Destination: China

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: China's Ethnic Minorities

From Kunming, either fly or take the bus to legendary Lijiang, the charming town overseen by the archetypal peak of Yulong Xueshan. Spend two days here among the famed Naxi people in the old town, enjoying the local food.

Yunnan takes on an increasingly Tibetan countenance north of Lijiang in Zhongdian and Deqin County. Catch an express bus south to Dali and visit the small town of Xizhou north of town, with its fine collection of Bai architecture. Make your way to Jinghong, capital of the Xishuangbanna region in the south of Yunnan for treks through villages of tribespeople around Damenglong, Menghai and other Dai, Bulang, Lahu, Jinuo and Hani settlements. From Kunming, fly or take the train to Guiyang in Guizhou and then travel by train or bus to Kaili and the surrounding Miao and Dong villages of Xijiang, Chong'an and Zhaoxing. Over the border in Guangxi you'll find Yao and Zhuang minority villages in Longsheng and the Dong villages around Sanjiang. Other parts of China worth visiting for their ethnic mix are Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang.

Travelling to China?
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