The Highlights of Guizhou
A private photographic trip of landscapes and minority tribes.
We've designed an exceptional photography tour starting in Guiyang, featuring excursions and photoshoots in hidden caves, villages, minority tribes, and ancient towns, seamlessly blending landscapes and cultures.… In short, it's an unforgettable photographic adventure that ensures you return home with an outstanding portfolio of high-quality images in landscapes, cultural moments, and portraits.
Cities Covered: Guiyang - Weng'an - Xijiang - Zhenyuan - Zhaoxing + Guilin (extension)
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Guiyang Arrival
Arrive in Guiyang and spend the night in the city center.
Enjoy an evening stroll around the hotel, discovering the delicious local cuisine and vibrant nightlife of Guiyang.
Day 2 - Guiyang - Weng'an County
Drive for 1.5 hours to reach the village in Weng'an county.
Today, our destination is the "wild waterfall". This majestic waterfall surges out from a cave, standing at about 40 meters in height and 23 meters in width, offering a truly spectacular sight.
Stay overnight in Weng'an.
Day 3 - Weng'an - Xijiang
Take a stroll through the caves beneath the Chuandong River, capturing stunning images of waterfalls within the cave, creating a distinctive and unique picture.
In the afternoon, proceed to Xijiang Miao Minority Village, the largest Miao minority tribe in China, home to over 1000 Miao families.
Engage in photography sessions with the minority tribe from sunset until the village is illuminated.
Stay overnight in Xijiang.
Day 4 - Xijiang
Begin your day by photographing the village during the sunrise.
Explore Langde Miao Village, where you can participate in the welcoming ceremony and experience lively performances by the minority people in the village square.
As dusk falls, photograph the magic as lights begin to illuminate the myriad households of Xijiang Miao Village. Capture the lively nightlife scenes of the village through your lens.
Stay overnight in Xijiang.
Day 5 - Xijiang - Zhenyuan
Start another early morning for sunrise photography over minority village.
Following breakfast, head to Zhenyuan ancient town.
Spending the most of the day to explore the ancient town for ancient city walls, architectures, traditional local houses, bridges, pagodas, as well as sunset and nightlife.
Overnight in Zhenyuan.
Day 6 - Zhenyuan - Zhaoxing
In the morning, journey to Wuyang River and capture the beauty of karst mountains, valleys, lakes, and waterfalls.
Subsequently, start on a 3-hour drive to Zhaoxing Dong minority village. Immerse yourself in the village, exploring and experiencing the unique aspects of minority life.
Photograph the sunset and the vibrant nightlife of the village as dusk settles in.
Stay overnight in Zhaoxing.
Day 7 - Zhaoxing Departure
In the morning, explore the village to capture architecture and street photography opportunities.
After the tour ends, we can arrange transportation to the nearest train station, Congjiang train station.
Alternatively, we also offer the option to drive you to Guilin airport (around 2.5 hours), providing more flight options and convenient connections to various gateway cities.
Photos from this trip
Trip Notes
What's included?
- Photography guide
- Transportation in private van
- Entrance fees
- Expenses for people photography and family visits
- Accommodation for 6 nights
- Personal processing instructions
- Airport/railway station pick up and transfer
What's not included?
- Flight/train to Guiyang
- Travel insurance
- Meals
- Tips for guide and driver if satisfied
What's the accommodation situation?
Based on your budget and perference, we can suggest or book budget hostels, boutique hotels and luxury hotels for you.
For your reference, the boutique hotel is USD 80-100 per room/night.
How can I customize this itinerary?
Telling us your requirements, such as adding one more day or making it shorter, or focus on landscapes more. We can easily design a new itinerary by your interests.
What gears should I bring?
It's recommended to bring two cameras: one with a regular lens like 24-70mm and another with a zoom lens such as 70-200mm. This setup saves time on changing lenses and serves as a backup.
Based on our experience, the zoom lens is more frequently used for photography in Guizhou.
A tripod is essential for sunrise, sunset, and capturing the nightlife of villages.
ND filters prove highly beneficial, particularly in long-exposure scenarios for waterfall photography.
You can fly your drones in most places on this tour without needing additional permissions.
Cancellation Policy
If you decide to cancel your trip a month before the departure date, you will receive a complete refund.
In the event of a cancellation within 30 days of departure, we can retain your payment as credit for your next journey.