Zhaoxing DongZhai
Zhaoxing DongZhai
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4.0
77 reviews
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36
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29
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9
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2
wandering_dive_geek
Liverpool, UK809 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
Recreated for tourism so it isn't really that authentic anymore but apart from the main streets, the small alleys still look old and more realistic of how the village is. I spent 3 nights here as a base to see other minority villages. The entrance ticket is RMB 40 which was valid for my entire stay. This village is still charming and a stroll along its streets are relaxing. The food is good too esp in Dong Lang Village Restaurant.
The greenery is a nice break from city life.
It is also convenient to get to.. A two-hour train ride from Guiyang and a short bus ride to the village entrance.
There is a cultural performance (RMB 128) in the evening but I feelnit is a duplication of the bonefire which comes at cheaper price (RMB 68) and more fun as it is interactive.
Must try food: Fish in sour soup
The greenery is a nice break from city life.
It is also convenient to get to.. A two-hour train ride from Guiyang and a short bus ride to the village entrance.
There is a cultural performance (RMB 128) in the evening but I feelnit is a duplication of the bonefire which comes at cheaper price (RMB 68) and more fun as it is interactive.
Must try food: Fish in sour soup
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael Y
United States5 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
My visit to Zhaoxing Dong Village in Guizhou was a captivating dive into the Dong community's rich culture. The village's Drum Towers and Wind-and-Rain Bridges, remarkable for their nail-free construction, showcased exceptional craftsmanship. The air resonated with traditional Lusheng music, culminating in an enchanting Dong Grand Song performance. Interacting with the friendly locals, I discovered their unique traditions and tasted their delicious sticky rice and homemade rice wine. Surrounded by serene hills, Zhaoxing Dong Village is a living testament to a culture where ancient customs and natural beauty coexist in perfect harmony.
Written December 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol S
Guangzhou, China19 contributions
Oct 2015 • Solo
First of all, this town has changed a lot in the past 2 years, so any information from before then should be disregarded. The Chinese govt. got a large loan from the world bank to rebuild and expand the town for tourism -- there is a huge parking lot, huge new museum, newly built lake, LED lights on everything, etc. Many of the buildings are new, though constructed in traditional style. Since Zhaoqing is only 10 minutes by taxi from the Congjiang bullet train station it is easy for people from Guangdong province to take a day or weekend trip there, including me -- I had only a couple nights available to travel, and wanted to get out of the city, so I gave it a chance. I was happy I did so. For now, the local people seem to be tolerating and even benefiting from the new increase in tourism -- there is a beautiful new primary school for the kids, and employment for the adults. The older people who still speak only Dong seemed friendly as well and enjoying interacting with the visitors and selling them crafts. Despite the newness of many of the buildings, they are nonetheless beautiful.
The highlight for me was two walks I took to nearby villages, one to Tang'an (see the separate listing for it), and one to Jilin. Both towns have been less reconstructed, and the walks take you through beautiful mountain and rice terrace scenery.
There is also a very large new museum of Dong culture in the middle of the town which I thought was very well done and which has bilingual Chinese-English descriptions of all the items. I learned a lot about Dong culture, history, etc.
I found that the evening show was just too over the top - sound and light and a fog machine and very shiny costumes that didn't look like traditional Dong wear and modern dance styles. I would have preferred more authentic Dong music, particularly the a capella songs the Dong are famous for. However, most of the crowd seemed to enjoy it, and it certainly was entertaining, as well as being convenient and free.
The highlight for me was two walks I took to nearby villages, one to Tang'an (see the separate listing for it), and one to Jilin. Both towns have been less reconstructed, and the walks take you through beautiful mountain and rice terrace scenery.
There is also a very large new museum of Dong culture in the middle of the town which I thought was very well done and which has bilingual Chinese-English descriptions of all the items. I learned a lot about Dong culture, history, etc.
I found that the evening show was just too over the top - sound and light and a fog machine and very shiny costumes that didn't look like traditional Dong wear and modern dance styles. I would have preferred more authentic Dong music, particularly the a capella songs the Dong are famous for. However, most of the crowd seemed to enjoy it, and it certainly was entertaining, as well as being convenient and free.
Written October 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erap21
89 contributions
Jul 2013
The whole village was under construction in July 2013. The streets were turned inside out, every house was transformed into a hotel, and massive gates were constructed, probably with a massive entrance fee to follow. There is also a new highway that connects the village with Guiyang city in less than 4 hours.
right now the entire village is a massive construction site. expect a new Lijiang when its done
right now the entire village is a massive construction site. expect a new Lijiang when its done
Written July 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
worldnomad_01
Los Angeles, CA1,597 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We loved Zhaoxing for its unique, Dong architecture, which greets you in the Congjiang railway station, as soon as you're off the train, the typical drum towers and bridges, the wooden houses built next to each other and on both sides of the river, the very interesting evening show (its price is included in the 100 yuan ticket you purchase to enter the village) and the multitude of small shops, cafes and restaurants alongside the main avenue. It's a unique and beautiful place and we are glad we visited i.
