Guizhou In-depth Exploration

Welcome to Guiyang! On the 8-day private Guizhou tour packages, you’ll explore one of China's most ethnically diverse regions with us, immersing yourself in the mysterious cultures of Chinese minority groups. Upon arrival, your private guide will meet you outside the arrival hall at Guiyang Airport and transfer you to the hotel downtown in a comfortable private car.

After check-in, if time allows, you’ll be accompanied to visit the Hongfu Temple in Qianling Park, the first and largest temple in Guizhou Province. The temple constructed in 1672 boasts large dimensions, classical structures, and exquisite decorations, creating an atmosphere of elegance and piety. Here you can also explore rock carvings, the ancient Buddha cave, and the pagoda forest, which refers to the burial places for eminent monks. In addition to the temple, Qianling Park features leafy surroundings, where you can breathe fresh air and walk off your excesses. It is home to a lot of wildlife, like clever monkeys, which you may spot on the way to the temple. Please remember not to take any food in your hand, or it may be snatched away by those naughty animals; feeding is not encouraged as well. Getting out of the Hongfu Temple, let’s go downhill to enjoy the beautiful lake views of the Qianling Lake or step on trails uphill to a small zoo, seeing tigers, lions, bears, peacocks, and, if lucky, even two pandas! Finish the sightseeing, and you’ll be escorted back to the hotel.

► Dining Recommendation: (at your own expense)
Located near the city’s prominent landmark, Jiaxiu Tower, Uncle Qian's Food Stall is recommended for trying authentic local flavors. Though called a food stall, it is in fact a nice restaurant offering savory local dishes, including Spicy Chicken, Glutinous Rice Intestine, Spicy Roast Fish, Fried Tofu Balls, and Roast Goose. With old-fashioned decoration and primitive tables and chairs, it makes you feel like you’re in a local farmyard. The average cost per person is about CNY 70 (USD 10). Pay attention that Guiyang cuisine features hot, spicy, and sour flavors with copious fermented ingredients, and consider well if you can accept it.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Guiyang City Center (4 stars)

After breakfast, we’ll first head to Qingyan Ancient Town, which was first constructed as a military stronghold, with a history of more than 600 years. With four spectacular city gates, the old town is enclosed by a 7-km-long (4.4-mile) ancient city wall made of large stones, stretching on the cliff. Make sure to climb up the grand city wall to overlook the lively old town. As one of Guizhou’s Four Ancient Towns, Qingyan Town has well preserved some old buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), including ancient temples, attics, and residential houses, with exquisite stone and wood carvings. Besides, this is also an ideal place to tuck into delicious local snacks, such as the well-known Braised Pig’s Foot, Rice Cake Porridge, and Rose Sugar.

Relax on our private transfer to Kaili, taking about 2.5 hours. Situated in eastern Guizhou, Kaili is known as a tour base for exploring the surrounding Miao ethnic villages. We’ll first drive to Matang Gejia Village, which is inhabited by an unidentified minority. Most consider them a branch of the Miao ethnic group due to the lack of their own written language; however, they do have their own exclusive traditions and costumes. Stepping into the dinky village surrounded by green rice fields, where wooden houses cascade down a hillside, you can see local women dressed in the beautiful red and white costumes decorated with gorgeous silver jewelry. Shaped a little like armor, the splendid attire is said to be made in memory of a brave woman general in ancient times. Another saying goes that it is made to worship their ancestor who once shot the sun in the legend, which can be seen from the white flared headgear with red tassel beads worn by the unmarried girls, in which the silver hairpin represents the arrow, and the silver ring symbolizes the bow, with a red sun in the middle. Apart from that, the most attractive appeal of the unique tribe is the batik art with exquisite patterns.

★ Follow the Local Master to DIY Batik-dyeing Artwork

Women in Gejia Village learn to apply melted wax to create hand-drawn designs in a dye-resist way on the white clothes from their childhood, which is known as the batik art. Today, we’ve specially arranged for you to experience the traditional craftsmanship in person. First, use a pencil to depict the pattern on the cloth you’ve chosen, and then redraw it with a copper knife with the melted wax. Put your work in the indigo-colored water and dye it after boiling for several minutes to melt the wax. Dry it out, and you’ll get your own artwork!

After the magic experience, spend your time exploring the secluded village’s life and customs. Then you’ll be sent back to Kaili for hotel check-in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Banshan Hotel (Wanda Plaza in Kaili City Center) (4 stars)

The private tour today begins with a visit to a local morning market, offering you a glimpse into the daily life of the Kaili people. The bustling composite market covers food, fresh vegetables, bamboo handicrafts, local snacks, and even live chickens, geese, and ducks.

After that, we’ll drive to Langde Miao Village. The villagers here wear long skirts; hence, they are also called "Long Skirt Miao". The passion of the local Miao people and their colorful national culture will certainly be a magnet for you.

