Sanjiang Dong Village: Is It Worth Visiting? How to Plan Your Trip?

In Sanjiang, the main attraction is Chengyang Eight Villages. Though it consists of eight connected Dong villages, the main activities are concentrated in Yanzhai, located at the heart of the complex.

Is It Worth to Visit Sanjiang?

Our clients in Sanjiang

In China, the Dong ethnic group is mainly distributed in the southwest. Among the most popular destinations for experiencing Dong culture are Zhaoxing Dong Village in Guizhou and Sanjiang Dong Village near Guilin.

When planning your trip, you might wonder which one to choose. Based on my own experience in both places, here's my recommendation:

• If you are traveling in Guizhou and prefer a larger, well-preserved Dong village with a strong local vibe, I recommend Zhaoxing Dong Village. Known as the "First Village of Dong," it maintains traditional farming and handicraft lifestyles. It offers more systematic and diverse folk activities and performances. Read more about Zhaoxing Dong Village.
• However, if your trip is centered around Guilin and you'd like to add a Dong cultural experience, Sanjiang Dong Village is also a great option. Here, you can visit Dong wind-and-rain bridges and drum towers and enjoy cultural activities, such as communal feasts and Dong song and dance performances. Compared to Zhaoxing, this place is on a smaller scale, with fewer locals remaining in the village.

How to Visit Sanjiang?

Sanjiang wind-and-rain bridge

To experience the essence of Sanjiang, you've got to explore it both day and night. During the day, you can check out those stunning Dong wind-and-rain bridges and drum towers. Then, wander through the local villages and just soak in the everyday life of the Dong people.

In the evening, you could join a communal Dong feast and enjoy traditional song and dance performances. Therefore, I recommend a 2-day, 1-night highlights tour.

Below is the itinerary from my recent trip to Sanjiang. You can use it as a reference. It can easily be combined with a Guilin tour, and I especially recommend visiting Sanjiang after exploring the Longji Rice Terraces, as the two are relatively close. It is just about 1.5 hours by car.

Day 1–4: Guilin Highlights Tour

Visit iconic spots like Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, Yangshuo, and the Longji Rice Terraces. Learn more about our Guilin 4-day highlights tour.

Day 5: Dong Cultural Experience

Depart from the Longji Rice Terraces in the morning. After arriving and settling in, enjoy a Dong-style lunch at a local restaurant.

I recommend Bazhai Bie Guan(八寨别馆), located near Chengyang wind-and-rain bridge. The restaurant offers a wide selection of affordable dishes (around $10 per person). And it is housed in a classic Dong wooden building with beautiful views of the countryside from its windows.

Afternoon: After lunch, visit the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge (also known as Yongji Bridge). Built in 1916, this bridge has stood for over a century. It serves not only as a vital passage but also as a communal gathering place where villagers rest, discuss matters, and socialize.

Chengyang wind-and-rain bridge

It is one of the typical examples of traditional mortise-and-tenon structures. Sitting on the bridge, can you imagine how the designers, over a century ago, guided the workers in constructing this bridge - without any blueprints or a single nail?

Next, you can walk through Pingzhai, Ma'anzhai, Yanzhai, Pingtanzhai, and Dongzhai, eventually reaching Dazhai. This route covers most of the area's highlights and takes about 2–3 hours.

If you prefer a shorter walk, you can go from Ma'anzhai to Pingzhai and then to Yanzhai. It is about 1 hour in total. Along the way, you'll pass through charming villages with beautifully crafted wooden drum towers and ancient bridges.

Evening: Experience the Dong people's highest form of hospitality: the Communal Feast (also called the Hundred-Family Banquet).

the Dong Communal Feast

As dusk falls, long tables are set up in front of the drum tower in Yanzhai. The aroma of cured meat blends with the fragrance of glutinous rice wine. The Dong girls sing welcome songs while holding ceremonial horn cups. This isn't a staged performance for tourists. It's a genuine Dong tradition of welcoming guests.

Sitting at the long table and toasting with the locals, you'll understand why it's called the "Hundred-Family Banquet.". Each dish comes from a different Dong household, and every bite is filled with their sincerity.

