Enchanting Southwest China

breakfast

On a half-day excursion, you will see the scenic south coast of Hong Kong Island, the suburb of Aberdeen, which used to be mainly inhabited by fishermen. Then pay a visit to Victoria Peak, from which you have a great overview of the island and the Kowloon Peninsula.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the railway station. You will take a high-speed train to Guilin (travel time about 3.5 hours). Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel in Guilin.

Victoria Harbour

breakfast and lunch

Today, you will enjoy the picturesque city of Yangshuo. At first, explore the Li River on cruise. Enjoy the Li River tour with the buffet lunch on broad. Savour the fairy-tale scenery while cruise down the meandering river to Yangshuo. You can go on the sundeck or just sit and appreciate the picturesque scenery from the window.

Arrive in Yangshuo in the afternoon, then get on a traditional bamboo raft with a private punter to sail along the Yulong River. It is known as little Li River, you sail on a bamboo raft through the idyllic mountain landscape of Yangshuo. Sitting on the reclining chair on the raft you can enjoy a tranquil moment while the reflections of the mountains and bamboo groves pass by.

Enjoy a relaxing night in Yangshuo West Steet.

Bamboo Rafting on Yulong River

breakfast and lunch

In the morning, we will depart to the Longji Rice Terraces.

The Rice Terraces in Ping'an village show a picture of great momentum and imposing beauty, being reputed as having no match in the world. A short climb (about 30 minutes) takes you to the Ping'an village, then walk along a quieter path on the terraced fields offering views overlooking the terrace. During your time at the Ping'an village, experience firsthand local's daily lives and see the traditional architecture featured on both the older and newer buildings.

The Rice Terraces in Longji village

breakfast and lunch

Today you leave for Sanjiang which is located west of Guilin (travel time approx 1 Hour), an autonomous city of the Dong ethnic minority. The architecture of the Dong which is mostly wooden structure is particularly well preserved here. Therefore, Sanjiang is known for drum towers and especially for the so-called wind and rain bridges. With a history about 100 years, Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge still keeps a complete appearance for people to study the Dong minority culture. The bridge is a perfect combination of painting, bridge, corridor, veranda and Chinese pavilion. It is truly a masterpiece of Chinese architecture!

Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge

breakfast and lunch

Today we'll drive to Zhaoxing (travel time about 1.5 hours). On the way visit the Tang'an Village. The buildings in this village, which is surrounded by green fields, is almost completely preserved in the style of the Dong nationality. Many villagers carry the traditional costumes of the ethnic group. Zhaoxing is famous for its Dong Villages which is the largest in China. Each village here has at least one drum tower, a wooden structure built without nails and can erect as tall as 30 meters. As the focal point of the whole town, it is the place villagers holding the special events and ceremonies such as the wedding and public meeting.

Tang'an Village

breakfast and lunch

After breakfast, we will continue to Rongjiang. On the way, you'll have a chance to visit China's last tribe of gunmen - Basha Village, where mainly Miao people live. It is an ancient village where men still carry a gun, gunpowder bag, bullet bag, and a knife. The traditional customs of the warrior Miao have been officially acknowledged and respected.

The second village you see today, Huanggang, will then again be the one you already know inhabited by members of the Dong nationality. The village is somewhat remote and therefore visited by far fewer tourists than Zhaoxing. Connoisseurs often refer to Huanggang as the most beautiful dong Village in china. You can also experience everyday life in the country here observe.

In the afternoon continue to Rongjiang, go around to do some sightseeing here.

Huanggang Miao Village

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A more than two hours drive will bring you to Kaili today, the capital of the Dong and Miao Nationality Autonomous District in this part of Guizhou.

You will visit Datang Village on the way. Datang Short-Skirt Miao Village is situated at the foot of Leigong Mountain. You will be greeted by its friendly villagers and drink the block way wine before entering the village. Its silver ornaments will leave you a deep impression.

In the afternoon you arrive in Kaili, a small town in the style of the Minorities. You will visit the Kaili Ethnic Museum in which you a lot will be learned about the clothing of the local minorities.

breakfast and lunch

On the about 2.5 hours drive to Guiyang, you will visit a paper factory in Shiqiao where you could watch how the paper is made by traditional way. Afterwards visit the Qingman Miao Village, where villager in traditional costumes will stop guests at the entrance of the village, singing toasting songs and offering welcome local wine.

Then we continue travel to Guiyang. In the afternoon, visit the city's famous landmark, the Jiaxiu Pavilion, which has a history of more than 400 years. Jiaxiu Pavilion is a magnificent three-storied building 20-meter-high with three eaves and a pointed top, containing carved windows and red lattices and upturned eaves on all sides. In Jiaxiu Pavilion, you can enjoy the rich collection of stone engravings, calligraphy works, paintings and woodworks by ancient artists.

