Guizhou & Guilin Charms | 9-Day Nature and Ethnic Tour (Huangguoshu Waterfall + Li River Cruise + Longji Rice Terraces + Miao, Dong, Yao and Zhuang Villages)

Welcome to the cool and pleasant capital of Guizhou Province, China - Guiyang. Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to your Guiyang hotel 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 place loved by Guiyang locals. You can hike in Qianling Mountain and enjoy the charming natural and cultural scenery, with opportunities along the way to encounter lively and interesting wild macaques. If you want to burn incense and pray, you can visit Hongfu Temple. 2. Jiaxiu Pavilion: One of Guiyang's famous historical and cultural landmarks, as famous as 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 charm, especially at night when the lights reflect on the Nanming River, creating the stunning "pavilion in the water, view in the mirror" scene. 3. Qingyun Market: Only about 1 kilometer from Jiaxiu Pavilion, it is an excellent place to experience authentic Guizhou food and bustling nightlife, known as "Guiyang's late-night canteen". Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (KWE) is the only airport in Guiyang, with many domestic direct routes such as Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xiamen, etc., as well as international direct routes such as 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, and Chongqing all have direct high-speed trains to Guiyang and other cities in Guizhou Province.

After breakfast, travel by car for 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 as "a pearl curtain hook not rolled up, a white silk hanging on distant peaks," making it widely renowned. 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 go to 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 ending scene in the 1986 TV series Journey to the West where the four master and disciples lead the horse past the waterfall, and you can take photos up close. If you go during the flood season (June to October), you can see the "roaring waterfall" spectacle, when the muddy currents of Doupotang Waterfall surge and emit a roaring sound like thousands of troops. If you go during the normal water period, you can enjoy the beauty of the "veil waterfall," when the water of Doupotang Waterfall is clear and gentle, as soft and beautiful as a bride's veil. Then, take the sightseeing bus to visit 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 for exploration. You can explore the cave wonders in Tianxing Cave and see stalactite formations such as "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and "Dinghai Shenzhen." 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 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, 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, and at this moment the line "the flying stream plunges three thousand feet" becomes more concrete. 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 place to view 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 the visit, take the escalator back. After the visit, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Guiyang for rest.

After breakfast, take a car ride of about 160 km (about 2–2.5 hours) to Kaili, known as the "Pearl of the Miao and Dong." First stop, visit [Shiqiao Village], known as the "Hometown of China's Ancient Papermaking." It is named after a natural stone arch bridge spanning the Nangao River. The village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the Nangao River flows around it in an S shape, making the scenery very beautiful. In addition, Shiqiao Village has fully preserved the bark paper-making technique passed down from the Tang Dynasty to the present. Using mulberry bark as raw material and relying entirely on handwork, it is known as a "living fossil" of papermaking. You can stroll and admire the original village appearance, photograph the charming Miao architecture, and have the chance to witness the thousand-year-old ancient papermaking process. Optional activity: Personally experience making flower-and-plant paper by embedding natural elements such as dried flowers and leaves into the paper pulp. After it dries and takes shape in the shade, you will gain a special souvenir. In the afternoon, 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 hero who shot down the suns 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. Women here learn batik from childhood. Common patterns include 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 and experience its unique ethnic culture and living customs. After the visit, head to a carefully selected hotel in Kaili for 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 consultant in advance.

In the early morning, depart from Kaili and drive to the Chinese Historical and Cultural Village - [Lang/Langde Miao Upper Village]. This is an ancient Miao village founded in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, with a history of over 600 years. The stilted houses in the village are built against the mountains, and cobblestone paths wind through them, blending harmoniously with the surrounding green mountains and waters, earning it the reputation of a "Shangri-La". Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a grand welcome ceremony. Local villagers, dressed in traditional long-skirt Miao attire, will offer wine to guests using 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 strong sense of ceremony. Afterwards, you will walk along the stone-paved path to the Lusheng Ground (Bronze Drum Ground) in the village center 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 "Hometown of Miao Song and Dance". In addition, Langde Miao Village still preserves the ancient Miao embroidery technique. 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 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 the "Pearl of the Deep Mountains" and "Shangri-La". This is a well-preserved original ecological Dong village, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with ancient trees towering, terraced fields layered, and streams flowing through the village, very beautiful. You can stroll along the bluestone ancient path, feel the sedimentation of historical time, and deeply explore ancient buildings such as the drum tower (the cultural center of the Dong people, the tallest wooden building in the village), wind-and-rain bridges (built in the Qing Dynasty, five in total, spanning the Lidong Stream), and Dong-style courtyard wooden houses (one of the most distinctive ancient buildings, perfectly blending Dong stilted wooden houses and Han courtyard styles, with Yang Xianzhou's residence being the most representative). You may also have the opportunity to experience intangible cultural heritage such as the Dong language, Dong brocade, and Dong Grand Song, and feel the authentic and primitive Dong customs and the simple and enthusiastic folkways. After the tour, go to the Rongjiang hotel for check-in and rest.

After breakfast in Rongjiang, take a car for about 90 kilometers (about 2 hours) to Congjiang, known as the "holy land for nourishing the heart", and begin today's exploration. First stop, 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. Then, take a car for about 1.5 hours to Zhaoxing and visit 【Zhaoxing Dong Village】, known as the "No. 1 Dong Village". This is one of China's largest and best-preserved Dong villages, fully preserving traditional Dong architecture (drum towers, wind-and-rain bridges, stilted houses), intangible cultural heritage skills (Dong chorus, indigo dyeing), and folk activities (Yueye, Sama Festival), and is called a "Dong culture museum". The village's famous five drum towers 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 unmatched 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 1. Zhaoxing Dong Village night view: When night falls, the drum towers of Zhaoxing Dong Village shine like stars, as if entering the fantasy 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 chorus performance: A unique polyphonic a cappella chorus of China's Dong people, 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 sound of nature" in a drum tower or training center.

