Guangxi-Guizhou Discovery | 8-Day Essence Tour of Guilin + Longji Rice Terraces + Li River Cruise + Guizhou + Miao and Dong Culture + Huangguoshu Waterfall

Welcome to beautiful Guilin, Guangxi, China. Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to start today's wonderful Guilin tour. First, visit the 【Elephant Trunk Hill】, known as the "soul of Guilin's landscape". This is the city emblem of Guilin, Guangxi, China, and one of Guilin's landmark attractions, named for its shape resembling a giant elephant drinking water. This uniquely shaped hill and the clear river around it form a spectacular sight. No matter from which angle you appreciate it, Elephant Trunk Hill is impressive, and the Water Moon Cave and Elephant Eye Rock are especially worth seeing. Afterwards, head to the 【Reed Flute Cave】, known as the "art palace of nature". The stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, stone curtains, and stone flowers inside are uniquely shaped and highly transparent, breathtakingly beautiful, forming many natural wonders such as Lion Ridge Morning Glow, Red Silk Treasure Tent, Coiled Dragon Pagoda, Primeval Forest, Crystal Palace, and Flower and Fruit Mountain, leaving people amazed. Under the colorful lighting, it feels as if you have stepped into a vivid underground fairyland, extremely dreamlike. Among them, the Crystal Palace is the most gorgeous and is one of the most famous sights in Reed Flute Cave. The stalactites shine like crystal under the lights and are worth stopping to admire. Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) has many domestic direct routes, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, etc., making transportation extremely convenient. 2. By train: Guilin has 3 railway stations in total. You can take high-speed trains to Guilin from cities such as Changsha (2.5-3h), Hong Kong (4h), Chengdu (5.5~6h), Chongqing (4.5~5h), Guangzhou (3h), and Zhangjiajie (7h).

This morning, you will travel by car about 77 km (about 2 hours' drive) from Guilin to the【Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area】. The Longji Rice Terraces (Longsheng Rice Terraces) are one of the ten most beautiful rice terraces in the world, with a long history of about 2,000 years, and are known as the "birthplace of the world's rice terraces." They consist of three parts: the Jinkeng•Dazhai Red Yao Rice Terraces, the Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces, and the Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraces. After arriving at the scenic area, you will first visit Huangluo Yao Village, known as "the world's No. 1 long-hair village." Huangluo Yao Village is the only Yao village among the thirteen villages of Longji, inhabited entirely by the Red Yao people. The women here have a traditional custom of growing their hair long, with the longest reaching 2.72 meters, once breaking the Guinness World Record. Here, you can watch local folk performances (45 minutes, optional), such as folk songs, long-hair performances, long-stick dances, and umbrella dances, and also learn about the history and traditional way of life of the Red Yao people, such as spinning and weaving. If you are interested, you can also talk with locals about how to care for long hair and how to make rice-water shampoo. Afterward, head to Ping'an Village for lunch, where you can taste local specialties such as rice wine, bamboo-tube rice, bamboo-tube chicken, and cured meat. If interested, you can also learn to cook these popular specialty dishes. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces near Ping'an Village. This is the earliest-opened rice terrace area in Longji, famous for its beautiful scenery and unique Zhuang customs. You can hike through the terraces and immerse yourself in the magnificent beauty of the rice terraces, and you can also climb to the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers (980 meters, a sunset viewing point) and Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon (880 meters, a sunrise viewing point) observation decks to admire the most magical natural landscapes. In addition, you can also stroll through Ping'an Village, where people wear traditional Zhuang clothing: men in hand-woven short robes, and women in white tops and black trousers with colorful floral headscarves. Here, you can immersively experience the unique folk customs of the Zhuang people, observe the distinctive Zhuang stilted buildings up close, gain a deeper understanding of the splendid Zhuang culture, and taste the most authentic Zhuang cuisine. After the hike, you will return to Guilin.

