Waterfall Country Miao and Dong Tour | 6-Day In-Depth Guizhou Guiyang + Anshun + Kaili + Langde + Rongjiang + Congjiang + Zhaoxing Tour

Welcome to Guiyang, the cool and pleasant capital of Guizhou Province, China. Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to your hotel in Guiyang for check-in and rest! You can arrange the remaining time freely. Suggestions for Free Time 1. Qianling Mountain Park: Known as the "urban green lung," it is a leisure spot loved by Guiyang locals. You can hike through Qianling Mountain and enjoy the charming natural and cultural scenery, and along the way you may encounter lively and interesting wild macaques. If you want to burn incense and pray, you can visit Hongfu Temple. 2. Jiaxiu Tower: One of Guiyang's famous historical and cultural landmarks, equally renowned as the Yellow Crane Tower and Yueyang Tower, and one of the "Nine Great Towers of China." You can stroll and admire its architectural wonders and cultural elegance, especially at night when the lights reflect on the Nanming River, creating the stunning beauty of a "scene in the mirror, tower in the water." 3. Qingyun Market: Only about 1 kilometer from Jiaxiu Tower, it is an excellent place to experience authentic Guizhou cuisine and bustling nightlife, known as "Guiyang's late-night canteen." Suggestions for Arrival 1. By Plane: Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (KWE) is the only airport in Guiyang, with many domestic direct routes, such as from Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Xiamen, as well as international direct routes, such as from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, making transportation very convenient. 2. By High-Speed Rail: Guiyang is an important railway hub in southwest China. Major cities such as Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Guilin all have high-speed rail connections directly to Guiyang and other cities in Guizhou Province.

After breakfast, drive 2.5 hours to Anshun to visit the world-famous 【Huangguoshu Waterfall】. This is the largest waterfall in China and even Asia, known as the "No. 1 Waterfall in Asia." The famous Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake once praised it, saying "the pearl curtain hook is not rolled up, a white silk hangs on the distant peak," which spread its fame far and wide. In addition, Huangguoshu Waterfall was also a filming location for the 1986 TV series Journey to the West. After arriving at the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area, first visit the Doupotang Scenic Area. This is the waterfall with the widest crest among the Huangguoshu Waterfall Group, with a crest width of about 105 meters and a height of about 21 meters. It is also the filming location of the classic scene in the ending of the 1986 TV series Journey to the West where the four master and disciples lead the horse across the waterfall, and you can check in up close. If you visit during the flood season (June to October), you can witness the "roaring waterfall" wonder, when the turbid waters of Doupotang Waterfall surge and emit a rumbling roar like thousands of troops. If you visit during the normal water season, you can enjoy the beauty of the "veil waterfall," when the water of Doupotang Waterfall is clear and gentle, as soft as a bride's veil. Then, take the sightseeing bus to visit the Tianxingqiao Scenic Area and admire the karst landscape wonders of water stone forests, caves, and waterfalls interwoven together. As a hidden gem of Huangguoshu, Tianxingqiao is a treasure trove for exploration. You can explore the cave wonders in Tianxing Cave and check in on stalactite formations such as "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and "Sea-Calming Divine Needle." The Silver Chain Falling into the Pool Waterfall in the water stone forest and the geological wonder of the Bridge on the Bridge are the most unmissable sights. At dusk, you can take backlit silhouettes of the stone forest, and in the morning mist, you can capture rainbows at the waterfall. Afterward, take the sightseeing bus to visit the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall Scenic Area. This is the main waterfall of Huangguoshu and also the most famous waterfall there, with a huge drop of about 77.8 meters and a width of about 101 meters. Even before approaching, you can hear the roaring sound of the waterfall. Whether viewed up close or from afar, the waterfall scenery like the "Milky Way pouring down" is breathtaking, and at this moment the line "the flying stream plunges three thousand feet" becomes more vividly embodied. If you are interested, you can walk to the Water Curtain Cave. This natural karst cave, about 134 meters long, runs across the middle of the waterfall and is an excellent spot to view the "rushing thousands of miles" waterfall scenery. It has 6 viewing windows, allowing you to experience the thrill of "the waterfall flying over your head." After the tour, take the escalator back. After the visit, you will be escorted to a hotel in Anshun to check in and rest.

