Walking and Ethnic Villages Tour - itinerary
October 17 Depart NZ (date to be confirmed.)
Day 1 Arriving in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, check in the hotel for a rest and light activities depending on the arrival time, stay in Guilin.
Day 2 Explore Guilin on foot. Walk to Elephant Trunk Hill, along the banks of the Li River to Fubo Hill, visit the Ming dynasty Imperial Palace in the park grounds, walk along the Guihu Lake-Ronghu Lake -North Bank-Ancient South Gate -Ronghu Lake- South Bank-hotel and Old Alleys area, the traditional alleys in Guilin, lasting thousands of years. Stay in Guilin.
Day 3 Check out after breakfast, 30 minutes drive to the pier for the world famous cruise down the Li River, through a landscape of karst hills, bamboo groves and grazing water buffalo to arrive in Yangshuo at 14.30. Wander back-street markets and West Street. Evening show—Zhang Yimou’s (director of Beijing Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies) show on water –Impressions of Liu Sanjie. Stay in Yangshuo.
Day 4 Cycle along the Yulong valley, relax in the countryside farmer restaurants, climb Moon Hill, karst peak in Yangshuo Park. Stay in Yangshuo.
Day 5 Take a coach to Longsheng, enter 900m deep Reed Flute cave. Deposit main luggage and climb the stone steps through rice terraces to stay overnight in a fully self-contained local guesthouse in Ping’an Zhuang Village.
Day 6 Today we will walk 5 hours through terraced hillsides to Jinkeng Yao Village, and stay in another local guesthouse to enjoy their local food and culture.
Day 7 Walk down, fetch our luggage, and take a coach to neighbouring Guizhou Province. Arrive in Zhaoxing Village with time to explore; stay the night here and enjoy the night views.
Day 8 Today a day trip to two Dong minority villages of Tong’an and Xiage, with a 7km walk mainly on country paths and stone steps before returning to stay a further night in Zhaoxing.
Day 9 Moving on to Congjiang county, wander the paths through the mountainous Basha Miao village and flat Huanggang Dong village. Stay overnight in the County town of Congjiang.
Day 10 Congjiang - Kaili( (coach, 4 hours). Kaili is the capital of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, and the centre of this ethnically rich minorities area. On the way explore Yintan Dong village, Shiqiao Miao village, arrive in Kaili . Visit the museum to appreciate more of the ethnic cultures that we have met on our journeys.
Day 11 Kaili - Zhenyuan (coach, 2 hours). Further walking in the mountain hugging Matang Gejia village and Yuntai mountain. Arrive in Zhenyuan ancient town.
Day 12 Activities in Zhenyuan. Take a cruise on the Wuyang River and walk in the Wuyang River Scenic spot (cruise for 1.5hrs, 2km walking, flat mainly), wander in Zhenyuan Ancient Town, visit Black Dragon Cave. Stay a further night in Zhenyuan
Day 13 Zhenyuan - Fanjingshan (Fanjing Mountain) town. Travel by coach (4.5 hours) and relax in the cool air, stay in the town at the foot of Fanjing National Nature Reserve, made a Unesco Natural Heritage Site in 2018.
Day 14 A full day on Fanjingshan, the highest point on our tour at 2570 masl. Option to take a cable car up and down, or walk the 6000 steps one way. Climb the steps of two dramatic peaks at the top of this range, and marvel at the mushroom rock feature. On descending travel to Tongren, famous for its dragon boat racing. Stay in Tongren.
Day 15 Tongren - Guiyang – Anshun. In the morning take a bullet train to Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou.Transfer to Anshun (by bullet train 1.5-2hrs) and drive to Huangguoshu.
Day 16 A full day exploring this very scenic area. Huangguoshu is the largest waterfall in Asia. Unfortunately for the spectacle, it is not the rainy season, but the area is dramatic. “If Huangguoshu Waterfall is great and momentous, Tianxing Qiao (Tianxing bridge) is exquisite and elegant.” Walk in the fairy land of karst rocks in water, forest and waterfalls. Stay in Huangguoshu township.
Day 17 Huangguoshu - Anshun - Xingyi(coach, 3.5hrs). On the way explore Yunfeng Ancient Garrison village. Established in the early Ming dynasty around 600 years ago, it is one of several well preserved ancient stone villages defending this mountainous area. Then on to Maling George, a deep ravine 15km long, and up to 100 metres deep. We will spend some time on the trails here. Stay in Xingyi.
Day 18 Activities in Xingyi: Wanfeng (literally 10,000 peaks) area - activities include taking a cruise on the lake, visit the eastern part of Wanfeng Forest , and look in at the intriguing Marriage Museum before returning for a second night in Xingyi.
Day 19 Xingyi - Guiyang (coach, 4.5 hours - 5 hours). On the way briefly visit Breast Hill and Jiaxiu Tower, before continuing to our hotel in Guiyang.
Day 20 Guiyang is the hilly capital of Guizhou Province. Guiyang Park is extensive, with active temples and monkeys! Visit Qingyan Ancient Town, enjoy our last night banquet.
Day 21 Depart for return journey to New Zealand, times to be confirmed.
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