6 Days Guizhou Classic Tour: Huangguoshu Waterfall, Xiaoqikong & Miao Villages

Welcome to Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou! Your guide and driver await you at the airport/train station for a smooth transfer to your downtown hotel. Breathe in the fresh air!

Guiyang Arrival Ideas:

Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (KWE) is the primary airport serving the city, offering direct flights to major cities across China, including Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Xiamen, as well as international destinations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.

Guiyang is a significant railway hub in Southwest China, serving numerous bullet trains that connect Guiyang to major cities such as Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, and other cities within Guizhou.

Free Time Idea:

1. Qianling Park (黔灵公园):Escape into nature at Guiyang's largest urban park. Hike up Qianling Mountain, visit Hongfu Temple, and meet the playful monkeys along the trails.
2. Jiaxiu Pavilion (甲秀楼):This iconic three-tiered pavilion stands gracefully in the Nanming River. It's a symbol of Guiyang, especially beautiful lit up at night. Take a stroll around the area and soak in the historical ambiance.
3. Qingyun Market (青云市集):Just 1 km from Jiaxiu Pavilion, Qingyun Market is a lively night market once known as Guiyang's "midnight canteen." Stroll through its vibrant stalls, sample local snacks, and soak up the bustling nightlife atmosphere.

After breakfast, drive 2.5 hours to reach Anshun for the Huangguoshu Waterfall Tour, the location of the largest waterfall in China and Asia. You will hear the roaring water a kilometer away and admire the waterfall's dynamic views!

Back in the 17th century, Xu Xiake, a famous ancient Chinese geographer and pre-internet celebrity, traveled to this resort. His blog boosted the reputation of this waterfall nationwide! Follow the popular path he took:

Head to Doupotang Scenic Area (陡坡塘), known for its 105-meter width. It is one of the filming locations for the TV series version of Journey to the West, one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. During the wet season, the water flow is rapid and makes a low roar, hence its nickname "Roaring Waterfall." Many tourists enjoy imitating the scenes of Journey to the West pilgrims. Feel free to try it!

Next, take a sightseeing bus to Tianxingqiao Scenic Area (天星桥), to admire the most complete karst landscape in the scenic area - caves, waterfalls, and water stone forests interwoven. You can enjoy view from various angles, with no repetitive vlog or plog scenery. It is especially famous for Silver Chain Dropping Pool Waterfall (银链坠潭瀑布). Unlike ordinary waterfalls, where water falls linearly, multiple small waterfalls converge and cascade from a circular stone beach into the deep pool below.

Afterward, take a sightseeing bus to Huangguoshu Waterfall (黄果树瀑布). As the main waterfall with a huge drop, 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide, it consists of 18 waterfalls with different styles. At first glance, it can be folded into four layers. During the summer flood season, the water volume per hour is enough to fill 1296 swimming pools, falling into the 17-meter-deep pool. The roaring sound of water hit rocks day and night. You will build a deep connection with nature, find scenery changes from high up, straight on, and from the side.

Behind the waterfall is the 134-meter-long narrow Water Curtain Cave (水帘洞), a great place to touch the flowing water and see how it falls. You will walk to it and return by escalator.

After visit, the guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in Anshun City.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive towards Libo (approximately 4 hours, covering about 350 kilometers).

Upon arrival, dive into the ethereal beauty of Xiaoqikong Scenic Area (小七孔景区), often referred to as the "Earth's Green Emerald Belt" for its stunning jade-green lakes and rivers. As a core part of the South China Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site, this Seven Small Arches Scenic Area showcases the essence of karst landscapes - lush forests, crystal-clear streams, waterfalls, caves, and dramatic limestone formations all in one place.

Your visit combines leisurely walking and shuttle bus rides, allowing you to experience the best of Xiaoqikong's natural charm. Wander across the iconic Xiaoqikong Bridge (小七孔古桥), which gracefully spans the emerald-green waters of Hanbi Pond. Its seven semicircular arches create perfect reflections on the water's surface, forming complete circles that seem painted into the landscape amid lush greenery.

As you continue, discover surreal scenes, such as the mighty Laya Waterfall (拉雅瀑布), where water drops over 30 meters from a mossy cliffside, forming a powerful, curtain-like cascade. The multi-layered 68-Level Waterfall (68级叠水瀑布) follows each layer displaying its own character, rhythmic and graceful, like nature's flowing poetry.

A truly unique sight is the Water Forest (水上森林) - a green labyrinth where rare trees grow directly from the riverbed, and roots intertwine with clear flowing streams. Walk along submerged stone paths and feel the magic of “trees rising from the water, and water flowing through a forest.”

