Guilin&Guizhou: 8-Day Guilin, Yangshuo and Guizhou Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Guilin Welcome to Guilin! Your private guide will meet you at the airport/train station arrivals hall and transfer you to your hotel in a private car. Day 2: Daxu Old Town and Guilin Highlights After breakfast, visit Daxu, an old town along the Li River that used to be the busiest bazaar in Guangxi. After lunch, start sightseeing in the city from Guilin's landmark, Elephant Trunk Hill. Admire the natural art in Reed Flute Cave, a famous and massive limestone cave, with multicolored lighting, which casts intriguing shadows on the water. Day 3: Li River Cruise and the Idyllic Yangshuo Feast your eyes on picturesque views either side of the Li River, as you enjoy the highest-standard cruise, to ensure your comfort. Your guide will show you the best spots for taking photos. The cruise arrives in Yangshuo at noon and you will be welcomed by the sight of the most beautiful countryside in China. Day 4: Bamboo Rafting and High-Speed Train to Zhaoxing After a good night's sleep, start your day with a bamboo-rafting tour. One great way of enjoying the rural view and tranquility is to sit back on a non-motorized raft that's steered along the Yulong River by a gondolier. Day 5: Rice-Terrace Hiking and Dong Village The rice terraces in Guizhou are impressive for their altitude and wildness. Today you will hike round some of them. The hike will be a 2.5-hour walk on solid flagstone, combined with morning rice-terrace viewing. Have a free afternoon at Zhaoxing, one of the biggest Dong villages in China. Day 6: Ancient Handmade Paper Experience Guizhou is home to many ethnic minorities. The Miao and Dong are large ancient groups with different subgroups, representing different cultures. Settled deep in the mountains and with limited resources, rural people have a knack of making ends meet.Learn how to make a piece of paper with a respected expert, step by step. Have lunch in a farmer's house, cooked with fresh local ingredients. Then visit a small yet unspoiled village famous for its dustpan-like shape. Stroll along the bluestone path, and observe close-up the daily lives of minority people. Day 7: Batik-Making and Mini-Skirted Miao The village you are going to visit this morning is quite a special one. The villagers dress differently. Females used to join the army, and their costumes still resemble army-uniforms. They are also renowned for their batik work. Villagers hang a pair of dyed cloths on the door, instead of the usual antithetical couplets written on red paper. You will have an opportunity to step into the dye-house and see how to make a fine batik. Participate in the batik-making process. After lunch, visit another special Miao village, famous for its females' gorgeous mini-skirt costumes and unique creative centuries-old way to store food. Day 8: Departure from Guiyang Your guide will transfer you to Guiyang Airport and help you to check-in.