Zen & Warriors: Luoyang Buddhist Heritage & Kung Fu Pilgrimage from Beijing

An Authentic Journey Through Ancient Traditions and Mountainous Landscapes

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: April 29, 2026: Arrival in Guiyang - Gateway to Guizhou

Airport Reception and Hotel Transfer

Upon your arrival at Guiyang Airport, our professional guide will greet you outside the baggage claim area and escort you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to rest or begin exploring at your leisure.

Cultural Introduction to Guizhou

Hidden in southwestern China, Guizhou remains relatively undiscovered by international travelers. The region boasts stunning natural landscapes and rich multi-ethnic cultural diversity, with the Miao ethnic group being the largest community, having inhabited these mountains for thousands of years.

Important Festival Note

The Sisters' Meal Festival typically spans three days (May 1-3, 2026), with peak activities occurring on the final two days. Our itinerary is designed to experience the festival highlights on either of these peak days. Should you wish to attend the opening ceremony or include all festival events, we can customize the schedule accordingly.

Evening Dining Recommendation

Consider sampling authentic Guizhou cuisine featuring distinctive sour and spicy flavors. Shuchu Restaurant offers popular local dishes including Spicy Chicken, Fried Pork Belly with Chili, and Guizhou Cuishao. The Qingyun Road branch is conveniently located near a vibrant night food market.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Guiyang City Center (4 stars)

Day 2: April 30: Guiyang - Kaili - Historical and Cultural Exploration

Morning: Qingyan Ancient Town

Begin your day at one of Guizhou's four most famous historical towns, originally established over 600 years ago as a military garrison. The distinctive stone architecture includes impressive 2-kilometer city walls, flagstone-paved streets, and traditional wooden houses with upturned eaves. Beyond historical exploration, the town offers exceptional local cuisine including Braised Pig Trotters, Beef Noodles, Qingyan tofu balls, and Rice Cake Porridge.

Afternoon: Guiyang City Landmarks

Return to downtown Guiyang to visit the iconic Jiaxiu Tower, a 20-meter-high wooden structure dramatically positioned on a giant stone in the Nanming River. The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and transforms into a spectacular illuminated spectacle at dusk.

Continue to Qianling Park to visit Hongfu Temple, Guizhou's most significant Buddhist site established in 1672. The temple complex features grand halls, Buddhist caves, and cliff inscriptions, with an observation deck providing sweeping views of Guiyang.

Evening: Transfer to Kaili

Journey approximately 2.5 hours to Kaili, your base for exploring the Miao ethnic villages. After hotel check-in, the evening is free for independent exploration.

Optional Cultural Activity

Visit Xiulitao Embroidery Market to admire exquisite Miao-style embroidery, handmade batik textiles, silverware, and traditional garments sourced from surrounding villages.

Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Banshan Hotel (Wanda Plaza in Kaili City Center) (4 stars)

Day 3: May 1: Kaili - Miao Ethnic Villages - Cultural Immersion

Morning: Jidao Miao Village

Experience one of Guizhou's most preserved Miao communities, established over 600 years ago along mountain slopes with a river flowing through the settlement. Walk through emerald rice fields and explore stone-paved alleys lined with traditional stilted wooden buildings, observing the villagers' traditional lifestyle.

Langde Long-skirt Miao Village

Receive a traditional "block-the-way" welcome ceremony featuring homemade rice wine and toasting songs. Proceed to Lusheng Square for a captivating performance of traditional Miao music and dance, where silver adornments create harmonious sounds with each movement.

Authentic Miao Lunch

Visit a local family for a home-cooked lunch while learning about Miao customs, including the pre-meal ritual of offering rice wine to the land.

Afternoon: Traditional Crafts Exploration

Visit Shiqiao Miao Village to witness the 1,500-year-old tradition of tree bark papermaking, followed by Qingman Short-skirt Miao Village to observe ancient techniques of brocading, embroidery, and cloth dyeing.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Banshan Hotel (Wanda Plaza in Kaili City Center) (4 stars)

Day 4: May 2: Kaili - Shidong - Kaili - Sisters' Meal Festival Experience

Full Day: Sisters' Meal Festival

Immerse yourself in the highlight of your journey - the traditional Sisters' Meal Festival in the Shidong area. Known as "the festival hidden in the flowers," this spring celebration organized by Miao women serves as both a family reunion and the Miao people's equivalent of Valentine's Day.

Festival Traditions and Activities

Witness elaborate traditional costumes adorned with shining silver accessories during the grand parade. Experience antiphonal love song performances, elegant drum dances, and watch traditional competitions including cockfighting, bullfighting, and horse racing.

Symbolic Gift Exchange

Observe the festival's culminating tradition where young women present five-colored glutinous rice in bamboo baskets containing symbolic tokens that convey romantic messages - pine needles indicating acceptance, chili peppers signaling rejection, and chopsticks representing a desire for commitment.