Guizhou in Southwest China is listed as No.6 of “Top 10 Region to Visit in 2020” by Lonely Planet for its unique jugged Karst landform, splendid ethnic minority culture gathering, refreshing air and more special idyllic tourist resources! So why not spend a week-long trip to discover the diverse Guizhou?T
This 7-day Best of Guizhou vacation is going to take you to have the closest look at those awesome natural treasures of special Karst landform, including the magnificent and beautiful Huangguoshu Waterfall as a wonder on Karst, Xiaoqikong (Small Seven Hole Scenic Resort) in Libo as the UNESCO bestowed natural heritage, etc. Of course, you are going to spend about 3 days discover deeply the best ethnic villages of Miao and Dong people in the core areas in Southwest Guizhou, such as Kaili, Congjiang, Zhaoxing, etc. to appreciate the gorgeous but distinct ethnic dresses, hairstyles and jewelries, wonderful performance of their proud songs, dances and handicraft art of the versatile ethnic minority villagers! Moreover, the trip starting from Guiyang will not only let you cover the best essence of this provincial capital city with cool weather, forest city and most convenient flights and train linking, but also let you have a completely new appraisal of Guiyang as a new thriving city with lots of international enterprises including the world influenced big data base! Have the best Guizhou tour with visual and cultural inspiration? Just join and start!
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 to Anshun - Anshun - Anshun to Guiyang (B)
Transfer to Anshun - Doupotang - Heavenly Star Bridge - Huanguoshu Waterfall
After breakfast, drive about 2.5 hours to Anshun for today’s trip to Huangguoshu Waterfall, which is the largest waterfall in Asia. You will appreciate different views of the waterfall, especially go behind the waterfall and see how water starts dropping and touch the waterfall.
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 (Heavenly Star Bridge). 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 visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in Guiyang downtown with driving for about 2 hours and help you check in. Have a nice sleep!
Huangguoshu Waterfall
Huangguoshu Doupotang Waterfall
Waterfall of Silver Chain Dropping to the Pool
Tianxingqiao Scenic Area Stone Forest on Water
Day 3 Guiyang - Libo (B, L)
Qingyan Old Town - Transfer to Libo
After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then drive you 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.
After the visiting, drive about 3.5 hours to Libo County. Your guide and driver will help you check in. Have a nice sleep!
Qingyan Old Town Stone Archway
Qingyan Old Town Ancient City Wall
Day 4 Libo - Kaili (B, L)
Xiaoqikong (Small Seven Hole Scenic Resort) - Qingman Miao Village - Transfer to Kaili
Today, after breakfast, you will met by your local guide and driver and then be escorted for about half an hour to visit Small Seven Hole Scenic Area (Xiaoqikong), the core of South China Karst in Libo for the primitive spectacles of hills, stream, forests, caves, lakes and waterfall matching a quaint fairyland in reality! You will catch all the best landscape highlights by leisure walking and scenic sightseeing vehicle. Have a glimpse of the symbolic Small Seven Hole Bridge often showing on the photos of Xiaoqikong. The bridge of 40 meters long and 2.2 meter wide from 1835 AD looks serene and quaint with the verdant ancient trees on both banks. Walk to Laya Waterfall to see the real look of the charming water flying from the mountain like the pure dress of a lady. With cool spray from the waterfall, the dotted Karst stones on water and jade green mountain background, this site is extremely idyllic for the best mood for a trip! Continue to roam along the 1.6 kilometers long 68-layer Waterfall to soak in the poetic natural sonata of 68 levels of diverse styles of waterfalls and drops with the bright flowers, virid forests, chirping of birds, etc. embracing your. Next, continue your exploration of the Xiangshui River with roaring waterfall scenery, luxurious Forest on Water with verdant trees and shrubs growing in water, Nuneijihai Wetland reputed as the kidney of the Earth, Wolong Pond with peaceful bluish green clear water and pearls like waterfall, etc. (Note: Boating at Yuanyang Lake needs extra charge.)
