6 Days Diverse Guizhou Tour (Guiyang / Kaili / Fanjingshan)
Hidden Ethnic Villages and Wonderland Fanjingshan
In 2016, the French documentary "Rendezvous in an unknown land" mirrored the French actor Clovis Cornillac's journey to the Miao community living in Guizhou Province, southwestern China was seen by 5.2 million viewers on the France 2 TV channel, which gets the hidden ethnic villages of Guizhou known by more and more people. Two years later in 2018, the UNESCO announced that Fanjingshan (Mount Fanjing) in Tongren, northeastern Guizhou was listed in the World Heritage Lists for its profound Buddhist culture, biological diversity and epic summit views.
This is the tour taking you to explore both the representative ethnic minority villages and Mount Fanjing in one go, and also the magnificent and intriguing Huangguoshu Waterfall, splendid Dragon Palace Karst underground cave, historic powerful Qingyan Old Town, etc. for a diverse Guizhou savory, which is full of fun!
Highlights of this tour
- Visit Fanjingshan, the World Heritage epic site which was considered to have "outstanding universal value" by UNESCO and is globally famous for the peculiar shapes of peaks and rich Buddhist culture;
- Venture into the idyllic villages of Miao ethnic group in Kaili of Guizhou, enjoy exquisite colorful ethnic costumes, join local friendly people to sing, dance and have fun in parties and seasonal festivals;
- Explore Huangguoshu Waterfall which is the largest waterfall in Asia with 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide and admire its abundant kinds of waterfalls, pleasant forests, etc. for a cool vacation relaxing;
- Stroll at the over 600-year-old Qingyan Ancient Town in South Guiyang to admire its antique city walls, paved streets, archways, interesting houses, etc. to hear local fortress culture and historic stories.
Basic Trip Information
- Price:
- from
Request
- 1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling in low seasons;
- 2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
- Travel Route:
- Guiyang / Anshun / Kaili / Fanjingshan
- Travel Length:
- Tour Code:
- CD-GZGFK-06
- Group Size:
- You, your family, friends or group
- Experience:
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- Departure:
- Any day you want
Full Itinerary Day by day
- Day 1 Guiyang Arrival
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!
Guiyang Free Time Idea:
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!
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.
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- Day 2 Guiyang - Huangguoshu Waterfall - Anshun (B)
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. 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 see the stone forest of 0.4 square kilometers grows on water with verdant undershrub and cactus, and meet the Beauty Banyan looking like a beautiful lady with graceful posture.
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 angles 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 bonsai 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 the hotel in Anshun City and help you check in. Stay overnight in Anshun.
(Note of lunch today: As there is no dining facilities provided in Huangguoshu Waterfall tourist area, we suggest you enjoy your lunch today in the restaurants at the entrance of the tourist area or prepare some food with you!)
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- Day 3 Anshun - Qingyan Ancient Town - Kaili (B, L)
After breakfast today, you’ll hop on a one-hour drive to the Dragon Palace Scenic Area in Anshun City. Celebrated as "the world of Karst showcases all in Dragon Palace," this destination features a stunning array of caves, canyons, waterfalls, peaks, cliffs, rivers, stone forests, sinkholes, and underground rivers, all exemplifying the diverse beauty of Karst geology. Upon entering, you'll walk to the impressive Dragon Gate Waterfall, cascading from a height of 50 meters, making it the largest Karst cave waterfall in China. Next, you’ll ascend via elevator to Tianchi Lake, formed by the collapse of a Karst cave roof, recognized as the site with the lowest radiation dose rate in the world. This refreshing spot is rich in negative oxygen ions, promoting health and well-being.
Following this, you’ll board a boat to explore the First Entrance of Dragon Palace. Here, you’ll be captivated by the colorful underground palace adorned with uniquely shaped stalactites, illuminated by stunning natural lighting, resembling the magnificent crystal abode of the holy Dragon King from Chinese legends and myths.
After Dragon Palace Scenic Area exploration, drive 97 km to Qingyan Old Town (about 1.5 hours). It has 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 tour, drive another 2.5 hours (about 180km) to Kaili City. Have a good sleep in this capital of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture.
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- Day 4 Kaili - Transfer to Fanjingshan (B, L)
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After enjoying your breakfast, start today's excursion. The first destination for the day is Langde Upper Miao Village, renowned as "the Hometown of Chinese Folk Song and Dance Art," located approximately 28 kilometers away from Kaili. This charming village offers a refreshing escape from bustling crowds, embracing a tranquil natural ambiance while welcoming visitors with open arms and showcasing its rich cultural heritage. Upon reaching the village, you will be greeted with genuine warmth through a traditional welcome ceremony with the lovely ladies and girls, elegantly adorned in traditional Miao costumes offering "block-the-way" wine. Following the convivial toasts, immerse yourself further in the vibrant atmosphere as you witness an enthralling singing and dancing performance at the Lusheng Ground. Here, the talented men of the village will skillfully play the Lusheng, a traditional musical instrument, while the graceful ladies showcase their artistry through mesmerizing dances. Should you wish, feel free to join in the dance. To enrich your experience, you can enjoy the Cultural Program which usually includes catching fish in the field, picking fresh vegetable in the farm and learning to make embroidery. Please tell your travel consultant in advance to make appointment.