★ Greeted by “Block-the-way” Rice Wine Ceremony

After arrival, you’ll first be greeted by a hospitable greeting ceremony that you’ve never seen before. A group of local Miao people in traditional costumes wait at the entrance of the village with the 12-course “block-the-way” rice wine. The old tradition goes that the more wine is offered, the more welcome you are, and the 12-course set is the highest standard of the ceremony. The homemade wine has a sweet and refreshing taste, and if you cannot hold the drink, just gently sip a small taste.

After entering the village, you’ll be in for a treat at a local Dancing and Singing Performance. The performers are not professional singers or dancers, just common villagers who engage in fields in usual times while making time to offer a joyful feast for visitors, which means the shows are not fixed, and you may enjoy folk singing, Lusheng instrument playing, and even dance with locals hand-in-hand. Later, follow the guide to explore inside the village. If you are energetic enough, climb up the hill for a panoramic view of the pristine village.

Later, we’ll continue to visit the Datang Short-Skirt Miao Village, where local women have worn short-skirt-style traditional costumes throughout the year for generations. The special village also boasts 47 wooden granaries built based on bluestones, with wooden pillars as support above the water. The traditional way of storing grain can be dated back to 600 years ago, and it is still used by local villagers today. 

Afterward, we’ll drive to explore another different ethnic group culture, the Dong minority. The destination is Huanggang Dong Village, situated in a narrow mountain valley in Liping County, with a stream winding through and two colorful Wind and Rain Bridges carved with Chinese dragons and phoenixes standing above at the entrance. Shrouded by dense forests, the 800-year-old village retains some old wooden stilted buildings and five spectacular wooden drum towers resembling giant cedar trees, which are considered the permanent spiritual home of the Dong people, and each represents a family or surname branch. The secluded paradise hasn’t been affected much by commercial tourism, as most young people seek to make a living in large cities outside, while the locals who choose to stay are mostly the elderly and children, living a primitive and simple lifestyle. Enjoy a vibrant blend of the Dong ethnic culture, authentic local life, and traditional customs. Tonight, we’ll stay overnight here.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Huanggang Hecang Suji Hotel

After breakfast, we will wave goodbye to Liping and drive to Congjiang to visit Zhanli Dong Village, situated among dense forests in a deep mountain. The primitive village only has a population of around 800 people, for about 200 families, who live a simple farming life. However, the most legendary and interesting fact about the village is its population balance, whose overall population has hardly changed in the past generations. Nearly all families give birth to two children, and more than 80 percent of those are one girl and one boy, rarely two girls or two boys in one household. It is said it’s because of the old doctrine from ancient ancestors, and the balance is helped to be achieved by a kind of herb.

After visiting the interesting Dong village, our next stop is Biasha Miao Village. Also known as Basha Village, it is famous as China’s last gunner tribe, as guns are practically forbidden in China. Granted by the official bureau, the firearm is an important symbol of local Miao men, and they learn to shoot from a young age, for the long-standing hunting tradition continues to this day. In the grand festivals or ceremonies, they will hold guns to shoot together to celebrate and show their brilliant skills. You may also witness the exciting moment during today’s visit. The isolated village retains some unique old traditions. For example, when a new baby is born in the village, people will plant a tree for it. The tree will grow with the newborn together and link closely to his whole life. When the person dies, the tree will also be cut down to make a coffin. They will be buried deep under the ground together, and a new tree will be planted on the grave. You’ll be amazed at how life exists in a circle from birth to death. Finish the visit, and we’ll continue to drive to Zhaoxing and check in at a comfortable hotel.

Meals: Chinese Breakfast
Accommodation: Qing Ding Ge (Indigo Lodge)

In the morning, your itinerary will start with Tang'an Dong Village, which is noted as the first ecological museum of the Dong people. It is very rare that a whole village is established as a museum, thanks to the cooperation between China’s and Norway’s governments. Surrounded by green mountains and peaks, the remote village in the valley featuring quaint wooden stilted residences, drum towers, mysterious graves, and ancient theater stages is home to around 200 families, making up a natural ink painting scroll. Entering the village, you could see magnificent tree-like drum towers, which are not only a popular venue for festivals but also where old village councils once dealt with village affairs and made announcements. Today, there are still old villagers under the drum tower telling Dong legends and traditions. Apart from that, Tang’an Dong Village features its ladle-shaped wells and beautiful terraced fields built with stones, which show different colors in each season: silver in spring, green in summer, and golden in autumn.

Finish the village visit, and we will walk along the beautiful terraced fields for an easy and leisurely 2.5-hour hike back to Zhaoxing. The off-the-beaten-path hiking route will pass by several villages, and the 12 km (9.3 mi) long path is mostly brick-paved with some easy stairs. The stunning sceneries on the way will be a feast to your eyes: the former section focuses on the idyllic scenery of terraced fields and villages, while the latter features more forests and valleys. En route, you’ll also have a glimpse of the primitive daily life of the Dong ordinaries. This evening, you’ll appreciate the night performance of Dong Grand Songs in Zhaoxing. The Grand Songs are a type of unique chorus song, relying heavily on multiple voices, originating partly in imitation of the sounds of nature, like birds and streams, to express their emotions and tell the tribe’s lives and history. "Food nourishes the body, and songs nourish the soul” is the locals’ pet phrase.

