A Trip to Guizhou: A 6-Day Tour of Chongqing and Guizhou (Cyberpunk Scenery + Miao and Dong Village Charm)

Chongqing is renowned for its fantastical 8D urban layout and captivating cyberpunk nightscape, earning it the nickname "Cyberpunk City." As one of the birthplaces of Chinese hot pot, it offers the most authentic and flavorful spicy and aromatic broth. Furthermore, situated at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, Chongqing is a crucial starting point for trips to the Three Gorges, allowing visitors to enjoy breathtaking natural wonders.

This afternoon, you will visit the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum , which houses over 280,000 precious historical artifacts. It's an excellent place to learn about the history and culture of the Yangtze River and the Three Gorges, and experience the charm of 3,000 years of Ba-Yu civilization. After visiting the museum, don't miss the opportunity to take photos in front of the Chongqing People's Auditorium , which is located opposite the museum. This landmark building in Chongqing is a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles, making for very photogenic photos.

Next, you will witness the world-famous "light rail passing through a building" spectacle - Liziba Station . This is China's first rail transit station built and coexisting with a commercial and residential building. Located on Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2, you can watch the train enter and exit the building through the glass curtain wall on the platform level. It is very thrilling and exciting, and a unique and unforgettable experience.

Afterwards, you will visit Hongyadong , located on the banks of the Jialing River. It is one of Chongqing's most iconic cultural and tourism landmarks, renowned for its traditional Bayu stilted buildings, dazzling nighttime light show, and 8D mountain city spectacle. You can stroll and explore, easily capturing stunning 8D photos of the "floating buildings," especially at night when the lights illuminate the area, creating a real-life "Spirited Away" scene. If you like, you can also enjoy authentic hot pot here.

After the tour, return to your hotel in downtown Chongqing to rest.

Our first stop is Shiqiao Village , known as the "Hometown of Ancient Chinese Papermaking." Named after a natural stone arch bridge spanning the Nangao River, the village is surrounded by mountains, with the Nangao River winding through it in an S-shape, creating a picturesque landscape. Shiqiao Village has perfectly preserved the papermaking techniques passed down from the Tang Dynasty , using mulberry bark as raw material and entirely by hand, earning it the title of a "living fossil" of papermaking. You can stroll and admire the original village scenery, photograph the charming Miao architecture, and even have the opportunity to witness the ancient papermaking process.

Cultural experience: Try your hand at making floral paper, embedding natural elements such as dried flowers and leaves into the pulp. After it dries and sets, you will receive a special souvenir.

In the afternoon, you will visit Matang Gejia Village. Matang Gejia Village is a traditional village mainly inhabited by the Gejia people, with more than 400 people still living there. These Gejia people claim to be descendants of Hou Yi, the hero who shot down the sun in ancient mythology. Their clothing and silver ornaments often feature sun-shooting totems, and they have a unique language and customs. The village has a quiet and pleasant environment and is known as "the paradise of Hou Yi's descendants".

Furthermore, everything in Matang Gejia Village, from clothing to tablecloths, is made of batik , as if you've stepped into a colorful world of batik. The women here learn batik from a young age, and their designs often feature geometric patterns (spirals, sun patterns) and natural motifs (tigers, birds, fish, flowers, and plants). The compositions are full and layered, making them exceptionally beautiful and earning the village the reputation of "Hometown of Batik Art." You can immerse yourself in the scene of local villagers hand-dyeing with beeswax (yellow wax), or stroll through the village to experience its unique ethnic culture and customs.

Cultural experience: Experience the steps of wax painting, dyeing, and dewaxing firsthand to create your own unique batik artwork as a souvenir.

After the tour, we will proceed to our carefully selected hotel in Kaili City for rest and relaxation.

Note: If you are interested in spending the night in Xijiang Miao Village and enjoying the stunning night view, please consult your travel advisor in advance.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a grand welcoming ceremony . Local villagers, dressed in traditional Miao costumes and long skirts, will offer wine to guests using ox horn cups, expressing their welcome and blessings to visitors from afar. Here, you can experience the special 12-course welcoming ceremony , the highest level of Miao hospitality, a highly ceremonial ritual. Afterwards, you will walk along the stone-paved path to the Lusheng Square (Bronze Drum Square) in the center of the village to watch wonderful Lusheng song and dance performances , such as the Lusheng Dance and the Golden Pheasant Dance, among other intangible cultural heritage items, experiencing the charm of the "Hometown of Miao Song and Dance."

In addition, Langde Miao Village preserves the ancient Miao embroidery technique . The women's hand-embroidered patterns are exquisite, expressing their love for life and reverence for nature stitch by stitch on their clothing. You can leisurely stroll through Langde Miao Village, admire the traditional Miao stilted buildings, learn about the unique " long skirt Miao " culture, and experience the original Miao customs and simple folkways.

