In a hidden corner of southwest China, a mountainous province remains secreted away from the travel trail. But Guizhou is rich in all of the things that draw travellers to China: mythic scroll-painting mountains, diverse cultures and truly remarkable food.
Guizhou contains a diverse range of minority groups, include Yao, Miao, Yi, Qiang, Dong, Zhuang, Buyi, Bai……over half of Guizhou is made up autonomous regions for these minorities.
On this legendary land, you can have a full exploration about Miao people and its brilliant and colorful culture and explore the Huangguoshu Waterfall which is the largest waterfall in Asia.
Enjoy the leisure paced rural life in the ethnic villages and fully throw yourselves into the local culture to experience more!
Come with us!
Guizhou
December 25-29
January 15-19
January 29-February 2
5 Days · 4 Nights
DAY.1
Dec 25/Jan 15/Jan 29
Arrive at Guiyang
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gather
Dec 26/Jan 16/Jan 30
DAY.2
Kaili resort
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Langde Miao Village
DAY.3
Dec 27/Jan 17/Jan 31
Shiqiao Miao Village
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Matang Village
Dec 28/Jan 18/Feb 1
DAY.4
Huangguoshu Waterwall National Park
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Doupotang Waterfall
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Tianxingqiao Scenic Area
DAY.5
Dec 29/Jan 19/Feb 2
Qingyan ancient town
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Guiyang Departure
ITINERARY
D1
Gather in Guiyang
Dec 25/Jan 15/Jan 29
Arrival
Welcome to Guiyang, the beautiful “City of Forest” and provincial capital of Guizhou! Met by our English speaking tour guide. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
D2
Guiyang-Kaili-Langde Miao Village
Dec 26/Jan 16/Jan 30
Arrival
In the mornning we go to Upper Langde Miao Village. Upper Langde Miao Village named Chinese Folk Art Village, is a very primitive and simple Miao village which still maintains the old way of living of the Miao people. “Dynamic Xijiang and quiet Langde” is the difference between Xijiang Miao Village and Langde Miao Village. Compared with Xijiang Thousand-household Miao Village, it is much less developed and crowded with about 100 households. It is the only authenticrural village passed by the Beijing Olympic torch in 2008.
Upper Langde Miao Village is featured in “Long Skirt Miao” which means travelers can see Miao people wear long skirts. Taking a visit to Langde, you can also appreciate the special Miao wooden stilted buildings and feel the enthusiasm and hospitality of Miao people and enjoy colorful Lusheng singing and dancing performed by the local villagers.
As the China's first folk-custom village tour destination, it is famous for Diaojiaolou (a wooden house high above ground), Lushengtang (a dance), Fengyuqiao (a bridge), etc. During the festival or when the tour group arrives, there will be a warm welcome ceremony and grand Miao song and dance performances such as Lusheng Dance, Bronze-drum Dance, and Bench Dance. Later "ethnic minority’s villages" that emerged throughout the country were all inspired by Langde Miao Village.
Langde town is endowed with unique national tourism resources. It is renowned as the "Hometown of Chinese Folk Songs and Dances", "National Hundred Open-Air Museums" and "Hometown of Lusheng". The ancient buildings of Langde Shang Miao Village are listed as the fifth batch of Key Cultural Relics Protection Units in China.
D3
Shiqiao Miao Village, Matang Village
Dec 27/Jan 17/Jan 31
In this morning, we drive to Shiqiao Miao Village. Shiqiao Village is famous for the national intangible cultural heritage of traditional paper making with trees’ bark by Miao ethnic group. Traditionally, paper was first invented during the Eastern Han Dynasty around the year of 100 BC from hemp, tree barks and old rags, etc. While the paper making technology in Shiqiao can be dated back to 1,300 years and the skill is called Tang Dynasty paper making. Catch the great opportunity to see the traditional ways of making papers. If interested, you can learn paper making in the Chuan Cave, from which the underground river water in quite clean and good for the paper quality.
