Day 1:Arrival, Guiyang to Leishan
Fly to Guiyang in the morning.
Upon arrival Guiyang airport, be greeted by our Guiyang tour guide and transfer to a local restaurant for lunch.
After lunch, transfer about 1 hour to Damochong area, where we start our short hike in the beautiful valley with lush bamboo. In that area, the local people still use the traditional way to make bamboo paper. On the trail, we may see some paper making mills on the way. The small mills are beautiful - a large rock wheel controlled by a wooden waterwheel drives over the bamboo, mashing it slowly into a paste. The mills are built and owned by inpidual families that live nearby.
When we get to Leishan, it is late afternoon.
Today, the hike is about 2 hours.
After that, we will drive about 3-4 hours to Leishan.
Leishan is located in the southeast of Guizhou province which is one of the most hidden area of China because it is in mountains and far away from big cities in the hinterland of China.
Most Miao and Dong people live in that area. Miao people is one of the 56 ethnic groups of China. However, there is over 100 sub-ethnic groups of Miao people. And that makes their culture so perse.
Overnight Leishan Grand Hotel
Meals: B, L, D
Day 2:Leishan-One day Leisongshan Hike
After breakfast in hotel, we start our tour in Mt. Leigongshan.
Mt. Leigongshan is located 15 kilometers (nine miles) east of Kaili. Leigongshan is the most intriguing scenic area of the Miaoling Mountains. It gained its reputation as a National Nature Reserve because of its abundance of overlapping mountain ridges, flourishing verdant plants, valuable and rare animals, and historical war remains. It is the highest peak in the mountain ranges of southeast Guizhou Province, so Leigongshan is rumored as the place where the God of Thunder ("Leigong" in Chinese) lives. Every summer, thunderstorms can be heard resounding on the mountains, which is why people called it Leigongshan (or Leigong Mountain).
We will drive up to the mountain top and start our hiking downhill.
Gradually, we will hike down to Xiangshuiyan waterfall, which is the water resource of Bala River through Leishan town. Then we will hike through rice terraces to Baiyan Village, from where we continue hiking through Baiyan Gorge and the rice terraces until we get to Taoyao Village.Taoyao is a village where local people make potteries in traditional way. If you like, you can join the local farmers to do make some potteries.
In the afternoon, drive back hotel and rest.
Today, it is about 5-6 hours moderate hike.
Overnight Leishan Grand Hotel
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3:Leishan-Hike from Datang Village to Taojiang Village
We start to Hike from Datang Short Skirt Miao Village where we stop to see its unique rice barns over the water which is about 300 years old. In the village, every woman keeps very nice long hair in order to have a heavy headdress on it. in the Daily time, people polish the hair with tea oil. Barns over the water is good to look, over 70 huts over the water prevention of the mice, which have stood over the water for over 200 years.
From Datang Village, we hike up 1 hour to the mountain range through the rice terraced fields, in this hike we can have a bird eye view to Mt.Leigong which is regards as the holy mountain of Miao, and lots of layers of rice fields, besides we also hike through the villages, bamboos,creeks,etc. The panoramic view on the mountain range is stunning.
And about the time we arrive at Taojiang Village by 5:30pm.
Then, we drive about 1 hour back to the hotel.
Today, it is about 6-7 hours moderate to difficult hike, with uphill and downhill.
Overnight Leishan Grand Hotel
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4:Leishan to Zhenyuan
After breakfast in the hotel, we will drive about 2.5-3 hours from Leishan to Zhenyuan ancient town.
Zhenyuan Ancient Town is one of the most well-known ancient towns in Guizhou, in accordance with its advanced water transporting system, people in this area had traded with Han people in Hunan province, they even started the oldest ordnance factory during the Manchuria period. With being influenced by a lot Han culture,people in this area have a very interesting life. Old lanes, old shrines, old yards, old temples, old courtyards… etc are the marks of this town.
After lunch, we will visit Qinglong Cave Temple. This is such a distinctive architecture on the cliff of the mountain, locating on the other bank of Wuyang River, built in 500 years back, combining with 3 religions, Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism. Buddhas, Immortals and Confucius have been well worshiped in the temples and caves. Standing in the temple, we can have a nice bird eye view of Zhenyuan old town at here.
Overnight Riyue International Hotel
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5:Zhenyuan to Jiangkou, hike on Fanjingshan
This morning, drive about 2-2.5 hours from Zhenyuan to Jiangkou.
Our destination today is Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve.
Fanjingshan is the highest peak of Wuling Mountain Range which reaches to Guizhou, Chongqing, Hunan and Hubei provinces.
Fanjingshan has reserved the rare Subtropical native ecosystems, with very rare 2601 species old creatures, inclusive 21 species of national preserved plants, 19 national preserved vertebrate, including golden monkey.
The hike firstly with be along the Taiping River, then hike uphill gradually to the mountain top that is a scenic area. On the hike, we will enjoy the forest, waterfall, streams and villages, which are off-the beaten and great to hike.
Then, we take cable car down. After that we drive back to hotel.