Afterwards, you will travel approximately 1.5 hours by car from Langde to Rongjiang to visit Dali Dong Village, known as the "Pearl of the Deep Mountains" and a "Shangri-La." This is a well-preserved, original ecological Dong village, surrounded by mountains, ancient trees, terraced fields, and streams flowing through it, making it exceptionally beautiful. You can stroll along the ancient cobblestone paths, feeling the weight of history, and explore the Drum Tower (the center of Dong culture and the tallest wooden building in the village), the Wind and Rain Bridge (built in the Qing Dynasty, there are five in total, spanning the Lidong River), and the Dong courtyard wooden buildings (one of the most distinctive ancient buildings, perfectly blending the styles of Dong stilted wooden buildings and Han courtyard houses, with Yang Xianzhu's residence being the most representative). You may also have the opportunity to experience Dong language , Dong brocade , Dong folk songs , and other intangible cultural heritage, feeling the authentic and original Dong customs and the simple and warm hospitality of the people.

After the tour, proceed to the Rongjiang Hotel for check-in and rest.

Our first stop is the mysterious Basha Miao Village , known as China's "last gun-carrying tribe." It preserves customs such as sickle-shaved heads and tree worship , and is hailed as one of the "21 most mysterious original tribes on Earth." Basha men legally possess firearms for life; the musket is a symbol of tribal identity and courage. Their distinctive " baton-protecting " hairstyle involves shaving the hair around the head with a sickle, leaving only a topknot. Basha men undergo a solemn coming-of-age ceremony at age 15, including worshipping the Tree of Life, shaving their heads with a sickle, and receiving a musket.

Furthermore, the Basha people revere trees as sacred. Each Basha person plants a " tree of life " at birth, and after death, a tree serves as their coffin, with an evergreen tree planted in the grave to prolong life. Their clothing is also quite unique, primarily black. Men wear traditional black cloth garments, symbolizing tree bark, while women adorn their black garments with brightly colored accessories. Notably, a white hem on a skirt indicates marriage, while black signifies unmarried status. You can stroll through the Basha Miao village, deeply experiencing this unique and mysterious Miao culture and pristine ecology. You will also have the opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring gun salute and sickle-shaving ceremony, as well as a captivating Lusheng (a reed pipe instrument) performance.

Afterwards, you will continue your journey to visit Zhanli Dong Village , known as "China's No. 1 Village of Population Culture." This Dong village is famous for its mysterious "flower-exchanging" fertility custom and its isolated, pristine ecology. For hundreds of years, almost every family has adhered to the tradition of having only one son and one daughter, with no instances of exceeding the birth limit. You can explore the village's " male well " and " female well ," which are said to influence the sex of the fetus if consumed, adding to its mystique. You can also stroll through the village and terraced fields, capturing the idyllic scenery where the Dong village and terraced fields blend seamlessly. Visit traditional crafts such as Dong cloth weaving and dyeing , and bamboo weaving , experiencing the authentic Dong way of life and customs.

After visiting the village, we will travel by car for about 1.5 hours to Zhaoxing and check into the hotel to rest.

Recommended free time activities:

1. Night view of Zhaoxing Dong Village: As night falls, the drum tower of Zhaoxing Dong Village shines like stars, as if you have entered the fantasy scene of "Spirited Away". You can enjoy the spectacle of "drum tower on water" from the viewing platform; or stroll through the ancient alley and admire the charm of the shimmering covered bridge and stilted buildings.

2. Dong Grand Song Performance: The unique polyphonic a cappella chorus of the Dong ethnic group in China was listed as a Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009. You can listen to this beautiful "world-class intangible cultural heritage heavenly sound" at the Drum Tower or the training center.

Afterwards, travel by car to visit Tang'an Dong Village. Tang'an Dong Village is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with terraced fields on the other. Its scenery changes with the seasons: spring is like a mirror, summer is lush and green, autumn is golden, and winter is serene and elegant. Because the terraced fields are built of stone, they are known as the "Great Wall of Terraced Fields." The village retains its original Dong ethnic features, including drum towers , stilted houses , stone-paved roads , and ancient gourd wells . You can stroll along the rustic stone paths, admiring the stunning scenery where the terraced fields blend seamlessly with the Dong village; you can also chat with the local residents and experience their unique customs and culture.

After the tour, we will escort you to Congjiang Railway Station .

If you wish to extend your journey: You can depart from Congjiang Railway Station and take the convenient high-speed rail to other popular destinations in China, such as Guilin (approximately 1 hour), Yangshuo (1-1.5 hours), Guangzhou (3.5-4 hours), Chengdu (approximately 5 hours), Chongqing (3.5-4 hours), or Kunming (approximately 3.5 hours). You can also choose to take the high-speed rail back to Guiyang (approximately 2 hours).

Thank you for choosing Odyssey Travel Network. We are happy to provide you with high-quality travel services for your trip to Guizhou. We look forward to serving you again on your future trips to China and embarking on new and exciting journeys together.