About this Journey

We’re excited to partner with Global Heritage Fund to bring you this exclusive journey inside Guizhou. Join us as we explore the rich cultural traditions of the Buyi, Miao, and Dong people through local experiences, amidst a backdrop of karst mountains, rice terraces, and wooded hillsides.

Watch our past event where we travel virtually to Dali Dong Village, one of the villages on this journey.

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What we love

Meeting a Dali Dong village elder to understand the customs and history of the Dong people, among the largest ethnic groups in Guizhou
Learning how to create and play the bamboo lusheng instrument, used by the Miao people during celebrations
Spending an afternoon with a village shaman to learn about Dong spirituality, afterlife beliefs, and healing techniques

Map

Day 1Arrive in Guiyang

Meet your WildChina guide in the airport arrivals hall – We’ll have your private vehicle on standby ready to transfer you to your hotel • Wander through the gilded halls of Guizhou’s oldest Zen Buddhist temple – the Hongfu Buddhist Temple

Day 2Buyi Village

Moving deeper into unpaved territory, set out on a ~2-hour drive to the home of the Buyi people • Discover the traditions of the Buyi people who are believed to be related to the earliest inhabitants of Guizhou • Celebrate the Buyi Chaibai Singing Festival which brings together thousands of villagers for an evening to remember

Day 3Fan Pai Village and Feiyunya

Begin your day at Fan Pai Village, where you’ll meet the Black Miao (or Hmu) people, known for their distinct dark color of their traditional clothing • Enjoy a locally sourced, homemade lunch • Head to Feiyunya Village to celebrate the Lusheng Festival – an ancestral worship that involves a jubilant traditions of dancing , rooster fighting, and water buffalo fighting

Day 4Dali Dong Village

Begin your next few days at the Dali Dong Village, a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, to immerse yourself in the traditions of one of the largest ethnic groups in Guizhou – the Dong people • Enjoy a “vintage fish” banquet, a Dong culinary tradition • Meet Grandpa Lao Yang, a village elder who will show share the history and culture of the Dong people • Enjoy a private dinner at the village’s Drum Tower, and learn traditional song and dance

Day 5Dali Dong Village

Learn a Dong dyeing technique, derived from soybeans, that results in a light blue ink • Visit the DOUSA Dong Women’s Cooperative that helps bring economic opportunity and maintain the Dong heritage of textile production • Hike around the verdant landscape before meeting with a village shaman and enjoying a private Dong a capella performance • Spend the rest of the evening as the guest of honor at a village leader’s home

Day 6Biasha Village

Enjoy an early morning hike in the village and enjoy sweeping views of the hillside villages and verdant countryside • Drive to Biasha Village • Meet Biasha Miao villagers to learn about their unique gun customs • Drive to Congjiang and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure

Day 7Depart from Congjiang

Meet your WildChina guide and driver at the hotel lobby and drive (~3 hours) to the Guiyang airport for your departure flight back home.

Hotels

Sofitel Guiyang Hunter, Guiyang
5 Star

Nestled in the Central Business District, Sofitel Guiyang Hunter is a convenient base for exploring the diversity and culture of the region

Hampton by Hilton, Kaili
5 Star

Hampton by Hilton’s particularly colorful rooms and delicious breakfast serve to keep you energized for your day’s adventures.

The Well House Boutique Hotel, Dali Dong Village

5 Star

The Well House Boutique Hotel, designed by architect firm ATLAS, combines the local architecture traditions of Dali Dong village with modern elements to make for a cultural yet comfortable stay

Xinxiang Songlai Grand Hotel, Congjiang
4 Star

The Congjiang Xinxiang Songlai Grand Hotel is a newly-opened 4-star hotel in Congjiang. The rooms and amenities are basic, but we deem it the best option available in this area.

Photos

Details

Best time to travel

夏

Name: Inside Guizhou: A Discovery of Miao, Buyi, and Dong Traditions
Brand: WildChina
SKU: 1

Summer

Arrival & Departure

Flights

This journey starts and ends in Guiyang, Guizhou. Travelers will be privately transferred to and from the Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport.

What’s Included

All accommodations based on double-occupancy including breakfasts, as indicated in the itinerary
All meals, as indicated in the itinerary, and drinking water
All admission fees and activity expenses, as indicated in the itinerar
Ground transportation, including airport transfers
Services of an English-speaking WildChina guide

What’s Excluded

International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
Travel and medical insurance
Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

What to expect

Trip Difficulty: Moderate Adventure

This journey is considered a moderate adventure. Moderate adventure includes full days outside the hotel, with drives up to 3 or 3 ½ hours on mainly well-maintained, paved roads. We may spend up to 4-5 hours walking or hiking.

Your Guides

Your guide will arrange the logistics of your trip, including meals, hotel reservations, sites, and activities, as well as providing you with information about the local region. Your WildChina guide is specific to each local region and will be confirmed during booking.

Meals and Water

Meals are included, as listed in your itinerary. We strive to arrange meals that highlight authentic local cuisine in clean, local establishments.

It is safe to drink bottled mineral water, but tap water, even in 5-star hotels, is not safe for drinking. We will provide bottled water, tea, and snacks throughout your journey.

We request guests with severe allergies to consult their physicians prior to traveling and to bring all necessary medicines with them. Inform us ahead of time of specific allergies, such as peanuts or shellfish, or sensitivities to MSG, so that we can do our best to ensure these items are not used in your meals.

Next Steps

How do I secure my spot on this tour?

We will continue to work with you until your trip is perfect.

For international bookings: Once you are ready to book, a USD$500 planning fee, per booking, is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

For bookings made in China: Once you are ready to book, a RMB1,000 deposit, per person, is required. This will go towards your trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

What is the payment schedule?

1. Deposit:
A deposit is required to secure your reservation. Once your deposit has been received, we will send your confirmation along with a detailed itinerary and all the information you’ll need to prepare for your journey.

2. Full payment:
Full trip payment should be made 20 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 20 days of your departure, you may be asked to pay make the full payment straight away.

Payments can be made via credit card, bank transfer, WeChat or Alipay

Is this trip guaranteed to run?

This trip will be scheduled to run once we receive bookings from six (6) passengers. Should the journey be cancelled due to lack of sign-ups or government restrictions, WildChina will fully refund any deposits or fees paid.

Traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic

In order to travel around China at the moment (Summer, 2020) you will need to provide your passport, residency permit and, occasionally, proof of employment in China. Your travel designer will explain the exact requirements for your specific trip.

Different sites and regions of China currently have different health and safety requirements. We will let you know in advance what the restrictions are in your destination. We encourage all of our guests to bring their own face mask and wear it whenever possible. We will also have face masks and hand sanitizers available. A province or city-specific green health code is currently required for domestic travel. Your travel designer will talk you through the details of this process. Please note that certain areas also require clear COVID-19 test results.

What is your cancellation policy during the COVID-19 pandemic?

We’ve updated our booking conditions due to the current situation. See our full cancellation policy for more information.

For more information, see terms and conditions for our small group tours.

Inside Guizhou: A Discovery of Miao, Buyi, and Dong Traditions

Have questions?