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! 🌾🚣♀️