Summer Travelogue of Yangshuo and Southeastern Guizhou

The first summer after the pandemic restrictions were lifted, although most of the south was still scorching hot, it did not dampen our determination to travel.

Leaving Guangdong and heading west, the weather was clear, with heavy traffic on the highway. After about 4 hours, we reached the Hezhou area, where the terrain was flat and open. The unique karst landscape greeted us, surrounded by patches of lush green fields full of vitality. Continuing west for another 120 km, we arrived at our first stop, Yangshuo.

That evening, we stayed in the county town. The guesthouse was in a quiet yet convenient location, with a beautiful garden courtyard and a viewing platform on the balcony. The distant mountains rose in layers, making us feel as if we were immersed in a traditional Chinese landscape painting.

After a short rest in our room, a sudden downpour brought a slight coolness to the air. Near dusk, we walked to the nearby fields and countryside to explore the mountains and waters. Strolling along, a gentle breeze carried the lush greenery into our hearts.

In this world, only beautiful scenery and delicious food should not be missed.

We had dinner at the guesthouse's restaurant that evening. The ingredients were fresh and the taste was good. We ate there for the next few meals as well.

Comparing with nearby guesthouses, many had their second floor as rental rooms while the first floor was a simple stilted space. In contrast, Dongzhuang's location and environment had unique advantages. Of course, it would have been perfect if the rooms were a bit larger.

The next morning, we rented a cute little scooter and wandered around the county town. We visited a local market—prices were affordable, with watermelons at just 1 yuan each! Then we went for a walk by the water near the Ten-Mile Gallery, enjoying the scenery on both sides of the Li River. The views were picturesque, and tourists drifted by on bamboo rafts. Finally, we returned to the guesthouse before the sun became too harsh, enjoying a leisurely and delicious breakfast.

The next stop was Zhaoxing Dong Village.

Zhaoxing Dong Village is located in Southeastern Guizhou, close to Guangxi. Summer noon was very hot, but luckily the morning and evening were relatively cool. We tried to avoid the peak sun hours. The village was not large, so we only arranged one day there: we set out at 5 a.m. to catch the sunrise. The mountain breeze was quite chilly. Around 7 a.m., we returned to the village, explored the local morning market, and ordered a bowl of local specialty rice noodles with crispy sour-soup pork at a shop once visited by Yan Weiwen. We also browsed various handmade craft shops like tie-dye, and haggled and chatted with the vendors at the morning market… The women of the Dong village had long, black hair, and they all wore their hair in a similar style, made using fermented rice bran water for hair care. Zhaoxing is a lesser-known attraction. During the peak summer season, the number of tourists was not overwhelming. Roasted suckling pig and glutinous rice wrapped with grilled meat were local delicacies, so the main street of the village was filled with smoky fires from morning till night—a lively and smoky atmosphere! In the evening, as darkness fell, we strolled through the village, enjoying the pastoral scenery deeper inside and the night view after dark.

(Most guesthouses in the Dong Village are inside the scenic area. If driving, you need to park in the external lot and contact the guesthouse to send a car to pick you up. It is recommended to choose a guesthouse near the entrance for easier shuttle service.)

Leaving the Dong Village, we continued to Libo County. The roads in Guizhou were winding and twisting, with mountains stretching endlessly and increasing elevation. The mountain tops were often shrouded in mist, making us feel as if we were driving amidst the sky and clouds. Occasionally, a car would pass on another mountain peak, as if entering a parallel timeline, drawing closer and then drifting away. The mountainous area had abundant rainfall, and we encountered several showers along the way. Fortunately, the rain was light, and the weather became much cooler instead.

That evening, we stayed at a guesthouse near the Xiaoqikong Scenic Area. The owner was a young man who had taken over his father’s business; the older generation had moved to Guizhou many years ago. The next morning, we entered the scenic area via the west gate around 7 a.m., before the crowds arrived. The scenic area had different shuttle buses to various stops at Xiaoqikong. According to online guides, the route from high to low elevation suited lazy people like us. We booked tickets and bus passes in advance and scanned codes to enter at the gate. A tip: Xiaoqikong is rich in water systems and rainfall, and there is valley rafting along the way. Be sure to wear waterproof clothing and bring some dry rations. The scenic area is vast, with many attractions featuring primitive forests, valleys, underground rivers, and subterranean lakes. Highlights include the 68-level Waterfall, Water Forest, Emerald Valley Waterfall, and Wolong Pool—all exquisite and stunningly beautiful.

The ticket allows re-entry, so if you have enough time, you can stay two days and visit the large and small Seven Arch Bridges separately.

The weather that day was cloudy with rain. Although we wore raincoats and waterproof shoes during the trip, constant hiking, passing through waterfall groups, playing in the water, rafting, and getting on and off the buses soaked our trousers and especially our shoes. As the mountain wind blew, it got very cold. Back at the guesthouse, the owner boiled a large pot of brown sugar ginger tea for us to ward off the chill, which swept away most of our fatigue and coldness.

Behind the scenic area was a food street where we could eat conveniently.

The Houttuynia cordata (fish mint) at the restaurant tasted just like the ones in Shenzhen, and we still couldn't get used to it. :(

On the way back to Shenzhen, we passed through Liuzhou and Wuzhou, stopping to sample some local cuisine.

This concludes the record of our trip for now. Attached is the organized route table for your reference.