6 Days Guizhou In-depth Ethnic Tour with Jiabang Rice Terraces
In-depth Trip with Experience to Jiabang Rice Terrace & Zhenyuan Ancient Town
In-depth Trip with Experience to Jiabang Rice Terrace & Zhenyuan Ancient Town
This 6 days Guizhou Miao and Dong ethnic tour is especially designed for travelers who want to have in-depth exploration in Southeast Guizhou, the last peaceful habitat for human being to rest their soul. It starts from Congjiang County, a bordering place with Guangxi with high speed trains connecting, which can be called the southeast door of Guizhou Province. Explore from Congjiang, then you’ll get to Zhaoxing, Rongjiang, Leishan, Kaili and Zhenyuan and your tour will end in Kaili, the capital of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture.
Along this mysterious route, you’ll deeply touch the brilliant Miao and Dong cultures and their real lifestyle by visiting the representative ethnic villages. Besides, what makes this trip special is the fantastic extension experience to Jiabang Rice Terraces, the fairy rice terrace with clouds and mists floating above layer upon layer fields; and one-day trip to Zhenyuan Ancient Town, a historic town with more than 2,200 years, in the shape of Eight Diagrams. In 6 days, you will not only have a good exploration about Miao & Dong ethnic cultures, but also release yourselves in the beautiful countryside scenery.
Day 1 Congjiang Arrival & Transfer to Zhaoxing Dong Village
Pick up in Congjiang - Zhaoxing Dong Village - Zhaoxing Dong Culture Museum
Welcome to Congjiang! Upon arrival at Congjiang Railway Station, the local guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall of the train station. Then, they will transfer you to Zhaoxing Dong Village, the largest Dong village in Guizhou.
After checking in to your hotel, you’ll start to explore Zhaoxing Dong Village. It has been selected as “one of the six most beautiful countryside in China” and together with its drum towers were listed into the Guinness World Records in 2001. It is divided into 5 natural small villages, living in five different areas - which are called “Tuan” locally. Besides, there are five drum towers, five Wind and Rain Bridges and five stages setting in the village. Start your exploration from the village gate and get atop of the viewing platform to enjoy the panorama, where you can also clearly appreciate the five drum towers standing beautifully in the village. Afterwards, pay a visit to the Zhaoxing Dong Culture Museum to have a better understanding about Dong people and its culture in all aspects. Follow the route to visit Xin Tuan (means faith) with the highest drum tower at 25.9 meters, Zhi Tuan (means wisdom), Yi Tuan (means righteousness), Li Tuan (means Rritual) with the first drum tower in Zhaoxing built in 17th century and Ren Tuan (means benevolence). If weather permits, watch the famous Grand Song of Dong People and other interesting programs.
Arrival Ideas: High speed trains are well connected Congjiang with Guiyang (1.5-2hrs), Guilin (about 1hr), Yangshuo (1-1.5hrs), Guangzhou (3.5-4 hours), Chengdu (about 5hrs), Chongqing (3.5-4hrs) and more destinations. Congjiang Railway Station is about 6.5 kilometers from Zhaoxing Dong Village which needs about 20 minutes’ drive.
Zhaoxing Dong Village
Day 2 Zhaoxing - Congjiang - Jiabang Rice Terrace (B, L)
Huanggang Dong Village - Biasha Miao Village - Jiabang Rice Terrace
After breakfast, you’ll be escorted from Zhaoxing Dong Village to Huanggang Dong Village with 44 kilometers’ drive (about 1 hour). Huanggang Dong Village is considered as one of the most beautiful and traditional Dong villages in Guizhou. Huanggang, hidden in the mountains, built in ancient Song Dynasty (960-1297), has preserved the most authentic Dong culture. The villagers have had simple and unsophisticated ethnic life for hundreds of years. You can explore their local life and enjoy the unique architecture in the village. There are five drum towers standing in different directions and you can see the elders chatting in the tower or weaving their cloth. Festivals are special here - “Goddess of Thunder Worship Festival” and “Tai Guanren Festival”. If time is right, you can witness such a unique scene. (Note: For the exact time of the festivals, you can contact our travel consultants for more info.)