Later, you’ll be transferred to Matang Gejia Village, a primitive Miao village with over 400 Gejia people who are called the 57th ethnic group in China unofficially. According to the legend, Gejia people are the direct descendants of Hou Yi, a legendary hero who was said to shoot the nine scorching suns in order to save his people. Matang Village is famous for exotic attires, colorful festivals and countryside feelings. The women and girls here are specialized in batik that you can fully appreciate the uniqueness of the Gejia batik patterns and embroidery as well as the excellent craftsmanship of the villagers. If you are interested, you can learn how to make batik with wax from a local master and create your own batik work (optional experience with extra payment).
After the visiting, be driven about 3 hours to the foot of Fanjingshan in Tongren City! Have a nice sleep for the next hiking day!
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- Day 5 Fanjingshan - Tongren (B, L)
Good morning! After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel. Then, you will be driven not far to the entrance of Fanjingshan to discover this world well-known fantastic holy mountain along the popular south route for about 6 hours.
Fanjingshan National Nature Preserve was listed as the UNESCO World Natural Heritage in 2018 with the peculiar conspicuous mountains formation in sea of karst retained from the remote era 65-2 million years ago and praised as the No.5 Buddhist Mountain in China for being the place of enlightenment of Buddha Maitreya.
Enter the mountain and take a sightseeing bus for about 20 minutes to Yu’ao Station and continue to take the cable car there to catch a bird’s eye view of the dense emerald forest of Mount Fanjing during another 20 minutes in the air. Now, start your hiking from the Forest Hiking Road with 45 minutes up to witness the famous Mushroom Stone. It is the landmark of Fanjingshan and draws people’s follow by its unbelievable image of the bigger top quadrate putting off center on the smaller quadrate bottom, which forms like a mushroom vividly and seems easy to fall. However, for one million years, it just stands so still there after centuries of rain, snow, wind and sunburn. Remember to take a standard photo of tourists with it!
Then, continue to hike for about 30 minutes to the Old Golden Summit and walk up to its peak. With an elevation of 2,494 meters, it is the best observation deck to appreciate the panorama of Fanjingshan with layers of forest of strange shaped stones, rolling verdant mountain range, and vegetation forest in light and dark green. Also, from the summit, you will see the iconic Red Clouds Golden Summit clearly from a distance.
Then, walk down gradually to admire the natural scenery along the way to visit the sacred Buddhist attractions including Wanming Cave, Buddha Worshipping Stage, Monk Pagoda, Pudu Square, etc. You will not miss the Cheng En Temple that was built first from the Ming Dynasty and one of the four royal temples at Fanjingshan. Walk in the major temple with solemn scarlet walls and dark tiles, worship among the about 10 halls, and imagine the rising and falling and recovery of Fanjingshan’s Buddhist status in the past hundreds of years.
Here, take your challenge to hike along the narrow, steep and rough steps with iron chain up to Red Clouds Golden Summit that shows particularly often on Fanjingshan photographs. This thumb-like peak is a world rare miracle erecting about 100 meters high from the flatter mountain bed millions of years ago and is separated with two peaks and a gorge by natural wearing and with a bridge linked between. After reaching the top, visit the appealing Temple of Buddha, the bridge and Maitreya Temple in sequence to feel walking from present to the future in Buddhist belief. While witnessing the hard-to-believe difficulty of building houses on such a steep crest, stand on the peak to command the panoramic view of Fanjingshan and enjoy the feeling of being in the “space in the sky”. (Note: You can choose to go up or not considering your physical condition at that time. Just tell your needs to the guide.)
After the physical consuming hiking, walk by Jingxin Pool and go to see Wanbao Rock. You will truly believe Fanjingshan was in fact a part of ocean in the remote 1.4 million years ago by the strong proof of the cobbles, shells, paleontological fossils, and so on left within the shale rock there.
After the amazing sightseeing hiking exploration, take the cable car and sightseeing bus down to exit Fanjingshan Scenic Area. You will be driven to Jiangkou County for accommodation. Have a good sleep!
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- Day 6 Tongren Departure (B)
Today, after breakfast, our local guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then escort you to the airport / train station for your flight / train for your next destination or home! Service Ends!
Departure Ideas: For your convenient leaving from Tongren, you can take a flight to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Kunming, Xiamen, etc. or take a bullet train to Zhangjiajie (5hrs), Changsha (2hrs), Guiyang (1-1.5hrs), Shanghai (8hrs), Beijing (9.5hrs), Chongqing (3.5hrs), Guangzhou (5hrs), Wuhan (4hrs), Kunming (4hrs), Zhengzhou (6hrs), Xiamen (9-9.5hrs), Fuzhou (7-7.5hrs), etc. to enjoy more highlights in China or catch your international flight to other country or your home.
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