This is China’s Most Underrated Destination

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:17]We are on our way [music] from Shanghai to Xingyi.

[00:00:20]And I got lots of comments telling me to stop in Xingyi. I want to know, is this area really as [music] magical as people say?

[00:00:37]And after another long day of driving, we have arrived [music] here in Xingyi.

[00:00:42]Literally, the landscape here is incredible. It's just so many of these like bump mountains. [music] They're so like thin, but very tall and just rounded.

[00:00:50]Very peculiar landscape.

[00:00:53]As the sun set, [music] we had a beef hot pot. I edited some videos while Bella snored outside.

[00:01:00]And in the morning, we were up early to explore on two wheels.

[00:01:16]Good morning, everybody. It's 7:00 a.m.

[00:01:21]The sun is just coming up. We're going to get the bikes out and go for a nice morning cycle around. See what's up.

[00:01:31]So, we just made our way into Wanfenglin.

[00:01:33]Incredible. We are surrounded by jagged mountains, 360°.

[00:01:39]These mountains are all karst [music] limestone, which means around this area, lots of caves. And so like lush fertile [music] valley here. So many crops. If we came like a week ago, this rapeseed crop would be bright yellow. But now, it's time to harvest, so all the farmers are out cutting it [music] down and taking it in to make oil. And these villagers are a minority I've never met before. They are called the Bouyei.

[00:02:02]Let's go and check out.

[00:02:07]>> [music] [singing] >> Incredibly peaceful just cycling through these little Bouyei villages. [music] And summer's arrived, so it's like starting to get a little bit hot.

[00:02:39]Hello.

[00:02:47]Open Dongbei. This is my favorite. I didn't really get it down here in Guizhou as well. It's like barbecued nice and crispy on the outside.

[00:02:54]Delicious.

[00:03:00]Cycling [music] is the way to go here.

[00:03:02]There's really nobody on the roads. So quiet. I like she she very nice so far.

[00:03:09]Don't know where to look. Should I look at the jagged mountains over here or the lovely rounded karst cliffs here?

[00:03:15]There's a river down here. The road has lovely pink flowers the whole way. We've got bamboo, birds, butterflies. Guizhou got everything.

[00:03:24]I'm not sure your apartment in Guiyang.

[00:03:26]I might have to move here.

[00:03:30]>> [music] >> Right here at the end of the valley, there's an incredibly special place inside a cave. Wow, I didn't know it was this big. It's gigantic.

[00:03:49]So we're heading into Wang Fo Dong Temple. And it's from the Ming Dynasty.

[00:03:54]Super old.

[00:03:58]The birdsong is incredible from inside the cave. There's just hundreds of birds flying in and out constantly. The cave is 126 m high and 66.8 m wide.

[00:04:09]Gigantic.

[00:04:19]We're just on our way down and obviously don't want [music] to video up in there, but it's really hard to describe how big. You've got massive gold Buddhas and probably thousands of smaller ones as well. Very impressive place and yeah, really glad that I came and got to experience that. We have to cycle back up that hill we came down. Hope you're ready.

[00:04:38]>> [laughter] >> After a long hard slog up the hill. Wow.

[00:04:47]What?

[00:04:48]Beautiful place.

[00:04:53]We enjoyed the cycle back through the idyllic [music] countryside and made our way back to the van, but there was no time to rest.

[00:05:06]Leaving our bikes behind, we've driven to this bridge. People said, "Woah!"

[00:05:11]People told me to come to this bridge.

[00:05:14]Look at this.

[00:05:19]What sort of fairy tale land is here?

[00:05:22]All of the leaves off the tree are just blowing through the canyon and the mist of the waterfalls. So green, so epic, so large. Xingyi has absolutely everything.

[00:05:38]>> [music] >> So, after all that cycling, I am so hungry. It's time for some proper authentic Guizhou chai.

[00:05:47]What can we eat? No junk again, though.

[00:06:13]It's [music] just sticky rice, but so flavorful.

[00:06:18]Like you got the soft rice, and then you got the very sweet >> [music] >> sausage, a little bit of crunch from the peanuts, and this pork.

