One of China’s most underrated regions, Guizhou offers a vibrant mix of lush scenery, ethnic diversity and rural lifestyles. Experience the genuine hospitality of the locals, as they invite you round their tables and into their homes, and attest how Guizhou managed to shake off its backwater reputation and instead developed into a safe haven of traditions with a keen focus on the future.
>> DONG CULTURE & ARCHITECTURE
Visit an impressive covered bridge on your way to an isolated Dong village. Though over 50 meters long, the wooden structure is well hidden. Share a typical Dong breakfast with your hosts before you go for a village stroll, or follow one of the trails into the surrounding rice terraces.
>> DONG CUSTOMS | WALKING
Kick-start your day with a visit to the town’s lively daily market to sample local breakfast options, followed by a wander through the nearby streets. Hike up to a secluded Buddhist temple and have your efforts rewarded with a coffee or tea, brewed with fresh mountain water straight from the monastery’s source.
>> DONG CULTURE | NATURAL ENVIRONMENT | HIKING
Locate a Dong hamlet, nestled at the top of a terraced valley. Make your way to the river through the rice fields, and jump in to cool off while your hosts prepare a tasty BBQ. Perhaps make your own bamboo fishing rod to try and catch fish, or just settle with a drink for (sunset) views of the paddies from your host’s balcony.
>> MIAO CUSTOMS, CULTURE & ARCHITECTURE | HIKING
Venture deep into unknown Miao lands to explore the sequence of sheltered valleys, dotted with traditional stilted wooden structures, and bordered by endless rice terraces. Have your hosts show you how Miao indigo batik is still produced the traditional way before you give it a try yourself.
Our Guizhou programs include a selection of simple guest houses, decent city hotels, and authentic homestays. While rural Guizhou is developing quickly, family-friendly accommodation options remain limited so overnight stays alternate between ‘basic but authentic’, ‘boring but comfortable’, as well as ‘comfortable and authentic’.