Tour Code: 801

Ethnic Minority Villages and Folkways Tour

15 Days Luxury & Standard of Kunming - Lijiang - Kunming - Lunan - Xingyi - Huangguoshu Waterfall - Guiyang - Kaili - Rongjiang - Congjiang - Zhaoxing - Sanjiang - Longsheng - Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

Starting from $1329 per person Hotels & Price
Luxury & Standard
Day by Day Itinerary

Departure: Saturday


Street of Lijiang Old Town

Day 01Arrive in Kunming

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Kunming airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.(B)

Tips: With mild temperature all the year round, Kunming deserves the name of Spring City. It is also a kingdom of botany, animals, medicinal herbs. The Shangyijie flower market is in the city center of Kunming. It is diversified with the fresh and dried flowers like rose, carnation, lily, African daisy etc. You can select whatever you like and don't forget to bargain with the vendors. The dried flower helps to decorate the room, while the fresh keep you joyous.

Day 02Kunming - Lijiang

Take a morning flight to Lijiang and transfer to the hotel. Visit the Baisha Village and a local Naxi family, the Baisha Murals, the Rock Joseph's Former Residence in Yuhu Village and the Square Street of Lijiang Old Town. Enjoy the Naxi Ancient Music and Dance Performance at Dongba Palace in the evening. (B+L+D)

Tips: Yunnan is a province with quite a number of minority groups in China. You can see lots of people wearing the national costumes. It is quite enjoyable to rent the special style clothes for photo-taking on the spots. You need pay for that and do remember to bargain with the vendors sometimes.


Lijiang Old Town

Day 03Lijiang

Full day is free. You can enjoy the ancient town and pay a short visit to a local family of Naxi Minority by yourselves.(B)

Tips: 1. Lijiang old town is well-known as one of the four old cities in the best preservation in Chinese history, it is the only one which isn't surrounded by City Wall. Although it has endured several dynasties' baptism, the weather-beaten city still shows its glamour to earthling. If you do not have any special schedule on this free day, we do suggest you visit the old city by yourselves. The best moment to visit it is in the early morning before shops start business. Once you are there, the tranquil, beautiful old city will present its fascination but plain feature to you completely. In the bustling daytime, hospital vendors expect your coming and try to sell the souvenirs at a modest price. When dusk breaks, the bars and tea shops become dynamic and lively, which add much pleasure and ease for both tourists and locals.

2. The ultraviolet radiation is a bit severe, so it is best to take the umbrella along with you preventing from getting sun-burnt.


Stone Forest, Kunming

Day 04Lijiang - Kunming - Lunan

Take a morning flight back to Kunming and transfer to visit the Stone Forest at Lunan. Stay overnight at the local best hotel.(B+L+D)

Tips: From the moment you enter Lunan, your coming trip will be much tougher, for your will travel through the less developed area in China in the following days, including Yunnan area and Guizhou area. The local condition in these areas may be under your expectation. The food variety, washing room hygiene, hotel equipment as well as transportation are not as good as in large China cities, like Beijing, Xian or Shanghai. However, just due to the underdevelopment of the area, it keeps its simple manner and original folkway. We suggest you enjoy the exquisitely made costume of the minority people, their unique culture and the untouched landscape in a pleasure mind, ignoring the limited local condition.

Descriptions: 
Stone Forest - a natural wonder known as "World Karst Landscape Museum", is the hot destination for both visitors from home and abroad. The main body is formed by the special karst landform. You will be marveled at the splendor of the natural formation. The varisized stones emerge in different shapes, which can stimulate your imagination extensively. The faithful love story of the beautiful girl Ashima and her beloved has been passed along for thousands of years.


