Guizhou — Karst Peaks & Miao Villages

Guizhou is China's most biodiverse and culturally layered province. Base yourself in Guiyang, then fan out to Huangguoshu — one of Asia's widest waterfalls — and the terraced fields of Jiabang. The Miao and Dong villages of southeastern Guizhou keep wooden stilt houses, lusheng music, and rice-wine hospitality alive. It is the easiest place in China to step off the tourist trail without leaving the comforts of a modern province.