It is about 5-6 hours moderate to difficult hike, mostly on flat trail and uphill.
Overnight Yuanheng Hotel
Meals: B, L, D
Note:
1.The hike on Fanjingshan Mountain is about 20KM, with beautiful landscape of forest and countryside.
2.Kindly be aware of that we may NOT run across the wildlife on Fanjingshan.
3.Only downhill cable car is included. If clients want to take round way cable car, they need to pay extra fee.
Day 6:Jiangkou to Fenghuang
After breakfast and check out hotel, we will drive about 3.5 hours to Fenghuang ancient town.
Fenghuang ancient town has started to be known in 1990’s, mostly because of Mr. Shen Congwen, a great writer who was born in Fenghuang and his nephew, Mr. Huang Yongyu, a very well-known painter. It is them brings Fenghuang from the isolated mountain to the outside world.
After hotel check in, we will explore around the beautiful Fenghuang Ancient Town, tasting its air of mystery, elegance and primitive simplicity. Here we see bridges over the water and unique houses built on stilts displaying a harmony that is so often portrayed in traditional Chinese paintings.
The riverside is very beautiful as well.
Overnight Poshan Gongguan
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7:Fenghuang to Zhangjiajie, Tianmenshan
After breakfast, we check out hotel in Fenghuang, then drive about 4 hours to Zhangjiajie.
This afternoon, we will firstly visit Tianmenshan National Forest Park. Tianmen cave the natural mountain-penetrating karst cave with the highest elevation in the world, hangs on the towering cliff. It is a natural water-eroded cave with the highest elevation in the world. It is actually a big hole in the mountain but people call it a cave and it has become a major attraction. In 1999, in an acrobatic show, three airplanes flew through it. The live telecast drew an estimated audience of 800 million people worldwide.
We will take the 7kms long cable car up to the top of the mountain while enjoy stunning scenery. Tianmenshan cableway, the longest one-way recycling passenger cableway in the world, has a length of 7455 meters and a height gap of 1,279 meters. It takes you from the atmosphere of modern city directly to the hug of the primitive garden in the air.. We will take an exciting walking on the top of the mountain on glass made path on the cliff. The suspended glass walkway is almost a mile (1,430 meters) above the ground, and the ‘99 Bends’ mountain road.
Overnight Xiangdian Hotel
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8:Zhangjiajie NP-Hike to Tianzishan and Yuanjiajie
Zhangjiajie National Park made a great promotion when the movie Avatar was a hot topic. The national park said that the mountains in Avatar are originally from the real mountains in Zhangjiajie. This day we will visit the Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie.
This morning, after breakfast, we drive to Zhangjiajie national park and star our first day hiking in the national park. The area we will hike to is Tianzi Mountain. you will see large areas of grotesque peaks thrusting up below. Walking along the steps spectacular views unfold in front of you from different angles. We will see The Marshel Helong Park, the West Sea, Imperial Pen Peak, etc.
The hike on for Tianzishan with uphill and downhill will be 4 hours.
In the afternoon, we will take 40 minutes shuttle bus ride to Yangjiajie Scenic Area, whose mountains are said to be the inspiration for Avatar’s Hallelujah Mountain. This area is a mesa that overlooks a deep valley and a chain of mountain peaks, and the most visited area due to its fame. After visiting this area, we are getting down the mountain —Bailong Elevator. This glass elevator was built on the side of a cliff, and it claims to be the world’s highest of its kind.
In Yuanjiajie, we hike about another 3-4 hours.
Today, it is about 7-8 hours moderate to difficult hike, with uphill and downhill
Overnight Xiangdian International Hotel
Meals: B, L, D
Note:
4.Only one way cable car is included. If clients want to take round way cable car, they need to pay extra fee.
Day 9:Hike to Huangshi Village and Golden Whip Stream & Departure
When enter into it, go firstly to take the cable car to visit Huangshi Village - one of the top 5 highlight travel itineraries of China. It is 1080m above sea level. It is higher on the south and elevated by stiff cliffs, covering an area of 16.5 hectors. It provides the largest collection of marvelous spectacles and also provides the large sightseeing terrace above sea level in Zhangjiajie. The chief scenic spots include Treasure Box of Heavenly Books, the Magic Sea-suppressing Needle, the South Pillar of Heaven, the Golden Tortoise Watching the Sea and so on. We will see Six Wonder Pavilion, Star Gathering Stage, etc. After lunch, continue to casual hiking along the Golden Whip Stream, named after the 380-meter high Golden Whip Rock. It is famous for its pristine water, its verdant mountains, its steep cliffs and its serene valley. As a veritable “paradise” for plants, its pathways are adorned by an abundance of flowers, trees, and grasses. And it is also a kingdom of animals.
After that, we drive back to your hotel and have rest of this day.
In the evening, transfer to the airport for departure flight.
Today, it is 6-7 hours moderate to difficult hike, with uphill and downhill.
Meals: B, L, D
Note:
5.Zhangjiajie just has flight to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and other few cities. And most of the flight departs Zhangjiajie in the evening.
