Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village | Enter a world of a thousand lights, like in Spirited Away

| Enter a world of a thousand lights, like in *Spirited Away*.📍Location: Leishan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province

🕒Recommended duration: 2 days and 1 night (can be extended to 3 days for in-depth travel)

🚌 Transportation Tips
✅ Most convenient from Guiyang: 40 mins by high-speed rail to Kaili South Station → transfer to the scenic spot direct bus (approx. ¥95/person)
✅ Walking + sightseeing bus required within the scenic spot. Wear comfortable non-slip shoes! It's difficult to drag suitcases on the stone roads, so backpacks are recommended.

🏡 Accommodation Experience
💡 Guesthouses with mountain views:
The first night, I chose "Xijiang 998 Inn" halfway up the mountain. Wooden stilt houses + viewing balcony, great value for money at ¥200+ during the off-season (Picture 2). When the village lights up at night, it really looks like a scene from *Spirited Away*!
⚠️ Caution: Mountainside guesthouses require climbing stairs. If you have a lot of luggage, it is recommended to choose a riverside inn at the foot of the mountain.

📸 3 Must-See Photo Spots
1️⃣ Panoramic view from the observation deck
🔸 It is recommended to go at 7am! The layered stilt houses in the morning mist look like an ink painting, even more stunning than the night view.
🔸 Miao clothing rental guide: Choose traditional embroidered styles (¥30/hour). The bigger the headdress, the better the photo!

2️⃣ Wind and Rain Bridge and riverside houses
🔸 Bridges 1–5 each have their own characteristics. Bridge 4 has the cleanest background, and the light and shadow are stunning at 4pm.

3️⃣ Hiking to the hidden terraces
🔸 Walk up from Yedong Village, and in 10 mins you'll encounter deserted terraces. When the rice waves roll, they look like green waves (even more stunning in the golden autumn).

🍲 Food Recommendations
🔥 Must-try recommendations:
- Sour Soup Fish: "Caotang Tea House," recommended by locals, uses naturally fermented tomatoes for the sour soup, and the fish is so tender it melts in your mouth (¥68/jin)
- Bacon *Ciba*: Freshly baked by an old lady in the old street, crispy glutinous rice wrapped in smoked bacon, great value at ¥10/serving!
- Handmade rice wine: Free tasting at the winery. Sweet rice wine is like a drink, but it's quite strong, so don't drink too much.

🚫 Exercise caution:
× Long Table Banquet (¥60/person): Looks good for photos, but small portions and low value for money
× Bamboo Tube Rice: Many places reuse bamboo tubes, which is generally unhygienic

💡 Tried-and-tested tips
❗️The ticket includes 4 sightseeing bus rides. 2 are used for entering and exiting the scenic spot, and the remaining 2 are for going up and down to the observation deck.
❗️Silver jewelry shops are seriously overpriced! A regular necklace is priced at ¥200, bargain to below ¥50 before buying.
❗️Is the "Beautiful Xijiang" show worth ¥120? The song and dance are unique, but I recommend the free original Lusheng field performance (11:00/17:00 daily).

📅 Itinerary Reference
Day 1: Guiyang → Miao Village → Observation Deck → Wind and Rain Bridge night view → Miao clothing photo shoot
Day 2: Terrace hike → Miao Museum → Batik experience → Return trip

✨ Travel Bonus
Discovered a hidden coffee shop on the top of Yedong Village (Picture 9). The owner is a Miao girl who returned to her hometown. Sipping hand-ground coffee and listening to her tell the legend of the Miao Butterfly Mother, it felt like another world.

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🌿 This is the last hidden gem, and also a vibrant life
The Miao Village, a blend of commercialization and native culture, may not be perfect, but when the smoke rises from the thousand-year-old stilt houses, you will understand why it is worthwhile—after all, we always need to preserve some earthly delights beyond the skyscrapers.

📌 Practical Information
🎫 Tickets: ¥110 (book in advance on Trip.com for ¥10 off)
🚗 Parking: North Gate parking lot ¥30/day
🌧️ Rainy season tips: June–August is the rainy season, bring waterproof shoe covers + a transparent umbrella (great for photos)

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