15-Day Yunnan Ethnic Minority Village Tour: Kunming, Lijiang, Huangguoshu Waterfall, Guiyang & Guilin

Arrive in Kunming

The Spring City Kunming welcomes your arrival! Our professional guide and driver will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim area at Kunming’s airport and then transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Kunming – Lijiang

This morning, take a 3-hour bullet train to Lijiang. Your local guide will meet you at the railway station and transfer you to your hotel.

After a short rest, begin your private tour of Baisha Village, the earliest settlement of the Naxi people and the political and economic center of Lijiang during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Explore the ancient palaces and pavilions, and admire the Baisha Murals, a 300-year-old art treasure that blends Han, Tibetan, and Naxi artistic styles. These murals vividly depict religious figures, galloping horses, lotus flowers, and scenes reflecting the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism, and Tibetan Buddhism. They are considered one of China’s four major mural collections, alongside those in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Beijing’s Fahai Temple, and Shanxi’s Yongle Palace.

You will also visit a local Naxi family to learn about their lifestyle and traditions. Try your hand at the Dongba script, the Naxi hieroglyphic writing system, for a unique cultural experience.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Lijiang

Enjoy a full free day to discover the charm of romantic Lijiang at your own pace. A must-see is the UNESCO-listed Lijiang Old Town, famous for its unique layout: unlike other ancient towns in China, it has no city walls, and its maze-like streets wind freely alongside clear canals. The waterways curve gently through the town, with houses and stone paths built right beside them—reflecting the traditional belief that life flourishes near water.

The best time to explore is early morning, when the alleys are quiet and peaceful. Stroll along the old stone roads and capture beautiful photos of traditional architecture framed by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. As the day becomes lively, you’ll find yourself surrounded by vibrant local life—vendors selling snacks, crafts, and souvenirs in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

In the evening, relax in a cozy bar or café, enjoy music and drinks, and soak in the old town’s colorful, slow-paced nightlife.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Lijiang – Kunming – Lunan

In the morning, take a 3-hour bullet train back to Kunming. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the railway station and drive you to Lunan to explore the world-famous Stone Forest. This remarkable area features a stunning collection of karst formations that rise like a natural maze of stone pillars.

Follow your guide to see the most iconic rock shapes—each with a vivid name inspired by local imagination, such as Mother and Son, Camel Riding on Elephant, Rhinoceros Looking at the Moon, and Maiden Emerging from the Water. As you admire these dramatic formations, you’ll also hear the legends and traditions of the Yi ethnic group, who consider the Stone Forest a sacred place. Lakes, waterfalls, forests, and caves further enrich the scenery.

Tonight, you will stay in a local hotel in Lunan.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Lunan – Shizong – Xingyi

We will drive into Guizhou Province via Shizong and Xingyi. If time allows, we’ll make brief stops at a local tobacco farm (typically open from May to August) and a country market to enjoy rural scenery and observe everyday ethnic life.

Upon reaching Xingyi, visit the Maling River Canyon Scenic Area, known for its deep rift valley, dense ancient trees, linked karst caves, waterfalls, and steep cliffs. Often called “the most beautiful scar on Earth,” this 74.8-kilometer canyon was created by crustal collapse and centuries of underground river erosion. One of the highlights is the travertine deposits covering the limestone walls—vast natural “murals” shaped over geological ages. After sightseeing, check in at your Xingyi hotel.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Xingyi

Start your day with a private morning excursion to the Forest of Ten-Thousand Peaks. From a scenic vantage point, marvel at the nearly countless lush, cone-shaped hills and peaks that have earned this area the nickname “China’s Cone Karst Museum.” Adding to the charm, you’ll spot serene Buyi minority villages nestled at the base of the hills. If you visit between February and late March, the landscape is even more stunning with golden rapeseed flowers in full bloom.

