17-Day the Diverse Minorities

The Diverse Minorities

Day 1-4 Guilin/Sanjiang - Li River Cruise, Longji Terrac Fields
 
Day 5-9 Guizhou - Dong and Miao Minority Village
 
Day 10-17 Lijiang/Shangri-la - The Stone Forest, Tiger Leaping Gorge
 

Get in touch with 8 minorities in China, experience local unique traditions and culture, enjoy minority family visiting.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 Guilin Arrival

Hotel: The Guilin Bravo Hotel

Private Transfer to Hotel
Your guide, driver and private car will be ready and waiting for you when you arrive in Guilin. They will offer a relaxed and trouble-free transfer and help you with luggage and hotel check-in.

Free Time to Explore
Today is free for you recover and relax after a long-distance flight. If you interested in a walk in Guilin's city center, feel free to ask your guide for suggestions and recommendations.

Day 2 Visit Essential Sights in Guilin

Hotel: The Guilin Bravo Hotel (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

Visit the iconic sight-Elephant Trunk Hill Park at the city center in the morning. Have a quiet and cozy experience in Daxu Ancient Town,enjoy a cave beauty of spectacular stalactites and stalagmites at the Reed Flute Cave. Have some Guilin food in a local restaurant at lunch.

Good to Know
Elephant Trunk Hill Park is the symbol of Guilin, and has a shape of an elephant with its trunk drinking from the Li River.

Daxu Ancient Town, one of Guangxi's four well-preserved ancient towns.

Reed Flute Cave Reed Flute Cave
Day 3 Enjoy the Li River Cruise

Hotel: The Guilin Bravo Hotel (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

Take a Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, a marvelous river journey consisting of amazing karst landscapes, graceful bamboo groves, farmers tending rice paddies, and lumbering water buffaloes. You will get Yangshuo after the cruise. Explore the highlights by yourself at West Street in Yangshuo, a beautiful and famous Chinese county well known by foreign travelers.

Good to Know
The Li River Cruise covers the most beautiful karst landscapes section of the Li River in Guangxi. Every traveler who heads to Guilin should not miss. You will have the lunch on the cruise.

Yangshuo is widely loved by foreign travelers, so its West Street is also known as the Foreign Street with various bars, restaurants, hotels and shops.

Enjoy a Li River Cruise Enjoy a Li River Cruise
Day 4 Visit Longji Terraced Fields in Longsheng

Hotel: Jinkeng Quanjinlou Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch

Today you will be transferred to Longji Terraced Fields in the morning. Enjoy magnificent rice terraced fields and local Zhuang and Yao minorities' culture. Longji Terraced Fields hiking, one of the best hiking routes in China, which is famous for its fantastic countryside scenery and local ethical culture. Go hiking to enjoy the beauty of the terraced fields at a slower speed. Enjoy a local lunch in Longji Terraced Fields.

Good to know
Jinkeng Quanjinlou Hotel is the best hotel with the most beautiful view in Dazhai. Near the View Point 1, you can get some fantastic overall photos of the rice fields.

Longji Terraced Fields Longji Terraced Fields
Day 5 Learn About Dong Culture in Sanjiang and Zhaoxing

Zhaoxing Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Your guide and private driver will take you to Sanjiang-famous for Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge. Built in 1916, Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is the largest wind and rain bridge now. See unique Dong houses and architectures when you visit the wind and rain bridge. Visit Zhaoxing Dong Village, one of the large-scale Dong Villages in Guizhou Province. With more than 1000 Dong houses, its drum tower complex is considered the largest in China. Have a lunch and dinner in one of the original restaurants in Zhaoxing Dong Village.

Good to Know
Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is nearby 8 Dong villages- an original place to learn about Dong culture and experience local life.

Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge
Day 6 Explore Miao Village in Congjiang

Hotel: Congjiang Hotel (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Today you will be transferred to Congjiang from Zhaoxing. Experience Dong minority custom at Tang'an Dong Village, a village built on a steep mountain slope and surrounded by terraced paddy fields. Visit Basha Village, an original Miao Village in Congjiang in Southeastern Guizhou Province. Experience local Miao people's traditions dating back to the Qing Dynasty (around 2200 years ago).

