China Ethnic Folklore Tour through Miao
and Dong Minority Villages

Day 1 ARRIVE IN BEIJING

Upon arrival in Beijing; our tour guide will meet you at the customs exit of Beijing airport holding a welcome sign board with your name on it. The guide will assist your transfer to the hotel and help you check in. The rest of the day is on your own and can be used for relaxing or exploring the city.

Day 2 BEIJING (AB, L, SD)

The excursion today includes a visit to Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing and the largest public space in the world and the Forbidden City. Step back in time as you pass through the Gate of Heavenly Peace and enter the Forbidden City, home to the Imperial Courts of the Ming and Qing Dynasty for more than 500 years. The Forbidden City is an enormous complex of perfectly preserved palaces, temples, magnificent squares and formal gardens. You’ll stroll along cobblestone paths once known only to the Emperor’s most intimate advisors, visit the private apartments of Imperial concubines and see stunning collections of priceless art, furnishings, and jewelry. After lunch, there will be a tour of the Summer Palace, a fairyland of pagodas, pavilions and stone bridges on the outskirts of the city. There you can visit Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake and take a leisurely walk down the Long Corridor. Tonight's special dinner will be Beijing Duck, served at an original century-old restaurant.
Optional program: A lively Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre.

	Miao Minority Girls

Day 3 BEIJING (AB, L, -)

The highlight today is a trip to the astonishing Great Wall of China. You will leave the bustle and traffic of Beijing behind and journey through the countryside to see The Great Wall in Mutianyu where you will experience at first hand one of the Wonders of the World (a cable car ride is included). There will be plenty of time to walk along a portion of this 3700-mile long marvel or to simply sit and contemplate the wonders of China’s past. Compared with the other normal tours having lunch at the shopping site restaurant, we specially arrange your lunch to be served at a local popular Sichuan food restaurant. Later the journey will take you to the Ming Tomb in the peaceful shadow of Longevity Mountain, where you’ll walk along the “Sacred Way” lined with stone statues of different kinds of animals such as lions, elephants, camels and etc. Then back to Beijing.  

Day 4 BEIJING / GUIYANG / ANSHUN (AB, L, -)

Today morning tour the delicately crafted Temple of Heaven, where the emperors used to pray for good harvests. Then you will take a flight to Guiyang, the home to more than 30 minority ethnic groups abounds with unique folk culture and traditions. Upon arrival in Guiyang, you will visit Jiaxiu Pavilion, the symbol of Guiyang City which used to be a get-together place for local scholars before the university entrance examination. Afterwards you will be transferred to hotel in Anshun for tomorrow’s tour (137 km from Guiyang).

Day 5 ANSHUN / KAILI(AB, L, D)

Today's excursion begins with the Huangguoshu Waterfall, a scenic marvel measures 74 m high and 81 m wide and boasts the largest Waterfall in Asia and also one of the world's most magnificent waterfalls. Then you will visit the Dragon Palace Cave, a wonderland of underground karst caves in cluster, within these 4,000-metre-long caves there are also underground karst lakes which needs take a boat ride. Afterwards you will head for Kali, spend the night in a hotel in Kaili to rest up for tomorrow’s adventure.

	Miao Village

Day 6 KAILI / LANGDE / NANHUA / XIJIANG (B, L, D)

After an early morning breakfast, you will set off for the village of Langde, the cultural center for the Miao minority in southeast Guizhou Province. In Langde, take part in the unique local customs such as the courteous invitation to join in the tradition of taking 12 drinks from the brilliantly-dressed Miao people. Then you will visit a grand concert in Nanhua featuring the traditional musical reed pipes as well as the “Golden Pheasant Dance”, which has been formally recognized as a part of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Don’t be surprised if the friendly locals invite you into their homes for a homemade meal and a drink or two. End the night with a special traditional dance show and spend the night in Xijiang.

