Ethnic Excursion to Guizhou
As one of the most culturally rich provinces in China, 40 percent of Guizhou’s population consists of ethnic minorities, providing the visitor with a cornucopia of cultural backgrounds for the visitor to explore. As most Chinese come from the Han ethnicity, Guizhou’s mountainous regions are host to some 49 minorities outside of the Han. Each minority has its own customs, traditions, and dialects different from the others, making Guizhou feel more like a province of many small nations. Some of the major groups that the visitor can find in Guizhou are the Miao and Dong peoples. Join China Reflection and explore the mountainous regions of this province rich both in culture and in Nature.
Geography and Climate
Located in China’s southeast, the province of Guizhou borders the provinces of Sichuan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Hunan. Amidst karst topography and mostly mountainous regions, Guizhou retains a subtropical climate within the monsoon zone. Its average temperature is 10-20 degrees Celsius with January temperatures ranging from 1-10 degrees Celsius, and July temperatures ranging from 17-28 degrees Celsius. Guizhou lies atop a plateau at an average elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level. Due to its comparative inaccessibility in the past, Guizhou has managed to retain much of its original infrastructure, culture, and architecture. With its mild and humid climate, Guizhou is also home to 1000 animals and 3,800 wild plants.
| Schedule of Activities | Meals Included | Accommodation | Transportation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fly from Beijing to Guiyang, capital of Guizhou. 3 hour flight. Check into hotel, and rest for the evening. | Dinner | Hotel in Guiyang city limits | |
| Day 2 | Go by train to Kaili, capital of Miao and Dong minorities. From Kaili take bus to Xjiang, largest Miao settlement in China. | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner | Local Kaili Inn | |
| Day 3 | Go by bus from Xijiang to Basha, ancient Miao hamlet where locals still don traditional clothing and customs. In evening go to Congjiang village for rest. | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner | Local Conjiang Inn | |
| Day 4 | From Congjiang to Xiao Huang, local Dong hamlet, where residents are famed for their singing ability, learned from as early as 3 years old. Villagers often go to bed extremely late, with songs starting in the afternoon lasting well into midnight. Return to Conjiang in evening. | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner | Local Conjiang Inn | |
| Day 5 | Conjiang to Zhaoxing, oldes Dong minority hamlet famous for its 5 drum towers, 5 natural stone bridges, and 5 ancient opera stages. Excellent for those interested in architecture. Stay in Zhaoxing for evening. | Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Zhaoxing Local Inn | |
| Day 6 | Free day in Zhaoxing. | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner | Zhaoxing Local Inn | |
| Day 7 | Zhaoxing to Guiyang. Fly from Guiyang to Beijing. Tour concludes. | Breakfast | N/A |
Price:
- 1 person - US$2,860
- 2-5 people - US$2,660/person
Prices include:
Airline, train, bus tickets to destinations on schedule, guide/interpreter, meals on the schedule, accommodation, entrance fees for sites visited on schedule.
Price does not include:
- Insurance
- Tips to China Reflection’s staff/guides
- Gifts purchased
- Snacks
- Alcoholic beverages
- Cigarettes
Miao people
Distributed mostly across the southern provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, and Yunnan, the Miao minority has a population approaching 9 million people, making it one of the larger ethnic minorities in China after the Zhuang minority. The Miao people have their own distinct language, divided into three main dialects (Hunan dialect, Eastern Guizhou dialect, and Guizhou/Sichuan/Yunnan dialect). Additionally, the Miao have a system of writing based on the Latin alphabet that has been put to use by the government since 1956 in order to preserve their language. The Miao people believe that everything in Nature has a spirit, and ancestor worship is very important in their beliefs. Skilled in handicrafts, embroidery, weaving, paper-cutting, batik, and jewelry casting, the Miao people put great value in handmade products. The Miao people also have their own festivals, the most important of which is the Miao Spring Festival in the lunar ninth to eleventh month. Other important festivals include Dragon Boat Festival, New Rice Tasting Festival, and Huashan Festival.
Dong people
With a population of almost 3 million, the Dong people are distributed primarily throughout Guizhou, Hubei, and Hunan. Though many of them can speak Mandarin, they too have their own distinct dialect. The Dong people believe that all people, things, and animals have their own spirits. If they encounter a disaster or disease, they believe that these misfortunes are the result of the devil’s work, and they may summon a wizard to ward off the evil spirits. Dong people enjoy drinking an oil tea that they produce themselves. They often offer a bowl of this tea to guests with one chopstick in the bowl. When the guest does not return the chopstick the host believes this to mean that he has not had enough to drink and will refill the bowl again. Dong people have some distinct architecture including the Wind and Rain Bridge, and the Drum Tower, both known for their elaborate designs. On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month the Dong celebrate Sisters Festival in which married women return to their parents’ families and make ziba for their husband’s family.
Travel Tips for Guizhou:
Things to Bring
- Rain jacket
- Mosquito repellant and netting if possible
- Flashlight
- Sanitary napkins (these are difficult to find in Guizhou)
- Good walking shoes
- You may want to bring small gifts to give to families, should they invite you in for hospitality. Any gift that is related to education is welcome (i.e. school supplies, English reading material, pictures, etc). If you are invited into someone’s home for a meal or a visit, we encourage you to bring a gift, or purchase a gift at one of the local stores (this is much better than giving money, as buying local gifts supports the local economy).
Health and Safety
Areas of Guizhou do lie in the malaria zone. You may want to buy mosquito nets and repellant before traveling. Additionally, you can take Aralen (mefloquine) one 250 mg tablet every week, starting 1-2 weeks prior to arrival in Guizhou. It is also recommended that you take diarrhea medication, and a first-aid kit.