Good to Know
Basha Miao Village is known for not only Miao men's unique hair dresses and long guns, but also women's shinning fabric from egg white.

Miao Girl in Basha Village Miao Girl in Basha Village
Day 7 Visit Chejiang Dong Village and Rongjiang Ancient Town

Hotel: Dongxiangmi Hotel (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

After a morning fresh and breakfast, today your guide will take you to Chejiang Dong Village, one of largest Dong Villages located along a river among mountains. See its big Banyan tree with a 300-year history in the village and experience local life. Head to Rongjiang Ancient Town to see a culture mixture of Dong and Miao minorities. The town has been existed for more than 2000 years. Enjoy a lunch and dinner in local restaurant in Rongjiang Ancient Town.

Good to Know
Chejiang Dong Village-a concentration of several hundred Dong households mostly have the same family name-Yang. Nearly all people there can sing local folk songs.

Miao Houses in Guizhou Miao Houses in Guizhou
Day 8 Visit Datang Miao Short Shirts Village

Hotel: Heaven Sent Dragon Hotel (Superior Room)
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Have a walk among Datang Miao Village in Kaili, a village famous for its women' short skirts and waterproof granaries. Learn more about minorities' custom and culture of Southeastern Guizhou in Kaili Ethnic Minorities Museum.

Good to Know
Kaili Ethnic Minorities Museum shows some writing, pictures and material objects of minorities living in the southeast of Guizhou Province.

Visit Datang Miao Short Shirts Village Visit Datang Miao Short Shirts Village
Day 9 Learn More Miao People's Life in Guizhou(Traditional Paper Making)

Hotel: Trade Point Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Learn more about Miao people's traditional life in Shiqiao Miao Village, see how to make paper in a traditional way. Later you will visit Qingman Miao Village, drink a small cup of wine prepared for honored guests by the local before you step into the village, have a personal touch through a local family visit, and a chance to see traditional way of clothes and dresses made by dyed fabric.

Good to Know
Miao Traditional Paper Making has been well kept by local Miao people for more than 1000 years and developed into make color paper.

Day 10 Fly to Kunming

Hotel: Kunming New Era Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch

Enjoy a relaxed early morning, then your guide, private driver and car will bring you to Guiyang Longdongbao Airport to catch a flight to Kunming.Local guide, private driver and car will be ready to pick you up when you arrive in Kunming. Enjoy a comfortable and stress-free transfer from Guiyang to Kunming.

In the afternoon, have a visit at the Dragon Gate on Xishan nearby the Dianchi Lake, appreciate its grottoes, sculptures and corridors dating back to 1781 to 1835 carved by a Taoist monk and his co-workers.

Dragon Gate on Xishan Dragon Gate on Xishan
Day 11 Visit Limestone Wonders including Stone Forest

Hotel: Kunming New Era Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch

Today you will visit one of the limestone highlights Jiuxiang Caves, a large group of karst caves. Have a look at many vivid stalactites and stalagmites with some beautiful names such as "Fairies Welcoming Guests", and "The Fairy is coming out of bathing". Then you will step into the Stone Forest, a vast limestone pillars area formed through erosion. For lunch you will enjoy local special food in a restaurant nearby.

Good to Know
Jiuxiang Caves, one of the largest cave group system in China

Stone Forest is quite far away from Kunming, but private transfer makes your journey more comfortable and easier.

The Stone Forest The Stone Forest
Day 12 Enjoy Dali's Highlights and Bai Ethnic Culture

Hotel: Dali Landscape Hotel (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

Catch a flight from Kunming to Dali (departure at 10:45 and arrival at 11:35), enjoy a comfort and relaxed transfer to Dali. You will discover Bai unique culture in Houses of Bai People in Xizhou, a historical and typical concentration for Bai people. Take a leisure cruise on Erhai Lake to get some marvelous photos of vast lake with mountains, local houses and blue sky. Wander in the Ancient City of Dali to enjoy a nice evening. Enjoy a Lunch at a Chinese restaurant serving traditional local Yunnan-style dishes.

