China Minority Groups Tour

Kunming Airport is only 7 kilometers away from downtown. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at airport on time and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city. Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province and praised as the Spring City due to its mild temperature all the year round.

Take an early morning flight to Lijiang which is one of the best preserved old cities in China and transfer to the well located hotel. After a short rest, visit the Baisha Village and a local Naxi family, the Baisha Murals, the Rock Joseph's Former Residence in Yuhu Village and the Square Street of Lijiang Old Town.  (B+L)

Full day is free. You can take your time wandering around the ancient town and have contact with the local minority people. Yunnan has quite a number of minority groups. Naxi is an ancient nationality and mainly lives in Lijiang. Naxi people have their own language, characters and cultures which are now open up to travelers from all over the world. (B)

Take a morning flight back to Kunming and transfer directly to visit the Stone Forest Scenic Area at Lunan County which is about 100 kilometers southeast away from Kunming. The Stone Forest occupies an area of 400 square kilometers and is known as "World Karst Landscape Museum". Because being exposed to the elements for thousands of years, the limestones were formed into all kinds of strange shapes. Together with the beautiful local legends and stories come down from the old times, the Stone Forest is now one of the most popular travel destinations in China. Stay overnight at the local best hotel. (B+L)

Drive towards east about four hours to Xingyi via Shizong. On the way, visit the local Tobacco Farm and a local Country Market if there is heaps of time. Upon arrival in Xingyi, visit the Local Folk Museum of the Wedding Rituals which occupies one fifth land of the Liu’s Manor. It is the only museum of ethnic wedding theme in the country and presents the customs of Miao Minority with the rich collections of cultural relic and wedding items. Stay overnight at the local best hotel and now you are in Guizhou Province. (B+L)

Visit the Forest of Thousands of Mountain Peaks which is 5 kilometers away from Xingyi in the Maling Gorge Scenic Area. As the name shows, it looks like a forest of thousands of peaks. But unlike the Stone Forest in Kunming, it presents a total different subuliform Karst Landscape. Known as “A Beautiful Scar of the Earth”, Maling Gorge is treasured by seasoned travelers. It is 75 kilometers long, 50-150 meters wide and 120-280 meters deep. Heaven-star Gallery is the most splendid part of the gorge and takes 2 hours' hiking. (B+L)

Drive about 3 hours to Huangguoshu and you will visit Zuoqi Black Miao Village on the way. The style of the village has no much difference from Han Nationality. They call themselves "Black Miao” as they wear black mostly and their dresses and accessories are relatively simple than other “White Miao”. You will discover the big earring, black turban and black cotton jacket of the local women. Then visit a Buyi Miao Village to see their traditional way of spinning and weaving. The processes are complicated, meticulous and painstaking, while accordingly the textiles are extremely beautiful, serviceable and durable. Stay overnight at the local best hotel. (B+L)

Visit the largest waterfall in Asia - Huangguoshu Waterfall which is 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide. It is recorded by Guinness Book of World Records as the largest waterfalls in the world. After lunch, drive for about 2.5 hours to Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou Province and check in the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Qingyan Old Town, once a very important military town which was constructed over 600 hundreds years ago, and the Jiaxiu Pavilion, the landmark of Guiyang. (B+L)

Drive 3 hours to Kaili and check in at the hotel. After lunch, visit the traditional way of paper-making and a Long-skirt Miao Village. The paper and the skirts are very popular among the tourists as the paper is made by purely natural materials and dyes, and the skirts are delicately hand-made by the local Miao women. You will also have a chance to experience the Miao people's daily life by visiting the local families and their typical architecture - Wooden Stilt House. Because of the sticky weather and sylvan environment, the house is hung in the air and supported by the wooden poles so as to be moisture proof and protect from the beasts. The ground floor is used to put farm implements and sundries; the first floor is for residing and the second floor is the storage. (B+L)

In the morning, visit another Long-skirt Miao Village and a village nearby to see the Pottery-making. The potteries are utilitarian and artistic, and the designs are all drawn from the local people’s daily life and the nature. After lunch, visit a Miao Minority Village and a Shui Minority Village. Shui Minority is also a very old ethnic group which has a history of over 2000 years. Now there are only 34,000 of them in the country and the language and characters are fading away. Late afternoon, arrive at Rongjiang and check in at the local best hotel. (B+L)

Drive to visit Yintan Dong Village. Family Visit will be arranged. Then explore Basha Miao Village noted for men's hair dresses which are inherit from Qin and Han Dynasty. In the afternoon, drive to visit Zhaoxing Dong Minority Village. The village was settled in a basin and surrounded by high mountains. Over 800 families of 4000 people live here and make it the largest Dong Village. Check in at the local best hotel in Zhaoxing. (B+L)

An exploration to Tang'an Dong Village is scheduled in the morning. The village has a history of more than 700 years and the structure of the village and the mountains of terrace fields are well kept. It is now known as the ecological museum of Dong Ethnic Group. Then drive about 4.5 hours to Sanjiang and please kindly note this part of road is a little rough and bumpy. Upon arrival, visit the Chenyang Wind and Rain Bridge which was built in 1916 and is the biggest and most well preserved bridge of Dong Minority. Then explore the Dong villages nearby. Late afternoon, drive another 2 hours to Longsheng and check in at the local best hotel. (B+L)

Visit the most spectacular Terraced Fields in the morning. You need to hike a couple of hours to get the best angle of view. And as Longsheng is a mountain area, a pair of comfortable shoes is recommended today. Then visit Huangluo Yao Minority Village which is the only Yao village among the 13 villages in Longsheng. It belongs to Red Yao and their women like to wear red and long hair. It is said that the longest hair in the village is 19 meters. Late afternoon, drive 2 hours to Guilin and check-in at the hotel. After a long mountain journey, we believe you need a good rest at the hotel tonight. (B+L)

The highlight of Guilin tour is arranged today and you will take the cruise down along the picturesque Li River in the morning. No matter it is sunny, cloudy, foggy or rainy, the beauty of Li River is always dazzling and memorable. You can see children and water buffalo swimming in the river and the small bamboo rafts occasionally passing by. Upon arrival in Yangshuo at around 13:00, a short bicycle trip to the countryside will be arranged. The rurality of Yangshuo is intoxicating and serene. And you can pay a visit to a local villager's home to experience the farmer's lifestyle there. Alternatively, if you are not good at riding bicycle, you can take our electric car instead. Transfer back to Guilin in the late afternoon. (B+L)

Visit the Reed Flute Cave, the Seven Star Park and the Elephant Trunk Hill. It is said that Guilin landscape tops those elsewhere. These three parks include the most representative view of Guilin and the Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of Guilin landscape. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your homeward flight and say goodbye to this fairyland. (B+L)