After breakfast, go to visit 【Tianlong Tunpu】, one of Guizhou's four major cultural calling cards. This is a settlement of descendants of Han Chinese frontier soldiers from Jiangsu and Zhejiang 600 years ago, forming a unique "Tunpu culture" and fully preserving the living customs of Jiangnan in the Ming Dynasty. It is known as the "living fossil of Ming Dynasty life." The architecture here combines stone city walls with Jianghuai-style dwellings, with a touch of beauty within its ruggedness. Historical relics such as Ming Dynasty post roads, city walls, and village gates still remain, and the women still wear Ming Dynasty Han Chinese clothing, "Fengyang Han costume," and wear traditional hairstyles. You can chat with them and experience a different local culture. In addition, do not miss the wonderful intangible cultural heritage performance, Dixi opera, which tells historical stories of loyalty and serving the country, including spirit dancing, mask opera, and other military Nuo culture. After lunch, drive about 3.5 hours (about 270 kilometers) to Kaili, known as the "Pearl of the Miao and Dong." After arriving, visit Matang Gejia Village. 【Matang Gejia Village】 is a traditional village mainly inhabited by the Gejia people, with more than 400 residents remaining. These Gejia people claim to be descendants of Houyi, the archer hero in ancient mythology who shot down the suns. Sun-shooting totems are commonly seen in their clothing and silver ornaments, and they have a unique language and customs. The village environment is quiet and pleasant, and it is known as the "Shangri-La of Houyi's descendants." In addition, in Matang Gejia Village, everything from clothing to tablecloths is batik, as if you have fallen into a colorful world of batik. The women here learn batik from childhood. Common patterns include geometric designs (spiral patterns, sun patterns) and natural designs (tigers, birds, fish, flowers and plants). The compositions are full and richly layered, very beautiful, and the village is known as the "Hometown of Batik Art." You can immersively observe local villagers hand-making batik with beeswax (yellow wax), or stroll through the village and experience its unique ethnic culture and living customs. Optional activity: You can personally experience the steps of wax drawing, dyeing, and dewaxing to create your own batik work as a souvenir. After the tour, you will go to a carefully selected hotel in Kaili to check in and rest. Note: If you are interested in staying overnight in Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village to enjoy the stunning night views, please consult your travel advisor in advance.

In the early morning, depart from Kaili and drive to Langde Upper Miao Village, a famous Chinese historical and cultural village. This is an ancient Miao village first built in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, with a history of more than 600 years. The stilted houses in the village are built against the mountains, and cobblestone paths wind through them, blending with the surrounding green mountains and waters. It is known as a "hidden paradise". Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a grand welcome ceremony. Local villagers, dressed in traditional long-skirt Miao festive attire, will offer guests wine in ox-horn cups to express their welcome and blessings to visitors from afar. Here you can experience the special 12-course gate-blocking wine ritual, the highest welcome etiquette of the Miao people, with a very strong sense of ceremony. Afterwards, you will walk along the stone-paved path to the lusheng ground (bronze drum ground) in the center of the village to watch wonderful lusheng song and dance performances, such as the lusheng dance and golden pheasant dance, both intangible cultural heritage items, and feel the charm of the "Home of Miao Song and Dance". In addition, Langde Miao Village still preserves the ancient craft of Miao embroidery. The women's handmade embroidery patterns are exquisite, stitching their love of life and reverence for nature into their clothing thread by thread. You can stroll leisurely through Langde Miao Village, admire the traditional Miao stilted-house architecture, learn about the unique "long-skirt Miao" culture, and experience the original Miao customs and simple folkways. Afterwards, you will drive about 1.5 hours from Langde to Rongjiang to visit Dali Dong Village, known as a "pearl of the deep mountains" and a "hidden paradise". This is a well-preserved original Dong village. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, with ancient towering trees, layered terraced fields and a stream running through the village, it is very beautiful. You can stroll along the bluestone ancient path and feel the sedimentation of history, and explore in depth the drum tower (the cultural center of the Dong people and the tallest wooden building in the village), the wind-and-rain bridges (built in the Qing Dynasty, five in total, spanning the Lidong Stream), and the Dong-style courtyard wooden houses (one of the most distinctive ancient buildings, perfectly blending Dong stilted wooden houses with Han courtyard style, with the Yang Xianzhou residence being the most representative), or have the chance to experience intangible cultural heritage such as the Dong language, Dong brocade and the Dong Grand Song, and feel the authentic and original Dong customs and the simple, warm folkways. After the tour, head to your hotel in Rongjiang to check in and rest.