Written May 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveller_Oldie
Charleston, SC279 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
This is a very good example of the typical wooden houses and villages of this area. The area is very popular with local tourists, but will give you a good opportunity to learn more about the Dong people. Many shops and restaurants. We stayed in a local hotel in the village which was great.
Written October 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Werner N
Biel, Switzerland345 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
A wonderful place with many wonderful people.
So amazing to see in early morning the farmers to sell the fresh typical products they carry with the pole-sticks in two baskets from far away. Many households still do the own indigo dying. You else can hike in the picturesque rice-terasses up to the next villages.
The entry fee of 100.-- is ok and offers free entry to the evening show, free city-Wifi and more. But soon this village will be spoiled by the masses of tourists who come for only a short stay.
Out of the so many guest houses, only very few are really good, offer a quality standard and are clean.
The main road have many nice sitting areas, but they are used by small business to sell fast food and cheap articles.
Most of the old houses had been changed into shops or restaurants, only few real old shops are still in use. In short time - I am sure, more advertisements will be placed at the facades and spoil the old character even more (same as in Yangsuo).
So amazing to see in early morning the farmers to sell the fresh typical products they carry with the pole-sticks in two baskets from far away. Many households still do the own indigo dying. You else can hike in the picturesque rice-terasses up to the next villages.
The entry fee of 100.-- is ok and offers free entry to the evening show, free city-Wifi and more. But soon this village will be spoiled by the masses of tourists who come for only a short stay.
Out of the so many guest houses, only very few are really good, offer a quality standard and are clean.
The main road have many nice sitting areas, but they are used by small business to sell fast food and cheap articles.
Most of the old houses had been changed into shops or restaurants, only few real old shops are still in use. In short time - I am sure, more advertisements will be placed at the facades and spoil the old character even more (same as in Yangsuo).
Written October 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
INOUT-CHINA Viajes
Guilin, China58 contributions
Apr 2015 • Business
How easy is to destroy a nice town (I travel there for years) and to build a commercial tourist centre just to make money.
Written May 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kwok-leung Paul L
Hong Kong, China10 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
Zhaoxing Dong Village In Memory
The view of Zhaoxing village with paddy fields first came to my attention from a magazine. So charming that I once decided it must be one of the lead photo in my Dong book. I capture it for double pages in one Spring evening in the 1980s. After over 20 years of tourism development, Zaoxing was still very lovely and charming during my revisit in 2009. There was still traditional daily life: villagers were still hanging around the covered bridges and drum towers; old ladies were hitting the home-woven Dong cloth with a big wooden hammer to create the glossy shine; some were putting on coatings of egg white to make the cloth more glossy; pig's blood is an alternative if they prefer a warmer tone; in front of many wooden houses women were chatting while doing needle works; on the edge of the stream indigo paste from plants is still used to dye home-woven cloth the traditional way. Although local tourists were not interested some shops were selling nice embroidery textile in original ethnic styles. Prices were not inflated too high. Unfortunately such kind of ethnic art form will die out very soon. They just require too much time and skill to make and the young generation just do not have the time to follow. Traditional costumes are also becoming too valuable to wear.
Negative impact by tourism on Zhaoxing was still not too bad because it was still protected by its remoteness. But after the completion of major highways and the opening of the high-speed rail to Guangzhou at the end of 2014, it is quite different. Travel time was reduced greatly from the provincial capital or from Pearl River delta area. Tourists from Guangzhou and Shenzhen are now enjoying a much shortened journey -from an overnight train plus a long bus ride to only a few hours on the new high-speed rail. In order to receive the anticipated massive influx of tourists Zhaoxing got an investment of RMB4.2 billion in 2012 for reconstruction works. Afterwards the top-class Zhaoxing ethnic theme park was opened in early 2014. Official estimation of visitors to Zhaoxing for the year of 2015 was 3 million and it will bring in an income of RMB20 billion.
I missed so much the little stream of old Zhaoxing. There was casual gathering of Dong women washing vegetable and cloths, chatting leisurely while beating their laundry with wooden clubs. Domestic goose were swimming freely around. On a small piece of dry area rice was spread out for drying under the sun. Heaps of charcoal were stacked outside most houses. Laundry were hanging down on balconies ... These are simply real life.
I love the idea of theme parks, especially the ones branded as "ethnic culture village". I thought they were fake copycats, superficial products, commercial establishment without respect of heritage, but I was wrong. Ethnic theme parks are likely the only possible way to entertain new rich tourists and consumers who love to enjoy things like good food, shopping, entertainment activities and ethnic shows. Ethnic theme parks may be able to keep them away from suffering in poor villages in remote mountains. As a result releasing the pressure of turning more and more authentic ethnic villages with valuable heritage into theme parks. Only in Guizhou there are already 100 ethnic theme parks under planning and reconstruction. When they are all opened to the mass tourism market it will certainly be able to contain a considerable portion of the guests. The pity is many ethnic villages with the best traditional heritage might also be included in this list of 100.