After breakfast, you will take a car ride of about 1 hour from your hotel to Mopanshan Pier, where you will board the [Li River Cruise] (about 83 km, 4 hours) to tour the peerless Guilin landscape and explore the most essential Li River scenery from Guilin to Yangshuo. Enjoy the magnificent karst landforms, picturesque karst river-and-mountain scenery, colorful rural countryside, and quaint ethnic villages, and experience the wonderful feeling of "sailing on emerald waves, traveling within a painting." Along the way, attractions such as Immortal Pushing the Mill, Nine Horses Mural Hill, Yellow Cloth Reflection, Xingping Ancient Town, and the backdrop of the 20-yuan banknote are worth savoring in detail. Li River Cruise Tips 1. Lunch upgrade: Our agency has carefully prepared a Western-style lunch for you, along with freshly cooked dishes on the morning of the day. 2. If you prefer a 4-star Li River cruise, please let your travel consultant know. 3. During peak tourist season, Li River cruise seats are in high demand, so we recommend booking 1–3 days in advance. After arriving in Yangshuo, our driver will pick you up at the pier and drive you to your Yangshuo hotel for check-in. After a short rest, you can fully explore [Yangshuo Countryside] and enjoy Guilin's most outstanding pastoral landscape. You can choose from the following ways to tour: (1) driving plus walking, (2) cycling, (3) riding a motorcycle (an additional fee may apply). Whichever way you choose, you can travel along country roads and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, including karst mountains, rice fields, villages, and rivers. You may also see scenes of life such as people working in the fields, children playing by the river, and cattle grazing in the fields. Afterward, head to the Yulong River bamboo raft boarding point to begin the classic [Yulong River Bamboo Raft] drifting journey. Experience the fun of riding a man-powered bamboo raft over the dams, or simply sit on the raft, relax, and enjoy the beautiful pastoral scenery on both banks. Along the riverbanks, villages are scattered, fields stretch in all directions, green grass carpets the ground, lush bamboo grows thickly, and trees provide deep shade. The river water is emerald and translucent, with fish and shrimp swimming within. When a breeze passes over the water, ripples spread in waves—it is truly beautiful. Along the way, you will also pass ancient bridges, where you can make a brief stop to photograph the beautiful scene formed by the old bridges and Guilin's magnificent karst mountains. In the evening, head out to explore Yangshuo's busiest district—[West Street]. This is a street that perfectly combines Eastern and Western elements and is also the best place to experience Yangshuo's nightlife. Whether you want to taste some local food or find a small shop, order a drink, relax, and enjoy a rare moment of leisure, this place can meet your needs. Recommended evening activity (optional): If you are interested in the ethnic customs of Guangxi's ethnic minorities, you can watch the outdoor landscape performance "Impression Liu Sanjie," directed by the famous director Zhang Yimou and staged against the backdrop of the Li River landscape. The performance lasts 1 hour.

After breakfast, head to Yangshuo Railway Station and take a comfortable high-speed train (about 1.5 hours) to Congjiang Railway Station. Upon arrival, go directly to visit [Zhaoxing Dong Village], known as the "First Dong Village". This is one of the largest and best-preserved Dong villages in China, fully retaining traditional Dong architecture (drum towers, wind-and-rain bridges, stilted houses), intangible cultural heritage skills (Dong Grand Song, indigo dyeing), and folk activities (Yueye, Sama Festival). It is called a "Dong Culture Museum". The famous five drum towers in the village are named after "Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust", corresponding to the five 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 listed in the Guinness World Records, making it a unique architectural wonder among China's Dong villages. You can climb 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. 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 of "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 houses. 2. Dong Grand Song performance: A unique multi-part a cappella chorus of the Dong people in China, inscribed by UNESCO in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. You can listen to this beautiful "world-class intangible cultural heritage heavenly voice" in the drum tower or the training center.

