Deep Touches of Ethnic Villages
705: 15 Days Private Tour of Kunming - Lijiang - Kunming - Lunan - Xingyi - Huangguoshu Waterfall - Guiyang - Kaili - Rongjiang - Congjiang - Zhaoxing - Sanjiang - Longsheng - Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin
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Tour Type: Private Tour, any parts of the itinerary can be customized
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle
Meals: 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches
Tour Highlights:
- Explore the nearly 1000-year-old town Lijiang - a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Visit ethnic minority villages & experience the unique and diversified folk customs
- Marvel at the grand scenes of the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces in Longsheng
- Take a Li River cruise down to Yangshuo & admire the essence of Guilin landscape
From $2989 per person Free Inquiry
- Itinerary
- Tour Prices
- Price Includes
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Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
Airport pick-up & airport-hotel transfer.
Our guide will be waiting for 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.
Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Day 2 Kunming - Lijiang
A 3-hour bullet train to Lijiang, Pick-up service, Baisha Village, a local Naxi family, Baisha Murals, Shuhe Old Town, Tea-Horse Road Musuem. (B+L)
Lijiang Old Town
You will take a morning bullet train to Lijiang where the local guide will meet you at the railway station after your 3-hour train ride and then transfer you to the hotel. After a short break, start your private tour to Baisha Village. Located to the north of Lijiang Old Town, Basha Village was the first settlement of Naxi people as well as the economic and political center of Lijiang during the Ming and Qing dynasties (14th to early 20th century). You could visit a Naxi family to learn more about the local customs and Naxi people's life. Besides the ancient palaces and pavilions, the most attractive site you will see is Baisha Murals which absorbed the styles of Han, Tibet and Naxi, reflecting that Buddhism, Taoism and Tibetan Buddhism coexisted harmoniously. Then proceed to the Shuhe Ancient Town and visit the Tea-Horse Road Musuem.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 Lijiang
Free time for the day. (B)
Full day is free for you to explore the Old Town of Lijiang. The best travel time is the early morning when the street is tranquil and peaceful, so that you could walk along the stone roads and take some real nice photos. In the bustling daytime, the hospitable vendors and variety of souvenirs show you a vigorous ancient town. If interested, you can go for a drink with friends at a local bars or café to experience the colorful nightlife of the old town.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 4 Lijiang - Kunming - Lunan
A 3-hour bullet train to Kunming, Kunming-Lunan land transfer, Stone Forest. (B+L)
Stone Forest, Kunming
A 3-hour morning bullet train will take you back to Kunming. Upon your arrival, our local guide will pick you up at the railway station and transfer you to visit the Stone Forest at Lunan. Known as the 'world's karst landscape museum', it is famous for the varied karst formations which formed a natural labyrinthine forest. According to the different shapes, people gave the stones interesting names, such as Mother and Son, Camel Riding on Elephant, Buddha Stone, Rhinoceros Looking at the Moon and Beautiful Maiden Ascending from the Water. Besides, the beautiful scenery of lakes, waterfall, woods and caves will also impress you. Tonight, you will stay over at the best local hotel in Lunan.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 Lunan - Shizong - Xingyi
Lunan-Shizong-Xingyi land transfer. A tobacco farm and a country market if time allows, Folk Museum of the Wedding Rituals. (B+L)
We will drive you to enter into Guizhou Province via Shizong and Xingyi. En route, if time permits, stop over at a local Tobacco Farm and a Country Market to enjoy the beautiful landscape and learn about the local people's life. Upon arrival in Xingyi, you will pay a visit to Guizhou Folk Museum of Wedding Rituals which is located in an ancient family yard. Therefore, you can not only learn the unique wedding customs of Miao and Buyi minorities but also appreciate the traditional buildings with fine decorations. Stay two nights at the local hotel in Xingyi.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 Xingyi
Ten-Thousand Peaks Forest, Maling Gorge, Heaven-star Gallery. (B+L)
Local minority people and life, Yunnan
A private morning excursion will take you to Wan Feng Lin (Ten-Thousand Peaks Forest). Located 4.5 km (2.8 miles) from Xingyi City, Wan Fen Lin is covered by nearly 20,000 of hills and peaks, and is regarded as one of the three most famous karst formations in southwestern China. Then head for Maling River Canyon which is actually a 74.8-kilometer-long (46.5 miles) crack appeared after the crustal movement about 70 million years ago and regarded as 'the beautiful scar on the planet'. Finally, you will take a 2-hour hiking at Tianxing Gallery (Heaven-star Gallery). Consisting of 13 beautiful waterfalls, Tianxing Gallery is the most splendid part of Maling River Canyon Scenic Area.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 Xingyi - Huangguoshu Waterfall
Xingyi-Huangguoshu land transfer. Zuoqi Black Miao Village, a Buyi People Village. (B+L)
In the morning, you will stop over at Zuoqi Black Miao Village on the way to Huangguoshu. The Miao people in the village prefer black clothes, hence the name. You could see the women in the village wearing big heavy silver earrings, which is also a tradition. Then continue to a Buyi People Village to see their traditional way of spinning and weaving. On arrival at Huangguoshu, you will check in at the local hotel.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 Huangguoshu Waterfall - Guiyang
