CTH-019: 21-Day China Southwest Minority Tour

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Tour code: CTH-019
Tour Type: Adventure,Culture,Minority,Photography
Destinations: Kunming - Yuanyang - Jianshui - Dali - Lijiang - Guiyang - Anshun - Kaili - Rongjiang - Zhaoxing - Sanjiang - Longji - Guilin - Yangshuo - Hong Kong
Tour overview: Seeing the diverse minority groups in the vast southwest of China, most of them have kept their ancient houses, unique cultures and customs, fascinating festivals for thousand years. On this minority trip, your discovery tour will start at the Yunnan province to explore the Bai people, Naxi people & Hani people's life there; Then you come to Guizhou province to admire the Miao & Dong people's well-preserved customs; In Sanjiang & Longsheng, you can enjoy Dong, Yao & Zhuang people's colorful clothes and hairstyles! This is a unique opportunity to explore the natural & culture beauties in southwest China!

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Call us at 800-87542136

Highlights

1. Stun at the breath-taking rice terraces in Yuanyang

2. Visit the Hani village nearby the terraces and enjoy their unique mushroom-shaped houses

3. See the unique Bai people's architecture and witness the process of making batik in local factory

4. Biking to the Shuhe ancient town near Lijiang to view the unique Naxi customs there

5. Experience the unique cultures of Miao, Shui & Dong peoples by visiting their villages

6. Admire the exquisitely wooden-made Wind and Rain Bridge and villages

7. Explore the Zhuang & Yao villages at Longji and indulge in the rice terraces

8. Cycling through the amazing countryside of Yangshuo and bamboo rafting on Yulong River

Tour Date	City	Tour Brief
1	Kunming	N/A
2	Kunming	Kunming Golden Temple, Stone Forest
3	Kunming - Yuanyang	Yuanyang Rice Terraces
4	Yuanyang - Jianshui
5	Jianshui - Kunming	Zhu Family Garden, Old Town Street of Jianshui, Tuanshan Village, Twin Dragon Bridge
6	Kunming - Dali	Erhai Lake Park, Three Pagodas, Dali Old Town
7	Dali - Lijiang	Xizhou Town
8	Lijiang	Shuhe Old Town, Mu Family Mansion, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Culture Museum
9	Lijiang	Free time
10	Lijiang - Kunming - Guiyang	Qingyan Ancient Town
11	Guiyang - Anshun	Huangguoshu Waterfall, Longgong Caves
12	Anshun - Guiyang - Kaili	Tianlong Village, Kaili Folk Museum
13	Kaili - Rongjiang	Jidao Miao Village, Datang Miao Village
14	Rongjiang - Zhaoxing	Basha Miao Village, Zhaoxing Dong village
15	Zhaoxing - Sanjiang	Tang'an Dong village, Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge
16	Sanjiang - Longji	Longji Rice Terraces
17	Guilin - Yangshuo	Li River
18	Yangshuo	Yangshuo Bike Riding, Yangshuo Bamboo Rafting, Yulong River
19	Yangshuo - Guilin - Hong Kong	Reed Flute Cave, Seven Star Park
20	Hong Kong	Free day
21	Hong Kong	Service Ends

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

City:	Kunming
Activity:	Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Kunming Airport and transfer you to the hotel. Free time at the rest of the day.
Attractions:	N/A
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Day 2

City:	Kunming
Activity:	After breakfast, transfer to visit Golden Temple, then proceed to the Stone Forest, on the way to visit a minority village, overnight at Shilin.
Attractions:	Kunming Golden Temple Stone Forest A grand karst site, located outside Kunming, features countless stone pillars, unique aesthetic peaks, grotesque rocks, strange caves, mountain lakes, and interesting ethnic culture and customs.
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Day 3

City:	Kunming - Yuanyang
Activity:	Transfer to Yuanyang to see the stunning rice terraces of Hani People. Visit the Jingkou village and see the mushroom-look houses.
Attractions:	Yuanyang Rice Terraces Crowned as one of the China's 17 most attractive scenic spots, Yuanyang is located in 326KM south from Kunming. The ancestors of Hani people worked out these terrific irrigation system 2500 years ago. There is only one precious harvest each year.
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Day 4

City:	Yuanyang - Jianshui
Activity:	Further explore the rice terraces area and then transfer to Jianshui, visit Confucius Temple. Overnight at the small town.
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Day 5

