Welcome to Guilin! Upon arrival, you are greeted by your guide holding a name plate at the exit. After you are transferred to your hotel, please have a good rest to start your exploration tomorrow.

With the ship cruising the Li River, immerse yourself in the unrivaled beauty of this immensely long 'landscape painting scroll'. Marvel at the karst hills in various shapes, the ever-changing images reflected on the crystal-clear water, etc. You may also come across a herd of buffalo frolic having fun or fishermen toiling with their cormorants. The journey lasts about 4 hours until you get to Yangshuo.

Then disembark and bike around the rural villages of Yangshuo. Get relaxed from this tranquil, leisure time by enjoying the fresh air, bird calls, misty hill clusters, traditional dwellings, various plants etc. After the biking, you are escorted to your hotel in Guilin.

Beautiful countryside in Yangshuo

Explore the palace of natural arts, Reed Flute Cave, where countless brilliantly illuminated stalagmites, stalactites, etc will dazzle you. Draw on your imagination to observe the monstrous yet beautiful shapes, which look like cypresses, dragons, pagodas, etc. Try to seek out ancient calligraphic travel notes on the walls along the way.

Then head to Elephant Trunk Hill -- the symbol of Guilin landscape. You can see it looks like a huge elephant with its long nose dipped into water, and the big hole between the body and the nose like a moon floating on the river.

Move to Daxu Ancient Town. Stroll along the flagging and observe the brick and wood-structured buildings, most of which have been preserved since the Ming and the Qing dynasties (1368-1912). You may discover old manual workshops, traditional herbal clinics, etc. Encounter natives and learn their customs. Afterwards, travel to Longsheng county and put up there.

Hike along the slopes of Longji Terraced Fields (Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces) and marvel at the huge abstract agricultural artworks that owe to both nature and manpower. The scenery varies greatly with seasons. Follow your guide to make out the famous 'Seven Stars Surrounding the Moon Rice Terrace', and continue to discover 'Nine Dragons and Five Tigers' if you would like to absorb more fascinating views.

Along the way, you will encounter the villages of Yao minority, the friendly ethnic people and their distinctive houses.

Then go to Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County and get accommodation for the night.

Pace back and forth along the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge, a quintessential architecture of Dong minority completed in 1912. It is also called Panlong Bridge, meaning a dragon flying about to guarantee good weather for bumper harvests and welfare of the people. Observe the ingeniously designed nailless bridge which has parapeted corridors, pagoda-shaped pavilions and exquisite decorations.

Then your guide will see you off at a high-speed train station. On arrival at Guizhou province, you will be received by your local guide and taken to Zhaoxing Dong Village. What's waiting for you is the impassioned Kam Grand Choirs sung by the Dong people. You will be overwhelmed by the grand vocal cycles in which the voices vary clearly to a great extent yet harmonize with one another. Tonight put up in Zhaoxing.

In the morning, a 40-minute ride leads you to the Tang'an Dong Village, a well-preserved ethnic ecomuseum that has a history of over 700 years. Enjoy yourself in the primeval forests, the marvelous rice terraced fields, the plain and elegant stilted buildings, gourd ladle-shaped wells, etc. Come across traditionally dressed Dong people who are hospitable and easy-going.

Then have an extended view of the original rural beauty while you are hiking for about 2.5 hours to Zhaoxing. Afterwards drive to Huanggang Dong Village. Walk about to savour the distinctive buildings, the original rice-farming culture, and encounter locals farming, singing or doing other cultural activities.

Return to Zhaoxing, and enjoy your free hike in Zhaoxing Dong Village, where the world record-keeping drum towers are appealing. Tonight stay in the town.

The Huanggang Dong Village with typical Dong Drum Towers and houses

A car takes you to Rongjiang county, and then to Sanbao Dong Village. Besides the well-preserved folk customs, beautifully decorated drum towers, 300-year-old banyans, the village is also characterized by its Samar Ancestral Temples. Have a close-up view of these extraordinary buildings in which locals worship their goddess Samar.

Then you are taken to Basha Miao Village, noted as the last gunman tribe in China. The isolated village still retains their old habits like romantic Azalea Festival, stunning bullfight and breathtaking tonsure. Hold your breath and watch the traditional Sickle haircut. Afterwards return to Rongjiang and stay for the night.

Along the way to Kaili by car, you will first visit Datang Mini Skirt Miao Village, where ladies wear short skirts all the year round. Appreciate their patterned clothes, exquisite ornaments, and discover the local customs.

Then enjoy the exotic views while hiking along the zigzag mountain trail until you reach Paika village and Shuidian village. The highlight is watching an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage making a Lusheng (a kind of reed-pipe wind instrument).

Ride to Langde Miao Village, also called Long Skirt Miao Village. Admire the ornate folk dresses, the shining silver horns, hats, badges, the traditional buildings, etc. Besides, you may encounter sacrificial activity or other local events. Afterwards go to Kaili and have a good night.

Local Miao women in traditional costumes doing exquisite embroidery work

Once you arrive at Qingman, a relatively backward village, you are welcomed by a host of dressed up ebullient villagers, and they would like you to drink the road-block drinks. Then roam about and appreciate the delicate stitchworks, pleated skirts, woven cloth, traditional constructions, activities, etc.

Then head to Shiqiao village and marvel at the ancient ways of making paper. The unique technique is handed down from over 2,000 years ago.

Your exciting tour comes to an end and you are escorted to Guiyang for your departure.