Things to do in Congjiang

No. 6 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Guizhou

Jiabang Terraced Fields

Jiabang Terraced Fields is located in the northeast of Jiabang Township in the west of Congjiang County. It is a masterpiece of the Miao people's stockades for generations. The stilted buildings scattered among the terraced fields with unique Miao Township characteristics are like notes in a staff. The terraced fields climb up from the Jiache River Valley around the mountain ridges, like a "heavenly ladder" connecting the heaven and the earth, with a height difference of nearly a thousand meters. The rice fields of the Miao people are built along the mountains and change with the topography of the mountains. Jiabang terraced fields are the essence of the world's terraced fields, not only large in scale, but also beautiful in lines. It is more beautiful than the Yuanyang terraced fields in Yunnan, more spectacular and attractive than the Longsheng terraced fields in Guangxi, especially the mountain villages, small villages and terraced fields among the terraced fields complement each other and integrate with nature, reflecting the beauty of harmony between human beings and nature. . While glutinous rice is grown in the Jiabang terraces, carp and ducks are also raised. This ancient system of rice, fish and duck co-production has been listed as an important global agricultural cultural heritage.

Selected for Fall Viewing Attractions in Guizhou

Basha Miao Village

Lasha Miao Village is located on the slope of the Duliu River side of Cuijiang County, Guizhou Province. Due to its remote location, it still retains its ancient and primitive lifestyle. The sand Miao village is built on the mountain, layered on top of each other, and it is often difficult to distinguish the direction. The houses are all ancient hanging houses, and the roof is covered with cedar bark, which maintains the original taste of the ancient Miao Village.

Zhanli Dong Village

Zhanli Village, surrounded by mountains, is 25 kilometers away from Congjiang County. With its unique fertility culture, well-preserved ecological vegetation, well-proportioned Dong village buildings and Heyang groups, it is known by the world as "the first village in terms of population and family planning in China." ". Zhanli has preserved a very well-preserved natural ecological environment. There are dense forests, fresh air, and almost no modern pollution. Zhanli Village itself is also covered by a dense forest, with low wooden buildings under the shade. It looks like a tribal site in the primitive era, not like a modern village, but when you really go deep into it, people will be shocked by the unique culture and civilization here. Many people come here, not because of the simplicity of the stockade, but because there is a legend of "changing flowers and plants". According to legend, this kind of "changing flowers and plants" can change the gender of the baby, so that each family has only one male and one female, so as to balance the ecology. Therefore, for thousands of years, Zhanli Village has maintained zero population growth! If China is a big country, the population pressure has always been great in history, but it was not until the middle of this century that demographers proposed family planning and population control ideas and suggestions. It is truly incredible to consciously follow the principles of family planning.

