5 Days in Qiandongnan

Five days moves south as well as east - Xijiang's Miao village, Zhenyuan's river town, then HSR down to Zhaoxing's Dong drum towers and Basha's musket-carrying hamlet on the Guangxi border.

Browse all itineraries →

Best time: April-June or September-OctoberBudget: mid-range

Quick Answer

Is 5 days enough for Qiandongnan?

5 days is the sweet spot for Qiandongnan: enough time for the must-sees plus one day trip or food/rest day.

Source: NihaoVisit Qiandongnan guide

5-day Qiandongnan itinerary at a glance

Use our full Qiandongnan travel guide as the base and adapt it to 5 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.

Xijiang thousand-household Miao villageZhenyuan old town and Qinglong CaveZhaoxing Dong drum towersBasha villageCongjiang HSR line

Day 1

Kaili to Xijiang

About 35 km east of Kaili, the village holds roughly 1,300 Miao households; climb the viewing platform after dark and stay overnight for the lit hillside.

qiandongnan xijiang miao village

Day 2

Xijiang Morning to Zhenyuan

A slow village morning, then road and rail east about 2 hours to Zhenyuan - the name dates to 1258; walk the river wall and eat in the old-town lanes at dusk.

qiandongnan zhenyuan old town

Day 3

Zhenyuan Full Day

Qinglong Cave's 30-odd halls began in the Ming Hongwu era of the late 1300s; Shiping Hill gives the S-bend panorama and a short boat ride reads the town from the water.

qiandongnan qinglong cave
qiandongnan zhenyuan old town

Day 4

Down the HSR to Zhaoxing

Back through Kaili and Guiyang, then the Guiyang-Guangzhou HSR (opened December 2014) to Congjiang station, a short shuttle from Zhaoxing - five drum towers, one for each of the village's five clan hamlets.

qiandongnan zhaoxing dong village

Day 5

Basha and Departure

About 7 km from Congjiang county town, Basha's men still carry old muskets under a heritage custom, and boys' coming-of-age haircuts are traditionally done with a sickle - an unhurried visit, then the HSR from Congjiang.

qiandongnan basha village

Budget for 5 days in Qiandongnan

Tier	Per day	5 days total
Backpacker	USD $50–$80	USD $250–$400
Mid-range	USD $100–$200	USD $500–$1,000
Luxury	USD $300+	USD $1,500+

Useful tools

Calculate your trip budget Build your custom China itinerary

Book your Qiandongnan trip

TRIP.COMRecommended

Hotels, flights & tours

One-stop China trip booking · Foreign cards accepted

Hotels from $25/night

We may earn a commission when you book through these links. This does not affect our editorial recommendations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the daily budget for Qiandongnan?

Budget travelers: USD $50–$80/day. Mid-range: $100–$200/day. Luxury: $300+/day. These cover hotel, three meals, transit, and one paid attraction per day.

Do I need a visa to visit Qiandongnan?

It depends on your passport — see our <a href="/china-visa-2026/">China visa guide</a> for the latest country-by-country list. Most Western passport holders can enter visa-free for 30 days as of 2026.

How do I get from the airport to the center of Qiandongnan?

Qiandongnan's main airport connects to the city center via airport bus, taxi, or metro where available. See the airport transfer section of our Qiandongnan guide.

Can I use 5 days for both Qiandongnan and a side trip?

Tight. With only 5 days, focus on Qiandongnan proper; save side trips for a future trip.

Is Qiandongnan safe for tourists?

Yes. Qiandongnan has very low violent crime rates and is widely considered safe for foreign tourists. Standard petty-theft precautions apply. See our <a href="/is-china-safe-2026/">is China safe</a> page.