Good to Know
The Ancient City of Dali has a history of more than 1200 years and is a relic of the Ming Dynasty (1382 AD)

Houses of Bai People in Xizhou Houses of Bai People in Xizhou
Day 13 Explore Lijiang Ancient Town

Hotel: Hexi Hotel (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

Leave for Lijiang after a morning relaxation, explore a well-preserved ancient city - Lijiang Ancient Town. The town has beautiful scenes at a high sea level and splendid culture of local minorities.

Active atmosphere light the night of Lijiang. Popular bars, restaurants and shops are good choice for a night extension.

Lijiang Ancient Town Lijiang Ancient Town
Day 14 Go Mountaineering on Ice World - Jade Dragon Mountain

Hotel: Hexi Hotel (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

Visit Jade Dragon Mountain, one of must-see natural sights in Yunnan Province. The mountain is accessed by a cable car starting at the Yak Meadow and going up to 3800m. You will see amazing clouds scenery and Glacier Park, and may find yourself in a paradise.

Jade Dragon Mountain Jade Dragon Mountain
Day 15 Go Hiking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge

Hotel: Holy Palace (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

View the first bent of the Yangtze River at Stone Drum Town, whose base of mountain standing for the First Bay on the Yangtze River. Take a Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking, one of the deepest and most marvelous gorges in China. Experience Naxi people's culture on the hiking route, enjoy local special cuisine there at lunch. The hiking is one of the most exciting hiking routes in China.

Good to Know
Tiger Leaping Gorge gets the name because it is too narrow for a tiger to easily jump over the Jinsha River. You will be shocked by its magnificent gorge and have a chance to see Yulong Snow Mountain and overlook the Jinsha River Valley.

Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking
Day 16 Experience Real Shangri-La at Songzanlin Lamasery and Pudacuo National Park

Hotel: Holy Palace (Standard Room)
Breakfast & Lunch

Explore Tibetan culture at Songzanlin Lamasery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist lamasery in Yunnan Province. Have a walk in Pudacuo National Park, a well-preserved ecosystem within the virgin forests. And Lake Bita and Lake Shudu are scenery not to miss in the park.

Good to Know
Songzanlin Lamasery has the same style of Potala Palace in Tibet and represents the Tibetan culture with Buddhist statures and some cultural treasures.

Songzanlin Lamasery Songzanlin Lamasery
Day 17Departure from Kunming

Breakfast

A private transfer from hotel to airport is arranged and you can sit back and enjoy a comfort and no stress transfer to Kunming. Catch a morning flight from Shangri-la to Kunming (departure at 10:00 and arrival in Kunming at 11:00). We will make sure you board your continued flight or international flight in Kunming before you come back home.

Tour Price

FromUS2,529 p/p Based on a private tour for 2 people. Price varies depending on program, travel date, number of people and chosen hotel

Price includes:

  • Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
  • English speaking local guide
  • Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
  • 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Trip Advisor certificate of 2024 Tour Review

Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.

Number in your group

What's your hotel choice?

I am also available on:

Start planning your tailor-made tour with 1-1 help from our travel advisors. Create Your Trip

Sign up to Our Newsletter

Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our team of experts.

Click to Sign up

Why China Highlights

Customize Your Tour

Customize Your Tour

  • Travel Advisors Rooted in China
  • Instant Response, No More Waits!
  • Direct Connections, Supreme Values
Maximize Your Flexibility

Maximize Your Flexibility

  • Your own personal guide and ride.
  • Explore at your own pace.
  • Unparalleled flexibility, impossible on a group tour.
Ensure Your Satisfaction

Ensure Your Satisfaction

  • The Top 20% nationwide guides at your service.
  • 20% more space on your group's transportation.
  • 24/7 emergency support.
Live Your China Story

Live Your China Story

  • Authentic local culture and lifestyles.
  • Understand the culture by living it.
  • Uncover fascinating histories and witness New China.
China Highlights logo
Trip Advisor rating Rated 5 out of 5 | 98.8% Excellence
China Highlights International
Travel Service Co., LTD
Featured on
China Highlights was featured on these medias.

Address: Building 6, Chuangyi Business Park, 70 Qilidian Road, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China