HKTB Leaflet

Guangxi

Hong Kong

Guangxi and Hong KongGuangxi Province, in the subtropical south, contains a vibrant mix of ethnic minorities, such as the Zhuang and the Miao. This cultural mix makes it one of the most fascinating destinations in China. Home to the spectacular karst landscape of Guilin and the Li river, Guangxi also hides lesser known gems such as the leafy provincial capital, Nanning.

Hong Kong, Asia’s world city, offers you the opportunity to experience a vibrant living culture featuring a unique fusion where “east-meets-west”. Instilled with an exciting duality of a modern city’s vitality enhanced by a traditional society’s historical richness and colour, this incredible destination is sure to amaze you.

Guangxi Hong Kong

Day 1 (Depart UK)Fly from London Heathrow non-stop to Shanghai with British Airways.

Day 2 (Shanghai )On arrival in Shanghai transfer to the 4*Lansheng Hotel for an overnight stay. Enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)

Day 3 (Guiyang) Fly to Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province in the south of China, for an overnight stay at the Tyang Hotel. (BLD)

Day 4 (Anshun)Drive to Anshun and the magnificent Huangguoshu Water-fall, 225ft high and 265ft wide, and Tianxing Bridge beauty spot with its rocks, caves and water. Stay overnight at the 4*Anshun Hotel. (BLD)

Day 5 (Kaili)Visit the Bouyei village of Tian Long where you can see a collection of the famous local di opera masks, and whose menfolk still dress as they did 600 years ago. Watch Shiqiao villagers make decorative paper the old way from tree bark, and the women at Qingman produce cotton and silk to make clothes. Stay at the Heaven-Sent Dragon Hotel in Kaili. (BLD)

Day 6 (Xijiang)A visit to the Minorities Culture Museum serves as a good introduction to the customs, costumes, domestic life, crafts and festivals of the various minorities of the region, such as those of the Gejia people of Matang Village. Also walk around the upper and lower Jidao Miao villages to see their waterwheels, stilt houses and the distinctive long-skirted costumes of the women. Continue to Xijiang Village, the largest Miao Village of the region of around 1,200 typical wooden houses on stilts to stay two nights at the Hotel in the Clouds. (BLD)

Day 7 (Xijiang)Spend the day amidst wonderful scenery and rural charms of daily life in this authentic Miao Village. The wooden houses of Xijiang sprawl up two hillsides in the White Water River valley in the foothills of Leigong Mountain, surrounded by terraced fields and fantastic views. Watch the farmers head off to work with their shoulder poles and buffalo. Later enjoy a performance by the local Miao of their traditional music and dance. (BLD)

Day 8 (Rongjiang)Today explore the home of the God of Thunder at Leigong Mountain, 7150ft high, its slopes scattered with Shui and Miao villages. Also see the Shui villagers making bamboo musical flute-like pipes called lusheng. After admiring the surprising mini-skirts of the women of Datang we approach Rongjiang where we stay at the Dongxiangmi Hotel. (BLD)

Day 9 (Zhaoxing)A scenic riverside drive to Basha Miao village, isolated and almost untouched by the modern world. The men have shaved heads except for a long ponytail at the top of their head twisted into a topknot, carry knives and guns, and their embroidered coat tails display how many girls’ hearts they have won. Continue to Gaozeng Dong village where the girls adorn themselves with huge pieces of silver jewellery, then on to Zhaoxing to stay two nights at the Zhaoxing Hotel. (BLD)

Explore Guangxi and Hong Kong (23 Days)Price from £2795Shanghai / Guiyang / Anshun / Kaili / Xijiang / Rongjiang / Zhaoxing / Sanjiang / Longji / Guilin / Yangshuo / Nanning / Hong Kong

Day 10 (Zhaoxing)All Dong villages have at least one Drum Tower which serves as watchtower and community hall, but Zhaoxing has five, one for each clan, and there are also five covered bridges known as Wind-and-Rain Bridges, and these are covered in paintings of folk tales, animals and daily life. Spend the day exploring Zhaoxing. (BLD)

Day 11 (Sanjiang)Drive to Sanjiang in neighbouring Guangxi province, on the way seeing the region’s famous 1000-year-old wind-and-rain bridge which is a beautiful piece of architecture - its five pavilions are supported by five stone pillars and connected by roofed corridors with sweeping eaves, and the entire 250ft-long bridge is made of wood with no nails. See Sanjiang’s other fine building, the 155ft high pyramid-like Drum Tower and stay at the Fengyuqiao International Hotel. (BLD)

Day 12 (Longji)Admire photogenic Gaoding Dong village which is off the beaten track, visit the Temple of the Three Kings, Sangwanggong, and Batuan’s wind-and-rain bridge that uniquely has one aisle for people and another for livestock. Drive onwards to the Dragon’s Backbone Mountains at Longji and stay at Star Wish Resort for two nights. (BLD)

Day 13 (Longji)There being no flat land to farm in this region, the local Zhuang and Yao people had to create their own, and so 800 years ago they started carving these mountains into ribbons of rice terraces that coil around the contours of the steep slopes. There are now over 16,300 acres of rice terraces and today walk through some of them to picturesque Ping’An village. (BLD)

Day 14 (Guilin)Drive to Guilin and climb Yao Mountain along a path lined with temples and statues for fantastic views of the karst mountains that rise steeply from the river valley below. Also visit a local tea plantation and stay overnight at the Guilin Bravo Hotel. (BLD)