Don't miss the Cuigu Waterfall (翠谷瀑布) cascades 60 meters down a forest cliff a silver river pouring from the sky. And marvel at the incredibly blue waters of Wolong Pond (卧龙潭), often compared to the famous lakes of Jiuzhaigou. The pond flows gently over the top of a curved dam, forming a graceful crescent-shaped waterfall.

After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Libo for check-in.

After breakfast, depart from Libo and drive to Kaili City (approx. 2 hours). En route, visit Gaoyao Terrace Fields and Shiqiao Miao Village in Danzhai County. Upon arrival in Kaili, explore Matang Gejia Village.

Your first stop en route will be the stunning Gaoyao Terrace Fields (高要梯田), hidden in the mountains near Danzhai. Spanning over 1,000 mu (approximately 165 acres), these terraces gracefully cascade from the mountaintop to the valley floor, following the natural contours of the landscape. Their layered curves resemble the flowing sashes of Miao attire, adorning the mountains with vibrant patterns.

Each season transforms the terraces: in spring, they shimmer with water reflecting the sky; in summer, they flourish with lush green rice plants; and in autumn, they turn golden as the crops ripen, offering a picturesque scene that attracts photographers and travelers alike.

Your next stop is Shiqao Miao Village (石桥村), renowned as the "Hometown of Ancient Papermaking" in China. Here, the ancient papermaking methods are still preserved. The area surrounding the Miao village is rich in paper mulberry trees, and for generations, the villagers have used the bark to make paper. You will have the opportunity to witness the entire papermaking process, from soaking and pulping the bark to drying and crafting the durable, exquisite paper products. Beyond the workshops, take time to explore the tranquil village nestled alongside the water, embraced by scenic mountains. It is called "Shiqiao" (Stone Bridge) village because of a natural stone arch bridge that spans the riverbanks.

Optional activity: Consider creating your own special decorative paper by embedding real flower petals and leaves directly into the pulp, crafting a personal keepsake that you can take home.

Lastly, you will visit Matang Gejia Village (麻塘亻革家寨). The villagers of Matang believe themselves to be descendants of Hou Yi, the legendary archer. Their clothing is mainly decorated with batik and red embroidery. They fashion their headdresses into the shapes of bows and arrows, and their necklace pendants resemble various weapons, reminiscent of ancient generals. Legend has it that in ancient times, a general's wife went to the battlefield in her husband's armor and won a victory. To commemorate her, women wear general's attire during festivals.

Beyond their attire, the Gejia people's batik artistry is also very famous. The patterns are quite unique, often depicting powerful creatures like tigers and other animals, as well as flowers, birds, and insects, reflecting the Gejia people's deep love for nature. In the village, you can observe the villagers making batik by hand using beeswax.

Optional activity: Try your hand at creating your own batik masterpiece and take your finished work home as a unique souvenir.

After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Kaili for check-in.

In the morning, drive to Langde Miao Village(朗德苗上寨), known as the "Hometown of Chinese Folk Song and Dance." It is nestled amidst lush mountains and terraced fields. Unlike more commercialized villages, Langde retains its untouched, authentic charm, where ancient customs and the rhythm of songs and dances unfold slowly.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted with the "Twelve Cups of Block-Way Rice Wine” ceremony. Villagers dressed in magnificent silver headdresses and embroidered clothing will welcome guests and offer rice wine in ox horn cups. This is the highest etiquette of the Miao people for receiving distinguished guests, with each cup of wine representing blessings for a month. Afterward, you will walk along the stone-paved path to the Lusheng ground in the center of the village. Here, a wonderful Miao song and dance performance will take place, featuring toasting songs, Miao flying songs, and Lusheng dances in succession, leaving you mesmerized.

As an open-air museum of the Miao culture, the village exudes a rich ethnic flavor everywhere. Stroll among the stilted wooden houses (diaojiaolou) with a hundred years of history, traditionally built on stilts and scattered on the hillside in a well-arranged manner. The clothing here is also unique; the Miao residents are characterized by wearing long skirts, hence the name "Long Skirt Miao," representing the most gorgeous branch of Miao costumes.

After the tour, transfer back to Guiyang City (approx. 2.5 hours) for hotel check-in.

Then, it is time to end your 6-day Guizhou Classic Tour. Your guide will escort you to the airport/train station for your flight or high-speed train to your next destination.

Extend Your Travel: Guizhou is close to Yunnan, Hunan, Chongqing, Sichuan, and Guangxi. From Guiyang Railway Station, you can take a high-speed train to popular travel destinations such as Kunming (3 hours), Fenghuang Ancient Town (2 hours), Chongqing (2-2.5 hours), Chengdu (3-3.5 hours), and Guilin (2 hours).

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your Guizhou Tour. We are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!