1 Day Guilin Sanjiang Tour to Dong Villages

Welcome to choose this one day Guilin Sanjiang tour! By a typical Chinese high speed train, explore the famous Chinese Dong ethnic settlements, where unique wooden drum towers, roofed wind and rain bridges and traditional Dong culture and customs like polyphonic Grand Songs all make for a heady combination.

In the morning, your guide will wait for you at your hotel in Guilin at the appointed time. Then we will set out to the nearest railway station by taxi, generally taking around 30 minutes to 1 hour according to your hotel location. Next, we will board a high speed train to Sanjiang, which is located about 150 km (93 mi) northwest of Guilin. The 30-minute train journey is surely enough for a breathless introduction of your guide to today’s signature sights of the Dong villages. After arrival, a local driver will pick us up at the Sanjiang train station exit.

Next, we will drive for about 40 minutes to reach the Chengyang Bazhai Scenic Area, composed of 8 local Dong villages. This is not only perfect for those looking to escape the cities, but also ideal for cranking up culture with old ethnic ceremonies and traditional Dong-style architecture. Chengyang Bazhai literally means Chengyang eight villages but our visit today mainly focuses on the Ma’an Village, Yan Village, and Ping Village where also most of the highlights are located. We will visit the renowned Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge and the Drum Towers, admiring the exquisite architectural craftsmanship of the Dong people. Along the way, you’ll encounter vibrant folk activities and performances. Feel free to pause to watch, and even join in the festivities with the friendly locals.

1. Warmly Greeted by Dong Grand Song Performance on South Square
Upon entering the village, you will be welcomed by the Grand Song greeting ceremony. It is the best way to show Dong people’s warm hospitality, in which a large group of local people dressed in traditional costumes perform a folk multipart singing a cappella, dance with passion, as well as play their traditional reed-pipe wind instrument known as "Lusheng". In the end, you will witness people hold hands to form a circle and sing the melodious Grand Songs together, making you feel like stepping into an ancient and mysterious world through time and space.2. Witness Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge & Block-the-Way Welcome Ceremony
After that, you will be led to appreciate the featured Dong-style architecture, the wind and rain bridge. This kind of covered bridge is a special architectural complex form in the local Dong region, wholly made of wood and composed of the bridge corridor, pavilions, and pagodas. It is so named because it offers shelter to passing villagers from the wind and rain. We will admire the long-standing Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge. It is the biggest one with five tower-like pavilions and upturned eaves, also known as Yongji Bridge, definitely the landmark of Sanjiang County. Built in 1912, the spectacular roofed bridge is about 64.4 meters (211 ft.) long, and 3.4 meters (11 ft.) wide, with a height of 10.6 meters (35 ft.). Though without a nail, it remains intact till now.

Besides the well-preserved wooden structure, you may encounter a unique block-the-way greeting of locals standing at the bridge, led by elderly people with prestige in the village. Generally, they are in blue or white costumes, wearing fine silver jewelry, and holding red adorned umbrellas in their hands to welcome guests from afar. Accompanied with the singing and flowers, immerse yourself in the joyous event, and you may also have a chance to taste some local rice wine, or explore various kinds of handicrafts like embroidery and auspicious flower weaving.

3. Marvel at Majestic Dong Drum Towers
Drum towers are another iconic architecture in Chengyang Dong villages, and nearly every village has at least one. We will visit some of the masterpieces like Ma’an Drum Tower, Ping Village Drum Tower, and Yan Village Drum Tower. The drum towers were generally the tallest buildings in the villages, originally built to gather villagers by beating drums to resist invasions, but now they have become a gathering place for rest and entertainment, and holding special events. Featuring a square bottom with dozens of layers of tile eaves, the drum towers boast an intricate design that four main cedar columns inside that are delicately connected to the wooden crossbars, while the stone foundation bed is carved with vivid reliefs of the local life scenes.

4. Pipa Playing and Singing at Ma’an Village
During the visit, you’ll have a chance to encounter a folk band playing traditional music with the Dong Pipa, an old musical instrument featuring a pear-shaped wooden body with 4 strings. You will be surprised at how local people are good at music playing and singing and living a happy life of passion.

5. Sample Dong Culinary Delights at Yaluoye Food Street
There is a popular saying among the Dong ethnic group, “Dong people cannot live without sour food”, emphasizing locals’ preference for sour food including not only pickled vegetables, but also pickled meat, beef, chicken, and fish. It is available to taste some at the Yaluoye Food Street, which offers a variety of local food options. Oil Tea (Youcha) made of tea leaves, crisp soybeans, fried peanuts, scallions, glutinous rice and oil is the most popular local drink worth trying.

► Warm Tips:
1. The above activities schedule may be adjusted according to different seasons by the scenic area. However, your guide will craft your itinerary carefully based on your interests.
2. If you are looking for the ‘real’ Dong experience, your private guide can also lead you to stroll around the less-visited Pingtan Village, and Da Village, experiencing the primitive ethnic lifestyle.

After spending a couple of hours roaming around the several Dong villages, your day trip comes to an end. The driver will send you to Sanjiang Train Station for a high speed train journey back to Guilin, taking about 30 minutes to 1 hour. After arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel by taxi.

► Dinner Recommendation: Jiang Xiaochu Beer Fish Restaurant (Zhengyang Street Branch)
Located in the Guilin city center, Zhengyang Street is famous as the city’s main pedestrian walkway lined with various shops, restaurants, food stalls, and boutiques. Jiang Xiaochu Beer Fish Restaurant is one of them, specializing in popular local dishes including Braised Beer Fish, Spicy & Flavored Snails, and Dry-pot Beer Duck. Costing just CNY70（USD 10）per person, it offers the most authentic Guilin local dishes. Nevertheless, if you are less able to tolerate spicy foods, remember to tell the server 'Wo bu chi la' when you order, which literally means you cannot eat spicy food.