Taijiang Voyage Tips and guide

Taijiang County (台江县; pinyin: Táijiāng Xiàn) is a county under the jurisdiction of Qiandongnan Prefecture in Guizhou Province, located in the southeast of Guizhou Province and the middle of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. In 2020, the population of Taijiang County was about 123,000. It has the title of "the first county of Miao nationality in the world".

Taijiang County is located in southeastern Guizhou Province and is part of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. It is a mountainous county with a high proportion of Miao residents. The landscape is shaped by hills and river valleys, with the Qingshui River and its tributaries supporting a traditional settlement pattern centered on villages.

Taijiang is often regarded as an important area for Miao culture, best known for the Miao Sisters’ Festival. Local festivals and customs are closely tied to everyday life, including agriculture, courtship, and clan activities. Compared with more commercialized destinations, these traditions are largely practiced for local communities rather than staged for visitors.

The county has a humid subtropical monsoon climate, with mild temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year. Dense vegetation and favorable natural conditions support rice farming and a rich mountain ecosystem, contributing to a relatively slow-paced and stable way of life.

For travelers, Taijiang is best understood through visiting villages and observing local festivals and daily routines, rather than focusing on a small number of landmark sights.

Map of Taijiang

Taijiang County has no railway station or airport. The most convenient approach is to travel first to a nearby transportation hub and then continue by bus. As part of the locally promoted “fast access, slow travel” transport system, transfers from high-speed rail stations and bus terminals to major attractions are generally convenient.

High-speed rail is the fastest way to reach Taijiang, although a transfer by road is required.

• Guiyang and other cities to Kaili South Station: High-speed trains on the Shanghai–Kunming High-Speed Railway serve Kaili South Station,with a journey time of around 35 minutes. Use platforms like Ctrip or 12306. The closest high-speed rail station to Taijiang.The ticket price is about ¥58 (2025).
• Kaili South Station to Taijiang: From Kaili South Station (Ximahe Station), continue to a bus station in Kaili city and take a bus to Taijiang County. The distance is about 50 km, with a travel time of around 1 hour. The ticket price is about ¥15 (2025). A direct public bus route also operates from Kaili to Taipan Village (the venue of “Village BA”), providing convenient access to the main tourist area.

Long-distance buses are the main form of transport connecting Taijiang with surrounding cities.

• Guiyang to Taijiang: Direct long-distance buses operate from Guiyang bus stations. Buses depart from Guiyang Stadium or Guiyang East Bus Station. Fares are typically around ¥60–85 (2025), and the journey takes about 3 hours.

Driving offers greater flexibility for visiting Taijiang and nearby villages.

• Main roads: China National Highway 320 passes through the county, while China National Highway G211 and other routes link the county seat with major towns such as Shidong.
• Sample routes: From Guiyang, travel via the Shanghai–Kunming Expressway, with a driving time of about 3 hours. From Kaili, the drive takes around 1 hour via national or provincial roads.

Local transport within Taijiang County mainly relies on urban–rural buses, taxis, and self-driving. The county seat is relatively compact and suitable for exploring on foot. Reaching outlying towns and attractions such as Taipan Village (home of “Village BA”) and Shidong Old Town generally requires public transport or a hired vehicle.

The county seat of Taijiang (Taigong Subdistrict) is compact, with major commercial areas, government offices, and public spaces such as Xiumei Square located close together, making it well suited for walking. Simple maps of the town are available at local convenience stores or tourist information centers. As a typical mountainous county town, streets follow the terrain rather than a strict north–south layout; when asking for directions, it is often more effective to refer to landmarks such as the bus station or county government offices.

Scheduled buses and tourist shuttle services to major towns and attractions depart from Taijiang Bus Station26.662552108.3216491 Taijiang Bus Station (台江客运站), No. 104 Xiumei Avenue, toll-free: +86 0355-5322481.  (updated Dec 2025).

Taijiang’s urban–rural bus network connects the county seat with most towns and villages. Fares typically range from ¥3 to ¥20, depending on distance. Services usually operate from 06:30 to 18:30 (2025). Buses to Taipan Village may run later, with the last service around 23:00. Routes to more remote villages run less frequently, so it is advisable to confirm the latest schedules at the bus station before departure.

Standard taxis: Within the county seat, the starting fare is about ¥5 (2025). Taxis serve most central areas and are easiest to find near the bus station and public squares.

Chartered cars: For visiting Miao villages that are not well served by buses, such as Hongyang Village or Jiaogong Village, or for a full-day trip, hiring a car is a more flexible option. Prices are negotiated directly with the driver; a full-day hire usually costs around ¥300–500, depending on distance and road conditions. Charter services are available near the bus station. Confirm the total price and itinerary before departure.

Ride-hailing apps: Services such as Didi are available within the county seat, though response times may be slower than in larger cities. It is generally difficult to book ride-hailing cars to remote villages.

• 26.673017108.3017051 Miao Jiang Sister Square (苗疆姊妹广场). It is a leisure place, and many activities are held here during the festival. The square decoration is very national style.  (updated Dec 2023)

  

• 26.539528108.299532 Red Yang ten thousand mu grassland (红阳万亩草场). Hongyang ten thousand Mu grassland is an important scenic spot in Nangong Forest Park, located in the south of Taigong Town, Taijiang County, the north foot of Leigong Mountain, the jurisdiction of Hongzhai Village, 16 km from the county seat. Ten thousand mu of grassland stretching undulating, known as the "southern Tianshan" laudatory name. At the end of Ming Dynasty, the king of Guangxi, Wu Sangui and Wu (Sun) Shi Han (Dian Hua period) camped here and lived and multiplied for a hundred years; Guizhou Miao hero Zhang Xiumei moved here to resist the Qing army.  (updated Dec 2023)
• 26.675491108.304553 Wongyou River National Wetland Park (翁你河国家湿地公园). The total area is 376.89 hectares.  (updated Dec 2023)

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  Miao Embroidery Museum (苗族刺绣博物馆), No. 5 Wenchang East Road, ☏ +86 085-5532-2336. Tu–Su 08:30–17:30. The museum houses collections of Miao embroidery, traditional clothing, and related cultural artifacts. It includes two main exhibition halls and four themed galleries, focusing on Miao sub-group dress traditions and embroidery techniques. (updated Dec 2025)
• Fanpai Miao Village (反排苗寨), Fanzhao Town, ☏ +86 18586925004. A Miao village situated on a high slope, consisting of over 440 households of indigenous Miao residents. Traditional wooden stilt houses dominate the architecture. A small stream runs through the village, which also features a bullfighting ground, ancestral ritual sites such as Drum Mountain, Yi Lang, and the Drum Cave. The village hosts the Miao ancestral festival, Drum Cang Festival, once every thirteen years. (updated Dec 2025)

• The center of the county is very busy at night, with many vendors selling snacks.
• There are many barbecue stalls by the river.

• Guizhou Miao Sister Festival（The 15th of the third lunar month） mainly refers to the Miao people in Taijiang County, Shibing County and some areas of Jianhe County in Guizhou province in the spring season, hosted by women to eat sister food festival. The festival etiquette is simple and unique, and the most typical and spectacular is the Miao Sister Festival from March 15 to 17 beside the Qingshui River in Shidong area of Taijiang County.

• 26.668202108.3134291 Taijiang Trade City (台江商贸城). There are many good restaurants and food stalls in this area, as well as wet markets and shops selling clothes.  (updated Dec 2023)

• Fish in sour soup. Miao's fish in sour soup is a delicious dish enjoyed by people of all ethnic groups in the Miao area. Although it is not cooked by the chef carefully, nor does it cost a drop of oil or more ingredients, it is famous for its freshness, tenderness, fragrance and beauty.
• Glutinous rice is one of the Miao staple food, occupies an important position in the life of the Miao people, for men and women, the old and young favorite food, people think that eating sticky rice is not hungry, light taste, not as sweet as glutinous rice, without dishes can also eat, without chopsticks, hand pinch to eat extremely convenient. Where to visit relatives and friends of the gift, a variety of festivals (sister festival) staple food, mostly made of glutinous rice.
• Pickled fish is a traditional delicacy of Miao family. It is rich in color and flavor, and tastes refreshing and pleasant. The Miao people are used to breeding carp in the rice fields, washing the fresh fish caught, cutting open its internal organs, and then sprinkling an appropriate amount of salt and chili powder, and then impregnating the condiments such as Sichuan pepper noodles, placing on the fireworks to dry, and then smearing the prepared sweet wine, or glutinous rice powder on the fish, a layer of fish a layer of sweet wine lees, packed into the altar cover well, sealed. After half a month, it can be fried in oil or eaten raw.
• Salted meat is the fresh meat fat cut into slices, with glutinous rice flour and an appropriate amount of salt and chili powder, and then on the pepper noodles and other condiments on the top of the meat, a layer of meat a layer of rice noodles, into the altar sealed, half a month later it can be eaten, delicious fragrance.

