Life in a Guangxi Dong Village

Awakening to the REAL
- Culture Discovery & Life in a Guangxi Dong Village

There is only one true retreat
and that is to remain in this undivided place
where duality and the world of meanings cease.

Let Truth be revealed inside your stillness.
Personal determination,
knowledge or force alone
will not produce the desired result
of awakening to the Real.
Simply keep quiet and open to Grace.
Invite Her in with all your heart.
She listens and responds to your heart’s plea.

Length: 7 days, 6 nights
Location: Guilin Guangnan
Timing: Dec 19-26 ( Matching the Dong Near Year ), All year around suitable

About the Retreat

This time,
let us unveil the life of Dong Minority with its true life experiences.

live in the Dong village and travel back to its origins.
from nature to art, we will live the life of the local Dong.

Discuss in the "Dou", ( Dong Village's social center )
Sing the local tunes, and express life through music...

Share with the local child and encourage to draw the audacious dream,
sow the seeds into the little hearts and same to ours...

Every moment is the path towards,
the awakening to the Real....

Itinerary

Day 1
"Guangnan Village..."

--:-- We will arrange a gathering place and time according to all the participants
and transfer to village
--:-- Arrival Village and introduction of the village history
18:00 Dinner together
19:00 Local Welcoming Singing Ceremony
22:00 Good sleep

Day 2
“The Nature of Guangnan... ”

07:00 VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00 Breakfast and
08:30 Departure for a hike in the nature around, 15-20 KM Hike today.
Around 3-4 hours hike to the local " King Worship Spot",
   natural forest, waterfall...
12:30 Road Lunch
13:30 Continue the hike
16:00 Hike back
17:00 Rest and reflective of the day
18:30 Local Dinner
19:30 Discovery the Humanity Sociology Research Topic
Introduction the " Dou" of Dong Minority
22:00 Sleep time

Day 3
“The Artists of Dong...”

07:00 VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Visit the local church and meet the local musician, get to know him and,
   with a demonstration of the bamboo instruments and performance on site.
   Also, a little bit of the history how Christianity comes into Guangnan.
12:00 Local Lunch
14:00 Visit the local Pipa Workshop, the Guangnan "Wolrd Heritage Project - Pipa Song" The couple who are the transmitter of the World Heritage Art will show us
   on site the making and performance of the art and workshop with us.
Sharing time with the artists.
18:30 Dinner
19:30 Dou time
21:30 Stretching and rest

Day 4
“Traditional agriculture & DTF ”

07:00 VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Understand the local Traditional Agriculture Methodology
Walk the trails for the agriculture, observe the old oil tea tree,
- Learn how to make the biologic tea oil, the big sticky rice etc
- Learn how the locals use the traditional way to preserves the food
- how to use the Sticky Rice straw for the straw dragon & lions
12:00 Local lunch, like the normal man/women who works in the field,
   experience using the mountain spring cook sticky rice.
15:00 In the afternoon, after some rest,
   we will visit the local primary school of over hundred years,
get to know the students, and as outsider to mingle with the kids.
"Draw The Future"
     together in team with the local children,
Make teams mingle with visitors and local children,
Brainstorming as a team, and on a big paper to draw together the dreamed future.
   Sharing as team the result "Drawing of the FUTURE"
Each leader share feeling of collaboration within team, especially local child
19:00 Local Dinner
21:00 Exercise, stretching and rest

Day 5
“Architecture Visit & Summary before the leave”

07:00 VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Today, we will get into the Dong Architecture and its history
looking for the bridges, patagons & towers...
12:00 Local Lunch
14:00 Summary of the stay in Dong village
14:30 Leaving for Guilin
17:30 Arrival Airport or Guilin Center
   Dismiss & farewell

一日
下午，
专车接机后前往广南。
到达村落后，熟悉村子，了解当地历史。
18:00 当地晚餐
19:30 饭后小型行歌坐夜---一种类似迎庆活动

二日

早上8:30 从村里出发徒步大概15-20公里，
边走边玩3-4小时后到拜王滩，大自然的原始森林和瀑布，
夏天可以游泳淌水，中午露餐，
回程如果需要可以小车接，车程大概15分钟。

