1 Day Congjiang Ethnic Dong Village Tour from Guilin

Welcome to the Congjiang Dong Village tour from Guilin! Today, we will ride a Chinese fast bullet train to explore the off-the-beaten-path Dong villages in neighboring Guizhou Province, experiencing the Dong people’s rustic traditional lifestyle and understanding their deep nature worship of mountains, plants, and rivers.

In the morning, your private guide will meet you at your hotel lobby on time. Accompanied by the guide, you will then take a taxi or private car hailed by DiDi app to the railway station of Guilin for an early high-speed train to Congjiang Station, which is located about 180 km (112 mi) northwest of Guilin. On the nearly 1-hour cross-province train journey, you can take in the scenic countryside views, and your guide will also brief you on today’s signature sights.

► Please Note: The departing bullet train schedule is subject to change in different seasons. Based on the real-time train schedule, we will usually arrange for you to depart between 8:00 and 10:00. 

Upon arrival at Congjiang Station, we will ride a local shuttle bus to today’s first stop, Zhaoxing Dong Village. The 6.5-km (4-mi) long road trip takes about 25-30 minutes.

Known as one of the largest Dong villages in China, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to more than 5,200 residents in 1,200 households, where you can dive deep into the unique Dong community's rich culture. With a history of more than 1,000 years, Zhaoxing Dong Village was built in the mountain basin, with two streams confluence into a small river winding through.

Standing at the village entrance, you will be first amazed at a large group of multi-layer wooden pagoda-shaped buildings, the emblems of the typical Dong architecture, Drum Towers. Every Dong group has its own drum towers as the public center and also the spiritual heart. It is said that the Dong people followed an ancient motto that "build drum towers first, and then houses and villages." Nevertheless, Zhaoxing Dong Village boasts amazing five drum towers, which have been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. The whole village is composed of five groups, with five drum towers in the center. Your guide will lead you to admire these masterpieces, among which the tallest one is called “Xintuan Drum Tower” located in the west, with a height of 24.37 meters (80 ft.). Four fir wooden pillars serve as the main support, plus the 12 smaller pillars brace the multi-eave pagoda-shaped drum tower with a pyramid roof. You can observe some colorful carvings and paintings on the structure, vividly depicting the lives and legends of local Dong people. Occasionally, catch a lively scene around the drum tower, in which local children play in the front square while old nannies are stitching and chatting.

Apart from admiring iconic drum towers, you will also be guided to appreciate historical theaters and old bridges, and stroll along the 2-km (1.2 mi) long flagstone main street, lined with entirely wooden architecture, including workshops, souvenir boutiques, restaurants, bars and hotels. Along the way, it is not surprising to see glimmering deep indigo cloth hanging from many timber houses on stilts. Next, we will push a door of those, enter, and have a mind-blowing dyeing experience with the help of a local master.

★ Try Tie-dyeing a T-shirt Like a Local on Your Own! 
The old tie-dyeing tradition can be traced back to more than 1,500 years ago, referring to a traditional technique with more than 100 variations of skills, in which the white fabric is partially tied so that the tied part cannot be colored when dyeing, creating a perfect white pattern on the deep blue cloth. What is more, all the clothes are dyed with natural indigo made from wild plants. Today, you will follow an experienced master to learn about tie-dyeing a T-shirt in an easy way. You can choose the pattern you prefer and spend about 30 minutes tying, dyeing, rinsing, and airing it in the sun. Finally, you will be rewarded with a beautiful indigo-colored T-shirt.

At noon, we have prepared a pre-packed lunch box in case you are not so accustomed to the local food. After lunch, you can roam around the back lanes of the village to witness local people’s real lives.

In the afternoon, we will hop on a local sightseeing bus to the nearby Tang’an Dong Village, a smaller but more primitive Dong village that is only about 8 km (5 mi) away from Zhaoxing Dong Village. It takes about 15-20 minutes by bus along the way. As it drives along the mountain road with turnings, a picturesque painting of green paddy fields is gradually unfolding before your eyes.

► Insider Tips:
Another recommended way from Zhaoxing to Tang’an is on foot, as the hiking route between the two villages is among the most beautiful hiking trails in China. However, the hiking generally takes about 2-3 hours, and an extra day needs to be scheduled here. If you are interested, please feel free to contact your travel consultant to tailor it for you!

Set on a hilltop, Tang’an Dong village is the Mecca of photographers, surrounded by mountains on three sides and overlooking spectacular terraced fields. After arrival, you will be guided to the viewing platform, where you can marvel at the breathtaking vistas of terraced fields stacked layer upon layer. Although the staircase-like terraces will not disappoint you no matter what season you visit, the best time is from April to November. In spring, they are filled with glimmering water to reflect the blue sky; in summer, a vibrant emerald scene is offered; while autumn sees the landscape turn gold during the harvest.

With a history of 700 years, Tang’an is also known as an open-air Dong eco-museum which was set under the efforts of local government and funded by Norway. Some of the primitive Dong settlement lifestyle, Dong-style wooden stilt architecture, and unique cultural heritages are all well preserved here. Following the guide, step on the narrow flagstone path twisting and turning, which leads you to explore every quaint corner of the village. Drum towers, old theaters, and song squares are definitely the most characterized architecture of the village. You will also have a chance to witness locals’ granary, water-powered roller (for grinding grain), fish ponds, and special old wells shaped like gourd ladles. Before leaving the village, entertained by a once-in-a-lifetime sunset that casts a warm glow over the vibrant green terraced rice fields in the valley.

After that, we will return to Zhaoxing Dong Village, enjoy a short free exploration on your own and have dinner. Then we will take the shuttle bus to Congjiang Railway Station for the return train journey. Upon arrival, the guide will escort you back to your hotel by taxi. Wish you a nice journey with us! If you have any idea of exploring other destinations, please let us know and we will surely provide you with a tailor-made itinerary.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner