Human Encounters of the Guizhou Kind
Human Encounters of
the Guizhou Kind
Settling in with the Miao as a guest, Guizhou opens up for the culture-savvy explorers
WHY THIS TOUR?
Dreaming of the real deal when it comes to spectacular nature scenes, untouched rural traditions, and seeking a sensory overload of ethnic minorities in the vastness that is called China, then Guizhou just ticks off all the boxes. Situated in the southwestern corner of one of the world’s most densely populated countries, the concept of feeling solitude in all directions has long been a forte for adventure-minded.
Albeit its connections with fast pacing China, the residents of the Guizhou province tend to favour a more traditional means of life. Be it shown on how they’ve built their homes, tending to their lands, or having deeply-rooted respect for what their ancestors have built up, it is part of their lives. It is rice terraces where day-in-day-out, the finest grains are harvested and planted and where smiles and hospitality take centre stage as if it is engrained in the people’s DNA from birth. A three-day venture across all that shows China is so much more than a metropolis of high rise and eyes towards the future.
TRAIL ITINERARY
Day 1
Zhaoxing – Dong Village [L, D]
After checking out of your accommodation, you will be welcomed by your English speaking guide and driver for a 2.5-hour from Zhaoxing towards Danzhai. The administrative centre of the region and a popular local tourism city, Danzhai has long been the gateway to the absolute pinnacle of rural exploration. En route to your final destination on this day, we will make a stop at a local market to grasp the feeling of authenticity alongside the flavours of snacks and dishes of a local kind. No day of this kind should exclude trying a wonderful lunch, sourced regionally and made according to time-honoured recipes.
A local lunch is included en route at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you enter Miao territory, just east of Danzhai and our local homestay address for the night. Authenticity from the beginning until the end, the 1, 5-hour drive towards your place to spend the night over brings you through villages and small farming settlement, notable for their traditional means of building houses and buildings. Left and right, front and back, the landscape transforms into a patchwork of crops, often only divided by mere colours and different types of vegetables and fruit. The hospitality of the Miao here is phenomenal, and smiles from ear to ear appear once you join them in the harvesting process (season depending). It is the countryside so do expect some mud stains but all in the spirit of an authentic experience. The day ends at your booked Miao homestay, where you are warmly welcomed by the hosting family. It is a quick peek around before settling in and freshening up for dinner. The accommodation is a simple house, constructed along the same lines like all the other houses in the surrounding. The living/sleeping area is common and has 4 bathrooms (squat toilet only and shower). The overnight address is very basic; the experience is a truly enriching one.
Dinner and overnight at the Miao homestay
Day 2
Dong Village [B, L, D]
As authentic as your overnight stay, your morning starts with a breakfast in line with what’s on the daily menu of your hosting family. A few western dishes are at your disposal depending on the availability.
Local batik painting has long been an art form for the Miao to express their culture while keeping handicraft techniques alive. Without leaving your overnight address, you will get a demonstration (a hands-on, if needed) on dye and fabric merge into extraordinary examples of batik. After putting your batik painting lessons to the test, the fresh air surrounding your homestay calls out our name: accompanied by your guide, the 2-hour hike traverses across the rice terraces and mesmerizing panoramic views before stopping for a picnic lunch.
Picnic lunch included en route.
It is not all walking, hiking and trekking today. Time to explore more villages, head out for a refreshing stream or trying out your luck catching fish are among some of the afternoon activities to soak in the stunning nature and lift your adventure experience to new levels. At the end of the afternoon, we head back to our homestay. Bringing more diversity in your culinary experiences is brought to the table tonight. A short ride to a nearby farm, where pigs, buffalos and other farming animals roam freely, form the décor for a wonderful example of local dining galore. Just as your host family, the people behind this festivity of local exquisites will prepare dinner at a very traditional wooden house. Wandering around the other houses and meet the locals on their own turf ensures that we stay true to the theme of bringing an unknown, yet wonderful experience from rural China. After dinner, we head back to your homestay for the night over.
Overnight at the Miao homestay
Day 3
Dog Village – Guiyang [B, L]
A local breakfast is served at the homestay.
Matching breakfast with your scheduled departure time from Dong Village to our next destination will be something worth considering on the final day of this authentic adventure package. We highly recommend booking a late afternoon / early evening flight from Guiyang Airport. If time permits, calculating the drive back to Danzhai (1.5 hours), followed by a 2-hour highway drive to Guiyang Airport, there will be still time to further hike and treks in and around the Miao District.
Lunch included at a local restaurant en route.
Arrival at Guiyang Airport for your connecting flight into China
