Overview
A 3-day private culture-and-hiking tour through the timeless Dong minority villages of Zhaoxing, with terraced fields, drum towers and the UNESCO-honored Grand Dong Choir.
About This Tour
Hidden in the green hills of southeast Guizhou, Zhaoxing is one of the largest and most beautiful Dong minority villages in China, a living world of wooden stilt houses, covered 'wind-and-rain' bridges, five great drum towers and the haunting Grand Dong Choir, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. This 3-day private tour pairs deep cultural immersion with gentle village-to-village hiking through emerald rice terraces, visiting tiny untouched hamlets such as Jilun, Dengjiang and Jitang where life still follows ancient rhythms. The highlight is the classic trek from Zhaoxing to Tang'an, an open-air eco-museum and one of China's most beautiful hiking routes, where the entire terraced valley is the exhibit. Travel with your own English-speaking guide, stay in characterful local hotels and experience an authentic side of rural China far from mass tourism. Best from March to November. Itinerary may adjust based on weather, road and local regulations. Good to know: • Best season: March to November; autumn brings golden terraces • Fitness level: moderate, two days of 6-12 km village hiking on stone paths and trails • Comfortable hiking shoes and a light rain layer recommended • Evening Dong Choir performances are subject to local scheduling • Mobile signal can be limited in the smaller hamlets
Itinerary
1
Day 1: Zhaoxing | Drum Towers & Dong Choir
Meet at Congjiang high-speed rail station around midday and transfer just a few minutes to Zhaoxing Dong Village to check in. With your guide, explore the heart of the village in depth, discovering its five great drum towers named for the Confucian virtues of benevolence, righteousness, ritual, wisdom and trust, along with the carved wind-and-rain bridges and opera stages that define Dong architecture. In the evening you may attend a performance of the Grand Dong Choir, the polyphonic singing tradition celebrated worldwide, climb to a viewpoint for the lamplit village panorama, or simply soak up the slow pace of village life. Meals on your own. Overnight in Zhaoxing. (no meals)
2
Day 2: Eight-Villages Loop Hike
Early risers can catch sunrise from the viewpoint as morning mist gilds the village. After breakfast set out on the 'eight villages, one mountain' loop, a gentle but rewarding 10-12 km hike through rice terraces and original, un-commercialized Dong hamlets including Jilun, Dengjiang and Jitang, where daily life carries on much as it has for generations. Pause at a village rest pavilion for a trail picnic lunch surrounded by terraced fields, then continue along paths winding between paddies and valleys before returning to Zhaoxing in the afternoon. The evening is free to rest or sample Dong snacks and rice wine in the village. Overnight in Zhaoxing. (B, picnic L)
3
Day 3: Zhaoxing to Tang'an Trek & Departure
After breakfast walk one of Zhaoxing's most loved routes, the trail up to Tang'an, widely ranked among China's seven most beautiful hiking paths and the best way to understand Dong culture. Tang'an is a Sino-Norwegian eco-museum where the entire village and its surrounding landscape form the living exhibit, fully authentic and unrestored. Stroll the hamlet and its sweeping rice terraces, savoring scenery untouched by modern polish, then hike back down to Zhaoxing to collect your luggage and check out. Enjoy free time for local specialties or souvenirs before your transfer to the station, roughly a 6 km trek round-trip plus the return drive. (B)
What's Included
✓ Included
English-speaking guide throughout Private transfers between Congjiang station and the villages, plus Tang'an terrace shuttle 2 nights in local hotels or village guesthouses 2 breakfasts and a trail picnic lunch on Day 2 Zhaoxing Dong Village entrance ticket Round-trip second-class high-speed rail from Guangzhou or Shenzhen (optional add-on)
✕ Not included
International and domestic flights China visa Travel insurance Lunches and dinners not specified Personal expenses Tips for guide
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
4.8★★★★★Based on 68 reviews
Carlos G.🇺🇸 USA★★★★★2026-06
For us, what stayed with me wasn't the booking or the car. It was the time at Zhaoxing village, when we could slow down and actually look around.
Lucas N.🇵🇹 Portugal★★★★★2025-01
Practically speaking, there was no pressure to turn every pause into a photo stop. We could catch our breath, look around and move when ready. For 3 days around Dong, the pace felt about right.
Yuki C.🇦🇹 Austria★★★★☆2025-04
Expect uneven ground and a few sections where conversation stops because everyone is concentrating on their feet. The views near the trail repay the effort. I would still leave extra time for the trail.
Sophie R.🇧🇷 Brazil★★★★★2025-03
Honestly, this wasn't a “see everything” tour, and that was a strength. The time around Zhaoxing village felt specific to Dong, not interchangeable with another city.