A Fulfilling National Day Travel Guide

National Day is a golden week for travel, so choosing a destination that avoids peak crowds while offering an in-depth cultural or natural experience is very important. Here is a carefully designed 7-day, 6-night off-the-beaten-path deep travel itinerary for "Qiandongnan, Guizhou + Guilin," balancing folk customs, landscapes, cuisine, and cost-effectiveness, perfect for travelers who enjoy a blend of culture and nature. 📍 Highlights Avoid crowds: Qiandongnan ethnic minority villages are relatively less touristy, and Yangshuo in Guilin offers off-peak experiences Cultural immersion: Intangible cultural heritage experiences in Dong and Miao villages, autumn harvest terraced fields Food paradise: Sour soup fish, Guilin rice noodles, rice field fish feast Convenient transportation: High-speed rail connections, flexible car rental and self-driving 📅 7-day, 6-night itinerary 🚩 Day 1-3: Qiandongnan, Guizhou (Zhaoxing Dong Village + Jiabang Terraced Fields) 🏠 Stay: Characteristic homestays inside Zhaoxing Dong Village (recommended "Tianzhiyi" or "Liping Dongshang") 🍜 Eat: Sour soup fish, niubie hotpot (for the brave), glutinous rice wrapped roasted meat 🎯 Activities: Zhaoxing Dong Village: Photograph the drum tower morning mist at dawn, experience batik/Dong embroidery (intangible cultural heritage workshops available by appointment), watch the "Dong Grand Song" performance at night Tang’an Dong Village (2-hour hike): Walk from Zhaoxing along the terraced field trail to Tang’an to see the autumn rice harvest and drying Jiabang Terraced Fields (2-hour drive): Golden season during National Day, stay at the countryside homestay "Yunhuan Secret Realm," capture sunrise and mist 🚗 Transport: High-speed train from Guiyang to Congjiang Station (1.5h), direct shuttle to Zhaoxing Dong Village scenic area; Jiabang Terraced Fields recommended by charter or rental car. 🚩 Day 4-5: Guilin Yangshuo (avoid tour group routes) 🏠 Stay: Homestay by Yulong River (recommended "Liangsu" or "Huashan Yun She") 🍜 Eat: Guilin rice noodles (Old Dongjiang main store), beer-braised fish, stuffed snails 🎯 Activities: Bike ride along Yulong River: Rent an electric bike at 7 AM, ride from Gongnong Bridge to Old County to avoid bamboo raft queues Xiangong Mountain sunrise: Start at 4:30 AM to climb to the top and overlook the first bend of the Li River Off-the-beaten-path: Explore "Stone City" (undeveloped ancient village) or "Xingping Fishing Village" old hamlet 🚗 Transport: High-speed train from Congjiang Station to Guilin (2h), taxi from Yangshuo Station to Xingping/Yulong River. 🚩 Day 6-7: Longji Terraced Fields (Jinkeng Dazhai) 🏠 Stay: Mountain-top homestay (recommended "Panorama Tower" or "Xishan Shaole") 🍜 Eat: Bamboo tube chicken, preserved meat glutinous rice, wild chive scrambled eggs 🎯 Activities: Jinfo Peak viewing platform: Cable car up the mountain, walk down passing Yao ethnic stilt houses Village experience: Learn to make glutinous rice cakes, wear Yao ethnic costumes for photos Night stargazing: Clear Milky Way visible above the terraced fields 🚗 Transport: Charter car from Yangshuo to Longji (3h), or return to Guilin by dedicated shuttle bus. ⚠️ National Day Pitfall Avoidance Tips Book in advance: Homestays and high-speed train tickets must be booked 15 days ahead; Longji Terraced Fields have visitor limits. Off-peak photography: Fewest people in Dong villages from 6-8 AM; choose early bamboo raft trips on the "Jinlong Bridge - Old County" section in Yangshuo. Avoid traffic jams: October 2-3 are peak travel days; recommend departure on the 1st or 4th. 💰 Budget reference (per person) Transportation: High-speed rail + car rental ≈ 1500 RMB Accommodation: 600-800 RMB/night (National Day prices), 6 nights ≈ 4000 RMB Tickets + experiences: 800 RMB (terrace cable car, Dong village performances, etc.) Food: 150 RMB/day If time is tight, shorten to 5 days and 4 nights (only Qiandongnan or Guilin + Longji). Have a great trip! 🌾🚣♀️