Next, head to Biasha Miao Village for an exciting exploration. Biasha Miao Village is called as “the Last Gunslinger Village in China”. This is the only place in China where residents are still legally allowed to own and carry guns. The Biasha people are said to be the descendants of Chi You, a mythological warrior in ancient China, and have traditions dating back 2000 years. Men of Biasha dress as ancient warriors with black waistcoats and straight black trousers as well as swords, hunting dogs, and firelocks. Women of Biasha wear black pair shirts and pleated skirts, which are simple but embroidered with bright colors. Once getting into the village, you will witness the welcome ceremony - Biasha men line up and fire 3 shots to welcome guests! Later, enjoy the folk performance to learn more about Biasha culture, including customs of farming, hunting, ancestor-worshiping, gaming and marriage. You can even watch an amazing haircut ritual - a live shave with a sickle. If you have more time, you can take a walk around this beautiful village.
After the tour, drive to Jiabang Rice Terrace (about 88 km from Biasha with 2.5 hours’ driving). Stay overnight in Jiabang.
Day 3 Jiabang Rice Terrace - Rongjiang (B, L)
Dangniu Rice Terrace - Dali Dong Village
In this morning, you’ll catch the best time to visit Jiabang Rice Terrace. Jiabang Rice Terrace, cultivated by the Miao people, is one of the most beautiful and the most mysterious rice terrace in China. It is composed of 10,000 acres, scattered in Dangniu, Jiaye, Jiache, Congkai, Pingyin, Jiabang, Baibei and Baidang villages. Every morning, when the cloud and mist rise above the river and field, Jiabang Rice Terrace become a fairyland on earth. Start your visit from Dangniu Rice Terrace where you can see the rice terrace layer upon layer stretching from the valley to the hill, walk a little to Jiaya Rice Terrace with beautiful curves; move another 2 kilometers to Jiache Village and catch the best panorama at the viewing platform, and visit the magnificent Yangsongling Rice Terrace to view the screw terrace. (Note: Go April to early May for mirror-like irrigated terrace and rice transplanting scene; go in May for clouds with mists scene, go from May to mid-September for green terraces; go late September to early-October for golden and harvest scene.)
After the rice terrace viewing, drive to Dali Dong Village in Rongjiang County. Dali Village is a quiet village with 400 ancient phoebes and over 40 are with a history over 500 years. Once you enter into the village through Wind and Rain Bridges, you’ll step on the ancient stone-paved path built in the reign of Qianlong in Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). All the buildings are built from wood and the most common of which are built as quadrangle dwellings. Don’t miss Yang Family Quadrangle Courtyard with over 200 years with 93 generations living here. Come to the center of the village to see the drum tower. And if you are lucky, enjoy the performances held at the square. If time permits, you can do a little hiking to the beautiful Sandie Waterfall about 2 kilometers away.
After the tour, be escorted to Rongjiang County for accommodation.
Day 4 Rongjiang - Kaili (B, L)
Shiqiao Miao Village - Langde Upper Miao Village - Transfer to Kaili
Today you will travel from Rongxian to Kaili, the cultural center of Guizhou’s Qiandongnan ethnic region. It is a scenic drive around 180km/3 hours with a leisure pace. En route, stop at the Viewing Plaform to enjoy the panoramic landscape of Gaoyao Rice Terrace where over a thousand acres of terraced fields sitting atop a majestic mountain, cascading layer upon layer, stretching all the way from the mountain peak to its base while a beautiful Miao village resting quietly on the terraces. You will then go to Shiqiao Village which is famous for the national intangible cultural heritage of traditional paper making with trees’ bark by Miao ethnic group. Catch the rare opportunity to see the traditional processes of making papers in the Chuandong, a natural cave where the underground river water flows quietly. Recommended optional activity: learn to make Flower Paper in the craftshop of a local family.
The final attraction for today 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. Allow the flavors of the wine to delight your senses while immersing yourself in the genuine hospitality of the villagers. 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 take part in the village’s Cultural Program which usually includes catching fish in the field, picking fresh vegetable in the farm and learning to make embroidery. If you want to experience this Cultural Program, please tell your travel consultant in advance to make appointment.
Accommodate in Kaili city which is about 28km from Langde Upper Miao Village.
