to visit the Dong villages with their ornate wood architecture, drum towers and flower bridges. See the famous Longsheng ’Dragon’s Backbone’ rice terraces and experience a spectacular cruise down the Li River, through stunning limestone karst landscapes, past classical Chinese scenes of cormorant fisherman and rice paddy farmers at work. Finish the tour by visiting the beautiful natural sights of Guilin.
Days 1-3: Shanghai
Depart the UK on your flight to Shanghai. Arrive in Shanghai and transfer to the Langham Yangtze Boutique hotel. The next day visit The Bund, an area of buildings lining the Huangpu River, which is one of Shanghai’s most popular tourist sites. Take a tour of the Shanghai Museum. In the morning, visit the Jade Buddha Temple, built to house two jade Buddha statues, originally brought to China by a monk from Burma. Explore the 400-year-old Yu Gardens, some of the finest in the whole of China.
Day 4: Guiyang
This morning transfer to Pudong Airport for your flight to Guiyang. Check into your hotel and take an afternoon visit to the majestic Jiaxiu Pavilion, built during the Ming Dynasty and straddling a huge turtle-like rock in the Nanming River. Later, visit the city’s colourful Flower and Bird Market.
Day 5: Kaili
Take a morning drive to the ancient village of Qingyan, the most famous historical and cultural town in Guizhou. Continue to Kaili, home to the Miao ethnic minority in their colourful costumes, silver jewellery and headdresses. See typical Miao style houses, or ’Diaojiaolou’. You may also be able to see traditional dancing and live folk music. Spend the night here.
Day 6: Xijiang
Drive to Xijiang village known as the ’thousand household Miao village’ and set deep within a valley in the Leigongshan National Park. It comprises traditional dark wood houses and is the best place to see Miao cultural practices. Stay overnight at the Hotel in the Clouds, a pretty guesthouse overlooking the river.
Day 7: Rongjiang
Drive to Rongjiang, an old town with a history going back over 2000 years and explore Dong minority villages throughout the area.
Days 8-9: Zhaoxing
Drive to see the Dong village at Zhaoxing, hidden deep within dense mountain ranges. The next day, explore the village’s ornate wooden architecture, drum towers, flower bridges and theatre stages.
Day 10: Sanjiang
Continue to Sanjiang and visit the Wind-Rain Bridge, which was built in 1916. The bridge has been likened to a dragon crouching over the river and is a fine example of Chinese wood-based architecture; it’s the largest and most impressive of its type.
Days 11-12: Longji
Drive to Longji in the Guangxi Autonomous Region. Stay overnight at the Lian Lodge. Explore Longji village and see the famous Longsheng ’Dragon’s Backbone’ rice terraces, which are some of China’s most spectacular. Transfer to Guilin where you will stay overnight at the Shangri-La Hotel
Day 13: Li River
Depart down the Li River on a stunning cruise through lush vegetation and striking green limestone karsts, which rise majestically on either side. Pass traditional rice paddy farmers and charming cormorant fisherman. Arrive in Yangshuo, a beautiful riverside town set amongst Limestone karst scenery. In the evening enjoy the spectacular "Impression of Miss Luisanjie" show.
Days 14-15: Guilin
Spend the morning in Yangshuo, relaxing by the river or enjoying a bike ride through the stunning countryside before returning to Guilin.
Explore the city of Guilin and see sights such as Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Shan Peak, which affords great views over the city, and the stalactites and stalagmites in Reed Flute Cave. The next day transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Ethnic villages of Guizhou and Li River itinerary map
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