Jiaxiu Pavilion

breakfast and lunch

On the drive from Guiyang to Anshun which is only about 1 hour lasts. On the way, make a stop in Tianlong Village, where you will meet ladies in traditional Ming clothing. Tianlong is the only place in China where the way of life of the Ming Dynasty was maintained. Residents still wear Ming-style clothes and even speak the language of that time. The Tianlong Village is the best among the wellkept settlements, where people have changed little in lifestyle.

Afterwards visit the largest waterfall in Asia: the Huangguoshu Waterfall which is known as 'the first waterfall in China', with the most impressive having a width of 81 meter and dropping 74 meter. A 134-meter-long curtain cave lies secretly behind the main fall. Like the Milky Way descending from the heaven, the Huangguoshu Waterfall rushes into the Xiniu pond, sending foams up by 100 meters, and roars can be heard kilometers away. It is a prime example of how stunning nature can be and no visit to Guizhou is complete with a visit.

Huangguoshu Waterfall

breakfast and lunch

Today you take the high-speed train to the provincial capital of Yunnan - Kunming.

At the station, your tour guide will welcome you and then accompany you to the Stone Forest. The magnificent, strange and steep landscape of the Stone Forest creates countless labyrinthine vistas, all of which feature stones in various formations. Animals, plants, and even human figures can be found here. Geologists say that the Stone Forest is a typical example of karsts topography. All the most typical Karst stone forest landforms in every part of world can be seen here.

Transfer back to Hotel in Kunming in the afternoon.

Stone Forest

breakfast and lunch

In the morning, we will say goodby to Kunming, and take a high-speed train to Dali. Dali Ancient Town with a history of 1,300 years, which is the home to Bai minority. The town, whose format is like a chess board with four gates guarding in the directions of east, south, west and north stands between Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake, a natural configuration that seems specially designed for a good bountiful life.

Then the most famous sight of the city is the Chongsheng Temple with the Three Pagodas. The temple used to be a important Buddhist center in the whole region, in the Qing Dynasty, however, it was destroyed in a fire and only in 2015 newly built. The pagodas themselves have been restored, but they have still reflect the original style of the Tang Dynasty.

You will then ride back to the old town and explore the city at your leisure.

Three Pagodas

breakfast and lunch

Today we will overland drive 2.5 hours to Lijiang. En route, we will stop and visit the Zhoucheng Bai minority's tie-dyed cloth workshop.

When arrive in Lijiang, we will first visit the Lijiang Ancient Town. Take a saunter through the Old Town. It enjoys a long history of over 1300 years and unlike most of the old towns in China, there is no city wall due to a superstitious belief of the local ruler whose family name is Mu (tree), when encircled by walls, would be Kun (besieged). Wooden structures, mountains, small rivers and lanes integrate harmoniously in this mountain town.

Next, take a visit to the Black Dragon Pond with the Dongba Culture Museum. The Black Dragon Pond Park is also known as Yuquan park. It is located at the foot of Xiangshan mountain in the north of Lijiang ancient city. Due to its spring water gushing from the rocks at the foot of the mountain, it gathers into a deep pool of 40,000 square meters. The Black dragon pool is a perfect combination of beautiful natural scenery and unique human landscape.

After transfering to hotel, you can have a relaxing time.

Lijiang

Black Dragon pool

breakfast and lunch

Today you will take a full day tour in Lijiang. In the morning, you will set off to Jade Dragon Snow Mountains. It leans close to the Haba Snow Mountains, so you can feel a large volume of torrent moving between them cutting deeper and deeper into the bottom of the gorge.

In the afternoon, continue to visit the Baisha Frescos and Shuhe Ancient Town. The famous Baisha Frescos depicts the religious life of Lijiang from the early Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty, which is the crystallization of the convergence of multiple religious cultures. It covers a history of 500 years.

Jade Dragon Snowmountain

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Today you'll stop at the Tiger Leaping Gorge, which stretches for about 15 miles from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is not only one of the longest gorge with a depth of around 3900 m, but also the deepest one in the world. The Tiger Leaping Gorge is the Yangtze's best-known gorge after the Three Gorges in Sichuan and Hubei Provinces. It is 95 kilometers to the west of Lijiang. Wedged tightly between titanic cliffs, the river is so narrow here, as legend tells us, that a hunted tiger could make his escape to the other side is a single jump.

Afterwards, transfer to Lijiang Airport, from where you fly back to Kunming.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

breakfast

Say goodbye to China and transfer to airport. Connect with your departure flight.