After breakfast, head to Congjiang Railway Station and take the high-speed train (about 1 hour) to Guilin. After arriving, meet our local guide and driver and begin 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. It is named because it resembles a giant elephant drinking water. This uniquely shaped peak and the clear river around it form a spectacular scenic line. No matter from which angle you admire it, Elephant Trunk Hill is impressive, and the Water Moon Cave and Elephant Eye Rock are especially worth seeing. Then, go to visit the【Reed Flute Cave】, known as "the art palace of nature." The stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns, stone curtains, and stone flowers inside are uniquely shaped and highly transparent, breathtaking, 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 full of admiration. 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. After the visit, travel by car for about 2 hours to Ping'an Village in the Longji Rice Terraces to check in and rest, preparing for tomorrow's rice terrace hike!

[Longji Rice Terraces (Longsheng Rice Terraces)] is one of the ten most beautiful rice terraces in the world, with a long history of about two thousand years, and is known as the "birthplace of the world's rice terraces." It consists of three parts: Jinkeng Dazhai Red Yao Rice Terraces, Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces, and Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraces. After breakfast, you will head to the Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces near Ping'an Village. This is the earliest-opened section of the Longji Rice Terraces and is famous for its beautiful scenery and unique Zhuang ethnic customs. You can hike through the terraces and immersively enjoy the magnificent beauty of the rice terraces. 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) viewing platforms to admire the most magical natural landscapes. In addition, you can also stroll through Ping'an Village. The people here wear traditional Zhuang clothing: men wear short robes made of handwoven cloth, while women wear white tops and black trousers and colorful flowered headscarves. Here, you can immersively experience the unique folk customs of the Zhuang people, observe Zhuang-style stilted buildings up close, gain an in-depth understanding of the splendid Zhuang culture, and taste the most authentic Zhuang cuisine. Afterward, head to Huangluo Yao Village, known as the "No. 1 Long Hair Village in the World." Huangluo Yao Village is the only Yao village among the Thirteen Villages of Longji and is inhabited entirely by Red Yao people. The women here have the traditional custom of growing long hair, with the longest reaching 2.72 meters, once breaking the Guinness World Record. Here, you can watch local specialty folk performances (45 minutes, optional), such as mountain songs, long hair performances, long stick dances, and umbrella dances. You can also learn about the history and traditional way of life of the Red Yao people, such as spinning and weaving. If interested, you can also talk with locals about how to care for long hair and how to make rice water shampoo. After the hike, you will return to your Guilin hotel to rest.

After breakfast, you will drive about 1 hour from the hotel to Mopanshan Pier and take the [Li River Cruise] (about 83 kilometers, 4 hours) to tour the finest scenery under heaven of Guilin, explore the most essential Li River scenery from Guilin to Yangshuo, admire the magnificent karst landforms, picturesque karst landscape, colorful rural countryside, and ancient ethnic villages, and feel the wonderful sensation of "sailing on emerald waves, traveling within a painting". Along the banks, attractions such as Immortal Pushing the Mill, Nine Horses Mural Hill, Yellow Cloth Reflection, Xingping Ancient Town, and the background image of the 20-yuan banknote are worth careful appreciation. Li River Cruise Tips 1. Lunch upgrade: Our agency has carefully prepared a Western lunch for you, with freshly cooked dishes in the early morning of the same day. 2. If you prefer a four-star Li River cruise, please inform your travel consultant. 3. During peak tourist season, Li River cruise seats are in high demand, so it is recommended to book 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 mountain-and-water rural scenery. You can choose the following ways to tour: (1) driving plus walking, (2) cycling, (3) riding a motorcycle (may require an extra fee). 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 people working in the fields, children playing by the river, and cattle grazing in the fields. Afterwards, head to the Yulong River bamboo raft boarding point and begin the classic [Yulong River Bamboo Raft] drifting journey. Experience the fun of a manually operated bamboo raft rushing over dams, or sit on the raft and relax while enjoying the beautiful mountain-and-water rural scenery on both banks. The riverbanks are dotted with villages, crisscrossed by fields, covered with green grass, lush bamboo, and shady trees. The river water is emerald and translucent, with fish and shrimp swimming within. When the breeze brushes the water surface, ripples spread out, very beautiful. Along the way, you will also pass ancient bridges, where you can briefly stop to photograph the beautiful scene formed by the ancient bridge and Guilin's beautiful karst mountains. In the evening, go explore Yangshuo's most bustling district - [West Street]. This is a street perfectly combining Eastern and Western elements and the best place to experience Yangshuo's nightlife. Whether you want to taste some local food or find a small shop to order a drink, relax, and enjoy a rare leisurely time, this place can meet your needs. Recommended evening activity (optional): If you are interested in the folk customs of Guangxi's ethnic minorities, you can watch "Impression Liu Sanjie", a live landscape performance directed by the famous director Zhang Yimou, with the Li River landscape as the stage background. The performance lasts 1 hour.

After breakfast, you can take some time to stroll around the scenery near the hotel, enjoy the charming natural scenery of Yangshuo in the morning, and experience the living atmosphere of local residents up close. Afterwards, our driver will escort you to Guilin Airport/Railway Station for your next destination.