Welcome to Congjiang, embark on a "cultural journey with warmth"

A 3-day, 2-night family trip guide to Congjiang, Guizhou, specially designed for a family of three (two adults and one child). It highlights Dong ethnic customs, secret terraced fields, slow life in ancient villages, and parent-child interactive experiences. The budget is controlled within 3,000 RMB, about 1,000 RMB per person, with a relaxed pace, safe and comfortable, suitable for families with children aged 5-12. 📍 Destination Overview Congjiang County, located in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province, is a multi-ethnic area inhabited by the Dong, Miao, Yao, and other ethnic groups. Here you will find: - 🌾 Jiabang Terraced Fields — one of China's top ten most beautiful terraced fields, shrouded in mist like a fairyland - 🏘️ Basha Miao Village — China's last armed tribe, mysterious and primitive - 🏯 Xiaohuang Dong Village — hometown of Dong grand songs, heavenly music passed down for a thousand years - 🌿 Gaozeng Dong Village — an original ecological Dong village with well-preserved drum towers, wind and rain bridges, and stilted buildings This place is free from over-commercialization, with simple folk customs, perfect for children to learn about ethnic culture, get close to nature, and unleash their nature. 💰 Budget Overview (for a family of three, economical and comfortable) | Item | Cost (RMB) | |------|------------| | Round-trip transportation (high-speed train + local transport) | 1200 (round trip from Guiyang, carpool/bus) | | Accommodation (2 nights, Dong village homestay + terraced field inn) | 800 (400 RMB/night) | | Meals (3 days, authentic Dong and Miao flavors) | 600 (about 200 RMB/day) | | Attraction tickets + experiences + local transport | 350 (including terraced field shuttle, performances) | | Others (insurance, souvenirs, drinking water) | 50 | | Total | About 3000 RMB | ✅ About 1,000 RMB per person, authentic lodging, original flavors, deep experiences, excellent cost performance 🗓 Itinerary Overview (3 days 2 nights, relaxed pace) | Day | Theme | Accommodation | |-----|-------|---------------| | Day 1 | Arrive in Congjiang → First experience at Gaozeng Dong Village | Gaozeng Dong Village homestay | | Day 2 | Full-day tour of Jiabang Terraced Fields + parent-child farming experience | Jiabang Terraced Field Mountain Residence | | Day 3 | Explore Basha Miao Village → Return trip | — | > ✅ Suitable for: families with children, cultural travelers, photography enthusiasts 📅 Detailed Itinerary ✅ Day 1: Arrive in Congjiang, step into "Life under the Drum Tower in Dong Village" Transportation suggestions: - Take the bullet train from **Guiyang North Station to Congjiang Station (about 2 hours, ticket 120 RMB/person) - From Congjiang Station to Gaozeng Dong Village: - Taxi about 60 RMB (30 minutes) - Or take the local minibus (10 RMB/person) Recommended departure time: depart in the morning, arrive before noon Noon: Check into Dong village homestay + lunch and rest - Recommended homestays: "Gaozeng Drum Tower Family" or "Dongting Mountain Residence" - Room type: family room (1 large bed + 1 small bed) - Price: 380-450 RMB/night, this trip chooses 400 RMB level (including three breakfasts) - Advantage: located in the village, window faces the drum tower, listen to Dong songs at night Lunch recommendation: - Homestay restaurant or "Village Grandma's Meal" - Must-try: sour soup fish, stir-fried cured meat with bamboo shoots, glutinous rice, oil tea - Per person: 50 RMB Afternoon: Light experience in Gaozeng Dong Village - Visit the drum tower, wind and rain bridge, explain to children: - "The drum tower is the 'heart' of the Dong village, where meetings, singing, and discussions happen" - Parent-child activities: - 🧵 Learn to weave grass grasshoppers (taught by village elders, 20 RMB/person) - 🎵 Listen to Dong mothers sing folk tunes (impromptu performances often in the evening) - Photo spots: - 📸 Drum tower panorama, wind and rain bridge reflections, children wearing Dong costumes (rental 30 RMB/set) Dinner: - Homestay "Long Table Banquet" experience (reservation required, 150 RMB/table) ✅ Day 2: Jiabang Terraced Fields — a farming classroom in the sea of clouds Theme: Nature + Farming + Parent-child interaction Transportation: - Gaozeng → Jiabang Terraced Fields: carpool about 80 RMB/car (1.5 hours mountain road) - No main entrance fee for the scenic area, but a sanitation fee of 10 RMB/person is required