Yunnan-Guizhou Splendor | 12-Day Yunnan + Guizhou Panoramic Ethnic Culture Tour (Lijiang Old Town + Naxi Culture + Huangguoshu Waterfall + Miao and Dong Villages)

Welcome to Lijiang, the most popular tourist destination in Yunnan Province, China! Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to your Lijiang hotel for check-in and rest! You can arrange the rest of the time freely! Suggested Ways to Arrive 1. By plane: Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) has many direct routes, such as Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Changsha, Wuhan, etc. 2. By high-speed rail: You can take high-speed rail directly to Lijiang Station from cities in Yunnan such as Kunming (3.5~4 hours), Dali (2~2.5 hours), and Shangri-La (1~1.5 hours). 3. Lijiang Old Town: Lijiang Airport is about 28 km from Lijiang Old Town, about 45 minutes by car; Lijiang Railway Station is about 10 km from the old town, about 26 minutes by car.

After breakfast, head to 【Lijiang Old Town】. Lijiang Old Town is a World Cultural Heritage site with a long history of more than 800 years and was once an important town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. First, you will visit 【Mu Mansion】 in the old town, known as the Purple Forbidden City of the South, to learn about local Naxi culture and the rise and fall of the Mu family, and walk to the best viewpoint to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the old town with the snow mountain as a backdrop. Afterward, you can walk to 【Sifang Street】 to explore Naxi handicrafts and local specialties. Then, go to 【Black Dragon Pool Park】 north of Lijiang Old Town to enjoy the surrounding picturesque scenery and the magnificent view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected on the water. Evening activity suggestions (optional) 1. Best places to photograph Lijiang Old Town's night views: Xianwen Lane, Zhenxing Lane, Nanmen Bridge, Fengling Street, and Sakura Restaurant, etc. 2. Best places to experience nightlife, bars, and night markets: Sifang Street (there is a Naxi bonfire party after 7 pm), Wuyi Street, Xinhua Street, Zhongyi Market, etc.

After breakfast, you will leave Lijiang Ancient Town and go to the famous [Jade Dragon Snow Mountain]. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the sacred mountain of the Naxi people and is named because it resembles a jade dragon in winter. You can take a cable car, accompanied by magnificent scenery along the way, up to Spruce Meadow at an altitude of 3,240 meters. This vast meadow hidden in the primitive spruce forest is the best place to view Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After sightseeing, take the cable car down and transfer to a sightseeing bus to [Blue Moon Valley]. Blue Moon Valley has 4 lakes and 1 river in total, among which Jade Liquid Lake and White Water River are the most worth seeing. Whenever the sun is bright, the water of Jade Liquid Lake is clear and blue, like a precious mirror, while White Water River is named because the water flows over white stones, making the whole river appear white. Optional activity at your own expense: If you are interested in Lijiang's culture, you can go to Ganhaizi (altitude about 3,100 meters) in the afternoon to watch the large open-air performance - Impression Lijiang. The performance is mainly singing and dancing, lasting about 1 hour, and vividly presents the traditional lifestyle of the local Naxi people. Afterward, leave Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and continue to visit Yuhu Village. [Yuhu Village] is a traditional Naxi village located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. On one side of the village is the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and on the other is the tranquil Yuhu Lake. The village consists of houses built of stone and wood, and the scenery is very beautiful. You can also communicate and interact with local people up close and experience their traditional lifestyle. Suggested authentic Naxi cultural activities 1. Visit a local Naxi family and explore unique Naxi architecture. 2. Taste authentic Naxi-style snacks. 3. Experience traditional Naxi clothing. 4. Witness the traditional Naxi Dongba papermaking craft. 5. Learn to write special Naxi Dongba script. Finally, return to Lijiang. If you still have energy to explore, you can stop for a while at [Shuhe Ancient Town] (optional at your own expense) on the way, stroll around the peaceful and tranquil ancient town, and taste local specialty snacks such as grilled milk fan, flower cakes, and Yunnan ham mooncakes.

After breakfast, you will drive about 2 hours to Dali. Upon arrival, you will first visit Dali's landmark attraction, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple consist of one large pagoda, two smaller pagodas, and the large-scale Chongsheng Temple behind them. The three pagodas were first built during the Nanzhao Kingdom period, more than a thousand years ago, and are typical of Tang Dynasty architectural style, serving both to ward off evil and for viewing. Chongsheng Temple was once the royal temple of the Nanzhao and Dali periods and enjoys the reputation of a Buddhist capital, allowing you to gain an in-depth understanding and feel the rich Buddhist culture. In addition, do not forget to take beautiful travel photos at the reflection pool in front of the three pagodas. After lunch, head to Erhai Lake, known as the pearl of the plateau. Erhai Lake is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, with deep blue water, and is famous worldwide for the beauty of its mountains and waters. You can cycle along the west shore of Erhai Lake and immerse yourself in the beauty of the lakes and mountains along the way and the quaint Bai ethnic houses. After the visit, return to your Dali hotel to rest. Recommended Free Time In the evening, you can freely explore Dali Ancient Town, or stroll along the bluestone-paved streets of the ancient town to experience the city gate tower, Wuhua Tower, and Foreigner Street, which remain prosperous after a thousand years of change, or go to Renmin Road in the ancient town to experience the lively and bustling market life of the local Bai people, and fully enjoy this comfortable and relaxing time.

After breakfast, you may want to visit the local market in Xizhou and feel the lively everyday atmosphere that greets you—this is the best way to gain an in-depth understanding of Xizhou. From fresh vegetables and fruits and simple yet distinctive handmade items to fragrant local snacks and curious insect flavors... every corner allows you to personally experience the local customs and mouthwatering eating habits. If you see wild vegetables, mountain fruits, or wild mushrooms whose names you cannot tell, do not be surprised. Once here, you must try a freshly baked Xizhou baba—sweet or savory as you like, crispy outside and tender inside; pair it with a cup of freshly brewed Yunnan small-bean coffee. Sip it slowly, and it feels as if all of Dali's leisure melts on the tip of your tongue. After visiting the market, you will take a walking tour of 【Xizhou Ancient Town】, browse the lively local market, and deeply experience the local way of life. Afterwards, you can stroll along the ancient town's paths to visit various residences, learn about Bai architectural aesthetics, and experience the Bai Three-Course Tea ceremony to feel the local folk culture. Afterwards, you will head to 【Zhoucheng Village】, known as the hometown of tie-dyeing. Zhoucheng Village is a Bai village famous for its excellent tie-dyeing techniques. Here you can admire various exquisite handicrafts and, under the guidance of artisans, learn to make tie-dye works. After the tour, take a high-speed train of about 2 hours to Kunming. Our driver will greet you at the exit of Kunming Railway Station and escort you to the hotel for rest.

This morning, we will drive about 80 kilometers (about 1.5 hours) to visit 【Stone Forest Scenic Area】, known as the "God's Potted Landscape." The Stone Forest Scenic Area, also called Yunnan Stone Forest, is famous for its stunning karst landscape and is highly praised as the essence of the world's karst landscapes. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007. You can take the sightseeing bus to visit the Greater Stone Forest and Lesser Stone Forest in turn, admire and learn about various unique karst landscape sights up close, and also listen to moving legends about the Stone Forest. In addition, the Stone Forest is also a filming location for the 1986 TV series "Journey to the West," such as the scene where Sun Wukong is trapped under Five Elements Mountain. Afterward, return to Kunming and visit 【Yuantong Temple】. Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Kunming, with a long history of more than 1,200 years. It is also the only temple in China that accommodates Han Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism at the same time. It is quite famous in southwestern China and Southeast Asia, with flourishing incense offerings. Finally, you can also hike to 【Green Lake Park】, about 700 meters from Yuantong Temple. Green Lake Park is named for its green waters on all sides, green bamboo in all seasons, and green willows in summer and autumn. It has the reputation of being a jade in the city and is a leisure center for Kunming locals. Every day, many residents walk, enjoy the scenery, dance, and exercise here, making it the best place to experience Kunming's living atmosphere. After the tour, return to your Kunming hotel to rest. Evening activity suggestions 1. Kunming Old Street: 1 kilometer from Green Lake Park, with a history of more than 900 years, it is the only old street in Kunming that completely preserves its ancient charm. Strolling along the stone-slab road, you can taste authentic Yunnan Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles, explore fascinating Yunnan antiques and traditional herbal medicine shops, visit the former residence of Nie Er, and see more ancient buildings. 2. Dynamic Yunnan performance: The "Dynamic Yunnan" performance at 8 pm is a visual feast not to be missed. It is one of the representative works of the famous local Yunnan dance artist Yang Liping, drawing on dance elements from Yunnan's Yi, Wa, Tibetan, Hani, Dai, Blang, Jino, and other ethnic groups, and incorporating modern dance elements to showcase Yunnan's rich ethnic customs.

After breakfast, you will take a high-speed train of about 3.5 hours to Kaili, Guizhou, known as the "Pearl of the Miao and Dong." First stop, you will visit 【Shiqiao Village】, known as the "Hometown of China's Ancient Papermaking." It is named after a natural stone arch bridge that spans the Nangao River. The village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the Nangao River winds through it in an S-shape, making the scenery very beautiful. Shiqiao Village has also fully preserved the bark paper-making technique passed down from the Tang Dynasty to the present. Using mulberry bark as raw material and entirely handmade, it is known as the "living fossil" of papermaking. You can stroll and admire the original village scenery, photograph the charming Miao architecture, and have the chance to witness the thousand-year-old ancient papermaking process. Cultural experience: You will personally experience making flower-and-herb paper, embedding natural elements such as dried flowers and leaves into the paper pulp. After it dries and takes shape in the shade, you will receive 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 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." Cultural experience: You can immersively observe local villagers hand-making batik with beeswax (yellow wax), and you can also 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. In the village, stilted houses are built along the mountain, and cobblestone paths wind among them, blending with the surrounding green mountains and waters, and it is praised as a "Shangri-La." Upon arrival, you will be welcomed with a grand welcome ceremony. Local villagers will wear traditional long-skirt Miao festival costumes and offer wine to guests with ox-horn cups to express welcome and blessings to guests 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. Afterward, you will walk along the stone-slab path to the lusheng ground (bronze drum ground) in the center of the village and 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 stroll leisurely through Langde Miao Village, admire traditional Miao stilted house architecture, learn about the unique "long-skirt Miao" culture, and feel the original Miao customs and simple folkways. After the visit, drive about 2.5 hours from Langde to Zhaoxing and visit Zhaoxing Dong Village, known as the "No. 1 Dong Village." This is one of the largest and best-preserved Dong villages in China, 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). It 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 residential areas of the five major clans. The tallest reaches 28 meters, entirely wooden without nails or rivets, with upturned eaves carved with exquisite animal and plant patterns. In 2016 it was included in the Guinness World Records and is an architectural wonder unique 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. After the visit, head to your Zhaoxing hotel for check-in and rest. 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 a magical 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 houses. 2. Dong Chorus performance: A unique polyphonic a cappella chorus of China's Dong people, inscribed by UNESCO on the 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 a drum tower or training hall.

After breakfast, drive about 1 hour to Congjiang, known as the "holy land for nourishing the soul," to begin today's exploration. After arriving, first visit the mysterious 【Basha Miao Village】. This is China's "last gunner tribe," preserving customs such as shaving with a sickle and tree worship, and is known as one of the "21 most mysterious primitive ecological tribes on Earth." Basha men legally carry guns for life; firearms are a symbol of tribal identity and courage. Their "bun" hairstyle is a major feature: they shave the hair around the head with a sickle, 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 their hair shaved with a sickle, 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 distinctive, mainly black. Men wear traditional black cloth clothing, symbolizing tree bark, while women, on a black base, match some brightly colored accessories. It is worth mentioning that if the skirt hem is white, it indicates the woman is married; if black, she is unmarried. You can stroll through Basha Miao Village to deeply experience this unique and mysterious Miao culture and primitive ecology, and you will also have the opportunity to watch the impressive gun salute and sickle shaving ceremony, as well as wonderful lusheng performances. Afterwards, you will continue to visit 【Zhanli Dong Village】, known as "China's number one population culture village." This is a Dong village famous for the mysterious "flower-swapping 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 extra births. 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 rice terraces, photograph the pastoral charm of the Dong village blending with the terraces, 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, drive about 1.5~2 hours to Rongjiang and check into the hotel for rest.

After breakfast, head to visit the 【Dali Dong Village】, hailed as a "Pearl of the Deep Mountains" and a "Hidden Paradise." This is a well-preserved, pristine Dong village, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with towering ancient trees, terraced fields cascading down the slopes, and a stream flowing through the village—a truly beautiful sight. You can stroll along the bluestone ancient paths, feel the sedimentation of historical time, 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 the Dong stilted wooden house style with Han courtyard style, of which the Yang Xianzhou Residence is the most representative), among other ancient structures. You may also have the opportunity to experience intangible cultural heritage such as the Dong language, Dong brocade, and the Grand Song of the Dong, immersing yourself in the authentic and pristine Dong customs and the simple, warm hospitality of the locals. After the tour, drive about 4 hours to Huangguoshu Town to check in at the hotel and rest.

After breakfast, you will fully enjoy the world-famous 【Huangguoshu Waterfall】. This is the largest waterfall in China and even Asia, and is known as the "largest waterfall in Asia." The famous Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake once praised it, 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 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" spectacle. At this time, the muddy currents of Doupotang Waterfall surge forward, emitting a "rumbling" roar like thousands of troops. If you visit during the normal water period, 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 Tianxingqiao Scenic Area to 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 on 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 rainbow over the waterfall. After that, take the sightseeing bus to 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. Before you even 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 poetic image of "flying straight down three thousand feet" becomes more concrete. If you are interested, you can walk to 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 "rushing down a thousand miles" 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 tour, drive about 2 hours to a hotel in Guiyang to check in and rest.

This wonderful 12-day Yunnan and Guizhou Panoramic Ethnic Culture Tour comes to an end here. After you have rested, our driver will escort you to the airport/train station for your next destination. If you would like to extend your journey: Guizhou borders Yunnan, Hunan, Chongqing, Sichuan and Guangxi. From Guiyang Railway Station, you can take a high-speed train to popular destinations such as Kunming (3 hours), Fenghuang Ancient Town (2 hours), Chongqing (2~2.5 hours), Chengdu (3~3.5 hours) and Guilin (2 hours).