Local minority people and life, Yunnan

Day 05Lunan - Shizong - Xingyi

Drive to Xingyi via Shizong. Xingyi is the southwest gate of entering Guizhou province. En route, visit the local Tobacco Farm and a local Country Market if time is proper. Upon arrival in Xingyi, visit the Local Folk Museum of the Wedding Rituals. Stay overnight at the local best hotel.(B+L+D)

Day 06Xingyi

Visit the Forest of Thousands of Mountain Peaks, the Maling Gorge and the Heaven-star Gallery which takes 2 hours' hiking.(B+L+D)

Day 07Xingyi - Huangguoshu Waterfall

Drive to Huangguoshu. En route, explore Zuoqi Black Miao Village to discover women's traditional costume with big earring, black turban and black cotton jacket. Visit a Buyi People Village to see their traditional way of spinning and weaving. Stay overnight at the local best hotel.(B+L+D)

Day 08Huangguoshu Waterfall - Guiyang

Visit the largest waterfall in Asia - Huangguoshu Waterfall. Drive to Guiyang and check in at the hotel. Visit the Qingyan Old Town and the Jiaxiu Pavilion.(B+L)


Miao minority people

Day 09Guiyang - Kaili

Drive to Kaili and check in at the hotel. After lunch, visit the traditional way of paper-making and a Long-skirt Miao Village. You will experience the Miao people's daily life by visiting the local families. Meanwhile, you can appreciate the Miao people's typical architecture - Wooden Stilt House.(B+L)

Day 10Kaili - Rongjiang

Visit another Long-skirt Miao Village. Then drive to a village nearby to see the Pottery-making. After lunch, visit a Miao Village. En route, explore a Shui People's Village located in a deep valley. Late afternoon, arrive at Rongjiang and check in at the local best hotel.(B+L+D)

Day 11Rongjiang - Congjiang - Zhaoxing

Drive to visit Yintan Dong Village. Family Visit will be arranged. Then explore Basha Miao Village noted for men's hair dresses. In the afternoon, drive to Zhaoxing, visit the largest Dong People's Village in China. Check in at the local best hotel. (B+L+D)

Day 12Zhaoxing - Sanjiang - Longsheng

Take the morning to explore Tang'an Dong Village noted as the first ecological museum of Dong People. Then drive to Sanjiang. Visit the Chenyang Wind and Rain Bridge and explore the Dong villages nearby. Late afternoon, arrive at Longsheng and check in at the local best hotel.(B+L+D)

Tips: After arrival at the foot of Longsheng Longji Terrace Field, you will need to climb step by step for 40-45 minutes to your hotel on the mountain. If you are too tired to manage it, you can ask the local villager to carry for you. The charge is about 20-30RMB for one way and you can pay on the spot.


Miao minority children in their festival costumes

Day 13Longsheng - Guilin

Visit the most spectacular Terraced Fields and the Yao People's Village in Longsheng. Late afternoon, drive to Guilin and check-in at the hotel.(B+L)

Day 14Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin

Enduring memories are created today as you cruise down Li River to Yangshuo. Upon arrival in Yangshuo, a short bicycle trip to the countryside will be arranged. You will visit a local villager's home to experience the farmer's lifestyle there. Alternatively, you can take our electric car instead of taking bicycles. Transfer back to Guilin.(B+L)

Tips: Lunch will be provided on the cruise today and since it may not meet your expectations, TCG suggests that you have a larger breakfast at the hotel.

Day 15Departure from Guilin

Visit the Reed Flute Cave, the Seven Star Park and the Elephant Trunk Hill. Then you will be transferred to the airport for your homeward flight.(B+L)

B-- Breakfast     L-- Lunch     D-- Dinner

Accommodation
GradeLuxuryStandard
KunmingGrand Park Hotel Kunming Hotel
LijiangLijiang Yinxianggucheng Wenyuan Hotel Grand Hotel
LunanAshima Hotel Ashima Hotel
XingyiPanjiang Hotel Panjiang Hotel
Huangguoshu WaterfallHuangguoshu Hotel Huangguoshu Hotel
GuiyangSheraton Hotel Ramada Plaza
KailiGrand Dragon Hotel Grand Dragon Hotel
RongjiangThe local best hotel The local best hotel
ZhaoxingThe local best hotel The local best hotel
LongshengThe local best hotel The local best hotel
GuilinSheraton Hotel Guilin Bravo Hotel
former Holiday Inn Hotel
For the detailed hotel information, please click.


