No trip to Guizhou province can be complete without visiting Zhaoxing. The biggest Dong village in China is absolutely beautiful and atmospheric. We spent several magical days walking about its streets in awe.
Zhaoxing has it all: lush green nature, impressive architecture, delicious food, fresh air, an ancient culture, and a unique atmosphere. Besides, unlike Xijiang Miao Village, there were far less tourists when we visited.
We prepared this guide with all the information you need to enjoy one of China’s most fantastic ancient towns. You will have the time of your life!
How to Get
To get to Zhaoxing Dong Village, take a high-speed train to Congjiang Station. The journey from Guiyang takes 1h30mins, while it only takes 45 minutes from Guilin. The journey is an attraction in itself, so be sure to grab a window seat.
From Congjiang Station, take a direct tourist coach (approx. 15 min) or a taxi to the Zhaoxing Scenic Area Entrance. Buses depart frequently and taxis are inexpensive.
Pay your entrance ticket and hop on a sightseeing bus that will take you to the village (fee usually included in the ticket). To get back, you can take a bus from the village directly to Congjiang Station.
Where to Stay
We hadn’t booked anything so once in the village we walked along the river looking for a nice place to stay. Perhaps in high season you should book in advance.
The Zhaoxing Dongzhai Miwu Homestay is at the beginning of the village, next to the lake. We got a lovely room with a balcony and views. It was super comfy and warm.
The Hillside Retreat is at the end of the village in front of the rice fields. They offer fantastic rooms with a washing machine and a delicious complimentary breakfast. They can pick you up at the train station.
Things to Do
Walk along the Streets of the Old Town
We spent our days and evenings walking. The village is flat, narrow and long. The main street runs parallel to the river and passes by most drum towers.
Five bridges cross the river. You’ll see Chinese tourists in elegant costumes taking pictures. Most of the restaurants and shops are on the main street. The aisles that crisscross this street are fascinating too.
We loved the small green park at the entrance. It surrounds a lake where tall trees and mountains reflect. We could smell the trees at nights.
Visit the Five Drum Towers
The 5 towers that dot the village will take your breath away. These are wooden, big, delicate, and made without a single nail. Walk about and you will see them.
Each of the 5 family clans that lived in the village had one. The towers represent propriety, wisdom, trust, integrity, and benevolence. Each has a leather drum on its top.
We went at all times. At one, we danced with local women around a fire that kept as warm. At another one we were given sweets while people played music.
Walk in the Rice Fields
There are rice fields at the entrance and at the end of the village. You have to visit both. The ones at the entrance are perfect for pictures of the village.
Tall mountains tower above the ones at the end. We found a coffee house with croissants and spent hours admiring the area. Cute ducks, cats, and lovely locals all around!
You can walk to Tang’an Village through nature and rice fields. The 3.4-mile (5.5 km) trip should take 90 minutes. There are stairs but it’s easy. Take water and a hat in summer. There are two bathrooms.
See a Live Performance
We have to be honest; we had no clue that the Dong Grand Song performance is a UNESCO listed Intangible Heritage! We were walking about the village when we heard a magical sound.
We followed our ears to the Central Performance Stage where locals where singing without a script or instruments! Performances usually happen there at nights. Ask at your hotel.
We also heard singing at a couple of towers. We sat and couldn’t believe our ears. Locals reproduce the sound of nature beautifully. It was a magical experience hard to describe.
Take an Indigo Dyeing Workshop
While walking about the village we noticed a lot of blue. Gorgeous fabric in all sorts of blue and delicate embroidery. We found out that it’s a local tradition.
Local women excel at dying indigo. We explored the village looking for wooden buckets and hammers. They were all different and everywhere. We bought a super cool shirt.
In all truth, we didn’t take a workshop but you can do so. Ask in your hotel and they will tell you were to go. The locals are friendly and more than happy to show their talents.
Visit the Dong Culture Exhibition Centre
The Dong Culture Exhibition Centre is near the beginning of the village, not far from the lake. It’s a relatively large wooden compound with a museum and a shop.
The building itself is interesting. It’s divided into four halls: architecture, costume, music, and culture. Each exhibits objects, photos, and Chinese calligraphy.
Our favorite was the music hall. An impressive large wooden pipe local instrument hangs from the ceiling. The textiles in the costume hall were intricate and elegant.
Try Delicious Local Food
We ate like kings in Zhaoxing. The restaurants overlooking the river are the best, especially at nights when the village is illuminated. Some even have live music performances.
We would point at other people’s food and order. The locals were warm and shared tips and even food and drinks! Our favorites were wild mushroom and chicken hotpot, sour fish soup, and barbeque rice balls.
Eating is a communal experience for the Dong. Dozens of tables are lined up end to end offering a variate of local delicacies.
