Natural Wonder Discovery, on UNESCO's List
10-Day Private Tour: Guiyang - Qian Dongnan - Tongren - Hunan
Huangguoshu Waterfall, Ground Opera
Minority Crafts Experience, Zhenyuan Gorge Cruise
Fanjing Mountain Hiking
Fenghuang Ancient Town, Zhangjiajie
Highlights
- Discover the cave habitat of Sun Wukong at one of the largest waterfalls in Asia.
- Explore mysterious villages of minority people hidden deep in the mountains.
- Find peace at an old yet delicate town with a horseshoe-shaped river running through.
- See the cloud-wrapped mushroom rock at the latest UNESCO World Heritage site of 2018.
- Feast your eyes on the unique Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in Zhangjiajie.
Itinerary Details
This 10-day itinerary is a feast of geographical features, a highlight being one of UNESCO's 2018 World Heritage Sites.
Beginning with formerly hidden minority groups in Guizhou, southwest China, and moving on to Zhangjiajie, Avatar's wonderland, this journey includes wonderful, abundant landscape: roaring silver waterfalls, mountainous rural areas, unruffled rivers along canyons, and huge mountain rocks of different shapes.
Welcome to Guiyang! Your private guide will meet you at the airport/train station arrivals hall and transfer you to your hotel in a private car.
Tailor-Made Idea:
We offer a half-day tour of city highlights, including a brief introduction to Guiyang's history, with a walk past different architecture and an opportunity to taste classic local snacks. Let us know, if you are interested and will arrive before noon.
Hotel options:
Howard Johnson Plaza Guiyang
Sofitel Guiyang Hunter
breakfast & lunch
If you are a nature lover, your visit to Guizhou would not be complete without an excursion to Huangguoshu Waterfall.
You may have seen other world-renowned waterfalls. Here, however, you can not only see the silver waterfall cascading down the cliff 20-stories in height; but also touch and feel it by walking through the water-curtain cave of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, muse of the Chinese classic TV series, Journey to the West. On sunny days, rainbows often appear on the spray.
Explore a world of stone by taking a stroll after refreshing yourself in the karst landscape park. Built 600 years ago for military use, the old village retains its original style and pace of life. It is interesting to see stone foundations, stone walls, flagstone roofs, stone watchtowers and even stone dog holes everywhere.
Locals like to dress up and perform their unique folk drama, Ground Opera, as a way of explaining their long and checkered history. Just take a seat and enjoy it.
Tailor-Made Idea:
The rainy season at the waterfall is June and July, but try to avoid the students' summer vacation in July and August. From November to April, during the dry season, the waterfall is less voluminous.
Hotel options:
Howard Johnson Plaza Guiyang
Sofitel Guiyang Hunter
breakfast & lunch
Guizhou is home to dozens of China's 55 official ethnic minorities. The Miao are a large ancient group with many sub-groups and a myriad of cultures. Today you will explore the charms of the Miao.
Settled deep in the mountains and provided only with limited resources, rural people are good at using whatever is available to make a living: they know, for example, how to make paper from wood pulp. There is a village where people are still today making paper by hand, carrying on the legacy of their ancestors.
Learn how to make a piece of paper from one of the heirs of the technique, step by step. You are encouraged to be as imaginative as possible and make a unique paper craft with your own hands, under the guidance of an experienced natural-paper maker.
Have lunch in a farmer's house, cooked with fresh ingredients. Then visit a small yet unspoiled village famous for its dustpan-like shape. Stroll along the bluestone path, allowing you to have a closer look at the daily lives of minority people.
Hotel options:
Heaven Sent Dragon Hotel
breakfast & lunch
The village you are going to visit in the morning is quite a special one.
People there dress differently. Female villagers used to belong to the army, so some of their costumes are still like army-uniform. They are famous for ancient batik craftwork. Villagers hang a pair of dyed cloths on the door instead of antithetical couplets on red paper.
You will have a chance to step into their dye-house and see how to make a fine batik. Participate in the process.
After lunch, visit another special Miao village, which is famous for its females' gorgeous mini-skirts and its unique creative way to store food, used for centuries.
breakfast & lunch
Located on the outskirts of Zhenyuan County, Wuyang River is an offbeat retreat with a picturesque view of lovely gorges. Feel the breeze on deck and see exotic peaks changing shape, as the cruise ripples through the dazzling green water.
Then transfer to the ancient town. Straddling both sides of a horseshoe-shaped river, the town has a longer history than many other such towns.
The style of architecture in the main street is like that of many other old towns in China, but when you walk along the four old alleys away from the river, an extremely well-preserved and well-maintained labyrinth of the ancient Ming dynasty (1368-1644) town, lit up with red lanterns by night, it is like stepping into the past.
On the other side of the river, there is a vertical complex of temples, grottoes and caves, dedicated to the three faiths of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Climb up and enjoy bird's-eye views of the cozy town.
breakfast and lunch
Fanjing Mountain became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018, and got its name from the term in Chinese meaning "Buddhist Brahma's Sacred Land". It is a significant pilgrimage site in China for Buddhist worshippers from all around the world.