Huangguoshu Waterfall. Huangguoshu-Guiyang land transfer. Qingyan Old Town, Jiaxiu Tower. (B+L)
Hangguoshu Waterfall
Today, you could see Huangguoshu Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Asia. There are all together 18 all sized waterfalls and the major one is 67 meters (220 feet) high and 83.3 meters (97 yards) wide. In the scenic area, you will also be attracted by the astonishing waterfall cave, grotesque rocks and trees. After that, proceed to Guiyang and check in the hotel. During the rest of the day, you are going to visit Qingyan Ancient Town, which was originally a military town constructed over 600 years ago with exquisite buildings. The next stop is the Jiaxiu Tower which has seen the development of Guiyang City in the latest 400 years and also is the landmark of Guiyang.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 Guiyang - Kaili
Guiyang-Kaili land transfer. Traditional way of paper-making, a Miao village. (B+L)
Private driving from Guiyang about 170 km, you could get to Kaili today and stay one night at the best local hotel. After lunch, go to Shiqiao Miao Village to see how paper is made from tree roots and barks in traditional way. Then continue to visit Qingman Miao Village where a family visit is specially arranged for you to learn more about the Miao people's life. You will be greeted into the village by drinking the block way wine. Meanwhile, you will find the wooden stilt houses in the typical Miao architectural style. Joint by tenon and mortise other than nail, these houses are usually constructed on hillsides or slopes with pyramid-shape roofs.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 Kaili - Rongjiang
Kaili-Rongjiang land transfer. Langde Miao Village with Dancing and Singing Performance, Datang Miao village, a Shui People's village. (B+L)
Miao minority girls dancing
Today's first stop is Langde Long-skirt Miao Village. It is so named because the Miao people in the village wear long skirts. In addition to visit the unique wooden stilted houses, you can also enjoy the ethnic singing and dancing performances of the villagers. After lunch, you will head for Datang Short-skirt Miao Village because short skirt has been the traditional costume of the villagers for more than 500 years. It is also said that local women still keep the hairstyle of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). Besides, their granaries on the water are regarded to be amazing constructions. A Shui People's Village in a deep valley will follow. Wooden houses, traditional costumes and custom of Shui people will leave your another memorable impression on the ethnic minorities. Late in the afternoon, you will arrive at Rongjiang and check in at the local hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 Rongjiang - Congjiang - Zhaoxing
Rongjiang-Congjiang-Zhaoxing land transfer. Basha Miao Village, Huanggang Dong People's Village, Night Performance of Dong people’s chorus songs. (B+L)
A local free market
Basha Miao Village will be your first stop today, which is noted for the local men's hair dresses. After that, visit Huanggang Dong People's Village, another ancient minority village. In the afternoon, the trip will be extended to Zhaoxing to visit the largest Dong village. Surrounded by mountains in a basin, this village is famous for the splendid drum towers group which consists of five drum towers of different styles and sizes. A famous night performance of Dong people’s chorus songs is in store for you this evening. You will stay one night at the local hotel.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 Zhaoxing - Sanjiang - Longsheng
Zhaoxing-Sanjiang-Longsheng land transfer. Tang'an Dong Village, Chenyang Wind and Rain Bridge, nearby Dong villages. (B+L)
As the first ecological museum of Dong people, Tang'an Dong Village awaits you to discover this morning. Afterwards, you will drive to Sanjiang for Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge and other Dong villages nearby. As another typical building of Dong people, the Wind and Rain Bridge merges bridge, corridor and pavilion into a whole, providing a rest place and a shelter. Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is the largest of the kind and has a history of over 95 years. Late in the afternoon, you will get to the rural Longsheng and check in the hotel.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Day 13 Longsheng - Guilin
Longsheng-Guilin land transfer. Terraced Fields, Zhuang People's Village. (B+L)
You will go to see the astonishing Longsheng Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces in the morning. Stretching layer upon layer from the base of Longji Mountain to the summit, the rice terraces covers an area of 66 square kilometers (about 16,308 acres) and spans an altitude between 300 meters (about 984 feet) and 1,100 meters (about 3,608 feet), assembling the wisdom and diligence of Zhuang minority people. Then visit a Zhuang People's Village. Before night, we will transfer you to Guilin and help you check in the hotel.
Meals: Western style breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Western style breakfast, Lunch
Day 14 Guilin - Yangshuo - Guilin
Li River cruise to Yangshuo, Countryside trip. Yangshuo-Guilin transfer. (B+L)
Yangshuo rural scenery
Enduring memories will be created today as you cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. Picturesque sceneries will come into view all the way along the river. You will see undulating hills, crystal water, dense trees, green fields and grotesque peaks. Upon your arrival in Yangshuo, a short trip to the countryside is specially arranged for you to get close to the natural beauty of Yangshuo. On the way, you will also visit a local villager's home to experience the farmer's lifestyle. After that, we will transfer you back the hotel in Guilin.
