16 Days Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi Minorities Discovery by Speed Train

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Yunnan and Guizhou are two provinces with many nationalities and cultures. During this tour, we will explore the nature and ethnic groups in Yunnan, then take the high speed train from Kunming to Guiyang to visit the minority villages. What’s more, the best highlights of Guilin and Yangshuo are also included.

Highlights:

Visit the highlights of Yunnan tour, including Shangrila, Lijiang, Dali and Kunming.
Explore the minority villages in Guizhou.
Enjoy the best highlights of Guilin and Yangshuo.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Shangrila Arrival
Day 2: Shangrila
Day 3: Shangrila – Lijiang
Day 4: Lijiang
Day 5: Lijiang-Dali
Day 6: Dali
Day 7: Dali – Kunming
Day 8: Kunming
Day 9: Kunming – Guiyang
Day 10: Guiyang – Kaili
Day 11: Kaili – Rongjiang
Day 12: Rongjiang – Congjiang – Zhaoxing
Day 13: Zhaoxing – Yangshuo
Day 14: Yangshuo
Day 15: Yangshuo – Guilin
Day 16: Guilin Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Shangrila Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals:

Welcome to Shangrila! Upon arrival, met by tour guide and transferred to you hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Day 2 Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Lamasery, Potatso National Park
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning, visit the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan – Songzanlin Monastery. Afterwards visit Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park, which is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world.

Day 3 Shangrila – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Tiger Leaping Gorge, Ancient town of Lijiang
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today drive another 4 hours to Lijiang. On the way, stop to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world. After Lijiang arrival, head to visit Ancient town of Lijiang and stroll on Square Street.

Day 4 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yufeng Temple, Baisha Mural
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at hotel, drive to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Then head to visit Yufeng Temple and Baisha Mural.

Day 5 Lijiang – Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Dali Ancient Town, Three Pagodas
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, drive back to Dali, one of the important cradles of Yunnan ancient culture. Upon arrival, visit Dali Ancient Town and Three Pagodas, the symbol of the history of Dali.

Day 6 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Erhai Cruise, Xizhou ancient town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at hotel, take an Erhai Cruise for about 4 hours. Erhai, is the second largest lake in Yunnan after Dianchi Lake. Then transferred to visit Xizhou Bai’s Houses (Yan’s Courtyard included) to see the ancient house of Bai people.

Day 7 Dali – Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: on the overnight train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Explore this city at leisure until being transferred to Dali railway station for the overnight train to Kunming.

Day 8 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Flowers and Birds Market
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at hotel, our tour guide and drive will pick you up from your hotel and then drive about 85km to the Stone Forest, a notable set of limestone formations and two parts of which have been UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the South China Karst. Besides, Stone Forest is also famous for the ethnic culture of the Sani People (a branch of the Yi ethnicminority).

After the visit, drive back to Kunming and visit Flowers and Birds Market.

Day 9 Kunming – Guiyang

Sightseeing and Activities: Jiaxiu Tower and Qingyan Old Town
Accommodation: Guiyang
Meals: Breakfast

Today we will take the high speed train to Guiyang. Met by the tour guide and transferred to hotel.

In the afternoon, visit Jiaxiu Pavillion, the landmark of Guiyang. It offers stunning panoramic view of the surroundings. Then move on to Qingyan Ancient Town, which is a famous historical and cultural towns in Guizhou Province, formed in the Hongwu years Ming dynasty.

Day 10 Guiyang – Kaili

Sightseeing and Activities: Shiqiao Miao village, Matang village
Accommodation: Kaili
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will drive to Kaili for a visit. The first stop is Shiqiao Miao Village. The Miao people in Shiqiao village still lives a self-sufficient living style. The village is renowned for traditional paper-making. It is a nice place to experience and learn the traditional paper-making.

Then continue the tour to Matang village to see Gejia group, which is an unrecognized nationality with Hou Yi as their ancestors. It is famous for exotic attires, colorful festivals and countryside feelings.

Day 11 Kaili – Rongjiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Langde Miao Village, Datang Miao Village, Qiaotu Shui village
Accommodation: Rongjiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, head to visit Langde Miao Village, and Datang Miao Village to explore the culture of Miao people where the female villagers here wearing their traditional skirt.

In the afternoon, continue the tour to Rongjiang and stop at Qiaotu Shui village for a visit. The people here usually dress in black and blue.

Day 12 Rongjiang – Congjiang – Zhaoxing

Sightseeing and Activities: Basha village, Zhaoxing village
Accommodation: Zhaoxing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, head to Basha Miao Village, which is famed for being China’s last tribe of gunmen. Hidden away in a forest, Basha residents still live in their wooden houses, practice centuries-old customs and have their own unique beliefs.

After that, continue the drive to Zhaoxing Dong Village, which is one of the biggest Dong minority villages in China, and also the center of the Dong ethnic folk cultures. All the buildings in the village are wooden-stilt houses. In Zhaoxing Dong Village, there are five drum towers, which are known far and wide for their unique styles.

Day 13 Zhaoxing – Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities: Tang’an village
Accommodation: Yangsuo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, head to Tang’an Dong Village. With a long history of over 700 years, it is a unique eco-museum of Dong Minority which was reputed as “one of the Top 6 Ancient Villages in China”, “the biggest living museum of Dong Minority”, “the cradle of ancient music” and “the land of festivals”.

In the afternoon, take the high-speed train to Yangsuo.

Day 14 Yangshuo

Sightseeing and Activities: Li River trip, Silver Cave, West Street
Accommodation: Yangshuo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today take Li River cruise (Xingping section). Enjoy the scenery on the boat. Then head to visit Silver Cave which is very majestic. After that, walk around West Street to find a lot of unique shops selling traditional handcrafts, hand-made scarfs, snacks of local flavor etc.

Day 15 Yangshuo – Guilin

Sightseeing and Activities: Mulong Lake Park, Li River cruise
Accommodation: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, drive to Guilin. Enjoy the scenery along the way. Visit Mulong Lake Park on the way, and then take Li River (city section) boat cruise to view the water landscape and hills. Mulong Lake Park is an artificial lake connecting the Li River in the east and channeling the water into the downtown area of the city.