No. 2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Guizhou

Zhaoxing Dong Village

Zhaoxing Dong Village has a Dong village recorded in the Guinness World RecordsDrum tower cluster of Dong village,Drum towerEach has its own distinctive features. Zhaoxing, originally named "Zhaodong," is a long, narrow east-west valley where two small streams converge into a river that flows through the village, spanned by severalWind and rain bridge,Wind and rain bridgeIt is named after the long corridor-style bridge house built on it, which provides shelter from wind and rain. Zhaoxing Dong Village has fiveDrum tower, distributed among five regiments in the village, in the order of "Ren tuan drum tower", "Yi tuan drum tower", "Li tuan drum tower", "Zhi tuan drum tower", "Xin tuan drum tower", hence collectively known asDrum towerArts and culture village.Drum towerIt is the landmark of the Dong village, resembling a pagoda in appearance with an imposing grandeur, standing out prominently even before entering the settlement.Drum towerA drum was usually hung above, and in the past, when the village faced invasion, fire, or needed to discuss matters, someone would climb up to beat the drum, summoning the villagers.Drum towerHence the name.Drum towerIt is the venue for village meetings, establishing regulations, and addressing issues, as well as a place for villagers to rest and engage in activities after work. Ren tuan drum towerIs one of the shorter ones in the villageDrum tower, next toWind and rain bridge, behind which is the opera stage, the drum tower, opera stage, andWind and rain bridgeCan all be displayed on the same platform. Behind the Yituan drum tower is also an opera stage, and in front of the stage is a large platform. This platform is an open space in Zhaoxing, so many Dong song performances take place here. Behind the Litian drum tower is a Sasui altar. Climb up the grain-drying field next to the Sasui altar, and you'll see another perspective ofDrum tower. Zhituan drum tower is a Xieshan-style drum tower in Zhaoxing. Following the river downstream from Zhituan drum tower leads to Xintuan drum tower, which is closer to the main street. The village houses are stilted wooden structures built with fir wood, featuring flush gable roofs covered with small black tiles—simple, practical, and neatly tiered. For a panoramic view of the village, head to the viewing platform near Zhaoxing Middle School on the hillside behind the village, where you can take in the overlapping black-tiled roofs and the pointed tops of drum towers. At night, the drum towers and flower bridges light up, their reflections shimmering on the river. The main street is dotted with small shops and bars, and villagers often gather by the drum towers to sing Dong grand songs spontaneously. During festivals like Spring Festival, Grain Rain Festival, June 6th, and Dong New Year, the village comes alive with grand song performances, dance circles, and long-table feasts. Highlights include eating black rice and face-painting during Grain Rain Festival, as well as the Sa worship and "carrying the official" rituals during Dong New Year. The riverside path from Yi Group Drum Tower to Ren Group Drum Tower is the best-preserved core area of stilted houses, lined with shops perfect for leisurely exploration. Drum towers, grand songs, and wind-and-rain bridges are known as the "three treasures of Dong culture," all of which can be fully experienced in Zhaoxing.

Wind and Rain Bridge

The Wind and Rain Bridge is an outstanding representative of Dong ethnic architecture. Spanning canyons and streams, it blends practicality and aesthetics, becoming an important landmark and cultural symbol connecting the Luoguan Highway. Most Wind and Rain Bridges are constructed primarily of wood and stone, with eaves and railings covering the bridge body, serving both rain and sun protection and social functions. Drum-shaped pavilions are built at both ends or in the middle, with soaring eaves, carved beams and painted rafters. The bridge surface is paved with bluestone, and the stream flows gently beneath. Surrounded by bamboo forests, it appears and disappears in the rain and mist, like a painting. Waterwheels often turn and stilted houses are scattered around the bridge, with distant views of layered mountains and winding terraced fields, making it a paradise for photographers. The Wind and Rain Bridge is not only a transportation route but also a "living room" for the Dong people to rest, sing, and engage in antiphonal singing. During festivals, the air is filled with the sounds of gongs and drums as young men and women gather to pass on intangible cultural heritage. The Wind and Rain Bridge is an engineering marvel and the soul of the Dong villages, bearing witness to a thousand years of wind and rain, and the migration and integration of the ethnic group, making it worthy of tourists' attention and appreciation.

Jiabang Terraced Fields - Terraced Fields in the Clouds

Jiache Village

Jiache Village is one of the best-preserved clusters of stilt houses in Guizhou's Miao ethnic group. Because of its ancient stilt houses, Jiache Village was included in the "List of Traditional Chinese Villages" published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and other departments in August 2013. Upon arriving in Jiache Village, one is captivated by the majestic terrain, surrounded by thousands of acres of terraced fields. The village is nestled on a mountainside, with the Jiache River Valley dividing the terraces on either side. The village's quaint stone roads are interspersed with ancient buildings. The houses are all wooden, with gray tiles and occasional walls on the first floor. The intact wooden houses blend harmoniously with the terraced fields. In the early morning, wisps of smoke can be seen rising from cooking fires, giving the village a vibrant atmosphere.