After breakfast in Rongjiang, drive about 90 kilometers (about 2 hours) to Congjiang, known as the "holy land for nourishing the soul," to begin today's exploration. Upon arrival, first visit the mysterious [Basha Miao Village], China's "last gunner tribe," which preserves customs such as sickle haircuts and tree worship, and is known as one of the "21 most mysterious primitive tribes on Earth." Basha men legally carry guns for life; firearms are a symbol of tribal identity and courage. Their "protecting stick" hairstyle is a major feature, with the hair around the head shaved off with a sickle and only a topknot left on the crown. When Basha men turn 15, they complete this grand coming-of-age ceremony by worshiping the tree of life, having a sickle haircut, and receiving a firearm. In addition, the Basha people regard trees as sacred. Every Basha person plants a "tree of life" at birth, is buried in a tree coffin after death, and an evergreen tree is planted at the grave to continue life. Their clothing is also very special, mainly black. Men wear traditional black cloth clothing, symbolizing tree bark, while women, on a black base, match it with some brightly colored accessories. It is worth mentioning that if the skirt hem is white, it indicates the woman is married, while black indicates she is unmarried. You can stroll through Basha Miao Village, deeply experience this unique and mysterious Miao culture and primitive ecology, and also have the chance to watch the breathtaking gun salute and sickle haircut ceremony, as well as wonderful lusheng performances. Afterward, you will continue to visit [Zhanli Dong Village], known as "China's No. 1 Population Culture Village." This is a Dong village famous for the mysterious "flower-changing grass" fertility custom and its isolated primitive ecology. For hundreds of years, almost every household has followed the tradition of having one boy and one girl, with no overbirths. You can explore the village's "men's well" and "women's well," said to influence the sex of a fetus after drinking, full of mystery. You can also stroll through the village and terraced fields, photograph the pastoral beauty of the Dong village blending with the terraces, check in at traditional crafts such as Dong cloth weaving and dyeing and bamboo weaving, and experience the authentic Dong living customs. After visiting the villages, drive about 1.5 hours to Zhaoxing and check into a hotel for rest. Recommended Free Time Activities 1. Zhaoxing Dong Village Night View: When night falls, the drum towers of Zhaoxing Dong Village shine like stars, as if entering the fantastical scene from Spirited Away. You can enjoy the "water drum tower" wonder from the viewing platform, or stroll through the ancient alleys and admire the glittering wind and rain bridges and stilted buildings. 2. Dong Grand Song Performance: A unique polyphonic a cappella chorus of China's Dong people, inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. You can listen to this beautiful "world-class intangible cultural heritage sound of nature" in the drum tower or the training center.

After breakfast, you will fully explore 【Zhaoxing Dong Village】, hailed as the "No. 1 Dong Village." This is one of the largest and best-preserved Dong villages in China, perfectly preserving traditional Dong architecture (drum towers, wind and rain bridges, stilted houses), intangible cultural heritage skills (Grand Song of the Dong, indigo dyeing), and folk activities (Yueye, Sama Festival). It is called a "Dong Culture Museum." The five drum towers in the village are named after "Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust," corresponding to the five major clan settlement areas. The tallest reaches 28 meters, with an all-wood structure without nails or rivets, and upturned eaves carved with exquisite animal and plant patterns. In 2016, it was included in the Guinness World Records, an architectural wonder unique among China's Dong villages. You can climb to the viewing platform at the village entrance to overlook the magnificent panorama of the entire Dong village, or wander through the ancient alleys to experience authentic Dong customs. Afterward, drive to visit Tang'an Dong Village. 【Tang'an Dong Village】 is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with cascading terraced fields on one side, presenting different scenery in each season: like a mirror in spring, verdant in summer, golden in autumn, and elegant in winter. Because the terraces are built of stacked stones, it is known as the "Terraced Field Great Wall." Relics such as drum towers, stilted houses, stone-paved roads, and ancient gourd wells in the village completely preserve the original Dong style. You can stroll along the ancient stone-paved paths and enjoy the beautiful scene of terraces blending with the Dong village; you can also chat with local residents and experience a different local flavor. After the tour, you will be escorted to Congjiang Railway Station. If you want to extend your journey: From Congjiang Railway Station, you can take convenient high-speed rail to other popular destinations in China, such as Guilin (about 1 hour), Yangshuo (1–1.5 hours), Guangzhou (3.5–4 hours), Chengdu (about 5 hours), Chongqing (3.5–4 hours), or Kunming (about 3.5 hours). You can also choose to take high-speed rail back to Guiyang (about 2 hours).