18 Days Southern China Ethnic Minorities Discovery
Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi all boast stunning natural sceneries and rich minority cultures. During this tour, we will explore the minority cultures in the three provinces, and also enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
Highlights:
- Explore the ethnic villages in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan.
- Enjoy the natural scenery along the way.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Hong Kong Arrival
- Day 2: Hong Kong
- Day 3: Hong Kong – Guilin
- Day 4: Guilin – Yangsuo – Guilin
- Day 5: Guilin – Longsheng – Sanjiang
- Day 6: Sanjiang – Zhaoxing
- Day 7: Zhaoxing – Congjiang – Rongjiang
- Day 8: Rongjiang – Kaili
- Day 9: Kaili – Guiyang
- Day 10: Guiyang – Huangguoshu – Anshun
- Day 11: Anshun – Kunming
- Day 12: Kunming – Dali
- Day 13: Dali
- Day 14: Dali – Lijiang
- Day 15: Lijiang
- Day 16: Lijiang – Shangri-La
- Day 17: Shangri-La
- Day 18: Shangri-La Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Hong Kong Arrival
Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Hong Kong
Meals:
Upon your arrival, our guide will pick you up from airport and transfer you to your hotel in a comfortable and clean car. Then have a good rest.
Day 2 Hong Kong
Sightseeing and Activities: Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen
Accommodation: Hong Kong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we will explore Hong Kong city. The first stop is Victoria Peak – the highest mountain on Hong Kong island. Then transfer to Aberdeen fishing village and take a ride on the boat.
Afterwards continue today’s tour with Repulse Bay and Stanley Market. Known as the Hawaii of Orient, Repulse Bay is the most wonderful bay in the region in crescent-shaped. Stanley Market is another must-go attraction of Kong Kong tour, which is a typical example of a traditional old open-air market known for its bargains with many shops selling souvenirs.
Day 3 Hong Kong – Guilin
Sightseeing and Activities: Elephant Trunk Hill
Accommodation: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast
Transferred to Shenzhen and picked up by local tour guide. Then drive to Shenzhen railway station to catch the train to Guilin. Upon arrival, met by the the tour guide and visit Elephant Trunk Hill. Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of the city of Guilin, which got its name because it looks like an elephant drinking water.
Day 4 Guilin – Yangsuo – Guilin
Sightseeing and Activities: Li River cruise, West Street, Reed Flute Cave
Accommodation: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, we will take Li River cruise to Yangsuo. On the twisty Li River from Zhujiang to Yangshuo, it covers hundreds and thousands of grotesque peaks. Breathe the fresh air, feel the gentle breeze and enjoy the spectacular landscapes here. Have lunch on board.
In the afternoon, disembark at Yangsuo. Then walk around West Street to find a lot of unique shops selling traditional handcrafts, hand-made scarfs, snacks of local flavor etc.
Drive back to Guilin and visit Reed Flute Cave. Known as “the Palace of Natural Arts”, Reed Flute Cave is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting and has been one of Guilin’s most interesting attractions for over 1200 years.
Day 5 Guilin – Longsheng – Sanjiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Longji Rice Terraces, Pingan Zhuang village
Accommodation: Sanjiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, drive to Longsheng and visit Longji Rice Terraces and Pingan Zhuang village. Then drive to Sanjiang, which is known for diverse minority cultures.
Day 6 Sanjiang – Zhaoxing
Sightseeing and Activities: Dong Village, Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge, Sanwang temple
Accommodation: Zhaoxing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we will visit the Dong Village in Sanjiang and Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge. Then visit Sanwang temple.
Overnight in Zhaoxing.
Day 7 Zhaoxing – Congjiang – Rongjiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Zhaoxing Dong Village, Basha Miao Village
Accommodation: Rongjiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, visit 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.
Then drive to visit 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.
Overnight in Rongjiang.
Day 8 Rongjiang – Kaili
Sightseeing and Activities: Sige Miao village, Shiqiao village, Qingman Miao village
Accommodation: Kaili
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Visit morning market in Rongjiang, then drive to Sige Miao village, Shiqiao village, and Qingman Miao village on the way to Kaili. Shiqiao village is famous for paper making with trees’ bark, this skill can be dated back to 1,300 years ago in China. Qingman Village is one of the most prominent and populated Miao Villages within the Province. See the Miao ladies dressed in their beautiful and colorful dresses along with their traditional headdresses and silver accessories.
Day 9 Kaili – Guiyang
Sightseeing and Activities: Langde Miao Village, Wu Dong Village
Accommodation: Guiyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today explore Langde Miao Village and Wu Dong Village. As the most picturesque Miao village in Kaili, Langde is also known as the Miao’s Ethnic Village Museum and will present visitors an authentic experience of Miao. Wu Dong Villagers are typical of the “Long Skirt” Miao,” who are known for their singing and dancing.
Drive to Guiyang for overnight.
Day 10 Guiyang – Huangguoshu – Anshun
Sightseeing and Activities: Huangguoshu Waterfall
Accommodation: Anshun
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, drive to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall which is one of the largest waterfalls in China and East Asia located on the Baishui River in Anshun. The main waterfall is 67 m high and 83.3 m wide and a 134-meter-long curtain cave lies secretly behind the main fall.
After lunch, visit Tianxingqiao Scenic Spot. It is featured various grotesque limestone formations, caves, waterfalls, forest, lakes and ‘Heavenly Star Bridge’.
Overnight in Anshun.
Day 11 Anshun – Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities: Yunnan Minority Village, Western Hill & Dragon Gate
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, take the high speed train to Kunming. Upon arrival, met by the tour guide. Then visit the epitome of ethnic groups of Yunnan – Yunnan Minority Village. Get to know their architecture styles, costumes, etiquette, etc. Continue the tour to Western Hill & Dragon Gate. Stand on the Dragon Gate and have a panoramic view of the “Pearl on the Plateau” – Dianchi Lake.
Day 12 Kunming – Dali
Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Flowers and Birds Market, the Green Lake
Accommodation: overnight train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, 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. Then continue to stroll around the Green Lake Park, enjoying locals do dancing and making music.
In the evening, transfer to Kunming Railway Station for the overnight train to Dali.
Day 13 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 14 Dali – Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Dali Ancient Town, Three Pagodas
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, visit Dali Ancient Town and Three Pagodas, the symbol of the history of Dali.
Then drive to Lijiang.
Day 15 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 16 Lijiang – Shangrila
Sightseeing and Activities: Ancient town of Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Shangrila
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, head to visit Ancient town of Lijiang and stroll on Square Street. Then drive about 4 hours to Shangrila. On the way, stop to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world.
Day 17 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 18 Shangrila Departure
Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast
Departure from Shangrila. Service ends.
Service Included:
- Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
- Meals as listed in the itinerary;
- Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
- Private English-speaking tour guide;
- Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
- Service charge & government taxes;
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
- Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.
Service Excluded:
- Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
- Chinese visa fees;
- Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
- Single room supplement;
- Tips to guides and drivers;
- Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
- Personal travel accident insurance;
- All optional programs.
