Guiyang located at the rich forest area enjoys a great number of resorts surrounded for visual satisfactory, while Fanjingshan is super popular for the distinctive mountain peaks and rocks with out-of-the-way appearances from remote era and the high statue as the No.5 Buddhist Mountain in China.
This 5 days tour takes you to discover all the best highlights of Guiyang and Fanjingshan with a wonderful exploration of Huangguoshu Waterfall in Anshun City to catch its essences of culture and nature.
You will visit the top famous Qingyan Old Town to know about the military and literal history of Guizhou and admire the well-kept ancient structures from more than 600 years ago. Moreover, you are going to appreciate the awesome grand Huangguoshu Waterfall to be shocked by its magnificent pouring and roaring, have memorable fun with a novel boating discovery of the fantastic underground Karst cave of multiple dazzling natural wonders at the reputed Dragon Palace. Furthermore, you will spend a challenging but worthy hiking day to Fanjingshan to have the panorama of its vast mountain with the favored mushroom-like stone, pagoda-like peaks, etc. from 1.4 billion years ago from the ocean and feel intensely the Buddhist culture as the place of enlightenment of Maitreya Buddha.
Day 1 Guiyang Arrival
Pick up in Guiyang - Transfer to Your Hotel
Welcome to Guiyang, the beautiful “City of Forest” and provincial capital of Guizhou! Upon your arrival, your local guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall in the airport / train station and escort you to your hotel in Guiyang downtown. The rest of today is on your own to explore the cool Guiyang city!
You can go to visit Jiaxiu Pavilion, the symbol of Guiyang city with a history of more than 400 years. Standing on a rock on Nanming River, with two stone bridges linking, the wooden tower of 3 storey and 22.9 meters high is a must-see for visiting Guiyang. It is particularly appealing at sunset and night when the entire quaint tower is outlined clearly and ignited into orange and golden, against the dazzling night view of the surrounding modern skyscrapers of Guiyang city center! Take a nice walk along the river to enjoy the river wind and cityscape of Guiyang!
Also, you can walk to Cuiwei Garden at the south of the bridge to immerse into the rich elegant charm of the over 500 years old traditional classic garden with Jiangnan flavored courtyard and solemn temples. Roam in the garden to meet the quiet halls, pavilions, corridors, gardens, walls, rockeries, ponds, blossoms, bamboo forests, etc. linked harmoniously and interestingly for a traditional Chinese architectural and cultural savory!
After today’s visiting, be escorted back to your hotel and stay overnight in Guiyang!
Arrival Ideas: Visitors can get to Guiyang by flights from about 14 international destinations including Bangkok, Phuket Island, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, etc. and about 70 domestic cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Changsha, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, etc. Besides, Guiyang has high speed trains from Chongqing (2hrs), Chengdu (3.5hrs), Guilin (2hrs), Guangzhou (4.5hrs), Changsha (3hrs), Wuhan (4.5hrs), Kunming (2hrs), Nanning (5hrs), Shanghai (8.5hrs), Beijing (8.5hrs), Xian (7.5hrs), Zhengzhou (6.5hrs), etc.
Jiaxiu Tower in Guiyang
Day 2 Guiyang - Anshun (B, L)
Qingyan Old Town - Dragon Palace
After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then drive you for about 1 hour to visit Qingyan Old Town at the south part of Guiyang City. It is one of the four great old towns in whole Guizhou Province with its legendary history once as a courier station and military fortress. This more than 600 years’ old town keeps the exquisite ancient dwelling houses, temples, city walls, gateways, etc. from Ming and Qing dynasties very well for your historical savory. This traditional old town in south China also surprisingly well keeps a series of religious buildings of Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Catholicism to tell the cultural communication of Chinese and Western countries. Walk amongst the worn out paths polished by rains and steps to imagine the old life there. Besides, visit Former Residence of Number One Scholar Zhao Yijiong who was the first Number One Scholar in Guizhou Province during the imperial examination to feel the rich literal atmosphere in the courtyard, take beautiful photos of the symbolic Stone Archway and Dingguang Gateway, etc., roam at the Secluded Street paved with flagstones to travel back to the past centuries, appreciate closely the Guizhou rarely outstanding wood carvings at Shoufo Temple and stone carvings at Ciyun Temple, and feel the simple life with the shopkeepers busy for their lives.
