Full Name: Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture
Chinese Name: 黔东南苗族侗族自治州 (qián dōng nán miáo zú dòng zú zì zhì zhōu)
Population: 4,446,200 
Area: 30,337 square kilometers (11,713 square miles)
Nationalities: Han, Miao, Dong  
Administrative Division: 15 counties (Huangping, Shibing, Sansui, Zhenyuan, Cengong, Tianzhu, Jinping, Jianhe, Taijiang, Liping, Rongjiang, Congjiang, Leishan, Majiang, Danzhai); 1 county-level city (Kaili)
Seat of the Prefecture Government: No.11, Beijing Dong Lu, Kaili City
Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0855-8222547
                                                     Weather Forecast: 121
                                                     Zip Code Inquiry: 184
Bank of China Kaili Branch: No.2, Shaoshan Nan Lu, Kaili City
China Post Qiandongnan Branch: No.1, Beijing Dong Lu, Kaili City

Location: Situated in southeastern Guizhou Province, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture neighbors Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Zunyi City and Tongren Region within the province. It is also bounded on the east by Hunan Province in the neighborhood of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the south.

History:  Before the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC), Qiandongnan was known as a place of southern barbarians and partly belonged to the Chu Kingdom and a local ethnic regime. It made great progress in development during the exploitation of the Miao region in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).  
 
Physical Features: Qiandongnan lies in the transition area from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to hills and basins in Hunan and Guangxi. Karst and eroded landforms are widely distributed in the prefecture. Its general terrain is higher in the north, south and west while lower in the east. Western and northwestern Qiandongnan is medium and low mountains, and its eastern and southeastern part has complex distributions of low mountains, hills and basins. On the whole, mountainous region occupies over eighty-seven percent of the prefecture's total area.                

Climatic Features: Qiandongnan enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate bearing some features of plateau climate. Average temperatures of the coldest January and hottest July are respectively 5-8℃ (41-46.4℉) and 24-28℃ (75.2-82.4℉). The rainy season usually lasts from April to October, mainly concentrating on spring and summer.

When to Go: Visitors can visit Qiandongnan prefecture in spring, summer and autumn. It is notable that a spread of half a year in Kaili is in rainy season. A raincoat or umbrella should be carried for this trip.   

Local Highlights: Ethnic minorities in Qiandongnan have a population of 3,640,000, over eighty percent of the prefecture's total population. Miao and Dong minorities are the biggest groups. The colorful traditional festivals and local folk customs are the highlights of the prefecture.

Road-block drinking is the first ritual when the hospitable Miao people welcome guests. From the foot to the gate of the village, there are usually twelve barriers with full dressed Miao youths pledging wine to visitors.    

Kaili is praised to be the town of a hundred festivals. International Lusheng Festival held annually should be the grandest. The festival aims to show the ethnic cultural of the region as the birthplace of Lusheng, the reed-pipe wind instrument. 

Special Local Products: brocade of Dong Minority, embroidery, silver ornaments, Sizhou Inkstone, watermelon, Leishan Yinqiu Tea (tea ball)

 Attractions: 
→Xijiang Miao Village 
Lying in Leishan County in Qiandongnan Region of Guizhou Province, Xijiang Miao Village is the only village owning over one thousand Miao households in China. Xijiang county seat is about 37 kilometers (23 miles) from the Miao village. Embraced by the surrounding verdant mountains, the village has a primeval and natural flavor, far away from the influence of modern industry civilization. The 1,285 Miao stilt houses are built along the contour of the mountain layer upon layer. What an imposing sight it is! At noon, pieces of the red wood board look brilliant in the sunlight, and in the evening, cooking smoke is spiraling from every kitchen and forms into a white belt around the mountain's waist. Industrious Miao People are living a peaceful life in this marvelous land. There is also a silversmith village in the county, making silver ornaments of Miao minority by hand. Xijiang has the most intact and original ecology of the Miao, being the ideal place to admire and study the traditional culture of Miao minority. Xijiang Miao Village, due to its unique Miao culture, has been honored as "the Gallery of Miao Culture".

→Rongjiang Sanbao Dong Village
It is situated 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Rongjiang County. It is the largest Dong ethnic minority area in China. Visitors can drop in to see the Zengchong Tower nearby. The tower is in Congjiang County. However, it is more convenient to go there from Rongjiang County. This fir wood construction was completed in 1672 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Around the Zengjiang tower stands a cluster of towers with hundreds years of history. Visitors who are interested in the traditional Dong architecture can first find a farmhouse.  

→Zhaoxing Dong Village
Walk into Zhaoxing Dong Village - the largest Dong Village in Qiandongnan in Guizhou Province, and you will feel like the clock is being turned back. All the buildings in the village are wooden-stilt houses. This is a picturesque village noted for the beautiful natural sights and unique ethnic flavor. It is surrounded by verdant mountains with a crystal stream running through.

The drum tower is the mark of Dong village, that is to say, every dong village has its own drum tower, and Zhaoxing is no exception. Its five drum towers are known far and wide for their unique styles. Each of them has a particular name that is Ren (benevolence), Yi (righteousness), Li (courtesy), Zhi (wisdom) and Xin (faithfulness) respectively. They differ in method of construction, external appearance, height and size.

The flower bridge is another architectural wonder in Zhaoxing. The creative Dong People built corridors which provide benches for passers-by to have a rest or run for shelter. It is astonishing that there is no single nail on the whole bridge. With the firm joint of mortise and tenon, the bridge is strong enough to withstand the region's strong winds and rains.

In the village, everything is simple and far away from the influence of modern city life. Only the murmur of the little brooks, the happy songs of Dong People and the rhythmic beating of the rod for laundry will provide the occasional sounds of daily life. The verdant mountains, simple but elegant houses and the smiling faces of Dong People will greet you and complete this natural feast for your senses.  

→Qinglong Caves
It hides on the Zhonghe Mountain of the two thousand-year-old town of Zhenyuan. It was originally a complex of fifteen single buildings first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Extant buildings are of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), most all which are built on the 80 meters (262 feet) high and 300 meters (984 feet) long cliff zone and karst caves of the mountain. 

Other Scenic Spots: Leigong Mountain, Old Town of Longli

Travel Tips:
Kaili is about two hours drive from Guiyang via expressway. It does not have its own airport. Visitors can have the aid of the Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport.

Main bus stations in Kaili:
Kaili Bus Station: Wenhua Bei Lu, northeast of Kaili City (operating buses to Guiyang once every 30 minutes and counties of Qiandongnan)
Qiandongnan Passenger Transport Station: Ximahe Jie, Kaili City, opposite to the National Teacher's School (operating long-distance buses to other cities of Guizhou and interprovincial bus lines)
Kaili Transport Company: Yongle Lu, Kaili City (operating short distance bus lines around Kaili)