How to plan a 7-day trip to Guizhou for Chinese expats during National Day: Itineraries that avoid the crowds

Last week, Ms. Lin called from New York: "Xiaotu, I'm taking my parents back to Guizhou for the National Day holiday. The trending topics are all packed crowds—how should we plan a 7-day trip to avoid the rush? My parents are in their early 70s; it's not easy for them to travel back from the U.S. They're most worried about waiting in line for 3 hours just to take photos for 2 minutes."

I face this anxiety every National Day holiday. Friends returning from Singapore, Malaysia, and the U.S. can only come during the Golden Week, but 10 to 7 is when Guizhou sees the most visitors. After 10 years of running ground tours, I've developed a "shifted schedule 7-day itinerary": while others crowd in the middle, you head for the edges.

Itinerary for 7 days

Day 1 (Month 10, Day 1): Arrive in Guiyang, head straight to Libo

Skip Guiyang city and head straight to Libo via the highway. Drive time: 3.5 hours. Most tours on the 1th still gather in the city center, so going the opposite way means smoother traffic. Overnight stay in Libo County.

Day 2 (Month 10, Day 2): Full day at Xiaoqikong

Enter at 8:30 AM when the park opens. Walk from Wolongtan to the Water Forest, completing the 1.6 km boardwalk in approximately 4 hours. In the afternoon, visit the Natural Bridge at Daqikong. The 130 yuan ticket includes the shuttle bus.

Meitushuo Reminder:Xiaoqikong: 10 mornings and evenings are cool; bring a light jacket. Signal is weak inside the park—download offline maps in advance.

Day 3 (10 3): Libo to Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village

Depart from Libo to Kaili, driving time 3 hours. Arrive at Xijiang Miao Village in the afternoon while the main group is still queuing at Huangguoshu Waterfall. Watch the city lights from the viewing platform at dusk and stay overnight in the village. Admission: 90 yuan.

Day 4 (10 4): Depart the village in the morning, heading to Huangguoshu.

Capture the morning mist over the Miao village before tourists arrive; leave by 8. Drive to Anshun, a 3.5-hour drive. In the afternoon, visit the Doupotang Waterfall, featured in the ending of the 1986 version of "Journey to the West." Stay at a hotel in downtown Anshun. The ticket costs 220 yuan and includes entry to all three attractions.

Meitushuo Reminder:Turn back at Gao Lao Zhuang after reaching Tianxing Bridge; the path ahead is steep and the scenery becomes repetitive. Save your energy for the Great Waterfall tomorrow.

Day 5 (Month 10, Day 5): Visit Huangguoshu Waterfall early

Enter the scenic area at 7 AM; queue time for Water Curtain Cave is only 20 minutes. After 9, tour groups arrive and the wait increases to 2 hours. Drive to Xingyi in the afternoon; travel time is 2.5 hours.

Day 6 (10 6): Xingyi Wanfenglin + Ma Linghe Canyon

Visit the Bagua Fields at Wanfenglin, where golden rice fields stretch toward the peaks in autumn. Rent an e-bike for 2 hours and pay 80 yuan for entry. In the afternoon, explore Malinghe Gorge to see hundreds of waterfalls cascading into the canyon; tickets are 70 yuan. Xingyi is somewhat remote, so it sees far fewer visitors than Anshun or Libo during the National Day holiday. Stay in downtown Xingyi.

Day 7 (10 7): Wrap-up in Guiyang

The drive from Xingyi to Guiyang via expressway takes approximately 4 hours. In the afternoon, take photos at Jiaxiu Pavilion and enjoy a bowl of changwang noodles or siwawa. Head to the airport in the evening.

What's the approximate cost?

Chartered 7-day, 5-seater SUV with fuel and tolls included costs approximately 5500-7000 CNY. Driver's meals and accommodation are 200 CNY per day. Total admission tickets are about 590 CNY per person. Avoid staying in Xijiang village during National Day (prices surge to 800-1200 CNY); instead, stay in downtown Xingyi, Anshun, or Kaili for standard rooms at 200-350 CNY.

Meitushuo Reminder:At tourist spot restaurants, check the prices before ordering. I've seen half a fish served for a dish labeled "Sour Soup Fish" at price 88 more than 10 times.

Two lessons learned

Pitfall #1: Itinerary order. Visit the most distant and popular destinations like Libo and Huangguoshu first; as you progress, crowds thin out and the experience improves.

Second pitfall: Arrive early at Xiaoqikong and Huangguoshu. Entering by 7 AM helps you avoid 90% of tour groups; queues after 9 PM triple in size.

Related Resources

7 days is too long; want to compress to 5 days? SeeHow to plan a 5-day trip to Guizhou on your first visitJust remove the Xingyi section.

How much does a private car charter cost, and how to choose the right vehicle? This guide breaks it down clearly.How much does Guizhou car rental cost? 2026 latest rates + how to choose a vehicle

Keep the pace leisurely for seniors and children, as suggested in this guide:How to plan a 5-day summer family trip to Guizhou

I'm Xiao Tu, a ground operator in Guiyang for 10 years. Friends returning to Guizhou for the National Day holiday: chat with me on WeChat first.18285125548 (Phone / WeChat)Free route planning for you. No deposit required upfront.