From a viewing platform three hundred meters away, a visitor can see thousands of Xijiang’s greenish-brown mountainside houses. In southwest China’s Guizhou Province, these pillar-supported wooden buildings have been preserved by locals for countless generations.

The houses on stilts, called Diaojiaolou, house people from the Tujia, Miao, Buyi and Dong ethnic minorities. Sitting high above the ground, the design provides natural ventilation while protecting against insects and wild animals. Covered-bridges, called wind-rain bridges in Chinese, are made of wood and built above rivers. Xijiang Miao Village has five such bridges.

In Miao villages, silver serves a symbolic purpose and people usually make silver jewelry by hand. Guizhou Provincial Museum exhibits silver jewelry from different times that shows how the Miao people attach totems and culture meanings to the items.

Miao people have many ways to welcome guests. In one ceremony, a host serves wine by pouring it from higher cups to lower ones and finally to the guest’s cup. If you like your drink, you don’t want to miss this.

The village has mild weather year-round but visitors might need to bring a jacket to watch the night sky. November is a recommended time to visit Miao Village, as the locals celebrate their new year with grand ceremonies and activities.