Living Tales from the Mountain Villages of Southwest China
Encounter ethnic traditions preserved in Guizhou's highlands
This classic route across China is a starting point, not a fixed script. It balances imperial history, natural wonders and the energy of its cities — and every part of it can be reshaped around you. Extend a stay, swap a city, slow a morning: your itinerary is built from your interests, pace and dates, and only confirmed when it fits.
The journey
Overview
What you'll remember
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Tunpu: a garrison that stayed
Stone villages built by Ming soldiers in the 1380s, whose descendants never left.
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Behind Huangguoshu
A walkway cut through the cave behind Asia's largest waterfall.
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Wanfenglin's ten thousand peaks
Cone karst rising out of rice paddies, with Buyi villages between them — best by bicycle.
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Miao New Year in Leishan
Silver headdresses, bullfights, horse racing and lusheng bands — the community's own new year.
What it looks like
Route
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Guiyang
2 nightsArrival, the provincial museum, and a first bowl of sour-soup noodles.
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Anshun
2 nightsTunpu stone villages, Huangguoshu waterfall and the cave walkway behind it.
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Xingyi
2 nightsWanfenglin's peaks by bike, the Huajiang canyon bridge, Buyi villages along the river.
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Zunyi
1 nightThe 1935 conference site, then Xiazi town's chilli market on the way north.
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Fanjingshan
2 nightsCable car or staircase through cloud forest to the twin summit temples.
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Leishan & Kaili
3 nightsLangde's stilt houses, Miao silver workshops, and the new year gatherings across the Leishan valleys.
In / Exclusions
Inclusions
- Costs for a private, air-conditioned business vehicle throughout the tour.
- Services of a private English-speaking tour guide.
- Hotels, entrance fees to scenic spots (first gate tickets), and meals as listed in the itinerary.
- Travel insurance coverage during the tour (details available on the Insurance Policy page).
- Inter-city flights or high-speed train travel.
- 24-hour customer service support during the trip.
- Service fees, covering tour planning, handling, operation, and communication costs.
Exclusions
- Chinese Visa fees.
- Round-trip ticket. (We offer Air Ticket Booking Service, if you need it, please let us know.)
- Personal expenses.
- Meals, transportation transfers, and tourist attraction fees not listed in the itinerary.
- Optional activities recommended at scenic spots or other commercial establishments.
- Luggage overweight charges.
- Optional activities provided by the driver or guide.
- Personal Accident Insurance during Travel.
What travellers say
Scroll ›We have travelled in China a lot and had never been anywhere like this. Nobody was selling us anything. The village stays were simple and completely genuine.
I've done China three times and this was the first time it felt like being a guest rather than a tourist. We ate in people's homes and nobody tried to sell us anything.
The mountain roads are no joke, but our driver was brilliant and the villages were worth every hour in the car.
I booked for Miao New Year and it was everything promised — silver, drums, bullfights. Our guide knew the families, so we weren't just watching from the side.
The food alone justifies the trip — sour, smoky, nothing like the Chinese food we knew. Our guide translated every meal and every conversation, and made the whole thing feel easy.
Frequently asked questions
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When exactly is Miao New Year?
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Canal villages and cloud-wreathed mountain peaks
Tell us what you have in mind
Share your travel plans. A coordinator will craft a clear, no-obligation itinerary within 24 hours.