Tips: The cruise lasts around 4 hours and reaches terminal Yangshuo at about 14:00. Lunch is available on board, but the basic Chinese box lunch may fail to meet with your approval. So we recommend you prepare for the cruise with a generous breakfast at the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Tips: The cruise lasts around 4 hours and reaches terminal Yangshuo at about 14:00. Lunch is available on board, but the basic Chinese box lunch may fail to meet with your approval. So we recommend you prepare for the cruise with a generous breakfast at the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 15 Departure from Guilin
Reed Flute Cave, Seven Star Park, Elephant Trunk Hill. Drive to the airport & see you off. A nice journey home! (B)
Your Guilin city tour will cover the Reed Flute Cave, the Seven Star Park and the Elephant Trunk Hill. The Reed Flute Cave is well-known for fantastic karst landscape with interesting names, such as Crystal Palace, Dragon Pagoda and Virgin Forest. The Seven Star Park is the largest complex park in Guilin City, consisting of the karst cave, hills, lakes, and ancient temples, bridges and stone tablets. As its name suggests, the Elephant Trunk Hill is a huge rock that resembles an elephant drinking water at the riverside, which may surprise you at the first sight. As your China tour finishes here, our guide will transfer you to Guilin Airport and say farewell to you.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Meals: Western buffet breakfast
B-- Breakfast L-- Lunch D-- Dinner
| Destinations | Luxury Hotels | Standard Hotels |
|---|---|---|
| Kunming | Green Lake Hotel  | Jinjiang Hotel |
| Lijiang | InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort | Ivy Garden Hotel Resorts |
| Lunan | Yinruilin International Hotel | Yinruilin International Hotel |
| Xingyi | Grand Argyle Hotel | Grand Argyle Hotel |
| Huangguoshu Waterfall | Huangguoshu Waterfalls Yingbin Hotel | Huangguoshu Waterfalls Yingbin Hotel |
| Guiyang | Sofitel Guiyang Hunter | Howard Johnson Plaza Guiyang |
| Kaili | Grand Metro Park Heaven-sent | Grand Metro Park Heaven-sent |
| Rongjiang | The best local hotel | The best local hotel |
| Zhaoxing | The best local hotel | The best local hotel |
| Longsheng | Ping An Hotel | Ping An Hotel |
| Guilin | Shangri-La Hotel | Guilin Bravo Hotel |
Earlier Booking, Bigger Savings
10% off - book 60 days before, 5% off - book 30 days before
| Tour Prices with Luxury Hotels | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers | 6-9 travelers |
| $3629 $3266 | $3239 $2915 | $2529 $2276 |
| Tour Prices with Standard Hotels | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers | 6-9 travelers |
| $3379 $3041 | $2989 $2690 | $2279 $2051 |
- Prices are per person in US Dollars based on double occupancy.
- The prices in red reflect the current discount.
- Any parts of the itinerary e.g. tour length, activities & hotels can be tailored to your individual interests.
Price Includes
- Train fares
- Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
- Lunches as itinerary specifies
- Private English-speaking guides
- Private drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
- Entrance fees to tourist sites
Price Excludes
- Airfares of arrival and departure
- Entry visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
Why Travel With Us
Itineraries you may also like:
8 Days Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La from $1179
Are the weather condition good for hiking?
Is there a tour doing / organizing hikes around kunming, Lijiang, ShangriLa or Dali?
thanks and best regards
Theresa
We only offer normal tours in Yunnan including the mentioned cities. As for hiking, we can arrange that for you at the Tiger Leaping Gorge. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us through travel
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Kindest regards,
TravelChinaGuide
And the time and weather is fine for that or are there a lot of people travelling during chinese new year?
thanks, Theresa
It will be cloudy and sunny during that time, good for travel. And the part of China is quite popular during the Spring Festival, so there will be many people. Be prepared for that!
Regards,
TravelChinaGuide
Should I stay in Guiyang first then to Anshun and back to Guiyang or from arrival Guiyang airport go direct to Anshun to visit waterfall & Dragon Place Cave. Any other place i should visit in Anshun? I was adviced to stay in Huangguoshu Watefall Yingin Hotel. What about Guiyang, which hotel can you recomment for easy access to the attractions? My & Hubby are free and easy, did not joint any tour. Is it easy to move around by public transport?? Please guide to travel around those places I mentioned above. thanks alot for our guidance.
2. You can stay in Guiyang and then tour around Anshun. In Anshun, you can also go to Tun Bu Village and Wenmiao Temple.
3. It is suggested to find a hotel nearby Guiyang Railway Station. The surrounding transportation is convenient.
4. For your convenience, joining a tour will save a lot of time. You won't miss any main attractions. TravelChinaGuide is a nice tour agency. If interested, you can contact them via travel
Hope helpful!