Then, you will be driven for about 1.5 hours to Dragon Palace Scenic Area in Anshun City. This 60 square kilometers wide National AAAAA Tourist Area is praised as “the world of Karst shows all in Dragon Palace” with perfect collection of marvelous caves, canyons, waterfalls, peaks, cliffs, rivers, stone forest, funnel, underground river and other different karst geological landscape all together. You will visit the Tianchi Lake formed by the collapse of roof of karst cave and is tested as the place with the lowest radiation dose rate in the whole world and is a great refreshing place with lots of negative oxygen ions for physical benefits. Followed by is a visit of the powerful Dragon Gate Waterfall pouring from that lake from 50 meters high position to be the largest karst cave waterfall in China.
You will absolutely take a boat to enter the karst First and Second Entrance of Dragon Palace to immerse into the colorful underground palace of various shaped stalactites in fabulous lightings hanging above by nature, which looks just like the amazing crystal living palace of the holy Dragon King in Chinese legends and myths. Then, walk to Guanyin Cave to see how nature has created the over 50 meters high stalactite similar to the Goddess of Mercy in the so large entire natural karst cave. You will also not miss the Rotating Pond that is 101 meters in diameter and a typical karst funnel landform. Keep your eyes on it since its water magically rotates clockwise without any wind blows ceaselessly day and night every year, driving the floating duckweed to dance with it together in tune. That is truly a strange but wonderful miracle in the entire country.
After the visiting, your guide and driver will escort you for about 50 minutes to your hotel in Anshun and help you check in. Have a good sleep!
Stone Archway at Qingyan Ancient Town
Qingyan Old Town Dingguang Gateway
Dragon Palace Rotating Pond
Day 3 Anshun - Transfer to Fanjingshan (B)
Doupotang - Heavenly Star Bridge - Huanguoshu Waterfall - Transfer to Fanjingshan
Today, you will enjoy a wonderful scenic visit to the large area of the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area. After breakfast, your local guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and then drive for about 40 minutes to the scenic area.
Visit Doupotang Scenic Area which is one of the shooting places of well-known TV series of one of the four Chinese literature classics - “Pilgrimage to the West”. Walk pleasantly there to appreciate the 105 meters wide and 21 meters high waterfall formed on the more than 100 meters calcific beach bar, which dumps from the top giant pool of 15 thousand square meters wide. As the waterfall always roars strongly during flooding period, it is also named “Roaring Waterfall”.
Next, take the sightseeing vehicle to have a close admiration of Tianxingqiao Scenic Area. Catch all its essences of Karst landscape to know why it is complimented as a fairyland of Karst ecology miniature landscape with different sceneries at different angles and idyllic environment of birds and flowers, water and mountain, forest and cave, etc. Here you will watch the stone of forest of 0.4 square kilometers grows on water with verdant undershrub and cactus, meet the Beauty Banyan looks like a beautiful lady with graceful posture, have an enjoyable stroll in Heavenly Star Cave to see the diverse shaped karst stalagmites, columns, flowers, etc. with multiple lights, with some looking like fishes, chicken, rice terraces, and so on. You will also enjoy the view of the Waterfall of Silver Chain Dropping to the Pool to see its shimmering water branches falling like thousands of silver chains, white wedding veil, lotus leaves, etc. during different seasons.
Then, take the sightseeing vehicle to see the iconic Huangguoshu Waterfall of 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide. With such magnificent and shocking scenery, it is the No.1 largest waterfall in whole Asia and one of the most famous waterfalls around the world. Walk around the waterfall to admire its distinct landscape from different angle and feel its breathtaking roaring of falling into the 17 meters deep shoal. Besides, you will encounter with more inspiring places including the 134 meters dragon-like Water Curtain Cave behind the waterfall, more than 3,000 excellent bonsais displayed exquisitely in the bonsai garden, and more to feel the grand sight of the large scenic area.
After the sightseeing, your guide and driver will escort you to the train station (about 40 minutes) in Anshun to take the 2.5 hours' bullet train to Tongren. After your arrival at the railway station in Tongren, your local guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall and transfer you directly to the hotel around Fanjingshan and help you check in. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the surrounding part of the sacred beautiful mountain. Have a nice sleep to prepare for the hiking exploration of Mount Fanjing on the next day!
