Qinghai Plateau: Salt Lakes, Red Canyons And Monasteries
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贵州South-West China26.65° N · 106.63° E
Karst mountains, great waterfalls and villages of the Miao and Dong peoples. Here is where to go, how long the drives are and when to visit.
Guizhou is a mountainous province in south-west China, high, green and laced with rivers that tumble through karst valleys. It is home to many ethnic minority communities, above all the Miao and Dong, whose wooden villages, drum towers, silverwork and embroidery are the main draw for most travellers. High-speed rail has made it far easier to reach, yet it still feels less visited than its neighbours.
Guiyang, the capital, is the usual gateway. To the west lies Huangguoshu, one of the largest waterfalls in Asia, while to the east the hills around Kaili hold Miao villages such as Xijiang and Langde. Further south-east are Dong villages like Zhaoxing, with their drum towers and covered bridges, and to the north-east the old river town of Zhenyuan.
Our Guizhou journeys are private and tailor-made, with a guide and driver throughout and an unhurried route between villages.
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The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
The broad, thundering falls plunge into a deep pool, and a path leads behind them through the Water Curtain Cave. The flow is strongest from June to September.
Two more areas in the Huangguoshu park: a wide, low waterfall and a garden of stone, streams and stepping stones. Allow a full day for all three.
Thousands of wooden houses climb the hillsides above a river, one of the largest Miao communities. Busy by day, but the evening lights across the valley are memorable.
Quieter villages near Kaili with stone lanes, wooden granaries and traditional welcomes. Your guide can time visits to local markets and festivals.
A large Dong village set along a stream, with several tall drum towers and covered wind and rain bridges. Nearby hilltop villages offer walks through terraced fields.
An old trading town on the green Wuyang River, with stone lanes and the Qinglong Cave temple complex clinging to the cliff. Lovely in the evening.
A walled town of stone gates and old streets about an hour south of Guiyang, an easy first stop when you arrive.
Between the villages, the drives cross green mountains, river gorges and terraced valleys. Stops at viewpoints are part of the experience.
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Customise My TripLocal specialities worth seeking out, and when the locals eat them. Your guide will know the best places to try each one.
Add a food experience →Guiyang has flights across China and high-speed rail links to Guilin, Chongqing, Kunming and Guangzhou. Huangguoshu is about two hours west by road, and Kaili and the Miao villages are reached by train or road to the east.
Included on our journeys and the only practical way to reach the villages.
Best for: Village routesFast links from Guiyang to Kaili, Congjiang for Zhaoxing, and neighbouring provinces.
Best for: Long distancesVillages and old towns are best explored slowly, with plenty of steps.
Best for: VillagesPlaces that pair well with Guizhou, with approximate travel times.
April to May and September to October are the most pleasant months, mild and generally drier. Summer is warm but cooler than much of China thanks to the altitude, and the waterfalls are at their fullest. Winter is cold, grey and damp, and some rural roads can be icy.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppYes, for travellers interested in minority cultures, villages and green landscapes. It is quieter than Yunnan or Guilin, and the Miao and Dong villages are among the most distinctive in China. It suits those happy with long drives and simple hotels outside the cities.
Four to six nights allows Guiyang, Huangguoshu, the Miao villages around Kaili and either Zhaoxing or Zhenyuan. With fewer days, focus on one area. A week or more lets you slow down, add smaller villages and time your route to local markets.
The falls are fullest from June to September, during the rainy season, when the spray is dramatic. Spring and autumn bring more comfortable weather with a good flow. In the dry winter months the falls are much smaller.
It is busy and commercial, with shops and shows along the main street. Still, its size and setting are impressive, especially in the evening. We often pair it with smaller villages such as Langde, which feel quieter and closer to daily life.
Yes, when done with care. Ask before photographing people, especially elders, follow your guide's lead at welcome ceremonies, and buy crafts directly from the makers where you can. Visiting smaller villages with a local guide helps spread the benefit of tourism and makes the encounter more natural for everyone.
Fly into Guiyang Longdongbao Airport, or take the high-speed train from Guilin, Chongqing, Kunming or Guangzhou. Guizhou combines well with Guilin and Yangshuo, and many of our journeys travel overland between the two by rail and road.
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