Kaili(105 views)

Release date:2012-01-29 23:40:10

Kaili is situated in Guizhou Province, which is well known as a cultural hub of Miao and Dong minority groups. It is also known as ‘Land of Music’ and ‘Land of Festivals’ and one can find this very right about Kaili. While visiting Kaili, traveler can understand the lifestyle of China’s ethnic minority groups’ in depth. Not only the ethnic groups but also typical tourist attractions that we find in any tourist places in China like karsts caves, beautiful landscapes and ancient buildings can also be found in the lap of mountains in Kaili.

The most important and a must –see attraction in Kaili is Langde Miao Ethnic Village. As tourism is well developed in Langde Miao Ethnic Village, a warm welcome ceremony is in store for every traveler who reaches this enchanting ethnic village. Here people are given welcome drink and is followed by the display of ethnic customs and ceremonies, which is certainly the highlight of the trip. Langde Miao Village is 50 kilometers away from Kaili. In a village of 500 people, though a small number, you can not only see Miao customs and lifestyles but also ancient style houses like ‘Diaojiaolou’ and old streets. Miao people are both lovers of music and festivals, where they show off their traditional dance in their ethnic outfits. One would marvel at their colorful dresses and big silver ornaments with intricate designs. Miao people are not only identified by their dialect but also from their dresses. There are Long Skirt Miao, Short Skirt Miao, Black Miao, Flowery Miao and Long Horned Miao. There are also River Miao and Mountain Miao.

There is yet another Miao village in 25 kilometers distance from Kaili, which is known as Jidao Miao Village. Unlike the one mentioned earlier, Jidao Miao Village with thousand people is a real village. There are two sections in this village like Shangzhai (Upper Village) and Xiazhai (Lower Village). There is a square in village where dances are held during festivals. The proximity to the city makes this village most preferred one and is an ideal choice for those who have minimum time for visit.

Zhenyuan dotted with numerous scenic spots is an ancient town where Miao people reside. It has multiple choices of attractions like ancient buildings, caves, palaces, pavilions, temples and beautiful landscape. Among them must- see attractions are Wuyang River Scenic Area and Qinglong Cave. The Wuyang River divides the Zhenyuan town into two sections such as Wei City and Fu City and is water-town. The Dragon Boat Festival that is held on every May 25th is a famous festival here.

From the Zhenyuan Ancient Town you can see the beauty of Wuyang River Scenic Area. You can either walk or cruise along the river to enjoy a closer view. As you cruise you can come across other spots like Wuyang Three Gorges that consists of Dragon King Gorge, East Gorge and West Gorge, Shanmu River where rafting is available. Mount Yuntai surrounded by clouds is a famous attraction in Wuyang River Scenic Area where lots of rare flora and fauna can be seen. Since it was a Buddhist resort from ancient time, there are temples, pavilions and inscriptions from Ming Dynasty. Gorges, peaks, springs, and spectacular waterfalls in between the cruise keep your spirit high.

Black Dragon Cave, an ancient temple complex is a fine example of ancient Guizhou architecture. Originally built during Ming Dynasty 1368-1644, it survived two wars and faced many renovations. The 226,050 square feet temple complex consists of palaces, temples, shrines, single and multi-storied pavilions. The Black Dragon Cave temple has Longevity Palace, Ziyang Shuyuan, Zhongyuan Temple, Zhusheng Qiao, Xianglu Yan and Yuhuang Ge. Unlike other temples that are heavily decorated, this one is simple and humble; its style well in harmony with the surroundings.

While visiting Kaili, it is important to visit the Sunday Market, which gathers on Sundays to sell fresh produce. It is also a good place to browse and buy ethnic products of Miao such as silver ornaments, silk clothes, herbal medicines, wooden and woven baskets etc. Here you can also taste local food and purchase home- dyed cotton clothes.

Those who have visited China’s metropolitan cities find their visit to Kaili as a journey to the soul of China’s village.

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