Southern China's alluring mix of Himalayan panoramas, ancient towns, rice terraces, minority villages and the spellbinding scenery of the Li River can now be combined using a new section of the high speed train network. This intrepid tour starts in Yunnan Province to see the famous ancient towns of Lijiang and Dali, the Upper Yangtze at Tiger Leaping Gorge and explore the delightful surroundings of the Shaxi Valley. After a short time in the provincial capital Kunming board a high speed train to Guizhou province to visit tiny picturesque villages dotted through verdant green landscapes. The region is also home to the Miao, Dong, Shui and Yao ethnic minorities which continue to thrive in face of modern technologies. Travel overland through the heart of Guizhou Province to see the many highlights of the region, which include the spectacular rice terraces at Jiabang and the ancient town of Zhaoxing. Continue south on the high speed train line and finish the trip with a few days relaxing in the sublime karst landscapes of Yangshuo on the Li River.