Xijiang
Hidden in the folds of the Leigong Hills, Xijiang is thought to be the largest Miao village. It's a superbly picturesque place, set in a natural basin and bordered by paddy fields drenched in green, with wooden houses rising up the hillside. The village is a site in itself and there are also plenty of pleasant walks you can take around the hillside.
Cong'an
Lying about two hours north of Kaili by bus, this hamlet's claim to fame is its market, held every five days. Set along the river, Chong'an retains its village size and atmosphere as well as many of its wooden homes and buildings. There are also some good walks along the river and into the Miao villages nearby.
Zhaoxing
Southeast of Kaili, the road climbs into the hills before finally descending into a subtropical basin. In the very south of this region is Zhaoxing, a lively, traditional Dong Minority village with a remarkable total of five drum towers. Zhaoxing still boasts its traditional wooden structures, including a number of wind and rain bridges and theatre stages. Many of the town's inhabitants continue to wear traditional clothing and speak only their native Dong language. Surrounded by lush fields and hills, Zhaoxing is a small oasis and well worth a day's stopover.