Qiandongnan Overview

Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture is located in the southeast of Guizhou province, on the southeast edge of Yunnan-Guizhou plateau, more than 160 kilometers away from Guiyang city. The mysterious and beautiful natural scenery, colorful cultural landscapes and rich ethnic customs are the source of the charm of Qiandongnan(southeast Guizhou). In this part, you will have a general understanding of Qiandongnan.

Basic Information

• Chinese Name: 黔东南
• Location: Southeast of Guizhou Province
• Government Seat: Kaili City
• Area: About 30337.1 square kilometers
• Population: An approximate population of 3,507,400
• Minorities: Miao, Dong, Han, Buyi, Shui, Yao, Zhuang and Tujia, etc. 
• Language: Southwest Mandarin, Miao Language and Dong Language
• Airport: Kaili Huanping Airport, Liping Airport
• University: Kaili University
• Important Festivals: Lusheng Festival, Sister's Meal Festival, Miao's New Year and so on. 
• Railway Stations: Kaili Railway Station, Kaili South Railway Station, Zhenyuan Railway Station, Congjiang Railway Station, Rongjiang Railway Station, Sansui Railway Station.
• Famous Attractions: Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, Miao and Dong Folklore Garden, Langde Miao Village, Nanhua Miao Village, Zhenyuan Ancient Town, Zhaoxing Dong Village and Basha Miao Village, etc. 

Geography

Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture is located in the southeast of Guizhou province, adjacent to Huaihua of Hunan province in the east, Liuzhou and Hechi of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the south, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in the west, and Zunyi and Tongren in the north. It is 220 kilometers wide from east to west, 240 kilometers long from south to north, and more than 160 kilometers from the Guiyang in the west. The terrain is high in the west and low in the east, inclines from the west to the north, east, south. Most areas in Qiandongnan are 500-1000 meters above sea level. The highest point is the main peak of Leigong Mountain, Huangyang Peak(2178.8 meters); The lowest point is at Jinglang Village of Diping Township, liping county(137 meters). The main peaks are Leigongshan Mountain(雷公山), Lengzhu Mountain(冷竹山), Nandao Slope(南刀坡), Foding Mountain(佛顶山), Jiaoding Mountain(轿顶山), Xianglu Mountain(香炉山), Niujiao Mountain(牛角山), Tianziling Mountain(天子岭), Gaoyue Mountain(高岳山), Yueliang Mountain(月亮山), Kongming Mountain(孔明山), etc. 

Climate

Enjoying a subtropical monsoon humid climate, climate in Qiandongnan has the features of without intense heat in summer, without bitter cold in winter, as well as rain and heat in the same season. The annual average temperature is 14-18℃, the coldest month(January) average temperature of 5-8℃; The hottest month (July) average temperature of 24-28℃. Due to the different geographical location and topography in Qiandongnan, the temperature varies from place to place. The general trend is that temperatures are higher in the south than in the north and higher in the east than in the west. The annual sunshine hours in Qiandongnan are 1068-1296 hours, frost-free period of 270-330 days, rainfall of 1000-1500 mm, and relative humidity of 78-84%.

Best Time to Visit

Qiandongnan is suitable for tourism in four seasons. But tourists usually travel to Qiandongnan in spring, summer and autumn, when the temperature is higher than winter. It is notable that the rainy season in Kaili usually lasts for half a year. If you don't like there are too many rainy days, go to travel in autumn. In autumn, the rain doesn't fall as much as in summer, the temperature will not as low as in winter.  

Administrative Divisions 

Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture has jurisdiction over 1 county-level city, 15 counties  and 10 provincial economic development zones(Kaili, Lubi, Jinzhong, Luoguan, Qiandong, Taijiang, Sansui, Cengong, Jinping and Liping). 

• 1 County-level City:  Kaili City(凯里市).
• 15 Counties:  Majiang County(麻江县), Danzhai County(丹寨县), Huangping County(黄平县), Shibing County(施秉县), Zhenyuan County(镇远县), Cengong County(岑巩县), Sansui County(三穗县), Tianzhu County(天柱县), Jinping County(锦屏县), Liping County(黎平县), Congjiang County(从江县), Rongjiang County(榕江县), Leishan County(雷山县), Taijiang County(台江县), Jianhe County(剑河县).

Culture

There are 33 ethnic groups in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, including Miao, Dong, Han, Buyi, Shui, Yao, Zhuang and Tujia. In the permanent resident population, ethnic minorities population accounts for 80.3% of the total registered population, among which Miao people are 42.5% and Dong people are 29.5%. When you come to Qiandongnan, you can enjoy the mysterious and beautiful natural scenery, colorful cultural landscapes and rich ethnic customs. There are rich ethnic festivals, song and dance and activities in Qiandongnan, including Lusheng Festival, Papo(爬坡) Festival, Sister's Meal Festival, Miao's New Year, Miao's "flying songs" and "Youfang songs(游方歌)", as well as "ancient songs", "toasting songs", "grand songs", etc. 