City:	Jianshui - Kunming
Activity:	Visit Zhu Family Garden, old town street of Jianshui, ancient city gate, Tuanshan village and Twin Dragon Bridge. Then drive back to Kunming.
Attractions:	Zhu Family Garden Built in late Qing daynasty by Zhu family, it occupied 20000㎡. This compound was used as ancestral hall and residence. It features architecture values. Richly ornamented rooms, lotus pool, woods, exotic flowers form a south garden together. Old Town Street of Jianshui Built in late Qing daynasty by Zhu family, it occupied 20000m2. This compound was used as ancestral hall and residence. It features architecture values. Richly ornamented rooms, lotus pool, woods, exotic flowers form a south garden together. Tuanshan Village Tuanshan village features its intact architectural compound and wood carvings. Brilliant Yi minority people have their own creative opinions which can be unleashed when they are building. So the outcome of brilliance is Tuanshan constructions. Twin Dragon Bridge Not far from Jianshui county lies Double-dragon Bridge. The stone bridge built 200 years ago is renowned for its largest size and artistic values. As a masterpiece of science and art, Double-dragon is 148 meters in length, 3 meters in width.
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Day 6

City:	Kunming - Dali
Activity:	Transfer to the airport and fly to Dali. Be met and drive to visit Erhai Lake Park, Three Pagodas, and Dali Old Town.
Attractions:	Erhai Lake Park Covered 100 ha, Erhai park located at Tuanshan Mountain by the Erhai-lake side. Mountain slopes are dotted by luxuriant pines, cypresses and clusters of camellias, azaleas. From Observation Pavilion a bird-view on Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. Three Pagodas About 2km north of ancient Dali town, three pagodas tower in a triangle formation. Major pagoda, Qianxun Pagoda, was built in the Tang Dynasty. The highest one has 69 meters, while the other pagodas, octagonal in shape have 43 meters in height. Dali Old Town Built 1500 years ago, the Old Town of Dali shows an example in the harmonious relationship between man and nature, with its abundant ecological intelligence. All literal descriptions are redundant, photos will explain everything.
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Day 7

City:	Dali - Lijiang
Activity:	Visit Xizhou to see the traditional residential architecture of Bai people and local batik workshop. Proceed to Lijiang. Check in the hotel, free time at the rest of the day.
Attractions:	Xizhou Town Xizhou town is characterized by cultural folk and architectural style of Bai minority people. Old streets and houses are well preserved although here used to be an essential military fortress in the period of Nanzhao Kingdom thousand years ago.
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Day 8

City:	Lijiang
Activity:	Bike to Shuhe Old Town, and visit Mu Family Mansion, Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Culture Museum.
Attractions:	Shuhe Old Town At an altitude of 2440 meters, it is a tranquil town with a population of about 3000 people. Along with its sister town Lijiang, it is also part of the UNESCO Heritage site. But the town is less touristy and polished with more original characters. Mu Family Mansion Located in the southwest of Lijiang ancient city, Mu Mansion boasts it spectacular architectures which merges Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties’ construction features, also the Naxi minority possessor mingled Naxi-style handicrafts. Black Dragon Pool Coming from melting snow water, the pond flows downstream into Lijiang. As its water is as green and lucid as jade, the pond also gets the name "Yuquan" or Jade Fountain. Dongba Culture Museum Dongba culture refers to ancient Naxi culture. The main architecture of the museum is similar to the Naxi courtyard, and fully uses the advantage of its landform. It holds a remarkable collection of Naxi relics and cultural display.
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Day 9

City:	Lijiang
Activity:	Free time for your own exploration.
Attractions:	Free time
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Day 10

City:	Lijiang - Kunming - Guiyang
Activity:	Transfer to the airport and fly to Kunming, and connect the flight to Guiyang. Transfer to the hotel. Visit Qingyang Ancient town.
Attractions:	Qingyan Ancient Town
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Day 11

City:	Guiyang - Anshun
Activity:	Drive to see the largest waterfall in China – Huangguoshu Waterfall (81-meter width, 74-meter height). In the afternoon, visit Longgong Caves, - an underground water cave in which you will take a boat ride for about 40 minutes. Then proceed to Anshun to visit a batik museum where you can see the process of making batik.
Attractions:	Huangguoshu Waterfall also known as Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall, is the largest waterfall in China. It is 81m-wide and 74m-high, which makes it Guizhou’s number-one tourist attraction. It mainly contains Waterfalls Cluster, Water-Curtain Cave and Rhinoceros Pool. Longgong Caves Covering an area of almost 60 square kilometers, the Palace is a magnificent underground cave system with lakes, waterfalls and stalactites. It's a great journey deeper into the cave by boat to view its wonderful and changing scenery.
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Day 12

City:	Anshun - Guiyang - Kaili
Activity:	Drive back to Guiyang, on the way to visit an old village at Tianlong known for Ground Opera （Dixi in Chinese）. It is believed that the residents are the descendants of militia migrants dating back to 1800 years ago. Proceed to Kaili in the afternoon, visit Kaili Folk Museum to have an overview of the ethnic groups in Guizhou Province, and drive to Shiqiao to see the traditional way of make paper from mulberry tree barks.
Attractions:	Tianlong Village Featured by stone enclosing walls, stone city walls, stone tiles and stone watchtowers, it is a real stone village. The houses remain the Ming architectural style, and the locals still keep up most of the cultural traditions of that time. Kaili Folk Museum One of 100 distinctive museums in China, it’s entitled "the Origin of Chinese Folk Arts". As an open-air museum of showing national culture and customs, it displays a variety of traditional costumes, artifacts and musical instruments.
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Day 13