The feast is held almost daily on weekends during holidays and the peak travel season (May–November). But reservations are required at least three days in advance. At other times, a minimum group size (usually 50+ people) is needed, and bookings should be made one week ahead. If you'd like to join, contact us to arrange your reservation in advance.

Night: Watch the live performance Zuo Mei ("Sitting with the Sister") at the "Dongxiang Bird's Nest" theater. This spectacular show revolves around Dong marriage customs, weaving together the Dong Grand Choir, traditional dance, costumes, and folk culture.

Zuo Mei performance

The performance lasts about one hour and is shown twice nightly - at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. The theater is about 17 km from the Chengyang Eight Villages scenic area, roughly 30 minutes by car.

Day 6: Mountain Tea Picking / Local Craft Experience

Morning: The tea gardens within Chengyang Village are small, privately owned plots. The tea-picking experience there is brief (about 20 minutes) and involves hiking up primitive dirt paths.

Sanjiang Mountain Tea Picking

Instead, I recommend heading to Fairy Mountain Tea Garden. It's about 30 minutes by car from both the county center and the Chengyang Eight Villages scenic area. Upon arrival, you can access the tea fields directly - no hiking required.

The mountaintop tea garden spans a vast area (approximately 2,000 acres), offering excellent photo opportunities. There are also plenty of shaded pavilions for resting. Here, you can experience tea picking and tea roasting, making it a great activity for families with children.

The tea-picking seasons are generally divided into three sections:

• Spring tea (March–May)
• Summer tea (July–August)
• Autumn tea (September–October)

For more comfortable temperatures and to avoid spring rains, September–October is an excellent choice.

Afternoon: After the tea-picking experience, return to Yanzhai for lunch. Then, with arrangements by our guide, you can visit a local Dong craft workshop. Under the guidance of Dong artisans, learn traditional skills such as Dong embroidery, batik dyeing, or hand-weaving.

Dong hand-weaving

This hands-on experience lasts about 1–2 hours, and you can take home a one-of-a-kind souvenir! Afterward, return to Guilin to conclude your trip or proceed to your next destination.

You can also customize your itinerary based on your time and interests. Contact us now to start planning your personalized trip!

Where Should I Stay in Sanjiang

Sanjiang hotels

You have two main choices for staying in Sanjiang:

• Stay in the county center: You could enjoy convenient transportation, diverse dining options, and easy access to the wind-and-rain bridges and drum towers within the town. However, you'll miss some of the authentic Dong village atmosphere.
• Stay in a guesthouse in Yanzhai (within the scenic area): This offers an immersive Dong living experience. It allows you to enjoy the village's peace and quiet in the early morning and evening. Most lodgings here are wooden guesthouses converted from traditional buildings. And the sound insulation may be limited. You might wake to villagers greeting each other or heading to work around 6–7 AM.

If you prioritize better accommodation comfort, I recommend choosing a star-rated hotel in the county center.

Based on our on-site research and experience, the following hotels are particularly recommended, with prices ranging from $60–70 USD (rising by 20–30% during holidays):

• Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel Sanjiang: Located in the heart of the county, this hotel offers an excellent location. Its top-floor restaurant provides panoramic views of the Sanjiang Wind and Rain Bridge and the city. Amenities include a refined Chinese-Western buffet breakfast, a fitness center, a small farm, and a children's play area.
• Sanjiang Dongxiang Guest House: Also centrally located, this hotel is known for its distinct Dong architectural style and garden-like surroundings, letting you deeply appreciate Dong aesthetics and ceremonial ambiance. Facilities include Chinese and Western restaurants, a laundry room, a gym, a kids' play zone, an outdoor pool, and herbal hot spring baths.

For an immersive experience of a tranquil Dong village, consider this guesthouse in the village:

• Dong Village Inn (Dongjia Hotel): Situated within Yanzhai, it's just a short walk to the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge and drum towers. The building and interiors follow traditional Dong wooden architecture, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in an authentic Dong living environment.

Explore Sanjiang with China Highlights

Whether you're visiting Sanjiang or Zhaoxing Dong Village to explore Dong culture, China Highlights offers personalized travel planning complete with private vehicles and guides. Let us help you discover the beauty of Sanjiang while enjoying a seamless, enriching journey. Contact us now to start planning your Sanjiang trip!