(Note of lunch today: As there is no dining facilities provided in Huangguoshu Waterfall tourist area, we suggest you enjoy your lunch today in the restaurants at the entrance of the tourist area or prepare some food with you!)
Huangguoshu Doupotang Waterfall
Waterfall of Silver Chain Dropping to the Pool
Tianxingqiao Scenic Area Stone Forest on Water
Day 4 Mount Fanjing - Tongren Downtown (B, L)
Fanjingshan Sightseeing Bus - Cable Car - Mushroom Stone - Old Golden Summit - Red Clouds Golden Summit - Chengen Temple - Transfer back to Tongren
Good morning! After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel. Then, you will be driven not far to the entrance of Fanjingshan to discover this world well-known fantastic holy mountain along the popular south route for about 6 hours.
Fanjingshan National Nature Preserve was listed as the UNESCO World Natural Heritage in 2018 with the peculiar conspicuous mountains formation in sea of karst retained from the remote era 65-2 million years ago and praised as the No.5 Buddhist Mountain in China for being the place of enlightenment of Buddha Maitreya.
Enter the mountain and take a sightseeing bus for about 20 minutes to Yu’ao Station and continue to take the cable car there to catch a bird’s eye view of the dense emerald forest of Mount Fanjing during another 20 minutes in the air. Now, start your hiking from the Forest Hiking Road with 45 minutes up to witness the famous Mushroom Stone. It is the landmark of Fanjingshan and draws people’s follow by its unbelievable image of the bigger top quadrate putting off center on the smaller quadrate bottom, which forms like a mushroom vividly and seems easy to fall. However, for one million years, it just stands so still there after centuries of rain, snow, wind and sunburn. Remember to take a standard photo of tourists with it!
Then, continue to hike for about 30 minutes to the Old Golden Summit and walk up to its peak. With an elevation of 2,494 meters, it is the best observation deck to appreciate the panorama of Fanjingshan with layers of forest of strange shaped stones, rolling verdant mountain range, and vegetation forest in light and dark green. Also, from the summit, you will see the iconic Red Clouds Golden Summit clearly from a distance.
Then, walk down gradually to admire the natural scenery along the way to visit the sacred Buddhist attractions including Wanming Cave, Buddha Worshipping Stage, Monk Pagoda, Pudu Square, etc. You will not miss the Cheng En Temple that was built first from the Ming Dynasty and one of the four royal temples at Fanjingshan. Walk in the major temple with solemn scarlet walls and dark tiles, worship among the about 10 halls, and imagine the rising and falling and recovery of Fanjingshan’s Buddhist status in the past hundreds of years.
Here, take your challenge to hike along the narrow, steep and rough steps with iron chain up to Red Clouds Golden Summit that shows particularly often on Fanjingshan photographs. This thumb-like peak is a world rare miracle erecting about 100 meters high from the flatter mountain bed millions of years ago and is separated with two peaks and a gorge by natural wearing and with a bridge linked between. After reaching the top, visit the appealing Temple of Buddha, the bridge and Maitreya Temple in sequence to feel walking from present to the future in Buddhist belief. While witnessing the hard-to-believe difficulty of building houses on such a steep crest, stand on the peak to command the panoramic view of Fanjingshan and enjoy the feeling of being in the “space in the sky”. (Note: You can choose to go up or not considering your physical condition at that time. Just tell your needs to the guide.)
After the physical consuming hiking, walk by Jingxin Pool and go to see Wanbao Rock. You will truly believe Fanjingshan was in fact a part of ocean in the remote 1.4 million years ago by the strong proof of the cobbles, shells, paleontological fossils, and so on left within the shale rock there.
After the amazing sightseeing hiking exploration, take the cable car and sightseeing bus down to exit Fanjingshan Scenic Area. You will be driven to Jiangkou County for accommodation. Have a good sleep!
Fanjingshan Temple Built on the Crest
Day 5 Tongren Departure (B)
Flight / Train off Tongren
Today, after breakfast, our local guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then escort you to the airport / train station for your flight / train for your next destination or home! Service Ends!
Departure Ideas: For your convenient leaving from Tongren, you can take a flight to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Kunming, Xiamen, etc. or take a bullet train to Zhangjiajie (5hrs), Changsha (2hrs), Guiyang (1-1.5hrs), Shanghai (8hrs), Beijing (9.5hrs), Chongqing (3.5hrs), Guangzhou (5hrs), Wuhan (4hrs), Kunming (4hrs), Zhengzhou (6hrs), Xiamen (9-9.5hrs), Fuzhou (7-7.5hrs), etc. to enjoy more highlights in China or catch your international flight to other country or your home.
Tongren Fenghuang Airport
Zhangjiajie is the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will travel through the countless cloud-kissing mountains, clear streams and leafy trees, you may easily blend with nature around, thus enhancing your love unconsciously.
This 3-day Zhangjiajie adventure begins at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and ends at Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. You'll discover pillar-like Mountains, sunrise, lake, waterfalls, uncovering culture, tradition, religion and local folk customs park along the way.
Guilin, the darling of tourists!
Guilin is famous for having the best landscape under Heaven which can be seen in three most popular places - Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng. Only 3 days are needed to get them all in a single trip. You will visit the essential sites in the city, enjoy a relaxing cruise along Li River, and have a pleasant time of countryside exploration in Yangshuo Town. Another highlight is the unique trip to Longji Terrace which is an ideal place for experiencing ethnic culture, hiking and photography.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2023.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 6.85. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.
Hi Wonder,
We are safely back in Guangzhou. Wonderful experience. All the planned events were highlights and the little extra side trips were a plus. Thank you for all your careful planning.
Hi Leo,
This is a very short customised arrangement during which the China border is not fully opened yet.
China Discovery charges a premium though, but it delivered without fail.
The VOA is very new to even the custom officers who were on duty when I cleared the immigration check at Shenzhen as well as the HK side. I must say that the agent did his professional service by always on the call to allow on-site changes of my arrival time because immigration clearance was so unpredictable. I can be assured that someone is just outside the arrival hall to pick me up and, I could tell the immigration officer that my local contact person is just waiting outside to pick me once I am cleared with this new procedure.
It is always safer to have a local contact to guide you and make arrangements for your local transfer when language ( Cantonese instead of Mandarin) is a problem in China .
Thx for the service . Thx to Matt too.
Rgds
Rita,
thank you for your arrangement. The tour and logistics were really good. We are very happy and look forward to the next trip in China with your company.
Dear Jack,
I have tried to leave the following review with tripadvisor several times now but somehow it is not accepted, I do not know why.
"Just back from our 9-day trip to Yunnan, long planned and waited for. It was our second time with China Discovery Tours. Once again they tailored the tour according to our ideas and interests - and succeeded in surprising us! Thanks to the local guides we learned a lot about history, traditions and customs, and, of course, food. We always felt in safe hands and the organization was just perfect with enough on spot flexibility. Big thanks to Jack who figured it all out so well and to the next time with China Discovery! Johannes (GER) & Elizabeth (GRC)"
Thanks again for an excellent trip, best regards, Johannes&Elizabeth
Hi Jack!
It's was great, we loved it! Our tour guide Frank was very kind, informative, and funny :) We loved how easy it was and how much we got to see in a day, I will definitely recommend to our friends!
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Jiaxiu Tower in Guiyang
Cuiwei Garden
Stone Archway at Qingyan Ancient Town
Qingyan Old Town Dingguang Gateway
Historical Qingyan Old Town
Appreciate Dragon Palace Karst Cave By Boat
Dragon Palace Rotating Pond
Huangguoshu Waterfall
Huangguoshu Doupotang Waterfall
Waterfall of Silver Chain Dropping to the Pool
Tianxingqiao Scenic Area Stone Forest on Water
Fantastic Aerial View of Fanjingshan
Bizarre Mushroom Stone of Fanjingshan
Fanjingshan Temple Built on the Crest
Tongren Fenghuang Airport
Tongren / Fanjingshan / Tongren / Zhangjiajie
Guiyang / Anshun / Kaili / Fanjingshan
Zhangjiajie / Fenghuang / Fanjingshan
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
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