Then, be driven about 2.5 hours to Qingman Miao Village around Kaili City. This Miao village of over 600 year’s history since Ming period is praised as the “Hometown of Miao Ethnic Embroidery” for their high skills. Therefore, walk into the quiet village built against the mountain to admire local women wearing delicate colorful short skirts with the fancy artistic embroidery patterns and their traditional hairstyle like a upturned “S” shape, which is quite like that of women in Tang Dynasty in ancient China! Let the tranquil countryside hidden in the mountains keep your leisure relaxation! (Note: performance of brocading, embroidery, weaving and pleated skirts making needs reserving in advance and extra payment. Please tell your travel expert when booking)
After the visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in Kaili and help you check in! Have a nice sleep!
Qingman Miao Village
Small Seven Hole Scenic Area
Day 5 Kaili - Rongjiang (B, L)
Langde Upper Miao Village - Wudong Miao Village - Transfer to Rongjiang
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Today, you’ll be transferred about 28 km for a visit to Langde Upper Miao Village which is reputed as “the Hometown of Chinese Folk Song and Dance Art”. It is with less crowds, peaceful natural atmosphere, friendly villagers and rich cultural heritage. Upon arrival at the village, you will be warmly treated with a traditional welcome ceremony by the beautiful ladies and girls dressed in traditional Miao costumes (long skirt). They will set twelve tables with “block-the-way” wine and you can taste the wine to feel their hospitality. Once the toasts are completed, you will continue to experience the singing and dancing performance at the Lusheng Ground. The men will play Lusheng and the ladies will dance. If you like, you can participate in the dance to enjoy more fun.
Next, you’ll move to Wudong Miao Village which is 30 km away from Langde (0.5-1 hour’s driving). Wudong Village is at 1300 meters above sea level nestled on the hillside of the Leigong Mountain, among terraced fields, vegetables gardens and lush forests. The whole village is made out of the traditional Miao type of dwelling - Diaojiaolou which usually have 3 floors - the first is for livestock, the second is where people live, and the third floor is used for storage. You can take a look at the oldest water mill/wheel in all of Leishan County. The most interesting part is to go fishing with Miao group’s bamboo baskets in the local rice paddy fields and get to know their farming system and daily life better (go fishing needs extra payment and is usually available in summer during July ~ September). After that, the local hostess will show you how to cook Miao famous cuisine - Fish in Sour Soup. Enjoy the lunch at the local house.
After the tour, be escorted for about 2.5 hours to Rongjiang City for accommodation. Have a good sleep!
Upper Langde Miao Village Performance
Upper Langde Miao Village
Wudong Miao Village
Interesting Fishing Experience in the Local Rice Paddy Fields at Wudong Miao Village
Day 6 Rongjiang - Congjiang - Zhaoxing (B, L)
Biasha Miao Village - Zhanli Dong Village - Huanggang Village - Zhaoxing Dong Village
After breakfast, you’ll start an exciting exploration for a visit to Biasha Miao Village with 84 kilometers’ drive from Rongjiang to Congjiang. Biasha Miao Village is called as “the Last Gunslinger Village in China”. This is the only place in China where residents are still legally allowed to own and carry guns. The Biasha people are said to be the descendants of Chi You, a mythological warrior in ancient China, and have traditions dating back 2000 years. Men of Biasha dress as ancient warriors with black waistcoats and straight black trousers as well as swords, hunting dogs, and firelocks. Women of Biasha wear black pair shirts and pleated skirts, which are simple but embroidered with bright colors. Once getting into the village, you will witness the welcome ceremony - Biasha men line up and fire 3 shots to welcome guests! Later, enjoy the folk performance to learn more about Biasha culture, including customs of farming, hunting, ancestor-worshiping, gaming and marriage. You can even watch an amazing haircut ritual - a live shave with a sickle. If you have more time, you can take a walk around this beautiful village.
In this afternoon, drive to Zhanli Dong Village to listen to the mysterious legend with “one boy and one girl” tradition. Ancestors of Zhanli made a rule during the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to achieve balance between the population and the amount of cultivated land. According to the legend, there is a herbalist in the village who uses the mythical herbs to control the population. Before couples try to have a second child, they come to the herbalist. She will take water out of one of two wells - a “boy well” and a “girl well” - and brews a soup with a local herb with it. By drinking the mixture, the couple can allegedly decide the sex of their next baby. This happens real in the village, and most of families in Zhanli have two children, with 98% having one girl and one boy. Take a simple walk along the brook and view the boy well and girl well here.