to enter the village Accommodation upgrade: - Recommended stay at "Jiabang Cloud Mountain Residence" or "Terraced Field Family Inn" - Room type: scenic family room (with balcony, facing terraced fields) - Price: 400 RMB/night (including three breakfasts) - Advantage: open the window in the early morning to see the sea of clouds over the terraced fields, like a fairyland Morning: Terraced field walk + parent-child farming experience (core highlight) - Walk along the small paths by the terraced fields, explain to children: - "How does rice grow?" "Why do terraced fields look like stairs?" - Participate in: - 🌾 Rice planting/harvesting experience (seasonal, planting in May-June, harvesting in September-October) - 🐮 Lead a calf to step in the muddy field (children’s favorite, 30 RMB/time) - 🎒 Make a scarecrow (parent-child cooperation, enhances hands-on skills) Noon: - Inn lunch: stir-fried cured meat with fern cake, wild vegetable soup, glutinous rice Afternoon: Jiache Village viewing platform + cave exploration (optional) - Walk or take a village tricycle to Jiache Village viewing platform (free) - 🌄 Overlook the entire terraced fields, mist swirling, a photography paradise - Optional: nearby small cave adventure (safe shallow cave, children can enter) Evening: - Watch the sunset from the inn balcony, cloud sea surging, like a dream - Children can write a "travel diary" or draw "the terraced fields in my eyes" Dinner: - Inn farmhouse feast, can add homemade rice wine (moderate for adults) ✅ Day 3: Explore Basha Miao Village → Return trip Theme: Culture + Fantasy + Ritual Transportation: - Jiabang → Basha Miao Village: carpool about 100 RMB/car (2 hours) - Or return to Congjiang town then transfer (more reliable) Tickets: - Basha Miao Village: 80 RMB/person (half price for children) - Includes: armed ceremony performance, adult rite explanation, lusheng dance show Tour highlights: - 🔫 Basha Gunmen: China’s only legally armed tribe, men wear "Hugu" hairstyle - 🎭 Armed welcome ceremony: three gunshots, deeply impresses children - 🌳 Life tree culture: each child plants a tree at birth, coffin made from the tree after death - You can plant a "friendship tree" with your child (50 RMB/tree, certificate included) - 🧵 Miao embroidery experience: mothers can teach children simple patterns Lunch: - Village "A Yong Restaurant": sour soup beef, glutinous rice chicken, roasted fragrant pig Afternoon return: - Basha → Congjiang Station: taxi about 80 RMB (1 hour) - Congjiang Station → Guiyang North: bullet train return (120 RMB/person) - Recommended departure before 3:00 PM to avoid evening rush hour 🍽 Must-try foods in Congjiang (recommended for a family of three) | Name | Specialty | Recommended place | |------|----------|-------------------| | Dong-style sour soup fish | Red sour fermentation, appetizing and fresh | Gaozeng homestay | | Stir-fried cured meat with fern cake | Glutinous and salty, local specialty | Jiabang inn | | Oil tea | Slightly bitter then sweet, refreshing | Village grandma | | Glutinous rice | Plant-dyed, colorful | Festivals or long table banquets | | Roasted fragrant pig | Crispy skin, tender meat, Basha specialty | Basha Miao Village | 🎒 Pre-trip packing list (parent-child exclusive) - ID cards, household registration book (for children’s tickets) - Comfortable sports shoes (non-slip preferred, many mountain roads) - Children’s sunscreen, hat, mosquito repellent - Rain gear (disposable raincoat is best) - Small backpack (child carries own water and snacks) - Wet wipes, tissues, hand sanitizer - Camera/phone waterproof bag (for terraced field photos) - Small notebook + colored pens (for children to record the trip) 📸 Photo tips (parent-child photo guide) - 📷 In front of the drum tower: family photo in Dong costumes - 🌾 In the terraced fields: capture children leading calves stepping in mud - 🌅 Viewing platform: sunset silhouette + panoramic cloud sea - 🔫 Basha gunmen: stunning moments of the armed ceremony - 🌳 Life tree: commemorate the tree planting ceremony ✅ Why recommend Congjiang for families with children? - 🌾 Jiabang Terraced Fields = natural "outdoor classroom," children learn while playing - 🏘️ Dong and Miao villages = living "ethnic culture museums," more vivid than books - 👶 Slow pace, fewer people, safe, perfect for families with kids - 💰 3,000 RMB for a high-quality parent-child cultural trip, excellent value - 🚆 2 hours direct from Guiyang, ideal for a weekend mini-vacation