Guiyang – Xijiang – Langde – Kaili – Matang – Guiyang – Huangguoshu – Guiyang
Hello Serge,
The trip was great, we all really enjoyed it. Obviously too short, as a few more days would have allowed us to go further into the mountains to discover even more authentic villages.
Special mention should be made of the places on the fringes of the mass tourism circuits: the paper-making village of Shiqiao, the fortified village of Tianlong Tunbao, and all the markets (whether on the programme or not) where we stopped (Xiasi market, Xianqiao Miao little flowers market, the local market in Kaili, etc.): excellent for seeing people’s daily lives, making friends, watching the local bonesetter at work on his patients, tasting all sorts of local specialities for 3 francs 6 cents.
We also really appreciated being able to stop in hamlets that don’t look like much but where we were systematically invited into the houses to have tea, a glass of local alcohol or even a meal.
The driver was very good, careful, attentive and accommodating, and he managed our timing very well despite our regular digressions Xijiang too Disneyland, Matang not very beautiful (too much concrete and it’s going to get worse).
Advice to travellers: take more time than we did, and plan to have fruit or some other simple gift to thank the people for their hospitality.
Thanks !
Marion