No. 11 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Qiandongnan

Huanggang Dong Village

Huanggang Dong Village is located in Shuangjiang Township, on the border of Congjiang and Liping counties, 33 kilometers from Congjiang County. Hidden in the mountains, it's a relatively unknown Dong village. Its Dong folk songs, customs, and scenery are among the best in Congjiang. (Image: With just over 300 households, Huanggang Dong Village surprisingly boasts five drum towers. A single, over ten-meter-tall drum tower amidst a sea of two-story buildings is already a standout, let alone five. Drum towers serve as gathering places for the unified ethnic group. Legend has it that the ancestors who fell drunk in Huanggang were five brothers. Later, the brothers each multiplied and gave rise to five large ethnic groups, leading to the construction of five drum towers. A unique feature of Huanggang's drum towers is that each features a wooden board inscribed with the twenty-four solar terms, allowing residents to track the seasons. Each tower also features two lifelike dragons. Huanggang is a Dong village that celebrates the "Sky Shouting Festival." Also known as the Rain-Praying Festival, it's called "Xie Sa Xiang" in the Dong language, meaning "to worship the Thunder Goddess." The magical aspect of the Sky Shouting Festival is that if it's sunny before the ceremony, it's guaranteed to rain after; and if it's rainy before, it's guaranteed to sunny after. This tradition has been practiced for years, with unwavering success. Afterward, long tables are set up for toasts. In the evening, Dong folk songs begin, creating a lively atmosphere.

Xiaohuang Dong village

Xiaohuang Dong Village is more than 20 kilometers away from the county seat. It is the collective name of the three administrative villages of Xiaohuang, Gaohuang and Xinqian. Xiaohuang is surrounded by green mountains, a small stream flows slowly through the village, and the stilted wooden building is surrounded by mountains and rivers. Xiaohuang is a well-known "Dong Song Nest" in the Dong area. Xiaohuang Dongge is called "Ga Xiaohuang" in the Dong language, which means "Xiaohuang's song", which shows its own system and unique charm. Another colloquial saying of the locals is "Rice nourishes the body, song nourishes the heart". The history of the Dong family and the hardships of their ancestors are passed on to the next generation through songs. The Dong Nationality Song is a multi-voice unaccompanied chorus. In Xiaohuang, almost anyone can pull up a team to sing the great song. The chorus does not need to specify who sings the high voice and the low voice, but they can all cooperate well when singing. Seamless. There are 26 choruses in the village. Xiao Huang Dongge has performed in France. Xiaohuang Dong songs are usually only sung solo and duet, and the chorus of several people can also be heard. The big Dong songs can only be heard during festivals.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Fanjing Mountain

Fanjing Mountain is located in Tongren City in the northeastern part of Guizhou Province. It is the main peak of the Wuling Mountains, spanning the junction of three counties: Jiangkou, Yinjiang, and Songtao. Its highest peak, Fenghuang Mountain, rises over 2,500 meters above sea level; the Old Golden Summit is over 2,400 meters, and the New Golden Summit, also known as the Red Cloud Golden Summit, is over 2,300 meters. The three peaks stand side by side in majestic grandeur. Fanjing Mountain was originally named "Three Valleys Mountain," derived from "Fanjing Pure Land." Buddhism was introduced to this area during the Song Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty, when temples and monasteries dotted the mountain. Because its towering height rivaled the Five Great Mountains, the ancients honored it as "the patriarch of famous mountains." The Red Cloud Golden Summit is the iconic view of the entire mountain—a solitary peak rising straight from the ground and piercing the sky. The Golden Knife Gorge splits the summit from top to bottom into two halves, with only a narrow canyon where one can climb up along iron chains, and the gorge tops are connected by a flying bridge, making it extremely precipitous. At the summit, the Shakyamuni Hall and the Maitreya Hall face each other, serving as the core symbol of the Maitreya sacred site. The three main peaks connect to form a reclining Maitreya statue stretching over 10,000 m, which locals call "Fanjing Mountain." The Mushroom Stone is another representative view—a sandy slate pillar that is large at the top and small at the bottom, shaped like a mushroom, approx. 10 m tall, appearing on the verge of toppling yet having stood for many years. The surrounding stone forest peak clusters, such as the Ten Thousand Scrolls of Scriptures and Eagle Rock, are geological relics formed over a billion years ago and sculpted by wind and rain erosion. The mountain also preserves a well-intact subtropical primary ecosystem, where the Guizhou golden snout monkey is distributed, and ancient rare plants such as the dove tree also thrive and reproduce here. In fall, the layered forests are dyed in brilliant colors, and the red leaves in the mountains set off the ancient temple; you can take a cable car to overlook the autumn colors across the mountain, or follow the mountain trails to experience them up close.