[00:06:27]And then, this is also a really nice addition. This [music] pink sour turnip just like explodes in your mouth. It's very fresh-tasting.

[00:06:35]And all of this for 18 RMB.

[00:06:38]What a bargain.

[00:06:40]This is Jian Fen. And again, everything included.

[00:06:46]Wow.

[00:06:48]You got the Suan Tang [music] in the bottom. So, I just feel like Suan Tang tastes like summer.

[00:06:55]I think this is my favorite. This is so refreshing. Like it cools you down so much. You see, even in Guizhou, like 4 RMB food, [music] they don't make it now, right now, in front of your face.

[00:07:07]True. Nothing's pre-made. Like the guy just makes it.

[00:07:15]How to eat it at the bus stop.

[00:07:20]And this afternoon, I've come to Fengling Village, which is one of the minority villages. Guizhou has lots of minorities, the Dong, Miao, Tujia, and here [music] it is the Buyi. Look at those cliffs. It's insane. After checking out this massive cave at the entrance, this really cool bird, and these elevated walkways. I stumbled [music] across one of the most magical views I've ever seen. Woah!

[00:07:49]What an incredible reveal.

[00:07:54]>> [music] >> The things you find while traveling through China, really.

[00:08:01]Some places just take your breath away.

[00:08:06]>> [music] >> What is this?

[00:08:14]This is the most beautiful old time ever been to.

[00:08:17]It is I did not expect this.

[00:08:22]This is absolute madness.

[00:08:25]Unbelievable. What an aesthetic place.

[00:08:28]Honestly, it feels like a video game.

[00:08:29]I'm not joking. That's exactly [music] what it's like. I feel like I'm playing PlayStation right now and nothing's real.

[00:08:38]So, obviously a lot of like costume shops that you can dress up in the Bouyei minority because this is just a picture-perfect paradise.

[00:08:46]What is going on? This place is just crazy.

[00:08:50]I think this is the show coming through.

[00:08:54]>> [music] >> So, the village is built on many [music] layers and then right down at the bottom here, we have like a lake. Water was very important to the Bouyei and they actually mastered the technique of using water wheels to grind grain and do things like irrigation.

[00:09:33]I know I joked earlier about how much we're apartments in Xingyi, but I'm really thinking about it now.

[00:09:41]And everyone, all the show has actually made its way past me, and they're on the stage here playing all of their instruments.

[00:09:48]>> [music] >> Now, I am aware that this place is incredibly commercial.

[00:09:58]It obviously very much caters towards [music] tourists, but if it wasn't, how would you ever find this? It's so deep in the mountains, and there's probably loads more old towns like this that have just been forgotten about. I think it's really unique. It's got really intricate, amazing buildings, and then [music] on top of that, like the surrounding mountains are also absolutely ridiculous. So, you add all things together, [music] it's like mind-blown.

[00:10:24]And I am well aware that I basically ran through this town in such [music] a short period of time. It really warrants a longer visit, a full day.

[00:10:33]Beautiful.

[00:10:34]Beautiful.

[00:10:36]>> [music] >> And to the lady who gave me this home bow, if you're watching, thank you very much. Very, very kind of you. Your kindness is very much appreciated.

[00:10:47]I don't know how people can say, "Oh, Chinese people are rude." They're literally the friendliest people ever.

[00:10:52]Fantastic.

[00:10:57]What a fantastic day. I'm in absolute awe of Xingyi.

[00:11:02]The morning cycle [music] was such a good idea. It was very relaxing, so pleasant, and just jaw-droppingly beautiful. But I feel like Xingyi has just so much to offer. The scenery is unreal, the food is phenomenal, and those little villages tucked away deep in the mountains are just special. I had such a good time in Xingyi, but I know I didn't even spend two days [music] here.

[00:11:24]So, I obviously missed out on loads of things. So, let me know down in the comments what else I should do next time I come back, which will be very, very soon.

[00:11:32]See you guys all in the next one.

[00:11:34]Bye-bye.

[00:11:36]Ladies and gentlemen, next time we make our way [music] into Yunnan, drive up a mountain, and spend a few days in a proper hidden gem.

[00:11:48]>> [music]