Zhaoxing Dong Village

Xijiang Thousand-Household Miao Village

Xijiang is home to the world-renowned Thousand-Household Miao Village. Legend holds that the Xijiang Miao are descendants of Chiyou’s third son, and the village’s primitive ecology has remained relatively intact over the centuries. If you have time, spend a full day or stay overnight, as the village takes on a special charm after dark.

¥90 · 1–2 days

Jiabang Rice Terraces

The Jiabang Rice Terraces are a masterpiece created by Miao villagers over generations. Vast and magnificent, they embody the very best of the world’s terraced fields. Every morning, layers of mist rise slowly from the river, enveloping the terraces and the Miao stilt houses beside them. The mountain villages and small hamlets among the fields complement the scene, merging with nature so harmoniously that you may feel as though you have stepped into a dreamlike world.

Free · 2–3 hours

Chejiang Dong Village

Chejiang Dong Village is known as ‘the No. 1 Dong Village under heaven.’ It is home to 38 ancient banyan trees, all more than 300 years old. Their roots are interconnected and their branches intertwine, forming a living green canopy.

Free · 2–4 hours

Langde Upper Village

Langde Upper Village is one of the key Miao villages on the Eastern Ethnic Folk Tour route. Its Miao residents wear mainly long skirts, which is why they are also known as the ‘Long-Skirt Miao.’ The village is renowned at home and abroad as the ‘Hometown of Chinese Folk Song and Dance Art,’ one of China’s ‘Hundred Open-Air Museums’ and the ‘Hometown of the Lusheng.’ Visitors can experience the 12 barrier-toast ceremonies (lanlu jiu) that were traditionally held to welcome honored guests.

¥50 · 0.5–1 day

Basha Miao Village

Basha Miao Village is built into the mountainside. Its houses are all ancient stilted dwellings with roofs covered in fir bark, surrounded by dense forest in an elegant setting. Due to its remote location, it still preserves an ancient and primitive way of life. What makes Basha truly distinctive is the hairstyle of its Miao men. Basha men take great pride in their topknot, the most important marker of male dress: they shave most of the hair around the head, leaving only a central portion that is coiled into a bun, which they wear for life. It is said that this hairstyle dates back to the era of Chiyou, and it is the oldest male hairstyle still seen in China today. They wear hand-woven, hand-dyed blue cloth jackets and trousers, which evoke the warriors of ancient times. The Basha people worship the sun god. At every gathering, they play the lusheng (reed pipe) and dance: men and women line up facing the direction of the rising sun, step back seven paces, and only then begin to play. Gatherings take place at the Lusheng Hall, the sacred ground of Basha, where all major village ceremonies are held.

¥60 (entrance ticket + sightseeing bus) · 3 hours

Nanhua Miao Village

Relatively far removed from commercialization, this original, ecologically intact Miao village is built into the hillside and hidden deep within dense forest. With just over a hundred households, it is peaceful and relaxed. Its costumes are so distinctive that they are often called ‘a written history you wear,’ and they can be rented for photos. The village’s Gospel Hall, built by missionaries in earlier years, blends Miao and Western architectural styles and is well worth a look.