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Passing through Forgotten Vvillages

Route: Yangshuo - Zhaoxing - Chengyang - Ping'an/Guilin

During this authentic China travel experience, you'll discover a more traditional side of China, where the Dong minority live according to their age-old traditions. You'll visit the villages of Zhaoxing and Chengyang and you'll spend the night in quaint guest houses right in the heart of these captivating villages. Everywhere you look you'll see fir-wood houses, narrow streets, lavish drum towers and covered bridges also known as 'wind and rain' bridges.

There aren't many travellers who come to visit these villages, which makes visiting them during this China trip even more unique. It almost seems as if these villages have been frozen in time.... they represent a very traditional, authentic China.

If you'd like to start building your authentic China holiday, take a look at our bite-sized China trips. Or alternatively, you can choose from one of our ready-made holidays in China.

Duration:	4 days, 3 nights	Accommodation:	3 nights in a double occupancy room (room only), comfort level 2 and 3 (see accommodation)
Price:	£282 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Included:	Transport and accommodation
Transport:	4 days of private transport, driver included	Excluded:	Meals and entrance fees

Day 1: Yangshuo - Zhaoxing

Today you'll travel to Zhaoxing, the largest Dong village in China, home of very many 'wind and rain' bridges, fir-wood houses and no less than 5 lavish drum towers. This authentic China experience is a perfect fit after our trip from Guilin to Yangshuo. After about an 8-hour journey you'll arrive in Zhaoxing late in the afternoon. It's quite a long drive, but the spectacular surroundings make it worth while. Gradually the karst mountains will disappear and you'll start to see winding mountain roads and rice terraces with small villages scattered between them. Along the way you'll make a short stop in the town of Diping to have a look at the famous 'wind and rain' bridge. After resting out for a bit, you'll continue on the last part of the trip to Zhaoxing.

Zhaoxing is home to the Dong minority. They are known as some of the best woodworkers, because of their traditional drum towers and 'wind and rain' bridges... all built without using nails. The village is made up of 5 different neighbourhoods, each with its own drum tower and ‘wind and rain’ bridge. Zhaoxing is only a short walk away from your hotel and on the other side of the hotel you'll find enormous rice paddies. This is the ideal place to stay at the beginning of this authentic China holiday.

Authentic China - Woman working the fields

In the evening, you can continue this authentic China experience as you explore Zhaoxing. Take a stroll through the alleyways and get to know the Dong minority. All around you you'll see red peppers, sheep's wool and rice laid out to dry. As the sun goes down, the locals come back home after a hard day out in the fields. They carry a large wooden stick on their shoulders to help them bring along the day's harvest. Dong women wear their hair according to Dong tradition. The hair is rolled up in a type of bun on top the head and fastened with a comb.

In the evening, the village's many bridges and drum towers are lit up, which makes for an enchanting atmosphere. After a long day you can rest up in your charming, warm and inviting hotel. There aren't very many restaurants in this village, but you can get a delicious meal at your hotel at the end of the first day of this authentic China tour.

Day 2: Zhaoxing - Tang'an and Jitang Villages

It's the second day of this authentic China trip and today you'll visit two Dong villages near Zhaoxing. The first village is Tang'an, located high up in the mountains and surrounded by colourful rice terraces. The village will give you a spectacular view of the seemingly endless rice paddies. Tang'an's bustling village centre is a square with a large drum tower. While you're here, go for a walk up through the village and enjoy the view from the hill. This is the ideal place to take a few pictures, rest your tired feet and simply enjoy the moment. Afterwards you'll head towards the second village, Jitang. This is a slightly larger and more modern Dong village.

Sometime around noon you'll be back in Zhaoxing and you'll have the rest of the afternoon and evening to yourself. Wander through the rice paddies next to the hotel, cross through to the other side of Zhaoxing and visit the new wind and rain bridge. Stroll across the local market or simply sit back and relax at one of the bridges or drum towers and soak up the enchanting atmosphere of authentic China.

Day 3: Zhaoxing - Chengyang

After your stay in Zhaoxing you'll drive about 4 hours until you reach Chengyang. On arrival you'll pay a 60 Yuan entrance fee. It won't be long before you notice the village's famous 78m wind and rain bridge. It took the people of this village 12 years to build this bridge! There are two 'Dong shows' performed daily in the village of Ma'an. You and your driver will visit one of these shows in the afternoon. The show is included in the entrance fee that you will have already paid. The villagers will perform in local traditional dress using various musical instruments and dancing. You'll receive a glass of rice tea (which tastes quite good!) and you'll be invited to join them for a dance during the last song. Though you may feel a bit uncomfortable at first, it's certainly a memorable experience to learn the local traditional dance in an authentic China style. Afterwards you'll walk through several other Dong villages.

Your hotel is located next to the famous wind and rain bridge, which is illuminated at night. You'll spend the night in a modest, wooden hotel. Don't expect a luxurious hotel room, it's quite basic, yet very well maintained and it has a balcony with a beautiful view.

Day 4: Chengyang - Ping'an

This authentic China trip ends today... but this doesn't have to be the end of your China adventure. We recommend continuing on to Ping'an with our trip in China to see Rice Terraces and Zhuang Villages. The drive from Chengyang to Ping'an should take about 3.5 hours. Along the way you'll visit vast tea fields, where tea leaf pickers collect tea leaves in reed baskets on their backs. After a short stop, you'll continue travelling in China towards Ping'an.

You'll also get the chance to go sightseeing in the town of Longsheng. Visit a large local Chinese market, an extraordinary experience! You'll be surprised at what you come across at this market: nuts, fruit, vegetables, but also typical Chinese delicacies such as frogs, rats and snails.

When you arrive in Ping'an you'll check into a modest guest house surrounded vast rice terraces. This is a unique location to add to your China holiday.

A peek at your accommodation (click to enlarge)

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