人类社会学项目
侗族“dou"的社区活动场所，类似我们的社区活动站

三日

上午由村里的歌王老师介绍示范如何就地取材用竹子做侗族的吹奏乐器，
并现场表演。
地点可以选在村里的福音堂，
顺带可以介绍西方传教士如何将基督教传到广南村。

下午参观琵琶乐器工作坊，由广南首创的非遗项目--琵琶歌
夫妇传授乐器的制作和演唱，
工作坊有课程可以试弹试唱。

四日

上午了解千年来侗族村民保留下来的自然传统农作物。
上山走农耕土路察看古油茶树、如何制作有机茶油；大糯米系列---
了解古往今来农民如何存放保存粮食；
如何利用糯草制作成草龙草狮。
中午在田间地头安排山泉煮糯米饭，亲身感受农耕生活。

下午走访村里的百年小学，
有70多名二年级以下的在读学生和学龄前儿童
和当地同学们一起的工作坊: “我们的未来梦想”
通过小组集体头脑风暴的方式，
一起协作描绘内心热望的梦想，
并总结后在一张大纸上展现出来，
最后，小组分享，
并由组长代表小组谈小组协作的感受。

五日

上午结合走村介绍侗寨建筑以及其发展历史，
用寻找的方式看桥、亭、鼓楼。。。；

下午总结后直接去桂林，
如住桂林宾馆，晚餐后休息。

Included
- All transportation from Campus and return
- Insurance
- All Meals as per itinerary from Day 1 till last day lunch
- Local workshops as itinerary describes
- Accommodation as the itinerary

Not Included
- Activities and expenses not mentioned in the itinerary
- Last day dinner

Equipment

- Hiking shoes
- Hiking jacket/pants or rain proof jacket,
- Weather protection according to season,
In spring summer: Long sleeves TS, quick dry sports clothes
   in winter warm layers fleece, quick dry inner layers, down jacket depend on season
- Mountain sunglasses, Lip balm, and sun protection
- Backpack 50-60L for luggage (suggest not to bring suitcase)
- Drinking bottle (no plastic bottles because refill is often with boiled water)
- Some snacks as you wish
- Personal medical care
- Personal washing kit, like towel, Toothpaste toothbrush

Transportation:
The meeting point is in Chengdu City (Sichuan Province).
A private mini-bus will be arranged from/back to Chengdu downtown or Airport.

Notice for the itinerary:
Returning to Chengdu occasionally have traffic jams and regulations.
To avoid missing the airplane please arrange your flight after 19:30 for the last day is better.

Gathering:
Time: anytime Day 1 at hotel
Place: (unless notified differently) at the Guesthouse lobby, informed upon booking.

Meals:
The meals will be country side local dishes, fresh vegetable and meat cooked in the traditional way. Simple and Healthy.
Should you have especial requirements, please let us know beforehand.

Accommodation:
We will stay in local guesthouse that we choose according to their good service commitment.
Arrangements are usually twin bedrooms and occassionally in a shared dormitory.
Friendly and Family atmosphere. Clean and simple.

Equipment:
(Need to be prepared by each participant)

- Hiking shoes (necessary, paths are very slippery when wet)
- Hiking Jacket & Pants
- Quick dry sports gear
- Rain coat
- Warm layers (depending on season: wind breaker, gloves & hat)
- Drinking bottle (no soft bottles because refill is often with boiled water)
- Small bag to carry your things during the day
- Weather protection according to the season
- Hiking Poles (optional, helpful with wet path and to avoid knee problems)
- Head lamp (optional)
- Personal toiletries and towel
- Small snacks

Booking Procedures:
-> INFORMATION & BOOKING

Activity Confirmation:
Upon reaching the minimum amount of participants, you'll receive an email with the last details about the trip. Usually 2 days before the departure.
If we are unable to reach the minimum amount of participants, we will postpone or cancel the activity.

Price: 3990 RMB

This activity requires a pre-payment.
Payment options are:
- Bank Transfer or Alipay, wechat wallet

Minimum 6 persons, Maximum 15 persons
Private Groups & Team Outings:
Choose a date and we can arrange the activity only for you
(price is dependant on group size).

Included:
- Land transportation once in Guilin (from & back to Guilin)
- Insurance (Click here for details)
- Meals as per itinerary
- Guiding & Coaching
- Accommodation

Not Included:
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Activities and expenses not mentioned in the itinerary
- Transportation (flight ticket, train, bus) to Guilin and from Guilin back to your city
- Personal equipment for hiking like hiking shoes, clothing, backpacks etc.

Enjoy your vitality,
devote to the Present and experience nature with serenity…
See you soon!