A Place Favored by National Geographic, Hiding the Romance of a Thousand-Year-Old Dong Village

This thousand-year-old Dong village, endorsed by National Geographic, is a living painting in every frame. Wake up to the sounds of roosters and dogs in the morning, watch the terraced fields turn golden at dusk, and fall asleep to the murmuring streams at night... The moment I stood on the viewing platform, I suddenly understood why National Geographic called this a village on the edge of time—terraced fields wind through the valley like green silk ribbons, drum towers glow in the twilight, and even the breeze carries the slow, timeless charm of life🌿 This place, favored by National Geographic❗️ hides the romance of a thousand-year-old Dong culture... 📍｜Zhaoxing Dong Village, Congjiang, Guizhou 🚄｜Transport: Take the high-speed train to Congjiang Station, where shuttle buses (10 RMB/person) will take you directly to the scenic area in about 10 minutes. It’s quite convenient, and the sightseeing buses inside the scenic area are free. 🏠｜Accommodation: I stayed at Xishe·Shantang, located at the very back of the village. You can take the sightseeing bus to the Rentuan Drum Tower stop, and a staff member will pick you up. The nights are incredibly quiet, the rooms are spacious, and sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows with tea and a book is pure bliss, with stunning views of the Dong village. 🥯 The B&B offers a rich variety of breakfast options, and there’s even a cat to keep you company—hilarious! 🍜｜Food The village doesn’t have many dining options, mostly sour soup dishes like sour fish, sour beef hotpot, and sour rice noodles. The tangy flavors are appetizing, but nothing stood out as exceptionally delicious. 📷 Sightseeing & Photography 1️⃣ Steps by the small river near Rentuan Drum Tower (p4) 2️⃣ Wooden bridge at Jiajie Batik Workshop (p2, 3) 3️⃣ Litian Drum Tower (p7) 4️⃣ Window view at Xishe Shantang (p6) 4️⃣ Viewing platform (p1, 5) 5️⃣ Flower bridge at Yituan Drum Tower (p8) 👗 Outfits Ethnic-style clothing, modern Chinese linen dresses in bright colors, or batik skirts bought in the village (great value and photogenic). 🌟 Tips ✅ Skip the Dong Culture Exhibition Center if you’re just looking for photo spots—the setup has changed, and they charge 20 RMB per person to take photos upstairs, which isn’t worth it. ❤️ Travel Musings The Dong village isn’t very large. Half of the entrance area is filled with photo studios, and the other half with dyeing workshops. One day is enough to explore, but staying overnight lets you soak in the local culture and traditions at a slower pace. Some customs here remain beautifully preserved.