Guizhou is a province I've always wanted to visit in China. Located in the southern part of China and neighbored by Sichuan to the north and Hunan to the east, it's a beautiful region that features many beautiful mountains and natural scenic areas.

I recently visited Zunyi, a city in the northern part of the Guizhou province. Zunyi is famous because it is the historical site of the Zunyi Conference, where the Red Army is in 1935 and the people chose Mao Zedong to lead them. Are so many other things to see in Zunyi, especially if you are looking to enjoy the outdoors and unique cultural layers away from the crowds.

Day 1: Zunyi Conference Site

On my first day I flew from Beijing to Zunyi Xinzhou Airport, and as we landed you could see the mountains stretching across the whole area. It was kind of a surreal moment – I made it to Zunyi! I met up with others from my group And we had our first Zunyi experience: eating spicy Mutton Rice Noodles (Yang Rou Fen). This local dish is really delicious and a great deal – just 10 RMB for a big bowl!

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After lunch we traveled to the site of the Zunyi Conference, the historical site where Mao Zedong met with other leaders in 1935 to decide on the future of the People's Republic of China. We walked through the buildings and museum there, learning more about the history And people. It was interesting because lots of Chinese people were dressed up in Red Army outfits to celebrate and remember the event.

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It is fun to share and try the dishes together - Guizhou cuisine is one of the 8 cuisines in China. It is spicy and similar to Sichuan, but also The people have a saying, "Without eating a sour dish for three days, people will stagger with weak legs".

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After dinner we drove several hours north of Zunyi . Our hotel (Shuanghe Inn) was lovely, nestled right into the mountains. At night it was lit up by lanterns, and in the morning when we could finally see the scenery in the daylight I was Amazed!

Day 2: Exploring Caves and a Chinese Performance

After eating breakfast at the hotel, we started the day climbing inside a cave. The guides gave us jumpsuits, harnesses, helmets, and gloves. We ventured inside the cave, clipping ourselves to the cables inside the cave. A few minutes in we looked Up and saw we wouldn't just be walking through the cave – we would be rock climbing up it, through cracks and over ledges! It was surreal and one of the coolest experiences I've had in China. It definitely takes some physical strength , but it was an awesome activity. Once we made it through the cave we were rewarded with a stunning view of the mountains.

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After cave climbing, we went back to the hotel for lunch, a special Guizhou sour spicy fish hot pot called

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We visited another cave in the afternoon, which was a bit more relaxed than our active cave climbing morning. This cave is part of the Shuanghedong cave network, one of the largest cave groups in Asia. It was nice to walk through and enjoy the cool Air and beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. We strolled through the bus for an hour before hopping hack on the bus back to Zunyi. Just driving through the Guizhou countryside is amazing - we passed mountains and rice terraces and little villages untouched by time. Whenever we stopped Somewhere the local people would be friendly and wave, and sometimes take photos.

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We grabbed dinner at a local Guizhou restaurant in Zunyi City, where we had a big spread of dishes and a performance to enjoy. During the singing they came around to the table, offering Moutai to guest. Moutai is a special Chinese liquor made locally in The province, and a must try if you come to Guizhou! When the ladies came up to me and asked me to drink, I couldn't say no!

It dinner with Chinese dialogue, and I was worried the whole thing would be in Chinese, but then I was shocked when dancing and acrobatics Suddenly happened! It was very entertaining and informative.

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Day 3: Moutai Culture City, Bonfire, and Fireworks

On the third day we had breakfast at the hotel then headed off to the Maotai National Liquor Culture City, about an hour and half away. It was great to learn more about how the mountains and rivers play a role in uniquely making Moutai.

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After seeing the Moutai cultural center we had a Guizhou Liquor Culture Banquet, then drove 1.5 hours to the Crown Great World Guinness, the World's largest cave distillery. We got to see where they store Maotai and sample a taste, too.

We have been many years along the path, then were picked up down the road. The bike riding was one of my favorite parts and is a must! It's absolutely amazing to Be out in the mountains and fresh air, riding freely and soaking in the Views.

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We had a BBQ party afterwards (Shaokao) at the Tucheng Tourist Center, played some party games, then had a talent show and danced around a bonfire. was so fun to spend out last night together having fun and letting loose, enjoying the new friendships We made in the beautiful mountains of Guizhou.

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There was a special show after the bonfire - a local fireworks called Iron Flower created from very hot iron. We sat near the river and watched the men strike the iron quickly, creating a bright "flower" of sparks in the air like fireworks. Was such a cool experience to see!

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Day 4: Foguangyan Scenic Area

On the fourth morning we drove to the Chishui Danxia in the Foguangyan Scenic Area, where the Buddhist of Light is. After hiking about half an hour, we made it to the top and were rewarded with stunning views of a waterfall.

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We ate a special Panda "Bamboo Banquet", with almost every dish using bamboo in some way. We had a 4-hour drive back to Zunyi afterwards, with plenty of time to soak in more than the Southern scenery.

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Traveling to Zunyi

Trips like this make is not only possible to visit remote places in China, but to experience Guizhou culture at its fullest. I would have had a hard time knowing where to go, what dishes to try, and what is Going with Ctrip allowed me to I have made some awesome friends - people from Togo, Niger, Uzbekistan, and cities all over China. We ate together, explored Together, and had a great time experiencing China together.

Add Zunyi to your list if you're interested in exploring a part of China that still experience a unique culture in China! It is definitely one of favorite traveling experiences in China, and hope I can return again sometime.

To read more about my experiences in China, check out my blog:

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