City:	Kaili - Rongjiang
Activity:	Drive to visit Jidao Long-skirt Miao Village, then proceed to Datang Short Skirt Miao village located at the foot of Leigong Mountain. Continue the trip to visit a Shui people village in a valley. Finally end the trip today after arrival at Rongjiang.
Attractions:	Jidao Miao Village 25km away from Kaili, for the local women wear traditional long skirts, the village got its name. The distinctive Miao-style housing (called "Diaojiaolou") and creative festivals attract a large number of tourists. Datang Miao Village 15km from Leishan County, the village stands out for the distinctive and fashionable dress of the locals. All females here wear extremely short skirt all year round, even in freezing winter. You would be impressed by their silver ornaments.
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Day 14

City:	Rongjiang - Zhaoxing
Activity:	Take 2-hour ride to Basha Miao village noted for the men's unique hair style and women's shinning fabric costume from egg-white. In the afternoon, explore Zhaoxing - the largest Dong people's village in China with more than 800 families and a population of 5,000.
Attractions:	Basha Miao Village The village makes a real picture of ancient life in Tang or Song eras – the locals wear ancient costumes, carry swords and put their long hair rolled up into topknots. Zhaoxing Dong village the largest Dong ethnic community in China; it’s still an amazing place, packed with traditional wooden structure, several wind-and-rain bridges and five remarkable drum towers, which form a sharp contrast with modern cities.
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Day 15

City:	Zhaoxing - Sanjiang
Activity:	Visit Tang'an Dong village in the morning, and proceed to Sanjiang, visit Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge and villages.
Attractions:	Tang'an Dong village Amongst mountains, paddy fields and lush greens, Tang'an is still a most primitive Dong village. With ancient stone paths, wooden houses and picturesque scenery, the village is a perfect place for people to return to nature. Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge Built in 1916, it’s the largest and best one among Dong’s Wind and Rain Bridges; no nails or rivets were used in the wood-and-stone architecture. Visitors come here to experience the pastoral life, Dong customs and enjoy the charming sceneries.
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Day 16

City:	Sanjiang - Longji
Activity:	Drive to Longji, explore the rice terraces area, local Zhuang and Yao villages. Then proceed to Guilin.
Attractions:	Longji Rice Terraces Where there is soil, there is a terrace. Construction of the terraces began in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and was completed in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). For picturesque scenery, the linked together terraces vary from season to season.
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Day 17

City:	Guilin - Yangshuo
Activity:	Take a leisurely cruise down Li River, disembark at Yangshuo. Free afternoon for your own exploration.
Attractions:	Li River The River offers unparallel scenery with rolling hills, clear waters bamboo forest, small villages, fisherman and villagers along the journey. The most popular way to enjoy its beauty is by river cruise, bamboo raft or hiking along the bank.
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Day 18

City:	Yangshuo
Activity:	Biking to the countryside and bamboo rafting down Yulong River. Free afternoon.
Attractions:	Yangshuo Bike Riding You will be escorted by the guide to take about 1.5-2 hours bike ride to the countryside to see the stunning landscape around Yangshuo and the local farmer’s life. Yangshuo Bamboo Rafting You will take relaxing bamboo rafting (1.5-2 hours) down Yulong River. It is soft adventurous, please don’t drop your belongings into the water while on board. Yulong River Yulong River, also called Meeting Dragon River, flows through beautiful Karst scenery, peaceful villages, and the 600 year-old Yulong Stone Bridge. Sitting on the reclining bamboo chair on the raft, you can enjoy an all around view.
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Day 19

City:	Yangshuo - Guilin - Hong Kong
Activity:	Drive back to Guilin and visit Reed Flute Cave, Seven Star Park to see giant pandas, and central lakes. Take an afternoon flight to Hong Kong. After arrival, please find your way to the hotel which was booked by us.
Attractions:	Reed Flute Cave a brilliance cave with spectacular a spectacular world of various stalactites, stone pillars and rock formations created by carbonate deposition; illustrated by colored lighting to form a fantastic cave. Seven Star Park a large and beautiful park in center Guilin; there is a spectacular cave inside, with cute giant pandas in the zoon.
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Day 20

City:	Hong Kong
Activity:	Free time for your own exploration.
Attractions:	Free day
Hotels:
Meals:

Day 21

City:	Hong Kong
Activity:	Your own arrangement to the airport and fly to your next destination.
Attractions:	Service Ends
Hotels:
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