Next, head to Huanggang Dong Village, a village considered as one of the most beautiful and traditional Dong villages in Guizhou. Huanggang, hidden in the mountains, built in ancient Song Dynasty (960-1297), has preserved the most authentic Dong culture. The villagers have had simple and unsophisticated ethnic life for hundreds of years. You can explore their local life and enjoy the unique architecture in the village. There are five drum towers standing in different directions and you can see the elders chatting in the tower or weaving their cloth. Festivals are special here - “Goddess of Thunder Worship Festival” and “Tai Guanren Festival”. If time is right, you can witness such a unique scene. (Note: For the exact time of the festivals, you can contact our travel consultants for more info.)
After the tour, be transferred to Zhaoxing Dong Village for accommodation.
Huanggang Dong Village
Haircut Ritual at Biasha Miao Village - a Live Shave with a Sickle
Zhanli Dong Village
Day 7 Zhaoxing - Congjiang Departure (B)
Zhaoxing Dong Village - Tangan Dong Village - Trains off Congjiang
After breakfast, you’ll explore the largest Dong village in Guizhou - Zhaoxing Dong Village. Zhaoxing Village has been selected as “one of the six most beautiful countryside in China” and together with its drum towers were listed into the Guinness World Records in 2001. It is divided into 5 natural small villages, living in five different areas - which are called “Tuan” locally. Besides, there are five drum towers, five Wind and Rain Bridges and five stages setting in the village. Start your exploration from the village gate and get atop of the viewing platform to enjoy the panorama, where you can also clearly appreciate the five drum towers standing beautifully in the village. Afterwards, pay a visit to the Zhaoxing Dong Culture Museum to have a better understanding about Dong people and its culture in all aspects. Follow the route to visit Xin Tuan (means faith) with the highest drum tower at 25.9 meters, Zhi Tuan (means wisdom), Yi Tuan (means righteousness), Li Tuan (means Rritual) with the first drum tower in Zhaoxing built in 17th century and Ren Tuan (means benevolence). You won’t miss the great welcome ceremony (10-20 minutes) in this morning and watch the famous Grand Song of Dong People and other interesting programs.
After that, you can choose to hike from Zhaoxing Dong Village to Tang’an Dong Village which needs about 2 hours or you can take the sightseeing bus there. If by hiking, you’ll pass by the intoxicating rice paddies and primitive Dong villages. In spring, the rice terraces are filled with water; in summer, green seedling grows well at the terraces; in autumn, the rice terraces are decorated with golden rice. Tang’an Dong Village is perched on hillside terraces and it is called the “living museum of Dong minority” with authentic feelings and beautiful landscape around. Visit the Eco Museum and enjoy more peaceful time in the village.
After the tour, get back to Zhaoxing and your guide and driver will escort you to Congjiang Railway Station to catch your train to next destination.
Departure Ideas: High speed trains are well connected Congjiang with Guiyang (1.5-2hrs), Guilin (about 1hr), Yangshuo (1-1.5hrs), Guangzhou (3.5-4 hours), Chengdu (about 5hrs), Chongqing (3.5-4hrs) and more destinations.
Zhaoxing Dong Village - the Biggest and Oldest Dong village.
Tang'an Dong Village
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
Huangguoshu Waterfall
Huangguoshu Doupotang Waterfall
Waterfall of Silver Chain Dropping to the Pool
Tianxingqiao Scenic Area Stone Forest on Water
Qingyan Old Town Stone Archway
Qingyan Old Town Ancient City Wall
Qingman Miao Village
Small Seven Hole Scenic Area
Upper Langde Miao Village Performance
Upper Langde Miao Village
Wudong Miao Village
Interesting Fishing Experience in the Local Rice Paddy Fields at Wudong Miao Village
Huanggang Dong Village
Haircut Ritual at Biasha Miao Village - a Live Shave with a Sickle
Zhanli Dong Village
Zhaoxing Dong Village
Tang'an Dong Village
Guiyang / Anshun / Kaili / Fanjingshan
Guilin / Longsheng / Yangshuo / Zhaoxing / Kaili / Fanjingshan
Guiyang / Kaili / Rongjiang / Zhaoxing / Guilin / Yangshuo / Longsheng / Guilin
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
1,580+
Reviews