The most popular area consists mainly of two peaks: the Old Golden Summit (2,494 meters) with the giant Mushroom Rock, and the Red Golden Summit (2,336 meters), whose peak is cut into two separate peaks connected by a bridge up the lofty gap.
The mountain is home to an array of wildlife. Prepare to be amazed when hiking by the wonder of nature. If you are lucky enough, you may meet some rare animals.
breakfast and lunch
You will be transferred to Fenghuang via a 1.5-hour journey.
It would be a good idea to slow down and stroll around Fenghuang ancient town. Visit some interesting shops and homes, and discover some interesting nooks and crannies. The local minority handicrafts are really delicate and special in this region.
At night, the town becomes more quiet and peaceful. It is wonderful to sit in a bar beside the river and enjoy the marvelous sunset.
breakfast and lunch
It takes about 5 hours to drive from Fenghuang to Zhangjiajie, so it is better to start the day early. Although it's a long journey, you won't be bored along the way, as you will visit Red Stone Forest National Geopark, where you will see all kinds of strangely-shaped rocks everywhere.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, and Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie are its most renowned sights.
Take the cable car up Tianzi Mountain and look through the glass walkway to see spiky sandstone peaks beneath your feet.
After a simple lunch on the mountain, visit Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, which was the inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar.
Tailor-Made Idea:
April to October is considered the best time to visit Zhangjiajie. April to June is the rainy season with extensive fog, adding an enchanting atmosphere to the scenery. From September to October the autumn foliage becomes colorful.
breakfast and lunch
Baofeng Lake is in the middle of this mountainous area. It is relaxing to float across the clear water, observe the hills of various shapes, and enjoy entertainment provided by local minority people, as they sing their traditional songs.
Regarded as the 'soul' of Zhangjiajie, Tianmen Mountain is the highest mountain there. The views range from graceful ancient trees and karst hillocks, to long roads carved from the sides of the cliff.
You will enjoy a breathtaking view of the world's longest cable car, the suspended glass walkway almost a mile (1,430 meters) above the ground, and the '99 Bends' mountain road.
Trip Notes
Every element of the tour above can be tailored. Feel free to tell us your ideas and we will be happy to make adjustments for you.
1. Extend the Tour
- Guilin and Yangshuo: Add 2-3 days for Li River Cruise and Yangshuo countryside.
2. Hotels and Meals in Remote Areas
In remote areas, such as Zhenyuan, Tongren and Fenghuang, star-rated hotels might not be as good as the same standard of hotels in big cities.
hina Highlights has carefully selected the best restaurant and hotel available, based on criteria like location and environment. Your private guide will assist you in ordering the dishes you like and will accompany you to check in to your room.
3. Transportation
As China's new big data valley, the network of Guizhou high-speed rail now links to many directions over the country.
Guizhou is a mountainous province but roads to every villages are accessible. So car is a ideal vehicle when transferring between villages. To provide you with a comfortable experience, private car is provided.
Tour Price
Price includes:
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The tour was excellent. Selinda was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of our tour. Selinda was very interesting and knew so much Chinese history more
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The Highlights and High Life of Beijing with Ethan & Mr. Chen
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3rd time the charm, is being charmed for the 3rd time.
This is my 3rd tour of Beijing in the last 18 months and I think that speaks a little to the quality of service you get with China Highlights. Each time the sites are the same but each tour guide managed to present them in new and wonderful ways. Also some attractions that were undergoing renovations have been completed, so there were new things to see as well.A big thanks to Mr. Michael, our tour this time around. He was very gregarious and knowledgeable about all the sites. more
Feb 2024, Jonathan Mueller
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3rd time the charm, is charmed for the 3rd time
The sites stay the same but each time we have done this tour, the tour guides manage to make it feel like it is the first time you are experiencing it. And, with the constant renovations, this time we were able to see previous areas that were unavailable the last time we came. more
Feb 2024, Jonathan M
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Great trip and experience!
From beginning to end, China Highlights was very courteous, responsive and attentive in planning and executing a great trip!Aspects and execution of the trip was as discussed and was an overall great experience. Our guide, Michael, was very kind and knowledgeable throughout the tour and would address all questions and help us take lots of photos. Would definitely travel with China Highlights again! more
Feb 2024, Karol
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3rd the charm is charmed for the 3rd time
This is my 3rd tour of Beijing in the last 18 months and I think that speaks a little to the quality of service you get with China Highlights. Each time the sites are the same but each tour guide managed to present them in new and wonderful ways. Also some attractions that were undergoing renovations have been completed, so there were new things to see as well.A big thanks to Mr. Michael, our tour this time around. He was very gregarious and knowledgeable about all the sites. more
Feb 2024, jkjmueller
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1 Day in Beijing
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Jan 2024, Lydia
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Beijing 2024
We traveled to Beijing with China Highlights in January 2024. Our tour guide Ethan was organized and knowledgeable which made our trip seamless and very interesting!! He helpfully suggested additional activities if we had time in the evenings and assisted us in booking tickets for them. Visiting the Mutianyu Great wall of China was a big highlight of our time in Beijing more
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Jack is an excellent guide
Jack is an excellent guide, very patient, punctual, wonderful command of english. I recommend him any day. more
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