Misty Thousand Homes | 🫧 Waiting for the Rain to Stop Under the Stilted Eaves

📌 Travel Tips 📍 Location: Xijiang Town, Leishan County, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou 🚗 Transportation: About 3 hours drive from Guiyang, or take high-speed rail to Kaili then transfer to direct shuttle bus 🌤️ Best Season: Spring and autumn; Miao New Year and Eating New Festival are the most lively 🏡 Accommodation Recommendation: Hillside stilted house homestay, where you can embrace the starry sky from your window 📌 Essential Checklist (in recommended order) 1. 📍Observation Deck Night View ✅ Must-do: Arrive before 18:30 to secure front-row spots! Wait for the lights to turn on gradually, use "night mode" on your phone or long exposure on your camera. ❌ Avoid: Don't eat at the observation deck restaurant - expensive and disappointing! 2. 📍Wind and Rain Bridges #4/5 ✅ Photo spots: - Center of the bridge for symmetrical reflections of stilted houses - Crouch by the riverside for portraits with panoramic bridge views 👗 Outfit: Rent Miao ethnic costumes (20-50 yuan/hour, red or navy blue recommended for better photos) 3. 📍Farmland Scenic Area: ✅ **Hidden photo spot**: Central pathway through the terraced fields, use wide-angle lens to capture people + terraces + Miao village in one frame (recommended at 8am when morning mist creates a magical atmosphere!) 4. 📍Lusheng Square: ✅ Capture moment: 11:30 free song and dance performance, with jingling silver ornaments + spinning skirts creating dynamic scenes (use burst mode) 5. 📍Gage Ancient Alley ✅ Atmospheric shots: Oil paper umbrella alley + batik workshop, absolutely stunning when lanterns light up in the evening! ⏰ Golden Time Schedule 🕖 **7:00-9:00**: Morning mist over terraced fields + empty ancient alleys 🕚 **11:00-12:30**: Lusheng Square performance + favorable lighting at Wind and Rain Bridge 🕔 **17:30-19:00**: Sunset to night transition at observation deck (best value for your ticket!) 🚶 Walking Route Plan DAY 1: Enter from West Gate → Drop luggage at homestay → Lusheng Square → Ancient Street → Bridge #4 → Observation deck night view DAY 2: Sunrise at terraced fields → Gage Ancient Alley → Batik experience → Return journey ❗️Experience Summary 1. Warning: Don't park at the West Gate if self-driving! Walking on stone paths with luggage will be exhausting; North Gate is closer to the core area 📸✨ (📢 Remember to book accommodation 3 days in advance during peak season from June to August!)