Day 15 (Yangshuo)Morning cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo through breathtakingly-lovely scenery. Time for last-minute shopping at Yangshuo’s handicrafts market before a spectacular son et lumiere show with the 600-strong cast on rafts on the river. Stay two nights at the 5*Yangshuo Resort. (BLD)

Day 16 (Yangshuo)A day to enjoy a gentle bicycle ride along the lovely Yulong River and to drift through poetic landscapes on a bamboo raft. (BLD)

Day 17 (Yangshuo / Guilin / Nanning)Drive back to Guilin and take the train T5 (1431/2010) to Nanning. Upon arrival transfer to the Mariott Nanning Hotel for two nights. (BLD)

Day 18 (Nanning)In the morning visit the Guangxi Museum of Nationalities, then to Wenwuyuan where it shows the housing architecture and lifestyles of Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Maonan ethnic people. In the afternoon visit Yiling Cave where you are greeted by the local minority girls and see the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. (BLD)

Day 19 (Nanning / Hong Kong)In the morning visit the Qingxiu Mountain, the symbolic Site of China-ASEAN Expo and the 276 meter high Diwang Build-ing where you can take a lift up to the very top for a bird’s eye view of Nanning. Take afternoon flight to Hong Kong for two nights stay.

Day 20 & 21 (Hong Kong) Free at leisure. Opportunity to explore Hong Kong Island – take the 100 year old tram to Victoria Peak and admire the panoramic views over the harbour. Have lunch at Jumbo Kingdom; take the bus to Stanley market for shopping; take the Star Ferry to Kowloon; watch the Symphony of Lights at the harbour side and enjoy the street markets in the eve-ning. Stay two nights at 4* Cosmopolitan Hotel. (B)

Day 22 Free at leisure. Venture to Lantau Island and visit Tai-O fishing village; go up to Po Lin Monastery and see the world’s largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. Have a Buddhist vegetarian lunch at the monastery before taking the cable car down the mountain. Evening flight back to UK (arriving following day). (B)

Please note that accommodation on these off-the-beaten-track villages is often of a rather spartan nature, with service and meals likewise of a lower standard than encountered elsewhere in China. Roads can be winding and poorly paved, and drives therefore long and bumpy.

Your Holiday Price Includes:

• International flights between UK, China and Hong Kong including all taxes

• All internal transportation in China• All meals in mainland China as stated (B=Breakfast,

L=Lunch, D=Dinner)• 19 nights accommodation in hotels with private facilities• Sightseeing with English speaking guide and all

entrance fees in China

Southern Secrets, China and Hong Kong (10 Days)Price from £1995Hong Kong / Guilin / Yangshuo / Nanning

Day 1 (Depart UK)Fly from London Heathrow non-stop to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific.

Day 2 (Hong Kong) On arrival, transfer to the 4* Cosmopolitan Hotel for two nights. Choose to go up Victoria Peak for panoramic views over the harbour; watch the Symphony of Lights along the Avenue of Stars; visit the street markets of Kowloon. (B)

Day 3 (Hong Kong) Free at leisure. Choose to explore Lantau Island and see the Big Buddha; take the cable car down the mountain; go for dim sum lunch; visit one of many shopping malls; take the Star Ferry between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. (B)

Day 4 (Hong Kong / Guilin)Fly to Guilin for overnight stay at the 4* Park hotel.

Day 5 (Guilin / Yangshuo)Morning cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo through breathtakingly-lovely scenery. Time for last-minute shopping at Yangshuo’s handicrafts market before a spectacular son et lumiere show with the 600-strong cast on rafts on the river. Stay two nights at the Mt Retreat. (BLD)

Day 6 (Yangshuo)Explore rural charms of Yangshuo today first climb Moon Hill for fantastic views and see the 1400 year old Big Ban-yan Tree. Also visit the Jiuxian Garden Village, undergoing a unique conservation and regeneration project to preserve its culture and Ming Dynasty architecture. (BLD)

Day 7 (Yangshuo / Guilin / Nanning)Drive back to Guilin and take the train T5 (1431/2010) to Nanning. Upon arrival transfer to the Mariott Nanning hotel for two nights. (BLD)

Day 8 (Nanning)In the morning visit the Guangxi Museum of Nationalities, then to Wenwuyuan which shows the housing architecture and lifestyles of Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Maonan ethnic people. In the afternoon visit Yiling Cave where you are greeted by the local minority girls and see the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. (BLD)

Day 9 & 10 (Nanning / Hong Kong)In the morning visit the Qingxiu Mountain, the symbolic Site of China-ASEAN Expo and the 276 meter high Diwang Building where you can take a lift up to the very top for a bird’s eye view of Nanning. Take afternoon flight to Hong Kong and connect onward British Airways flight back to UK (arriving the following day).

Your Holiday Price Includes: • International flights between UK, Hong Kong and China

including all taxes• All internal transportation in China• All meals in mainland China as stated (B=Breakfast,

L=Lunch, D=Dinner)• 7 nights accommodation in hotels with private facilities• Sightseeing with English speaking guide and all

entrance fees in China

ALL PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE• Chinese visa• Travel insurance• Personal expenses and tips

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFor reservations please call 020 7487 2999. For more information visit www.chinaholidays.co.uk.

Hong Kong Tourism Board6th Floor Mutual House, 70 Conduit StreetLondon, W1S 2GFTel: 020 7432 7700 Website: www.DiscoverHongKong.com

Guangxi Tourism AdministrationWebsite: http://eng.gxta.gov.cn

China Holidays4 Glentworth Street, London NW1 5PGTel: 020 7487 2999 Website: www.ChinaHolidays.co.uk