Transportation

As an important tourism region in Guizhou, Qiandongnan is equipped with aviation, railway, and highway. There are airport and railway station for tourists to visit the core area of Guizhou minority villages gathering. However, due to limited transportation between Kaili and other cities in China, tourists often get to Guiyang first and then take train or bus to Kaili of Qiandongnan. 

Accommodation

Along with the development of tourism, the accommodation in Qiandongnan is improved as well. Therefore, it is quite convenient for tourists to find a hotel to stay in Qiangdongnan, ranging from luxury hotels economic hotels. Among so many Qiandongnan hotels, you can choose to stay around scenic spots for the convenience of sightseeing, or stay around railway station and bus station for easy going out. You can also stay in urban area and county seat, where the accommodation conditions are relatively good. 

Things to Do in Qiandongnan

Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village(西江千户苗寨)

Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is located at the foot of Leigong mountain in the northeast of Leishan county, Qiandongnan, Guizhou province, 36 kilometers from the county seat, 35 kilometers from Kaili, the capital of Qiandongnan prefecture, and about 200 kilometers from Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province. Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is a place that preserves the Miao's "original ecology" culture intactly. It is connected by more than 10 natural villages built along the mountain, and it is the largest Miao village in China and even the world at present. It is the place to appreciate and understand the long history and development of the Miao in China.

Langde Miao Village(朗德苗寨)

Langde Miao village is located at Baode village of Leishan county, near Kiaili, which is home to hundreds of Miao families. Here, you can see Miao people in traditional long skirts, enjoy the excellent local music and dance performances.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town(镇远古镇)

Zhenyuan ancient town is a diversified integration of the ancient city. Here, Han and more than 20 ethnic minorities such as Dong live in harmony, coupled with the central plains culture, Jingchu culture, Bashu culture, Wuyue culture, Minyue culture and indigenous culture integrate, making the town become a museum with multiple ethnic groups, religions and societies. 

Zhaoxing Dong Village(肇兴侗寨)

Zhaoxing Dong village, located in the southeast of Liping county, Qiandongnan, Guizhou province, covering an area of 180,000 square meters, with more than 1,000 households and more than 6,000 people, is one of the largest Dong minority village in China. It gathers many Dong villages and attracts tourists to explore the interesting Dong culture. Zhaoxing Dong village, one of the largest dong villages in southeast Guizhou, is famous for its traditional drum towers and Bridges.

Flying Clouds Cliff(飞云崖)

Feiyun cliff, also known as flying clouds cave, is located 12 kilometers northeast of Huangping county. It is a collection of religious architecture, ethnic customs, pastoral scenery, with a history of nearly 600 years.

Natural Resources

Plant Resources

Qiandongnan is rich in forest resources, and is one of the key forest regions in China and the main timber forest base in Guizhou province. There are 10 key counties of forestry in Guizhou province, among them 8 are in Qiandongnan. In 2013, 39 species were listed as national class I and II protected tree species, such as taiwania flousiana, ginkgo, tulip poplar, and taxus mairei, accounting for 10.05% of the national key protected tree species and 90.2% of the provincial key protected tree species. There are more than 400 kinds of wild medicinal plants commonly used, among which the famous medicinal materials such as radix pseudostellariae, eucommia ulmoides, gastrodia elata, platycodon grandiflorum and gallnut are famous all over the country.

Animal Resources

National class I protected animals include south China tiger; National class II protected animals are clouded leopard, leopard, sumatra antelope, goral, macaque, stump-tailed macaque, forest musk deer, pangolin, giant salamander, otter, mandarin duck; The national class III protected animals include zibet, black bear, ocelot, silver pheasant, golden pheasant, boa constrictor, river deer and tiger frog.

Water Resources

There are more than 2,900 rivers and streams in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, with Qingshui river, Wuyang river and Duliu river as the main trunks, which are spread out like a tree. Qingshui river(清水江) and Wuyang river(舞阳河) in the north of Miaoling belong to the Yangtze river system, while Duliujiang river(都柳江) in the south of Miaoling belongs to the pearl river system.

Mineral Resources

More than 40 kinds of minerals have been discovered in Qiandongnan. At present, 19 kinds of  minerals including barite, mercury, coal, iron, manganese, antimony, gold, lead, zinc, copper, phosphorus, limestone and dolomite have been proved reserves. Among them, barite reserves accounts for more than 60% of the country.