After breakfast, take a car for about 1 hour to visit the mysterious 【Basha Miao Village】, China's "last gunner tribe", which has preserved 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, and their "bun" hairstyle is a major feature, shaving the hair around the head with a sickle and leaving only a topknot on the crown. When Basha men turn 15, they complete this grand coming-of-age ceremony by worshipping 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, and after death uses a tree as a coffin and plants an evergreen tree in the grave to continue life. Their clothing is also very distinctive, mainly black. Men wear traditional black cloth clothes, symbolizing tree bark, while women add some brightly colored accessories on a black base. It is worth mentioning that if the skirt hem is white, it indicates married, while black indicates unmarried. You can stroll through Basha Miao Village, deeply experience this unique and mysterious Miao culture and primitive ecology, and also have the opportunity to watch the stunning gun salute and sickle haircut ceremony, as well as wonderful lusheng performances. Afterwards, continue to visit 【Zhanli Dong Village】, known as "China's No. 1 Village of Population Culture". This is a Dong village famous for the mysterious "flower-swapping grass" fertility custom and isolated primitive ecology. For hundreds of years, almost every family has followed the tradition of one boy and one girl, with no overbirth. 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 terraces, photograph the pastoral scenery where the Dong village and terraces blend, check in at traditional crafts such as Dong cloth weaving and dyeing and bamboo weaving, and feel the authentic Dong living customs. After the tour, take a car for about 1.5 hours to Rongjiang and check into the hotel for rest.

In the early morning, you will travel by car to Kaili, known as the "Pearl of the Miao and Dong." On the way, you will visit Langde Shang Miao Village, a famous Chinese historical and cultural village.【Langde Shang Miao Village】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 buildings in the village are built against the mountains, and cobblestone paths wind through them, blending with the surrounding green mountains and waters, and it is known as a "Shangri-La." After arriving, you will be welcomed with a grand welcome ceremony. Local villagers will wear traditional long-skirt Miao festive attire and offer guests wine in ox-horn cups to express welcome and blessings to visitors from afar. Here you can experience the special 12-course gate-blocking wine ritual, the highest welcoming etiquette of the Miao people, with a very strong sense of ceremony. Afterward, 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, intangible cultural heritage items, and feel the charm of the "hometown of Miao song and dance." In addition, Langde Miao Village still preserves ancient Miao embroidery techniques. The women's handmade embroidery patterns are exquisite, stitching their love for life and reverence for nature into their clothing thread by thread. You can leisurely stroll through Langde Miao Village, admire traditional Miao stilted architecture, learn about the unique "long-skirt Miao" culture, and experience the original Miao customs and simple, warm folkways. Afterward, you will 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. 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, with common geometric patterns (spiral patterns, sun patterns) and natural patterns (tigers, birds, fish, flowers and plants). Their 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 to experience the unique ethnic culture and living customs. After the visit, return to Guiyang by car and check into the hotel for rest.

After breakfast, take a car ride of about 2.5 hours to Anshun and visit the world-famous [Huangguoshu Waterfall]. This is the largest waterfall in China and even Asia, known as the "largest waterfall in Asia." The famous Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake once praised it as "a pearl curtain whose hooks are not rolled up, a white silk hanging on distant peaks," which helped spread its fame far and wide. In addition, Huangguoshu Waterfall was also a filming location for the 1986 version of "Journey to the West." After arriving at the Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area, first go to 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 at the end of the 1986 version of "Journey to the West," where the four master and disciples lead the horse past the waterfall, and you can take a close-up photo there. If you visit during the flood season (June to October), you can witness the wonder of the "Roaring Waterfall." At this time, the muddy currents of Doupotang Waterfall surge and emit a rumbling roar, like thousands of troops and horses. If you visit during the normal water season, you can enjoy the beauty of the "Veil Waterfall." At this time, the water of Doupotang Waterfall is clear and gentle, as soft and beautiful as a bride's veil. Then, take the sightseeing bus to the Tianxingqiao Scenic Area and admire the karst landscape wonders where water stone forests, caves, and waterfalls interweave. 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 at stalactite formations such as "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and "Pillar of the Sea." 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 sights not to be missed. At dusk, you can take backlit photos of the stone forest silhouettes, and in the morning mist, you can capture rainbows over the waterfall. Afterward, take the sightseeing bus to the Huangguoshu Grand Waterfall Scenic Area. This is the main waterfall of Huangguoshu and also the most famous waterfall there. It has a huge drop, about 77.8 meters high and about 101 meters wide. Even before you approach, 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. 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 for viewing the waterfall's "thousand-mile rush." It has 6 viewing windows, allowing you to experience the thrill of "the waterfall flying over your head." After touring, take the escalator back. After the visit, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Guiyang to rest.

At this point, this wonderful 8-day Guilin and Guizhou tour comes to an end. After resting, our driver will escort you to the airport/railway station for your next destination.