Chengyang Eight Villages Scenic Area is located in Sanjiang County, Guangxi Province and is famous for its Yongji Bridge (Wind and Rain Bridge). The eight villages - Ma’An Village, Ping Village, Yanzhai Village, Pingtan Village, Dong Village, Da Village, Pingpu Village, and Jichang Village - are home to more than one thousand Dong minority families. The wooden buildings, singing and dancing culture, life customs, and other ancient traditions of the Dong minority are well preserved there. The area is located midway between Guilin and Guiyang and is now connected by bullet trains. If you’re planning a trip to either city, a visit to Sanjiang can fit perfectly into your travel plans.

There are also many other Dong minority villages nearby that have not yet been developed into scenic areas. If you’re looking for a different way to explore the area, trekking and cycling with a local English-speaking guide are highly recommended. You can choose to trek or cycle for 1-3 days and stay overnight in a hotel in Chengyang or with a local family in one of the villages.

All trekking and cycling activities are organized by a guesthouse owner in Chengyang village who is also an English-speaking guide. All activities start and end in Chengyang village.

Trekking Route 1

Day 1: Start your morning with a hike up to a nearby mountain for a panoramic view of Chengyang Eight Villages. In the afternoon, visit each of the Chengyang Eight Villages. Spend the night in Chengyang.

Day 2: Trek to Pingtai Village, Gaomai Village, and Jichang Village before returning to Chengyang. Enjoy lunch with a local family along the way. The trek will take approximately 5-6 hours. Spend the night in Chengyang.

Day 3: Trek to Leidong Dong Ethnic Village and have lunch with a local family. In the afternoon, continue trekking to Guandong Village. Take a public bus back to Chengyang. The trek will take approximately 6-7 hours. Spend the night in Chengyang.

Trekking Route 2

Day 1: Trek to Pingtai Village, Jichang Village, and Gaonong Village. The trek will take approximately 6 hours. Spend the night in Gaonong Village.

Day 2: Trek to Mapang Village and Guida Village. The trek will take approximately 7 hours. Spend the night in Guida Village.

Day 3: Trek to Gaoding Dong Ethnic Village. The trek will take approximately 6 hours. Take a public bus back to Chengyang and spend the night there.

1 Day Cycling Route

Day 1: Start in Chengyang and cycle through Guandong Village, Gaoyou Village, Pingtan Village, and Gaobu Village before returning to Chengyang. The bridges and Dong Ethnic buildings along the route are different from those in Chengyang and are well-preserved.

3 Day Cycling Route

Day 1: Start in Chengyang and cycle through Guandong Village, Linxi Village, and Gaoding Village. Spend the night in Gaoding Village.

Day 2: Start in Gaoding Village and cycle through Linlue Village. Visit the terraced fields in Linlue and the Tea Garden in Buyang Village. Spend the night in Buyang Village.

Day 3: Start in Buyang Village and cycle through Bajing Village, Mapang Village, and some small local Dong Ethnic villages before returning to Chengyang. Spend the night in Chengyang.

For more information, please send an email to eae@charmission.cn. We would be happy to assist you!

By Stella Ceoi - China Charmission Travel