A beautiful Dong minority village with 5 Drum Towers decorated with lively paintings, a number of graceful Wind and Rain Bridges and traditional wooden houses, Zhaoxing is one of the most attractive destinations in Southwest China for those who seek to witness living minority cultures.

Fortunately not a destination catering to massive Chinese tourists, Zhaoxing remains peaceful and vibrant with Dong life: women weaving cloth, making Dong costume, vendors selling fresh vegetable and meat on the street. The local people are very friendly. Many women wear traditional costumes. There are many opportunities for day walks to the beautiful surrounding rice terraces and other equally pretty small Dong villages.

We chanced upon a celebration for building a new house. Almost a hundred people were invited. The banquet was set on the square in front of the Drum Tower, just opposite to the new house. There were lots of gifts being presented to the host: white and pink glutinous rice in wicker baskets and rice wine. When dinner was served, men sat at the big tables while women and children gathered around the small tables. When we took pictures, people invited us to join them.

The specialty of this banquet is a type of red sliced pork as red color brings good luck in Chinese tradition. We thought it might be spicy. But there were no flakes of pepper. The pork was boiled, and not spicy. Later, we were told that the red color was the fresh blood from the heart of a pig that they killed just before the banquet.

Men's Table	Meals	Presents

Getting there and away:

• Sanjiang (三江), Guangxi - Zhaoxing
  Sanjiang's East bus station has two daily buses to Zhaoxing directly.(7:00am, 11:30am), (Y18, 4.5 hours).
  
• Zhaoxing -> Luoxiang -> Congjiang
  There is no bus service between Zhaoxing and Luoxiang except on Luoxiang's Market days. Only tractors run between these two places. Luoxiang has buses leaving for Congjiang 7 times a day. (Y11.-, 1.5 hours).
  
  See Map: Yangshuo to Kaili

Accommodations:

See Map: Zhaoxing and the surrounding Dong villages

Lulu's Home Stay 露露酒店 (Map: H1): Tel: 0855-6130112, 13885531585.
We stayed at this guest house set beside the river crossing the village. It offers clean rooms with shared facilities. Click here to see the pictures of this guesthouse and the beautiful surroundings.

The Culture Hostel - Wenhuazhan Zhaodaisuo 文化站招待所 (Map: H2)is more centrally located. (Y20 per bed). Tel. 0856-6130005. The owner Mr. Zeng is very friendly.

We ate at A Mei's restaurant 阿妹餐馆 (Map: R) on the main street, very nice， fresh and cheap food (Y10 with meal, Y3 for vegetables).

Links:

Other Destinations in the region: Zengchong, Xijiang, Sister's Meal Festival.