Prices (based on per person and shown in US dollars)

2009 Prices (Valid from Jan. 1st, 2009 to Feb. 28th, 2010)

GradeLuxuryStandard
High SeasonLow SeasonHigh SeasonLow Season
DoubleSoleDoubleSoleDoubleSoleDoubleSole
2-5 persons
$2519
$3059
$2469
$2969
$2409
$2849
$2389
$2789
6-9 persons
$1819
$2369
$1779
$2269
$1709
$2149
$1679
$2089
10 & above
$1459
$1909
$1399
$1789
$1359
$1719
$1329
$1659



Prices (based on per person and shown in US dollars)

2010 Prices (Valid from Mar. 1st, 2010 to Feb. 28th, 2011)

GradeLuxuryStandard
High SeasonLow SeasonHigh SeasonLow Season
DoubleSoleDoubleSoleDoubleSoleDoubleSole
2-5 persons
$2899
$3439
$2859
$3349
$2799
$3229
$2769
$3159
6-9 persons
$2049
$2579
$1999
$2489
$1939
$2369
$1909
$2299
10 & above
$1649
$2099
$1589
$1969
$1539
$1879
$1509
$1819


For our quotation inclusions & exclusions, booking and cancellation terms, please read Terms and Conditions.

Questions & Reviews

1.

May. 31,2009 09:59 Reply

Ms.Shaline (Ireland) said:

how strenuous or steep is the two-hour hike mentioned in the tour 801?

2.

May. 21,2009 17:34 Reply

Ms.Luna said:

what weather/temperature we can expect in Turpan and Yunnan within the specified periods? Isn''t to cold for Turpan in October and for Yunnan in end of December?

May. 22,2009 00:00
Kina replied:

It is pleasant to travel in China in October. Although December is cold in most places of China, Yunan province is still suitable for travel as it locates in the South of China. The average tempertature Lijiang in December is from 3 to 17 celsius.

3.

Apr. 8,2008 18:07 Reply

Mr.Austin Navi said:

You must know the famous Nanxi ancient music. And if you know it, or if you want to enjoy it, somebody would strongly recommend the Xuanke ancient music. Maybe because it is trumpeted so great, if speaking of the Naxi ancient music, the Xuanke is recommended. But do you know that almost one hour and a half is for that vigorous aged man to have a long and tedious & meaningless speech, and only about 30 minutes for the music performance.
Why spend so much time and money on it?
I am really indignant about their performance time distribution!!

4.

Dec. 7,2007 16:37 Reply

Ms.Della (China) said:

Hi Sissy Glen, Diqing is one of China's Autonomous district and Shangri-la belongs to Dingqing. While, before the year of 2001, Shangri-la was named of Zhongdian. Hope i made the sense to you. (-:

5.

Dec. 7,2007 14:41 Reply

Ms.Sissy Glen(Australia) said:

Are Diqing, Shangri-la and Zhongdian the same place? I am confused about that.???

6.

Sep. 30,2007 17:01 Reply

Mr.Norman Sunsberry(United Kingdom) said:

Hekou- Hanoi to China

Big warning when crossing the boarder from Lao Cai to Hekou. You will cross and its a really short walk to the bus station. There is a man who works there, Tom. He might change his name, hes got a shaved head and a little bit darker for a Chinese man. Dont trust him, Don't talk to him, dont deal with him. Hes not dangerous but hes in it for the money. If you find a man named Knee you can change money with him at a decent rate.
There are a few buses from Hekou. 9:30, 12:30, and some time after 6:00. You dont want to get stuck in boaring Hekou, so make sure you time it right. Buses going to Hekou from Kunming leave at night, 7:30 arriving early morning. Good luck, the bus ride to Kunming takes 9-12 hours depending on what bus.

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