Meals: Chinese Breakfast
Accommodation: Qing Ding Ge (Indigo Lodge) 

Today we’ll drive back to Kaili. En route, stop by Danzhai County for further exploration of Miao minority cultures. The first stop is Shiqiao Miao Village. Since 1,000 years ago, Shiqiao Miao villagers have earned their living by papermaking with bark and selling paper products, which has been passed down for generations. The nearby tranquil Naogao River and its low mountain topography all endow the village with good raw materials for traditional paper making, including high-quality water and rich plants. The most iconic street in the village is called Paper Street, which is lined with a row of paper workshops. Locals still insist on the traditional handmade process with nearly a dozen steps, and you’ll have a chance to witness how tree barks are transferred to white paper step by step.

Later, we’ll drive to Qingman Short-skirt Miao Village, where local women generally wear short-skirt costumes. You’ll be greeted into the village by hospitable Miao villagers. This noon, we have specially prepared a local family visit for you to enjoy a delicious homemade lunch and have close contact with local residents, talking about their daily lives and old traditions. After lunch, accompanied by the guide, you’ll be amazed at its traditional-style wooden stilted buildings up the mountain. Boasting the ‘Hometown of Miao Embroidery’, the 600-year-old Qingman Village has also well preserved the ancient techniques of making exquisite textiles, embroidering, and clothes dyeing. Stepping into any house in the village, you may have a chance to see how they make beautiful Miao dresses by weaving and batiking. Finish the visit, and you’ll be escorted back to Kaili.

► Dining Recommendation: (at your own expense)
Sour Soup Fish is one of the most well-known dishes in Guizhou cuisine, and Kaili is just the birthplace of the mouthwatering dish. Generally, catfish or grass carp is chosen as the main ingredient, and the natural fermentation of rice soup is considered the traditional method of making the secret sour soup base, with multiple seasonings like marinated tomato sauce and chilies. Tofu and vegetables could be added according to your taste, and it is finally offered in a hot pot. The most popular restaurants to taste the famous dish are Donggala and Lianghuanzhai, with an average cost of CNY 90 (USD 13), and the latter features waiters and waitresses in Miao-style costumes.

Meals: Chinese Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Banshan Hotel (Wanda Plaza in Kaili City Center) (4 stars)

This morning, you’ll be guided to an old town near Kaili, Xiasi Ancient Town. The 600-year-old town has been transformed into a trading port since 1808, and thus it features a comprehensive architectural culture composed of Southern China’s courtyards, Hui-style buildings, and southern Fujian architecture, as well as Miao- and Dong-style structures. Especially in Lusheng Square, you can see the Dong-style Drum Tower, the spectacular Miao-style Gate, and the old theater stage. Located on the riverbank, the old town boasts an ancient wharf. Roaming along the river, you’ll take in the Chinese architectural essence and have a chance to sample some local delights. Here, you may also encounter a white-coated Xiasi Dog, a rare breed going viral on the internet, native to the town, which features long hair and is praised for great speed and hunting skills. Well, it really looks a little bit like a pig and a white bear in some cases.

After that, we’ll return to Guiyang and drive to enjoy the city’s landmark building, Jiaxiu Tower, a significant symbol of Guiyang’s rich history. It is actually a 3-story ancient wooden pavilion first built in 1598. Standing on the Nanming River, the beautiful tower was constructed on a large stone base, offering a serene escape. Ascending the ancient tower, you can get a nice view of the surrounding city scenery. It is extremely beautiful at night, when the whole tower and the attached bluestone bridges are illuminated, casting a gorgeous reflection on the river.

Today’s last stop is the bustling Qingyun Road Night Market, a famous street food market where foodies can satisfy their taste buds with all kinds of mouthwatering local snacks at one time, including Potato Glutinous Cake, Vegetable Spring Rolls (Siwawa), Egg-Wrapped Mashed Potato, Rose Sugar, Grilled Tofu, Crispy Duck, and Huaxi Beef Rice Noodles. More than that, the neon-lit market is also home to a lot of interesting boutiques, souvenir stores, and a few little pubs. Feel free to explore the city’s thriving nightlife on your own!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Guiyang City Center (4 stars)

On this day, your 8 days Guizhou tour has come to an end. Your guide will escort you to the airport and see you off. Wish you a pleasant trip!

Haven’t been satisfied yet? Extend your trip to the neighboring Guangxi or Yunnan to explore more Zhuang and Yao ethnic cultures and find amazing natural wonders like the picturesque Li River in Guilin, the idyllic Yangshuo countryside, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, alpine lakes, and precipitous Tiger Leaping Gorge, all of which can be tailored according to your interests!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast