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Passing by forgotten villages During this Guangxi tour you'll travel to a very traditional part 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, generally 2-3 stories high, a jumble of narrow streets, lavish drum towers and covered bridges also known as 'wind and rain' bridges.The river which runs through the village is the centre of almost all daily activities. It's used to wash clothing, brush teeth and prepare food. As you walk along the river, you'll see what life is really like for the people who live here. There aren't many travellers who come to visit these villages, which makes visiting them during this Guangxi tour even more unique. It almost seems as if these villages been frozen in time.... they represent a very traditional, authentic China. |
| Duration: | 4 days, 3 nights |
Accommodation: |
3 nights in a double occupancy room (room only), comfort level 2 and 3 (see accommodation) |
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| Price: |
From £251 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 - ZhaoxingToday 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 Guangxi tour module is a perfect fit after the Yangshou module, Bamboo sailing through karst mountains. 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. This will be a great opportunity to stretch your legs for a bit, have something to drink and to have a look at the famous 'wind and rain' bridge. The Nanjiang River flows beneath the bridge and generally you'll see lots of kids playing around in the shallow water. 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. A 'wind and rain' bridge is a combination of a pavilion, a gallery and a bridge and most of it is made out of wood. 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 during your visit to this village at the beginning of this Guangxi tour. |
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In the evening you can explore Zhaoxing, 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. The hotel staff may not speak English very well, however they are extremely attentive and with a little effort you should be able to get them to understand you. There aren't very many restaurants in this village, but you can get a delicious (Chinese) meal at your hotel at the end of the first day of this Guangxi tour. |
Day 2: Zhaoxing - Tang'an and Jitang VillagesToday on the second day of this Guangxi tour 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. There's always a lot going on at the 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. |
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Day 3: Zhaoxing - ChengyangAfter 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 eight small Dong villages built against one another in this region. 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. You may feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but it's a memorable experience to learn the local traditional dance during this Guangxi tour. 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 can enjoy the view and curl up under the blankets with a good book. 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'anThis Guangxi tour ends today... but this doesn't have to be the end of your China adventures. We recommend continuing on to Ping'an with the module, 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 towards Ping'an.You'll get another chance to stretch out a bit and 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. We didn't know where to look first when we visited the market. 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 itinerary. |
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Guangxi tour accommodation - Picture gallery
