12 Days China Southwest Minority Tour

• Day1

  Arrival in Guilin

  Our guide will meet you at Guilin airport or train station and transfer you directly to the hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle.
  
• Day2

  Guilin: Li River Cruise to Yangshuo, Yangshuo Countryside

  After breakfast, drive 40 minutes from the city to the pier. Today it is a very pleasant trip, and you will cruise on the Li River and see many beautifully shaped limestone hills. The Li River is a must-see site in Guilin. The cruise lasts about 4 hours (the duration depends on water level and cruise speed). Have a lunch on board.
  In the afternoon you will have a Yangshuo countryside tour by bike or vehile. Yangshuo is known for its natural landscapes. Usually we see typical houses, buffaloes, mandarin trees and rice fields, and visit the local family. According to different periods you can admire different landscapes.
• Day3

  Bamboo Raft on the Yulong River, Yangshuo to Longsheng, Longji Rice Terraces

  In the morning you will enjoy a bamboo raft on the Yulong River. The Yulong River is an influence of the Li River and is known for its limestone hills with their beautiful and varied shapes.
  Then drive 4 hours from Yangshuo to Longsheng. Longsheng is famous for its terraced rice fields. The terraced rice fields are wonderful artworks by local ethnic groups. At the same time Longsheng is home to ethnic groups of Zhuang, Miao and Yao. Here you can not only see natural landscapes, but also know the costumes of the ethnic minorities of Guangxi.
  Spend the night in the village of Ping'an.
• Day4

  Longsheng to Sanjiang by Car, Sanjiang to Congjiang by High Speed Train, Congjiang to Zhaoxing by Car, Zhaoxing Village, Tangan Dong Village

  After breakfast, you will be transferred to Sanjiang Railway Station for high speed to Congjiang. Another guide will pick you up at Congjiang Railway Station and take you to Zhaoxing.
  We will first visit Zhaoxing Dong village. Zhaoxing is a very famous village, and all its inhabitants are Dong. The Dong people keep their tradition, speak their dialect and live in typical wooden houses. And they are also known for their beautiful voice. They're good at singing.
  The Tangan Dong village is considered as the most primitive Dong village in China, which was built on a steep mountain slope overlooking the rice terraces. We see old wooden houses, a traditional drum tower, a theatre stadium and a wind and rain bridge.
• Day5

  Zhaoxing to Rongjiang, Basha Miao Village, Sanbao Dong Village

  The Basha village is an old Miao village. Until now they keep their old traditions and their own unique belief and live in their traditional wooden houses. In this village we will see the rows of wooden easels four or five metres high and three metres wide, used to dry rice. During the harvest, the locals place golden rice stalks on it.
  Afterwards we will visit Sanbao Dong village, located between the mountains and rivers. This village is surrounded by large trees. When you walk around the village, you get to know their way of life better, such as playing cards, making batiks, singing folk songs and dancing etc.
• Day6

  Rongjiang to Kaili, Leigong Mountain, Datang Miao Village, Jidao Miao Village

  After breakfast we will drive toKaili. Today visit Leigong Mountain, Datang Miao Village and Jidao Miao Village
  Leigong Mountain, located 42 km from Kaili, you can see natural landscapes and Miao villages.
  Datang Miao Village is famous for its short skirt. In this village women wear their skirts from 10 to 16 centimetres long all year round.
  Jidao Miao Village is a very pretty and less visited Miao village. When you visit this village, a welcoming ceremony will wait for you so that you can learn more about traditions of Miao ethnic minority.
  
• Day7

  Kaili to Guiyang by car, Kaili Museum, Jiaxiu Pavilion

  After breakfast we will visit Kaili Museum, a beautiful museum to learn about the ethnic groups in Guizhou. There are beautiful embroideries, clothes of different ethnic groups and batiks etc. on display.
  Then we will drive to Guiyang and visit Jiaxiu Tower, which stands on a huge stone in the Naming River in the south of Guiyang City. First constructed in 1596 of Ming Dynasty, this red tower features three layers of eaves supported by with stones, a pointed top and carved window.
  Transfer to Guiyang railway station to for high speed for 2.5 hours to Kunming, known as the permanent spring city. The new guide and driver will pick up you at Kunming railway station.
• Day8

  Kunming: Stone forest, Cuihu Park

  Today is a day dedicated to the Stone Forest and Lake Cuihu. The Stone Forest Scenic Area lies in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, about 120 kilometers southeast of Kunming City. It is one of the world-famous Karst landscape zone sand also a world-acknowledged tourist destination, with the reputations "the First Wonder under Heaven". It speaks have steep and cragged cliffs like being cleaved by an axe whose marks still remain. The hills resemble various images terribly true to life, like two vigorous combating men, or a mother and a son leaning close to each other, or a sharp sword or birds and beasts.
  Lake Cuihui is a public park where you can see many red-mouth gulls. This Park is also a leisure park for local residents, you can see people singing, dancing, and doing gymnastics and photographing.
• Day9

  Kunming to Dali by High Speed Train, Bai village of Xizhou, Three pagodas, Ancient City of Dali