In the afternoon, travel to Wanfeng Lake, where clear lake waters meet surrounding forests and karst caves. Enjoy a 1-hour cruise to fully take in the scenery. On the lake, don’t miss the European-style Jilong Castle, perched on an islet and surrounded by water. Its red roof and pink-white walls give it a storybook appearance, making it a perfect spot for photos. Afterward, return to your hotel to relax and unwind.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Xingyi – Huangguoshu Waterfall

Today, continue your journey to the Huangguoshu Scenic Area. Along the way, you’ll travel on 24-Bend Road, one of China’s ten most beautiful highways and the only preserved dirt road in Guizhou. True to its name, this winding mountain road features 24 sharp switchbacks. You’ll enjoy a 30-minute sightseeing ride to experience its twists and turns, then reach the mountain-top viewing platform for a panoramic view of the entire route.

Next, visit the Beipanjiang Grand Canyon, which was formed when a massive underground cave collapsed due to intense crustal movement. The area also holds ancient ruins, including post stations and battlefields, offering a glimpse into the Yelang culture, a significant civilization from the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC).

Afterward, climb the red steel-framed Baling River Bridge to admire stunning scenery, including lush hills and the Dishuitan Waterfall in the distance. Then, visit a Buyi minority village to immerse yourself in local culture. Explore traditional architecture and see batik-dyeing, a skill practiced by nearly all Buyi women, with dye vats visible in almost every courtyard.

Finally, arrive at Huangguoshu and check in at your local hotel to rest.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Huangguoshu Waterfall – Guiyang

Today, visit the Huangguoshu Waterfall, the largest waterfall complex in Asia. The site features 18 waterfalls of varying sizes, with the widest and most spectacular plunging 67 meters (220 feet). Be captivated by the waterfall cave, bizarre rock formations, lush vegetation, and sometimes rainbows. The scenery is breathtaking year-round: in spring, the landscape is lush and serene, while in summer, the waterfall reaches its most magnificent spectacle. After the visit, travel to Guiyang and check in at your hotel.

Next, explore Qingyan Ancient Town, a military town over 600 years old, renowned for its exquisite historical architecture. Stroll along flagstone streets and soak in the historical ambience, with landmarks such as Longquan Temple, Guiyang’s largest Ming-era Buddhist site (1368–1644), and the Zhuangyuan Mansion. You can also step into old buildings to discover books, Chinese tea, or traditional crafts like handmade silver jewelry.

Finally, visit Jiaxiu Tower, a symbol of Guiyang that has witnessed the city’s development over the past 400 years and remains an iconic landmark.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Guiyang – Kaili

Today, drive approximately 170 km from Guiyang to Kaili, where you will stay one night at a top local hotel. Begin with a visit to the ecological Shiqiao Miao Village, a well-preserved community showcasing typical Miao-style stilted houses: the first floor houses livestock, the second is for living, and the third is for storing food. Shiqiao Village is also famous for the national intangible cultural heritage of “Shiqiao ancient papermaking.” Witness the Miao people creating paper by hand from tree roots and bark, using no modern tools. Surrounded by gurgling streams and bamboo-covered hills, you’ll see why this natural environment is ideal for paper-making.

Next, head to Dustpan Miao Village, so named because its layout resembles half of a dustpan. This quiet village sits beside the Nangao River in the mountains. A unique cultural detail is that most villagers share the surname Wang, except for women who married into the community.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Kaili – Rongjiang

Today, start with a visit to Langde Long-skirt Miao Village, named after the long skirts traditionally worn by the Miao people. Explore their stilted houses and admire their colorful traditional clothing, then enjoy authentic singing and dancing performances that showcase the village’s rich cultural heritage. Then head to Datang Short-skirt Miao Village, similarly named for the short skirts worn by its residents for over 500 years. Local women here are said to maintain Tang Dynasty (618–907) hairstyles, and you’ll also see their remarkable granaries built over water, pointed out by your guide.

Afterward, visit the 800-year-old Huanggang Dong Village. Its five drum towers, the most iconic structures in any Dong village, serve as gathering places for community discussions and festival celebrations. Observe the daily life of the Dong people and discover their unique traditions under the guidance of your expert guide.

Finally, transfer to the local hotel for check-in and rest.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Rongjiang – Congjiang – Zhaoxing

Today, begin with a visit to Zhanli Dong Village in Congjiang. Nestled among rice terraces where ducks and fish are farmed together, this village showcases a locally invented agricultural ecosystem that highlights the ingenuity of the Dong people.

Next, explore Basha Miao Village, known for its deep reverence for nature, especially trees, which is reflected in their funeral customs. When a child is born, the family plants a tree nearby, which will later be cut to craft their coffin. After burial, a new tree is planted on the grave to symbolize the continuation of life instead of using a gravestone. Through stories from your guide and possible interactions with villagers, you’ll gain insight into these unique customs while admiring the surrounding lush forests.

In the afternoon, continue to Zhaoxing, the largest Dong village. Tonight, enjoy a famous night performance of Dong chorus songs. Listen to the Grand Song, a UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage, featuring multipart singing that expresses the Dong people’s views on farming, love, and friendship. Prepare to be fully immersed in this captivating cultural experience.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Zhaoxing – Sanjiang – Longsheng

This morning, visit Tang’an Dong Village, renowned for its rice terraces edged with traditional stonework, a practice that has been maintained for over 700 years. Then head to the railway station for a 19-minute high-speed train ride to Sanjiang. Upon arrival, your local guide and driver will meet you to explore the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge and nearby Dong villages. This iconic bridge, a hallmark of Dong architecture, seamlessly combines walkway, corridor, and pavilion, offering both a resting spot and shelter. As the largest structure of its kind, it has stood for nearly a century, reflecting the ingenuity of the Dong people.

In the late afternoon, transfer by private car to rural Longsheng and check in at your hotel.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Longsheng – Guilin

This morning, explore the Longsheng Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, a breathtaking feat of engineering created by the Zhuang minority people. The terraces climb layer upon layer from the base of Longji Mountain to the summit, showcasing the locals’ wisdom and hard work. Their appearance changes with the seasons, offering a new spectacle each time: in spring, water-filled paddies reflect like silver chains on the hills; in summer, vibrant green rice seedlings sway in the breeze; in autumn, golden rice ears form countless miniature towers; and in winter, the terraces resemble white jade rings.

Next, visit a Zhuang village to learn about their culture and daily life. Observe the architecture, watch villagers in blue-black traditional attire, and see Zhuang women practicing embroidery or traditional batik in workshops and front yards.

Before evening, transfer to Guilin and check in at your hotel for the night.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Guilin – Yangshuo – Guilin

Set off on a scenic cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo, a journey that promises memorable views. Guilin’s landscape is a true karst wonderland, with rolling cone-shaped hills, emerald waters, farmlands, and dramatic peaks unfolding along the river. One highlight: you’ll pass a scene famously depicted on the back of the CNY 20 note. If you have one with you, take the opportunity to snap a photo with the note and the real scenery together, just like many fellow travelers do.

Meals: Customizable

Accommodation: Customizable

Departure from Guilin

Today’s Guilin city tour begins with the Reed Flute Cave, a karst masterpiece renowned as the “Palace of Natural Arts.” Inside, marvel at a dazzling array of stone pillars, stalagmites, and stalactites, with formations resembling mushrooms, waterfalls, and grand spectacles. Many have been given poetic names, such as “Crystal Palace,” “Scarlet Stone Wall,” and “Tower-shaped Pine,” inviting you to explore this natural wonder.

Then visit Elephant Trunk Hill, one of Guilin’s most iconic landmarks. From a distance, the hill resembles a giant stone elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River. The semi-circular Water Moon Cave, formed between the leg and trunk, completes this picturesque scene, making it a must-see photo spot.

With this, your 15-day Yunnan and Guangxi ethnic minority tour comes to a close. Your guide will escort you to Guilin Airport for your departure, bidding you a fond farewell and bon voyage!