The view of Zhaoxing village with paddy fields first came to my attention from a magazine. So charming that I once decided it must be one of the lead photo in my Dong book. I capture it for double pages in one Spring evening in the 1980s. After over 20 years of tourism development, Zaoxing was still very lovely and charming during my revisit in 2009. There was still traditional daily life: villagers were still hanging around the covered bridges and drum towers; old ladies were hitting the home-woven Dong cloth with a big wooden hammer to create the glossy shine; some were putting on coatings of egg white to make the cloth more glossy; pig's blood is an alternative if they prefer a warmer tone; in front of many wooden houses women were chatting while doing needle works; on the edge of the stream indigo paste from plants is still used to dye home-woven cloth the traditional way. Although local tourists were not interested some shops were selling nice embroidery textile in original ethnic styles. Prices were not inflated too high. Unfortunately such kind of ethnic art form will die out very soon. They just require too much time and skill to make and the young generation just do not have the time to follow. Traditional costumes are also becoming too valuable to wear.
Negative impact by tourism on Zhaoxing was still not too bad because it was still protected by its remoteness. But after the completion of major highways and the opening of the high-speed rail to Guangzhou at the end of 2014, it is quite different. Travel time was reduced greatly from the provincial capital or from Pearl River delta area. Tourists from Guangzhou and Shenzhen are now enjoying a much shortened journey -from an overnight train plus a long bus ride to only a few hours on the new high-speed rail. In order to receive the anticipated massive influx of tourists Zhaoxing got an investment of RMB4.2 billion in 2012 for reconstruction works. Afterwards the top-class Zhaoxing ethnic theme park was opened in early 2014. Official estimation of visitors to Zhaoxing for the year of 2015 was 3 million and it will bring in an income of RMB20 billion.
I missed so much the little stream of old Zhaoxing. There was casual gathering of Dong women washing vegetable and cloths, chatting leisurely while beating their laundry with wooden clubs. Domestic goose were swimming freely around. On a small piece of dry area rice was spread out for drying under the sun. Heaps of charcoal were stacked outside most houses. Laundry were hanging down on balconies ... These are simply real life.
I love the idea of theme parks, especially the ones branded as "ethnic culture village". I thought they were fake copycats, superficial products, commercial establishment without respect of heritage, but I was wrong. Ethnic theme parks are likely the only possible way to entertain new rich tourists and consumers who love to enjoy things like good food, shopping, entertainment activities and ethnic shows. Ethnic theme parks may be able to keep them away from suffering in poor villages in remote mountains. As a result releasing the pressure of turning more and more authentic ethnic villages with valuable heritage into theme parks. Only in Guizhou there are already 100 ethnic theme parks under planning and reconstruction. When they are all opened to the mass tourism market it will certainly be able to contain a considerable portion of the guests. The pity is many ethnic villages with the best traditional heritage might also be included in this list of 100.
Written May 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
XC L
Birmingham, UK7 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
We traveled to Zhaoxing from Guilin by bullet train a few days ago. It took 53 min from Guilin North Railway Station to Congjiang Station by train (45 RMB second class), and it was about 15-20 min from Congjiang to Zhaoxing by private taxi (50 RMB). Book the train tickets in advance, as the tickets can be quite busy.
Although modernisation has a great impact on Zhaoxing, local older people still wear their traditional clothes. Ladies dye and hammer their cloth everywhere in the village. The drum tower and wooden houses in the villages look beautiful and special. There are plenty of accommodations and restaurants in Zhaoxing village, but few restaurants serve western food. There were some tourists in Zhaoxing, but not crowded at all.
There is a driveway which links Zhaoxing and Tangan village, about 6 km. The altitude of Tangan village is 854 which is much higher than Zhaoxing. We took a car from Zhaoxing to Tangan, and then walked along the old small path in the mountains from Tangan back to Zhaoxing. On the path, we saw beautiful rice terrace although there was no rice in the field at this season.
There is a recently built road from Zhaoxing to Jilun village. Jilun is really a quite primitive Dong village. Most houses looked very old, firewood piled near the houses, cattle walking on the road and older people sitting in the drum tower.
The ticket of Zhaoxing Dongzhai is 100 RMB per person, not cheap but after visiting these three villages I think the ticket is worthy of it.
Although modernisation has a great impact on Zhaoxing, local older people still wear their traditional clothes. Ladies dye and hammer their cloth everywhere in the village. The drum tower and wooden houses in the villages look beautiful and special. There are plenty of accommodations and restaurants in Zhaoxing village, but few restaurants serve western food. There were some tourists in Zhaoxing, but not crowded at all.
There is a driveway which links Zhaoxing and Tangan village, about 6 km. The altitude of Tangan village is 854 which is much higher than Zhaoxing. We took a car from Zhaoxing to Tangan, and then walked along the old small path in the mountains from Tangan back to Zhaoxing. On the path, we saw beautiful rice terrace although there was no rice in the field at this season.
There is a recently built road from Zhaoxing to Jilun village. Jilun is really a quite primitive Dong village. Most houses looked very old, firewood piled near the houses, cattle walking on the road and older people sitting in the drum tower.
The ticket of Zhaoxing Dongzhai is 100 RMB per person, not cheap but after visiting these three villages I think the ticket is worthy of it.
Written April 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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