Day 5 Kaili - Zhenyuan Ancient Town (B, L)
Matang Gejia Village - Zhenyuan Ancient Town - Black Dragon Cave
After breakfast, drive about 19 km (about 0.5 hour) to Matang Gejia Village, a primitive Miao village with over 400 Gejia people who are called the 57 th 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).
Later, you’ll be escorted to Zhenyuan Ancient Town (about 110 km from Matang Village, for 2 hours’ driving). With a history of more than 2,200 years, Zhenyuan Ancient Town features hundreds of ancient buildings in Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties. After arriving at Zhenyuan Ancient Town, you will go to explore Black Dragon Cave (also called Qinglong Cave). This is not simply a cave, but a ancient architectural complex of ancient temples, pavilions, shrines and palaces standing on Zhonghe Mountain. It well presents the Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism culture with the magnificent construction and layout. It is said that Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of Tai Chi, personally selected and involved in the construction of the temples. This scenic spot is composed of the following parts including the Zhusheng Bridge, Zhongyuan Temple, Ziyang Shuyuan (Academy of Classical Learning), Jade Emperor Pavilion, Longevity Palace and Xianglu Yan. After getting to the top of the cave, catch the appealing panorama of Zhenyuan Ancient Town and Wuyang River in charm and peace. The visit will be truly a cultural highlight during your Zhenyuan trip.
Have a good sleep in the ancient town tonight.
Optional activity: taking a scenic boat sailing leisurely on Wuyang River to enjoy the dazzling night scene with numerous stone buildings by the river.
Day 6 Zhenyuan Ancient Town & Guiyang Departure (B)
Zhenyuan Ancient Town - Trains/Flights off Guiyang
After breakfast, you’ll take a peaceful walk in Zhenyuan Ancient Town. The mother river called Wuyang River passes through the town in the shape of “S”, making the whole town look like Eight Diagrams and Zhenyuan is also reputed as “Oriental Venice”. Go to visit Tin Hau Temple in the architectural style of Southern Fujian. This temple has witnessed the flourishing period of Wuyang River waterway. Walk to Zhenjiang Pavilion which was built in Ming Dynasty situated in the west of the town. Have a nice stroll along the old alleys to appreciate traditional folk houses and the ancient wells. You won’t miss Sifangjing Alley.
After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or railway station in Guiyang with about 3 hours’ riding to catch your flight/train to next destination.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.
Hi Rita,
The best experience ever!!!! I fell in love.
I received your lovely card and cute gifts, thank you so much.
Done it! As always it’s my pleasure to hire your company services, see you in the next adventure.
Emmy
Hi Rita,
Please kindly see the feedback below.
We are a family of 7. This private tour package definitely met our expectations! Both tour guides (Chengdu- MAY & Chongqing-DAVID) provided us a very good service, both friendly and very flexible despite the change in our tour schedules. They were also very responsible and ensured our safety, meals and transports were well taken care of, especially since we have elderly and kids in our group. Both tour guides are very fluent in English too so it is very convenient for some of the non-chinese speakers in our group.
We will look for the same tour agent again in our next trip to China!
Best Regards,
Victoria
Hi Shirley,
Thanks for the tour, and the itinerary that you planned for us was very comprehensive and detailed. We enjoyed it very much. The tour guide was also very friendly and experienced. He followed your itinerary closely and brought us to all the sites and explained in detail. He also recommended and brought us to enjoy some of the local cuisines during lunch.
Overall, we are impressed by the excellent service, reliability and quality that yourself, the tour guide and the driver has provided us. We would like to visit China again and we will not hesitate to engage your services again. Thank you!
Regards
Chun How
Hi Shirley,
I'm writing to provide some feedback on our recent Xian and Beijing trip that you put together for us.
We travel a lot, in the past year to Japan, New Zealand, China, Turkey, Africa, China, and finally this Xian/Beijing trip. I bring this up to highlight that we deal with a lot of travel professionals. You are easily the best travel professional we have dealt with through all of those trips. My wife, who happens to be Chinese asked me to make sure to keep your contact information for future China trips, with the intention of replacing the China based agent her brother usually uses for our trips.
Please let your manager know that we would probably not have used your company if not for you. Bamboo Travel is new to us and in a foreign country, so we had doubts as to what to expect. Your service was excellent from start to finish which really gave us confidence in your company. We had a little bit of an unusual itinerary and some constraints related to our other China travel prior to this tour. You were able to work through all of our issues with fast responses to our questions.
You also went what I would say was above and beyond expectations. The final example of that is a friend in the US was shipping some things to our hotel in Beijing for me to bring home to her. I contacted you to confirm the hotel name before they shipped the items, expecting I would then have to figure out the shipping details. Your reply not only confirmed the hotel, but you provided the shipping info in both English and Chinese, which saved me the hassle of trying to figure which address to use. Not a huge thing, but it's those small things that add up to a big difference in customer experience.
Thanks again for everything!
Xian:
Our guide was Waldner and we liked him from the start. We were just coming off another tour with another company which had maybe the best tour leader we've ever had. Even though we were always comparing Waldner measured up well. He was great at explaining the history of places we visited as well as answering our cultural questions. The restaurants/food were very good. He and the driver also modified the itinerary somewhat to optimize the driving based on our arrival and departure times and locations. We liked the hotel in Xian. The car (van) was very comfortable. Waldner also helped arrange tickets for a night show for us.
Beijing:
Pickup was great; even though we got in late the guide that picked us up was there and actually met us at the track. Cindy was our guide and we really liked her also. She is very knowledgeable and willing to answer (a lot of) questions. This was my 3rd time in Beijing and it was amazing what a difference having a good guide made. Cindy and the driver also modified the itinerary to optimize the driving. She also helped us book tickets to two shows, one of which was not on your list of optional items (Lao She tea house). Cindy was concerned about us ordering a cab so she stayed at the show to make sure we got back to our hotel ok. The restaurants/food were very good. The hotel was good but not great; for example we had hot water issues every day, and when I went to pick up a package that was shipped to me they just left me to dig through a pretty large pile of packages all addressed in Chinese.
To wrap up, I would rate the overall experience of looking for a trip, picking a company, and traveling 9.5 out of 10. Shirley, your service was 10 out of 10.
See you next trip!
Terry
Dear Rita,
Feedback.
The trip organised by Rita Jiang to Beijing and Xian was very well planned and enjoyable, showing the best of Chinese history, culture, heritage, and enormous progress.Your 2 guides, Linda Chua and Beryl are very good. Linda went out of her way to take us to Peking Opera at night. The kids were tired, so we did not go to Summer palace and Heavenly temple, and did not go to Xian Pagoda. It was our choice, so its ok. (I have been to all)
The 2 bus drivers were excellent, very careful, disciplined and good temperament and helpful. I could not give a tip to Beryl at Xian station, as I had to rush into toilet inside, and did not know she could not enter the train Station.
The pace was good, but the last day of train from Xian, to hotel (plus late dinner scrabbling in Beijing), then early next morning to airport was too Hectic. However, it was because we had to return on 8.12.24. we wish we could stay longer in Xian, and elsewhere. We could probably have gone to Xian by train, then fly back to Beijing by plane, but one way tickets could cost much more.
Anyway, thank you very much for all your fine arrangements. We all enjoyed the short trip.
For the kids, the major highlights were the Great Wall, Terracotta warriors, Acrobatic show. They will treasure. I will plan more trips for them to China.
Best wishes and warm regards,
Richard
excellent assistance, helpfulness and courtesy. My contact 'was Shirley, prepared friendly and punctual. Highly recommended...
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
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After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
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Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
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The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
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There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Zhaoxing Dong Village
Jiabang Rice Terraces
Huanggang Dong Village
Haircut Ritual at Biasha Miao Village - a Live Shave with a Sickle
Jiabang Rice Terraces in Autumn
Dali Dong Village
Shiqiao Village is good at making flower paper in traditional way
Stunning Gaoyao Rice Terraces in May
Upper Langde Miao Village
Matang Gejia Village
Peaceful Zhenyuan Ancient Town at Night
Black Dragon Cave
Duplicate Our dear guests cruising on Wuyang River in Zhenyuan Ancient Town
Our dear client Miko from Indonesia visiting Zhenyuan Ancient Town
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