  Take a morning high speed train to Dali where Bai ethnic groups live. You will visit Bai village of Xizhou and Three Pagodas.
  The Bai village of Xizhou is a typical well protected village in the suburbs of Dali. In this village live Bai people. They wear white clothes and also like the white color. The houses of the Bai are beautiful, painted in white and with black roofs.
  Constructed during the reign of the tenth king of Nanzhao State, the Three Pagodas are the most representative sights in Dali. The main pagoda, Qianxun Pagoda, is architecture as old as the Great and Small Wild Goose Pagodas of the Tang Dynasty.
  The ancient city of Dali was first built during the early Ming; today only two city-gate-towers are still there. The dwellings the Bai people, however, are in perfect condition. There is something tranquil about the streets, and one of them is "Foreigners Street", as the name suggests, frequented foreign visitors hopping or having a good time in teahouses
• Day10

  Dali to Lijiang, Old Town of Lijiang, Black Dragon Pool Park

  Your guide and private driver will drive you directly from Dali to Lijiang.
  The Old Town of Lijiang, so tar the most intact and representative one characteristic of ethnic traits in China, was first constructed in the late period of the Southern Song Dynasty, so it has a history of 800-odd years.  
  Then visit the Black Dragon Pool Park at the northern end of the city, which is a picturesque enclave where the elegant Deyue Lou rises in the middle of a pond full of tents, with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the background. 
• Day11

  Lijiang: Baisha, Yuhu Village, Joseph Rock Old Residence and Shuhe

  Today, we will visit the villages around Lijiang. The village of Baisha was the cradle of the Naxi ethnic culture. Baisha's frescoes have a history of more than 500 years. They show us the local life and religious elements.
  Yuhu village is located at the foot of the snow-covered mountain, about ten kilometres north of Lijiang. There is an artificial lake in the village. The reflection of the mountain on the lake is one of the most famous landscapes in Lijiang. The village houses are built of stone. It's special. In the village, you can also visit the former residence of Joseph Rock, a famous American photographer.
  Ancient Town of Shuhe, a miniature of the old town of Lijiang, is a well-preserved village. You can see the water flow, old houses, small alleys and local ethnic groups.
  
• Day12

  Tiger Leaping Gorge and First Bend of the Yangtze River, Lijiang Departure

  Today you will be go by car about 2 hours to see First Curve of the Yangtze River with the imposing landscape of the gorge and Bridge of iron chains in the village Shugu (stone drum). Surrounded by mountains and rivers, the First Curve of the Yangtze River has a picturesque landscape. Three rivers meet here and turn suddenly.
  After lunch, explore the Tiger Leaping Gorge which is one of the deepest canyons in the world. During the rainy season, we will be surprised by its stormy water.
  After the visit we will transfer you to the airport for your next destination.
  

•     Meals
In your itinerary, it normally offers two meals each day: breakfast and lunch. You will have the freedom to choose your own dinner. If you have certain food allergies or special requirements such as vegetarian food, please let us know in advance. We will try our best to satisfy your special needs.
Breakfast
Normally served at the hotel where you stay. Depending on the hotel, breakfast is Western style, Chinese style or a combination.
Lunch - A la Carte 
In order to have our customers to taste authentic Chinese food and avoid tourist menus, we take food quality, dining environment and travel convenience into consideration when planning your lunch. Therefore , we will arrange a la carte lunch at a local restaurant whenever possible. Lunch a la carte is varied with different recommended restaurants and different cities. You could order the dishes according to your taste under the instructions of your guide. However, in some remote regions where it is difficult to find a non-tourist restaurant, you could have lunch at a local tourist restaurant or in a local family.
Your Own Dinner Option
Dinner is not included in our China travel package, unless you have this requirement. Looking for food by yourself could also be one of your best experiences in China. Therefore we offer you this flexibility of food choice. You can ask for your private guide to gain good suggestions.

•   Private Guide & Transfer
You will have a private guide, private driver and an air-conditioned vehicle to accompany you at each destination of your trip, which will provide you with maximum personal care, security and flexibility.
All our guides are qualified and responsible professionals. All our vehicles are clean and in excellent condition, crewed with licensed drivers.
Private Tour Guide
In each city, we have a professional local guide. Our guide picks you up punctually at your arrival from the airport/railway station/spring of each destination. On your way out of that city, your guide will stay by your side until you have checked in and passed through security. All our travel guides in each destination are local and responsible, who know this area well. They accompany you visiting this city during 8 working hours of each day and they will tell background stories of the tourist places, and show you the secret places to take your best pictures.
When it is necessary to change your itinerary for unexpected reasons, your private travel guide will suggest alternatives to ensure that you still have an excellent experience.

Private Transfer
With our comfortable and safe private transfer, your trip will be more relaxing and less tiring, keeping you in the best spirits to make the most of your experience in China. In all destinations visited, your vehicle is air-conditioned, clean and expertly maintained. Your private driver is licensed, insured and experienced.
Normally we will arrange vehicles with more space for you and your luggages. Depending on the number of passengers, we generally use sedans or minivans (7 seats) for 4 people or less, large vans or small buses (12-22 seats) for 5 to 12 people, medium cars (33-37 seats) for 13 - 25 people and large buses (more than 45 seats) for more than 25 people.

•     Remarks 
We reserve the right to modify the price due to exchange rate fluctuation
If you have special requirements, please tell us in advance.
We reserve the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.