Day 7 XIJIANG / CONGJIANG (B, L, D)

This Morning you will still have much time in the Xijiang Miao Village, renowned as the village of “a thousand households” is actually the largest Miao village in the world. The structures in the village are mainly suspended wooden multi-storied houses with the wood coming mainly from maple trees. The homes stretch out along the slopes of the hills with the deep red maple panels glowing in the golden sunset. In autumn, the red maple trees and the golden grain grown for harvesting make for some spectacular views. After a special lunch celebration (singing, dancing, still more toasts!), you will continue travel to Congjiang to spend the night.

Day 8 CONGJIANG / BASHA / GAOZENG / XIAOHUANG / ZHAOXING(B, L, D)

Possibly the best part of the journey, visit Basha, home to the “last Gunman Tribe in the world” and one of the top ten most favorable sites for traveling for Chinese bachelors. In this particular village, both the housing and the women’s headdresses are quite different from those of the other villages. Although it is an ancient culture, it has blended well with modern civilization and earned a designation as a “living fossil” and “museum” of the ancient Miao culture. You can still witness the rare style of cutting hair with a sickle (must be seen to be believed) as well as very special ceremonies for weddings and funerals. Get up close and personal with the Gunman Tribe and hopefully you’ll be lucky enough to witness the initiation ritual for new gunmen tribe members. A visit to this village will give you the feeling of being transported back in time 2,000 years. After lunch, journey on to Xiaohuang, with a stop midway at Gaozeng, a place famous for its beautiful women. It is quite possible that one of them will sit directly on your lap and sing a Dong minority traditional song; this village has a reputation as a “truly magical and idyllic place”. Emerald green mountains surround the village and a photogenic creek runs right through the village. Nestled amongst the flowing waters and green-covered hills, hundreds of suspended, multi-storied wooden houses add to the ambiance of the village and your unique experience. Upon arrival in Xiaohuang, you’ll have the opportunity to continue to enjoy the traditional Dong minority dancing and singing with yet another celebration in Zhaoxing, where you will spend the night.

	Dong Minority Girls

Day 9 ZHAOXING / TANG’AN(B, L, D)

A full day to explore the ethnic minority villages of Tang’an and Zhaoxing will give you the opportunity to observe their unique cultures firsthand. Zhaoxing is one of the largest Dong minority villages in China and it is known as one of the most beautiful villages in the country. It already enjoys a substantial reputation among European travelers, and foreigners here may find a sense of tenderness and romance in the combination of the ancient traditions and the modern world. Mornings are particularly beautiful in Zhaoxing, and you will have time to wander about and relax in the peaceful small villages. The Drum Towers, a typical feature of the Dong minority architectural design, are definitely worth seeing. There are a few cozy bars along Zhaoxing’s main street, where you can relax with a drink or two before spending one more night in Zhaoxing.

Day 10 ZHAOXING / DUYUN(B, L, D)

Travel to the village of Duyun. For tea lovers, excellent grades of tea are available here, with one of the top ten nationally-known Chinese tea products “Duyun Maojian Tea” found here. Spend the night in Duyun.

Day 11 GUIYANG / SHANGHAI(B, L, D)

Travel back to Guiyang, to catch the afternoon flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival , out tour guide will transfer you to your hotel to freshen up.
 
Day 12 SHANGHAI(AB, L, D)

Today, you will take a stroll through the Yuyuan Garden, one of the best Suzhou-style gardens in southern China, and after get a taste of Shanghai's local life in the Yuyuan Market, then immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere of the Jade Buddha Temple. Take a city tour to visit Shanghai Museum, known as the Museum of Ancient Chinese Art, where you will find more than 120,000 precious and rare works of art. Then you will stroll along Nanjing Road and visit the Bund, famous waterfront with art-like buildings in China,the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. In the evening you enjoy a wonderful Acrobatic Show.

Day 13 DEPART FROM SHANGHAI (AB)

You will be free on this day until the time for your personal guide to escort you to the airport for your flight home.

Itinerary: AB: American Breakfast   L: Lunch   D: Dinner   SD: Special Dinner