• Miaozhuang Fresh Goose (苗庄鲜鹅), Shop 101, Phase 1, Miaojiawan, ☏ +86 18984605811. Daily 10:30–21:30. This restaurant specializes in Miao cuisine. Signature dishes include drunken goose hotpot and Guizhou fermented chili stewed fish, both of which are quite spicy. Non-spicy options can be requested with the staff. ¥70. (updated Dec 2025)

• Miao-Tong Village Stone Pot Fish (苗侗寨石锅鱼), 10 m south of Fuhai Mingchu, Alley 3, ☏ +86 18285536122. Daily 09：00–21:00. The restaurant features stone pot hotpot with its signature Guizhou red sour soup base and fresh fish. The dish is sour and spicy, offering a flavorful and appetizing experience. ¥65-80. (updated Dec 2025)
• Xiangwei Qianyuan (湘味黔缘), 2nd floor, Jindan A Jiao Supermarket, ☏ +86 0855-8311888. Daily 10:00–21:30. Popular with locals, the restaurant serves stir-fried dishes and hotpot with a generally spicy flavor. Signature dishes include steamed fish with chopped chili and stir-fried bamboo shoots with cured meat. ¥42-70. (updated Dec 2025)

• There are many milk tea shops in the center of the county, all chain stores
• There are some bars in the alley, you can go in and listen to some music and have a drink
• Rice wine. The Miao people have long mastered the technology of wine making. Most farmers can make their own wine, such as sweet wine, brewing wine and soju, but soju is the most common. In Miao society, the amount of wine is very large, such as building new houses, celebrating the New Year, marriage, funeral, worship God, worship ancestors, etc., all need to use wine, especially to do heavy work, meals and meals cannot do without wine.

• Taijiang Grand Hotel (台江大酒店), Miaojiang East Avenue, near Binjiang Road, 100 m west of Binjiang Supermarket, ☏ +86 0855-5361777. Check-in: 14：00, check-out: 12：00. A high-end hotel by local standards. Facilities include parking, a quiet bar, a fitness center, meeting rooms, luggage storage, and taxi booking services. A free buffet breakfast is provided each morning. Double room from ¥328. (updated Dec 2025)
• Hetian Hotel (和天大酒店), No. 28 Xiumei Avenue, ☏ +86 19278553999. Check-in: 14：00, check-out: 14：00. A mid-range hotel offering a fitness room, parking, and a laundry room. Breakfast is available at an additional cost of ¥28 per person. Twin room from ¥147; double room from ¥166. (updated Dec 2025)
• Fangni Folk Guesthouse (方旎民宿), No. 14, Second Alley, Expressway Entrance, ☏ +86 13885503022. Check-in: 14：00, check-out: 12：00. A budget guesthouse offering parking, a laundry room, ride-hailing assistance, and car rental services. Double room from ¥103; twin room from ¥147. (updated Dec 2025)
• Vienna 3 Best Hotel (维也纳3好酒店), Fangli Bay Community, G211 National Highway, ☏ +86 19385603050. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 14:00. A budget hotel with an outdoor park, laundry room, parking, and car rental services. A self-service breakfast is available for ¥30 per person. A night market is located about 400 m from the hotel, making dining and evening activities convenient. twin room ¥141.. (updated Dec 2025)
• Haitian Hotel (海天酒店), Northeast corner of the intersection of Miaojiang West Avenue and Taolai Avenue, ☏ +86 18212398821. Check-in: 1:00, check-out: 14:00. The hotel provides parking and luggage storage services. twin room from ¥185.. (updated Dec 2025)

Emergency numbers: 110 - Police, 119 - Fire, 120 - First aid, 122 - Traffic accidents

• Guiyang (贵阳; Guìyáng) is the capital of Guizhou province. While not the most spectacular of Chinese cities, it has much to offer as an introduction to the history, culture and natural splendor of Guizhou and China's southwest. Moreover, it is drastically cheaper than the more touristed and developed provinces. It makes an excellent base for exploring mountains, caves, rivers, and minority cultures of the province.
• Anshun (安顺; Ānshùn) is a city in Guizhou Province. The city is rather small, but the huge waterfalls and caves in the surrounding area make this city a popular stop in most trips to Guizhou.
• Kaili (凱里; Kǎilǐ) is an industrial city in Guizhou province and the capital of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture.