Blogs from Basha, Guizhou, China, Asia

Leaving Zhoaxing was as challenging as arriving in the village. We had checked with the hotel owner re a bus onwards to Congjiang and he advised us that one left every morning at 7.30 and we just needed to hale it as it drove past. When we went to leave the hotel next morning we had to wake the owner who in his fetching fluffy dressing-gown and slippers unlocked not one, but two, doors to let us out. In most hotels in Asia you are locked in at night - something we try not to think about as it is a hazard re fires. He locked up behind us and presumably went back to bed. Usually there is somebody sleeping on a couch right beside the door, but not always. We were greeted on the street ... read more

Situated in the hills that surround Congjiang, the riverside Chinese equivalent of a one-horse town, Basha is perhaps the most well-known and popular Miao village in the state. In terms of scenery, Basha most certainly puts the former to shame. While still touched by the hand of development, evident in one or two of the photos I posted, this village, spread through the lush foothills of southeast Guizhou province, in comparison with more easily accessible roadside towns such as Congjiang, this Miao village retains the vast majority of its original character. Our local guide and village resident Gui Yuanliang (his Mandarin namedont ask me for his Miao nameI definitely missed that one) is actually a nation-wide movie star. Dont let his stature fool you, this guy is one hardened, gun-toting, chest-puffing stack of a man. ... read more