After the fantastic experience in Shiqiao, we drive to Matang Gejia Village, a primitive Miao village with over 400 Gejia people who are called the 57th ethnic group in China unofficially. According to the legend, Gejia people are the direct descendants of Hou Yi, a legendary hero who was said to shoot the nine scorching suns in order to save his people. Matang Village is famous for exotic attires, colorful festivals and countryside feelings. The women and girls here are specialized in batik that you can fully appreciate the uniqueness of the Gejia batik patterns and embroidery as well as the excellent craftsmanship of the villagers. If you are interested, you can learn how to make batik with wax from a local master and create your own batik work (optional experience).
After the tour, you will be escorted back to Kaili City.
D4
Huangguoshu Waterfall National Park
Doupotang Waterfall-Tianxingqiao Scenic Area
Dec 28/Jan 18/Feb 1
After breakfast, we will go to Huangguoshu Waterfall National Park. You will appreciate different views of the waterfall, especially go behind the waterfall and see how water starts dropping and touch the waterfall.
First we visit Doupotang Scenic Area which is one of the shooting places of well-known TV series of one of the four Chinese literature classics - “Pilgrimage to the West”. Walk pleasantly there to appreciate the 105 meters wide and 21 meters high waterfall formed on the more than 100 meters calcific beach bar, which dumps from the top giant pool of 15 thousand square meters wide. As the waterfall always roars strongly during flooding period, it is also named “Roaring Waterfall”.
Next, take the sightseeing vehicle to have a close admiration of Tianxingqiao Scenic Area. Catch all its essences of Karst landscape to know why it is complimented as a fairyland of Karst ecology miniature landscape with different sceneries at different angles and idyllic environment of birds and flowers, water and mountain, forest and cave, etc. Here you will watch the stone of forest of 0.4 square kilometers grows on water with verdant undershrub and cactus, meet the Beauty Banyan looks like a beautiful lady with graceful posture, have an enjoyable stroll in Heavenly Star Cave to see the diverse shaped Karst stalagmites, columns, flowers, etc. with multiple lights, with some looking like fishes, chicken, rice terraces, and so on. You will also enjoy the view of the Waterfall of Silver Chain Dropping to the Pool to see its shimmering water branches falling like thousands of silver chains, white wedding veil, lotus leaves, etc. during different seasons.
Then, take the sightseeing vehicle to see the iconic Huangguoshu Waterfall of 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide. With such magnificent and shocking scenery, it is the No.1 largest waterfall in whole Asia and one of the most famous waterfalls around the world. Walk around the waterfall to admire its distinct landscape from different angles and feel its breathtaking roaring of falling into the 17 meters deep shoal. Besides, you will encounter with more inspiring places including the 134 meters dragon-like Water Curtain Cave behind the waterfall, more than 3,000 excellent bonsai displayed exquisitely in the bonsai garden, and more to feel the grand sight of the large scenic area.
D5
Qingyan Ancient Town-Guiyang Departure
Dec 29/Jan 19/Feb 2
After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then drive you for about 1 hour to visit Qingyan Old Town,which is famous for its long history and strong cultural atmosphere.
It is one of the four great old towns in whole Guizhou Province with its legendary history once as a courier station and military fortress. This more than 600 years’ old town keeps the exquisite ancient dwelling houses, temples, city walls, gateways, etc. from Ming and Qing dynasties very well for your historical savory. This traditional old town in south China also surprisingly well keeps a series of religious buildings of Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Catholicism to tell the cultural communication of Chinese and Western countries. Walk amongst the worn out paths polished by rains and steps to imagine the old life there. Besides, visit Former Residence of Number One Scholar Zhao Yijiong who was the first Number One Scholar in Guizhou Province during the imperial examination to feel the rich literal atmosphere in the courtyard, take beautiful photos of the symbolic Stone Archway and Dingguang Gateway, etc., roam at the Secluded Street paved with flagstones to travel back to the past centuries, appreciate closely the Guizhou rarely outstanding wood carvings at Shoufo Temple and stone carvings at Ciyun Temple, and feel the simple life with the shopkeepers busy for their lives.
Free and easy on your own before the confirmed pick-up time. And we will leave for Beijing with fantastic memories.
Notice：In case of rain, traffic jam or any other unpredictable situations, FCN reserves the rights to adjust the schedule
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You will enjoy more discount if there is more people join the tour ≧3people,50rmb off/person |
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👉 Transportation fee
Round trip ticket between Beijing - Guiyang（Our staff can help you buy tickets，ticket purchase fee is 50RMB）
👉 Entrance Fees: To scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
① Langde Miao Village-50RMB;Sightseeing bus-10RMB
②Shiqiao Miao Village-free
③Matang Village-free
④Huangguoshu Waterwall National Park-180RMB
⑤Qingyan ancient town-60RMB
😊 Tickets Information-Free
👉 Personal expenses: such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary.
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Averages for Guiyang Weather
What to Wear
Weather: Guizhou boasts comfortable summer weather, located as it is in a mountainous region and endowed with abundant forests. It is not excessively hot, with fresh air and abundant rain which mostly falls at night. The hottest month is July, with average temperatures of 24 °C (75 °F).
Clothing: Any summer clothes will do, such as shorts, shirts and skirts, but it is also recommended to bring a light coat for the evenings and even a sweater for visiting mountainous areas.
Food
China's spicy Guizhou province
How to eat like a local
Where is Guizhou!!!
Located in southwest China, this province adjoins Sichuan and Chongqing to the north, Yunnan to the west, Guangxi to the south and Hunan to the east. It is a picturesque place with abundant natural and cultural scenic spots. Many Chinese ethnic minorities have been living on this land for centuries. Visitors to that area can not only appreciate various attractions, but also discover the rich and distinctive folk customs and cultures of the different ethnic groups.
Landscape & Climate
Landscapes in this province are broadly divided in to four types: plateaus, mountains, hills and basins. Among them, mountains and hills predominate. In addition, karst landforms are distributed widely on this land, which accounts for 61.9% of the province’s whole territory and forms a special Karst ecosystem. Due to these rugged landscapes, its development level is low, especially in the rural areas. Guizhou has a subtropical humid monsoon climate, which is frequently cloudy and rainy. There are few seasonal changes here with the result that it is neither too cold in the winter nor too hot in the summer. As a whole, people here enjoy a pleasant climate. Its capital city, Guiyang, is considered a ‘world’s summer resort’ because of the moderate temperature.
Ethnic Groups
This province is home to 48 China’s ethnic groups, second only to Yunnan Province, each of which has developed their own unique customs and cultures. When traveling there, visitors should not miss the chance to experience their simple and original living habits, appreciate the unique architectural styles and try their exotic and colorful costumes, etc. For example, one can go to Langdeshang Miao Village or Xijiangqianhu Miao Village to admire their stilt-houses and colorful traditional clothes; to China’s last gunmen’s tribe, Basha Miao Village, to experience their unique life styles; to Buyi Stone Village to explore how this stone village was made without any other construction materials; to Dong villages to see Dong-style drum towers and wind-rain bridges, etc. What’s more, over 1,000 festivals are celebrated by ethnic groups each year in Guizhou, providing the best opportunities for visitors to experience these ethnic traditions. The most famous festivals include Sanyuesan Festival and Sister's Meal Festival in the spring, Liuyueliu Festival in summer, and the Shui New Year Festival in autumn.
Delicacies & Specialties
Food there mainly consists of Qian cuisine and local snacks. Hot, spicy and sour are the three most featured flavors of Qian cuisine. The most famous dishes include Suan Tang Yu (Sour Soup Fish) and griddle cooked dishes. Well-known snacks include Chang Wang Noodle, Lian'ai Doufu Guo and Si Wa Wa. Another Guizhou specialty is Maotai Liquor, which is considered the national liquor of China national liquor and one of the world’s three best distilled liquors along with whisky from the United Kingdom and French brandy. Rice wine made by local farmers is also a famous specialty. The area is also famous for its batik fabrics, silver decorations of the ethnic groups, bacon and Chinese medicine.
Huangguoshu Waterfall, also called Huangguoshu or Huangguoshu Falls, is the largest waterfall in Asia and the third largest waterfall in the world. It is without doubt to be Guizhou’s number one natural attraction.
Located on the Baishui River in Anshun, Guizhou (about 128 kilometers away from Guiyang), Huangguoshu National Park is centered at Huangguoshu Waterfall which is at 83 meters in width and 67 meters in height. There are altogether 18 waterfalls with varied sizes, some precipitous and majestic, other picturesque and fantastic. The total width of the combined waterfalls is 101 meters. All the waterfalls form a great “family”, which is ranked as the largest waterfall cluster in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records. Huangguoshu Waterfall is so magnificent and it can be viewed from all angles - above, below, front, back, left and right. To get the best views and hear the deafening roar, travelers should visit Wang Shui Ting and the viewing platform by Rhinoceros Pool.
Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area & Attractions
As you have known, Huangguoshu Waterfall is far more than a waterfall. It is a huge waterfall cluster with 18 waterfalls in total, occupying a staggering 163 square kilometers. Huangguoshu Waterfall Scenic Area is mainly composed of three parts - Doupotang Waterfall Scenic Area, Huangguoshu Waterfall, and Tianxingqiao Scenic Area. In this vast scenic area, travelers can fully appreciate the widest waterfall in the cluster at Doupotang Waterfall, the longest beach at Luositan Waterfall, the waterfall with the biggest decline at Dishuitan Waterfall and the most beautiful waterfall at Yinlian Duitan Waterfall, etc. Check the attractions and characteristics of each scenic area and plan your visit.
● Huangguoshu Waterfall (黄果树瀑布景区)
Huangguoshu Waterfall is a big draw for every traveler. Huangguoshu Waterfall is the largest waterfall in Asia, which is 67 meters high and 83.3 meters wide. Huangguoshu Waterfall got its name because of a local plant, namely, the Yellow Fruit Tree. It is famous for its greatness and the waterfall group. This waterfall is the only waterfall to be viewed at different angles for 360 degree. As early as in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the geologist, traveler and litterateur called Xu Xiake (徐霞客) highly praised the Huangguoshu Waterfall as “The shadows are floating in the air, the coldness is falling on the Milky Way in the sky”. Because of the rich rain in Guizhou Province, the waterfall has never draught-up. In the rainy season, the water is like a curtain, through which you even cannot see the stones behind the waterfall. It is just like ten thousand horses galloping ahead.
Bonsai Garden (盆景园)
Like the classic Suzhou Gardens, this Bonsai Garden will give you a feeling of small bridges, flowing water, strange rocks and beautiful plants. There are over 30 different kinds of bonsai - firethorn, lagerstroemia indica, gingko, diospyros armata, azalea, banyan...
Rhinoceros Pool (犀牛潭)
Rhinoceros Pool is located at the foot of Huangguoshu Waterfall. The waterfall is falling from the lofty place and struck a deep pool below. It is said that there was once a rhinoceros landed from the pool, and also because of its rhinoceros-liked shape, hence the name Rhinoceros Pool. The pool was 11.1 meters deep, on both side of which there are various vegetation growing on the cliff. If weather permits, you can watch the beautiful rainbow over the pool.
Water-Curtain Cave (水帘洞)
Water-Curtain Cave is by the side of Huangguoshu Waterfall, situated at a height of 40 meters to 47 meters. Like a flying dragon on the hillside, Water-Curtain Cave spans 134 meters long. This is place for the famous scene in “Journey to the West” - the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) and his offspring’s home. Travelers can appreciate the grand waterfall at different directions and closely feel and touch the waterfall.
● Doupotang Waterfall Scenic Area (陡坡塘景区)
This waterfall is famous for the scene in “Journey to the West” when the Tang Monk and his four disciples walked through this wide waterfall on the pilgrimage journey to the west. It is a 105-meter-wide and 21-meter-high waterfall.
The top of the waterfall is the widest among all of the Huangguoshu waterfalls. At the top of Doupotang Waterfall is a 15,000-square-meter water area. When the rainy season comes, this waterfall will make the huge thunder and hence got the name “roaring waterfall”.
Here is how Xu Xiake described Doupotang Waterfall - “Upon hearing the rumbling noise of the waterfall, I looked northward from between the mountains and saw suddenly a river dashing from the northeastern peaks along the cliff and pounding into the deep pond below. The upper part of the waterfall is dozens of meters wide misted with foams and sprays, while the lower one I could not see, for the cliffs on the opposite obstructed my view.”
● Tianxingqiao Scenic Area (天星桥景区)
The Tianxingqiao Scenic Area is located about 6 kilometers downstream of the Huangguoshu Waterfall. It is composed of Natural Bonsai Garden, Tianxing Cave and Stone Forest in Water. This vast area is the core essence of karst landscape with hills, water, forest, cave, rocks, waterfalls in different shape...
Natural Bonsai Garden (天然盆景园)
This area is stretching about 800 meters long, composed of different size natural rocks and bonsai. Travelers can walk on the 3-kilometer-long flagstone path, winding through stonewall, stone trenches, rock tunnels. You can view amazing scenery all around you. You won’t miss the 365 stones on the water which are recorded the birthday of the year. You can walk and find yours. The following is Beauty Banyan Tree. Someone said it looks like the flying beauty in Mogao Cave in Dunhuang. The banyan tree and the rock are linking together and the rock shaped the tree, making it a beautiful girl in graceful lines. Later, you will reach Heavenly Lake also called Gaolao Zhuang. This is the shooting place for “Pigsy Carrying His Daughter-in-Law” in “Journey to the West”.
Tianxing Cave (天星洞)
Tianxing Cave is in the middle of the whole scenic area. It is a karst cave without water. It is about 150 meters long and 50 meters high. And there are four big stalagnates stretching over 20 meters high. Travelers taking a short walk in the cave can see different shapes of stalagmite, stalagnates, Corallodiscus flabellatus... At the exit of Tianxing Cave, it is the Maoshuitan Waterfall which is place for White Dragon Horse emerging.
Stone Forest in Water (水上石林区)
Stone Forest in Water is a spacious stone forest stretching in water. It is a miniature version of the Stone Forest in Kunming which was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the stone forest, there are cactus and undershrub decorated this area. “Clear water flowing on the stone, stones on the water, stones on the stones and trees growing on the stone”, this is the scene for Stone Forest in Water. The famous waterfall Yinlian Zhuitan Waterfall (银链坠潭瀑布) is located nearby which is in infundibular with water flowing from four sides to the bottom center. This is the most attractive waterfall in Tianxingqiao Scenic Area.
● Langde Miao Village (郎德苗寨)
Langde Miao Village is more authentic and less developed and crowded Miao Village about 29 kilometers from Kaili. Travelers can see “Long Skirt Miao” and traditional wooden stilted houses, experience hospitable welcome ceremony and primitive way of living of Miao people.
What to See & Experience
Welcome Ceremony
Travelers to Langde Miao Village are welcomed by the 12 courses of “block-way” rice wine set from the foot of the village to the entrance gate. In every block-way, the local Miao people in traditional Miao costumes will toast you with two bowls of rice wine which means enjoy both happiness and longevity. In the last block-way at the entrance gate, the bowl is changed into a big horn. For those who are not good at drinking, put your hands behind and bend over to sip a little of rice wine and say “thank you” and you’ll pass the block-way test. Besides the 12 courses block-way rice wine taste, guests are welcomed by firecrackers, toasting songs and more.
Traditional Miao Architecture
Once enter into Langde, you’ll see many typical Miao ethnic architecture, including Wind and Rain Bridges, Wooden Stilted Houses and Tonggu Singing and Dancing Ground.
There are three beautiful wind and rain bridges in and near the village. The bridges are a particular type of covered bridges with reclined eaves. The whole structure is a combination of wooden corridors lined with benches and verandas and Chinese pavilions which rest on one or several stone or concrete piers.
The wooden stilted houses, called Diao Jiao Lou in Chinese, are built one next to another on a mountain slope. The buildings usually have three storeys with different use, and the first floor is mainly used for raising animals and the second floor is used for living and rest and the third floor is used for storing grains and other living goods. There are five streets leading to the central Village and three village gates in the east, west and north.Moreover, there are two copper drum grounds and one Lusheng ground in Langde Upper Miao Village.
Sing and Dance Performance
Traditional singing and dancing shows are performed in the morning when tour groups come. All the local villagers both man and woman, old and young welcome visitors from far away. After the 12 courses of block-way, the performance begins in the Copper Drum Ground. The typical shows include traditional Miao’s singing and dancing, Lusheng dance, bench dance, wooden drum dance, copper drum dance and so on. At the end of the performance, all the hospitable Miao people invite the visitors to dance happily together.
(Please note: Miao’s performance cannot be performed anytime of the day, please arrange your visiting time properly. And if visitors are few, performance may not be performed. If you have more questions about the Singing and Dancing performance, please let your tour guide ask more information from the village head.)
● Shiqiao Miao Village (丹寨石桥)
Shiqiao Miao Village(石桥苗寨) is located in the west of Nangao Township Government, Danzhai County, Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. It lies in between kaili city and danzhai county, with a total area of 241.38 hectares. It is the inheritance of the national intangible cultural heritage “Shiqiao Ancient Papermaking” and is known as the “living museum” of ancient papermaking.
What to see & Experience：
The Shiqiao Miao Village takes the ancient paper culture inheritance area as the core, and integrates various tourism resources such as ancient paper culture, Miao customs, landscape wonders, pastoral scenery and Cambrian paleontological fossils.
►Ancient Papermaking
Ancient Papermaking is a unique ethnic traditional craft in Shiqiao Village. It has been passed down since the middle of the Tang Dynasty, and the traditional craftsmanship remains intact. At present, there are more than 60 households engaged in the paper industry. The current main production is white paper and colored paper. The paper quality is good, especially the colored handmade paper is unique in the country.
The Dayanjiao Ancient Papermaking Site is a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit, and it is a traditionally produced ancient paper workshop left over from ancient times. The stone wall is 100 meters wide and up to 80 meters. The stone wall leans forward and shelters from the wind. It is an excellent natural plant. It has clear spring water and is the best water resource for papermaking.
►Chuan Cave
Due to special geological reasons, the stalactites in the cave grow very fast, so the surface is soft and has a strange touch. The water flowing out of the hole is very good. Since ancient times, there have been craftsmen in the hole to build paper making workshop. After testing, the water quality of the hole is weakly alkaline, and the paper made can be preserved for as long as 1500 years. It was designated as the restoration paper for cultural relics by the National Library and the National Museum.
►Intangible cultural heritage corridor
►Wind-rain Bridge
These ancient buildings, which began in the late Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, have a rigorous structure, unique shape and rich ethnic temperament. The whole building does not need a nail, a riveting and other iron parts, all of which are connected by a rigid tenon of the fir.
● Matang Village (麻塘革家寨)
Matang is about 21 km north of Kaili City, in Guizhou Province. People living here are a subgroup of the Miao minority people, and call themselves “Gejia”. At present, the village has about 100 families with 400–500 people. They maintain traditional language, costumes, totems and customs.
While some larger villages in Guizhou have started commercialization, Matang is still far from the madding crowd. If you would like to observe the original life-style of a minority people group in Guizhou, just follow me into this small but lovely village.
What to see & Experience：
Gejia Batik Experience
Gejia people live a secluded life in this undeveloped village. How have they managed to survive from generation to generation? The answer is their crafts.
Gejia people are skilled in batik, weaving, embroidery and silversmithing, especially in batik (a kind of dyed wax painting). Although the village itself is not famous, the batik art work from here has been exhibited abroad, including in America, Japan, Canada and Mexico.
There is no draft or fixed pattern in batik processing. Each pattern comes from careful observation of nature, from the ancestors or from imagination. Favorite patterns include the sun, clouds, animals, plants, and geometric shapes. A combination of patterns from nature and geometry is a feature of Gejia batik.
Gejia batik work has been a manual craft since ancient times. It may take weeks or even months to finish a piece of work.
In the past, local girls started learning traditional handicrafts when they were 4 or 5 years old, and made all their own clothes, including their wedding dress, by hand. Along with the social progress of recent decades, this tradition has faded, for girls now have the chance to go to school. Today, the number of people who master this traditional craft is diminishing.
The Best Place to Experience Ethnic Customs
Lying in the southeastern area of Guizhou Province, Kaili City is a living quarter of the Miao ethnic minority. So it is a nice place to learn about the culture and life of the Miao people. However, as a tourist destination, this city also boasts its natural landscapes, karst landform and the ancient architecture.
Located in the southeastern area of Kaili, the Langde Miao Ethnic Minority Village and Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village are two top sightseeing sites for visitors to savor the unique Miao ethnic culture. Here visitors will receive a special welcoming ceremony from the hospitable Miao people. During the ceremony, a series of ethnic customs such as Miao dancing and folk musical instruments performance will be presented whilst visitors are usually invited to dance and drink with the local people. In addition, the Miao style houses namely 'Diaojiaolou' represents the typical feature of Miao's architecture. Still, if you want to know more about the local ethnic minorities, the Kaili Ethnic Museum will be a good choice.
Natural landscapes around here also deserve your traveling. If you would like to view the mountain, you can go to the Leigongshan Nature Reserve in Leishan County, southeast to Kaili. On the mountain, you can admire the highest peak of southeastern Guizhou Province. Covering an area of nearly 17 square miles, the nature reserve is rich in species of animals and plants. If you like to appreciate the local waterscape, you will feel satisfaction at the Wuyang River Scenic Area. Spanning Huangping, Shibing and Zhenyuan counties, the Wuyang River (main waterway) is 21.7 miles long. Traveling in the river by boat and admiring the riverside scenery is really fantastic.
Since the karst landform here is another typical feature, you are suggested to have a view of the Yudong Karst Cave, only two hours by car from Kaili. Discovered in 1984, the cave is about five miles long. Now 1.2-mile long section has been explored and opened to the public. The stalactites, stalagmites and cave flowers inside the cave are rather amazing.
Traveling in this city, you will find there are much ancient architecture built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, including the Dage Park, the Flying Clouds Cliff, the Zhenyuan Ancient Town and the Black Dragon Cave to the east of the town.
Finally, do not forget to pay a visit to the local Sunday Market. Opening on Sundays, it is a perfect attraction for visitors to browse the local ethnic people's living goods including special foods, herbal remedies and all sorts of decorations.
Qingyan Ancient Town, one of the most famous historical and cultural towns in Guizhou Province, lies in the southern suburb of Guiyang. As an ancient town, covering an area of 300 hectares (740 acres), Qingyan Town was originally built in 1378. Nowadays, because of its long history and strong cultural atmosphere, the town has become an attractive destination for numerous domestic and foreign tourists.
Dating back to the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368--1644), Qingyan town was built for military reasons. Because of its geographical location, Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of Ming Dynasty, established it as a station for transferring military messages and to house a standing army. Through years of modification and repeated restoration, Qingyan Ancient Town has gradually become a distinctive ancient town with cultural features of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1644 - 1911).
Although small in size, the Qingyan Ancient Town has a well-planned architectural style, hundreds of sites of relics, and an influential local culture.
Due to the local geology, Qingyan Ancient Town was built completely of stone. Visitors can see spectacular city walls built right on the cliffs with vast rocks, which divided Qingyan into inner and outer towns. There are four gates in the wall facing north, south, east and west. Outside the four gates, there were originally eight stone tablets, which were considered the symbols of Qingyan Ancient Town. Of the eight, three remain with delicate sculptures on each surface. The most famous one is called Zhao Lunli Baisui (longevity) Fang.
Walking inside the inner town, visitors will surely marvel at the ancient architecture here. There are over 30 types including monasteries, temples, cabinets, caves, courtyards and palaces. All of them were delicately designed by the skillful architects of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. A number of exquisite articles, such as the stone sculptures of Ciyun Temple and wooden sculptures of Shoufo Temple are all worth a look. You can visit the ancient business streets to admire the elegant classical wooden houses. If you like, stop at one of those tea houses and have a taste of the famous local snacks, such as Qingyan tofu, rice tofu and rose sugar.
Religious culture here is also quite rich, including Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism and Christianity. If you are interested in Buddhism, you can take this chance to learn the typical Buddhism culture here. Also, you will be impressed by patter of the Taoists. What's more, you will be surprised to find that so many residents here are Catholic and Christian, since the Catholicism was introduced here in 1851 by a French churchman and the Christianity was introduced to Qingyan Ancient Town nearly 70 years ago.While traveling there, visitors will hear many stories of historical figures that were born or lived here. The first Zhuang Yuan (winner of the national examination) of Guizhou Province during the Qing Dynasty was Mr. Zhao Yijiong who was born and brought up in Qingyan Town. Mr. Chang Pinggang, the General Secretary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen was a county fellow of Qingyan Town.
Guizhou Food
Cuisine of Guizhou in Southwest China
Guizhou cuisine, or Qian cuisine is popular in Guizhou and famous for its sour and spicy taste. The sour soup dishes like Kaili sour soup fish are well-known throughout China. Other famous Guizhou dishes include Guizhou Spicy Chicken, Zhuangyuan Pig’s Trotter, Spicy Crispy Fish with Vinasse, Si Wa Wa (Vegetarian Spring Rolls) and so on.
Guizhou cuisine is most affected by Sichuan cuisine among all Chinese cuisines, but there is still a difference between the two. Sichuan food is hot and spicy, while most Guizhou dishes are sour and spicy.
Chinese Name: 黔菜
English Names: Guizhou cuisine, Qian cuisine
Popular in: China’s Guizhou Province
Time of Origin: the middle of Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 771 BC)
Flavors: spicy and sour
Famous Guizhou Dishes: Guizhou Spicy Chicken, Kaili Sour Soup Fish, Zhuangyuan Pig’s Trotter, Spicy Crispy Fish with Vinasse
Famous Snacks: Si Wa Wa (Vegetarian Spring Rolls), Changwang Noodles, Rice Tofu
Origin & Development of Guizhou Cuisine
Before Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 256 BC), the ethnic minorities living in today's Guizhou created their original culinary culture with the main cooking techniques of burning, pickling, boiling, baking and brewing. The rich natural and planted food materials gave them great inspiration. From middle to late Zhou Dynasty, the culinary culture in central plain, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guangdong was introduced to Guizhou, and the local culinary culture of Guizhou was supplemented. The Qian cuisine gradually formed and developed. From then on, Guizhou had also gradually become a concentrated area of Chinese ethnic minorities and migratory sites. Ethnic food, a crucial branch of Guizhou food, developed a lot. Since Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD), a lot of Han people immigrated to Guizhou because of conscription, war and work. These immigrants brought the food culture and habits of the central plains, and injected new vitality into Guizhou local and ethnic dishes.
Guizhou Cuisine Flavors – Spicy & Sour
Spicy is a main flavor of Guizhou food. Most famous dishes are heavily seasoned with chili such as hot pot and Changwang noodles. The spicy taste is rich, including hot spicy, sour spicy, pungent and spicy, garlic spicy, burnt spicy and so on, among which sour spicy is the most popular.
Guizhou people like sour food. Pickled vegetables including radish and cabbage are often seen in Guizhou food recipes. Pickled vegetables promote appetizing and digestion, relieving heat in hot summer. Sour soup has the effect of sterilizing, degreasing fat and anti-calculus. The sour taste is completely done by natural biological fermentation. Sour soup dishes like sour soup beef, sour soup fish, and sour soup rice noodles are the famous type of Guizhou dishes. Guizhou sour soup contains white sour soup, red sour soup, spicy and sour soup, thick chilli sauce soup and shrimp sour soup. The white sour soup is made of fermented rice soup and the red soup is made of fermented wild tomatoes. The spicy and sour soup is made of red chili with stillage.
Skilled in Cooking Meat and Poultry
Guizhou cuisine chefs are particularly skilled in cooking meat, especially the game, which is closely related to the primitive tribes of ethnic minorities who were good at hunting. A kind of meat can incredibly be cooked into more than twenty different dishes and make a feast like pork feast, a beef feast, a snake feast, and a mutton feast.
Healthy Vegetable Feast
Guizhou people like vegetables very much. The food materials of the vegetable feast come from the wild plants in the mountains, among them 60% are traditional Chinese Medicine, which is healthy.
Special Cooking Techniques
Marinating is an important step of cooking Guizhou cuisine. Cooking methods like stewing, braising, steaming and roasting are often applied, while frying is less used. During the cooking, a variety of seasonings are used to add flavors and richen taste.
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