You won’t believe your eyes. This basically sums up a trip to the ecologically-insane Guangxi province. Take your pick: get a feel for ethnic culture amongst impossibly-huge rice terraces; get up close and personal to mighty waterfalls; maze your way through earth-burrowing caves; drift along shimmering river waters; or bamboozle over description-defying karst scenery. Our suggestion: take in and cherish everything you can. Do not miss a visit to Yangshou: this place is without question a must-see-before-you-die. So let’s look at where to travel in Guangxi province…
Travel Guangxi province: Nanning
The provincial capital of Guangxi, Nanning is known as the “Green City” (and the city streets here really are jam-packed with trees). The city is brimming with beautiful scenery and vitality, as well as some pretty-unique staple foods. The city has a distinctive southern-vibe, and this more Viet influence is a friendly contrast to some of China’s more northern cities. Our must-see picks for Nanning lie a bit outside the city centre: the densely forested Qingxiu and Daming Mountains.
The Qingxiu Mountain Range is renowned for its beauty and clear waters. The dubbed ‘lung of Nanning’ is made up of 18 mountain peaks and dozens of foothills covered in foliage. The main peak of the Daming Mountain Range is 1,761 meters (5,777 feet) high with a surrounding natural landscape blessed with canyons, old-growth forests, ancient trees, waterfalls, and expansive grasslands.
Travel Guangxi province: Guilin
Guilin’s wonderful landscape of mountains and water is famed throughout the whole of China. Split by the Li River, the city is lined with jagged-peak limestone karsts and green mountains. Guilin is also a world-class rock climbing hot-spot, attracting climbers domestically and abroad. The city is also within striking-distance of some remarkable cave formations well worth a visit. So ride, hike, climb and cave your way around Guilin.
The city-centred Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area captures the rustic charm and beauty of the region. Comprising the Li River, Taohua River, Shan Lake, Rong Lake, Gui Lake, and Mulong Lake, the pagoda-lit view at night is particularly majestic. After snapping-away here, head over to the close-by Xiangshan Scenic Area. Also known as “Elephant Trunk Hill” (no prizes for guessing as to how it got that name), Xiangshan Scenic Area is home to various caves, islands and pagodas.
Four Lakes Scenic Area
Rounding off Guilin’s centralized attractions is the Duxiu Peak Palace Destination: trek up the 396 stone steps to the top of peak and take in a panoramic view of the whole city and surrounding mountains.
Guilin serves as an excellent base for checking-out some truly amazing cave formations. Yinziyan (or the Silver Cave) has been formed as a result of an exemplary karst landform creating a multitude of peaks and stalactites. The thousands of milky-white and shining silver formations are sure to leave a lasting impression. The Ludi Cave (Reed Flute Cave) is the regions most famed. Brimming with different kinds of stalagmites, stalactites and stone pillars, Ludi Cave is a spectacular water-eroded wonderland.
Yangshuo
This is what Guangxi is all about. Most people will synonymously interchange Guilin with Yangshou, but we prefer to treat Yangshou separately (for geographical and attraction-listing reasons). If you have ever had an epiphany calling you to bamboo-raft upon shimmering river waters beneath sublime karst peaks, then Yangshou will satisfy that vision. The scenery here rates amongst the world’s most dramatic and surreal: we can only hope that our descriptions afford some justice.
Perhaps the best way to explore this heavenly slice of Earth is with the humble bicycle: just grab a bike from your hotel and let your heart (and eyes) guide you. Just being in Yangshou is really an experience in itself, but some specific scenic spots are well-worth a mention. Rafting down the unbelievably clear Yulong River is unmissable. Slow riding on a bamboo raft and watching the rolling hills, stretches of green and dominating karst peaks pass by is the quintessential China experience.
There are too many insane scenic spots in Yangshou vying for top position, so we will just list a few favourites. The view at the top of the fittingly-named Moon Hill is “get the camera out”. The view from the Peak Ruyi Scenic Spot is “ok, how much camera battery do we have left?”. The view at Shiwai Taoyuan is “oh my – did we bring the drone?”. The view from Xianggong Mountain (located on the bank of the Li River in the town of Xingping) is “my goodness – let’s just take this all in”.
The majesty of the regions landscape is further encapsulated in the scenery of the Li River. Without exaggeration, dubbed as one of the “best landscapes on Earth”, this is the place to come face-to-face with the local fisherman, buffalo laden river banks, and life supporting rice paddies. The Li River fisherman are famed for their beaked partners: after catching a fish, the birds will return to the boat and willing hand-over the catch to their human counterparts.
Be sure to check out some the man-made scenes of Yangshou. The West Street in Yangshuo is a 1,400 year old collection of Ming and Qing Dynasty styled building. The classical charm of the street is enhanced by it’s many bars, restaurants and hipster cafes (a popular hangout for locals and foreigners alike). Xingping Ancient Town (depicted on the back of the 20 RMB note) is a historic fishing village set amongst karst grandeur.
Travel Guangxi province: Chongzuo
This ‘City of Sugar’ (with an annual output of 2 million tons of the sweet stuff) is geographically extremely close to Vietnam. If you have made your way to Chongzuo, it is most likely to marvel at its waterfall. The Detian Transnational Waterfall lies on the border with Vietnam and straddles both China and Vietnam. The largest falls spanning two countries in Asia, it is over 200 meters (650 feet) wide. It may not be the biggest waterfall, but the surrounding karst peaks create an unforgettable image of grandeur.
After gawking at the waterfall, scoot over to the Mingshi Scenic Area. Affectionately dubbed as China’s “Second Guilin”, Mingshi Scenic Area is where unique karst landscape, picturesque rivers, and rustic villages meet. Jump on a bamboo raft and soak in the rural life.
Longsheng
A visit here is all about the Longji Rice Terraces. These terraces offer up some of the most fantastic scenery in China (and probably the world). These hundreds-years old terraces cascade down into the valley below in a dazzling feat of ancient engineering. May and June is the best time to see the irrigated mirror-like terraces; July and August see the fields covered in green; and September to November see the terraces ablaze with ripened gold. You will be taking hundreds of photos regardless of the season.
A visit to the Longji Rice Terraces is generally accompanied by a wonder around the surrounding local villages. The villages are inhabited by several ethnic minorities, including the Zhuang and Yao groups. Each village has its own refined building style, dress, and customs.
Travel Guangxi province: Hezhou
Hezhou is green: 80% of the city is covered by forest. The city has a long history of trade and multi-ethnicity, which is clearly evident in its architecture and festivities. Do not miss Huangyao Ancient Town. Established during the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD), Huangyao Ancient Town is a fantastically preserved collection of stone streets and grey-brick buildings. Nearby Gupo Mountain is the place to reenergize on waterfalls and primeval lush forest. The award for the regions most dramatic scenery goes to the Hezhou Jade Forest Scenic Area. Jurassic-period jade formations have created a rare set of stone columns and stalagmites.
Beihai
South set Beihai is a vacation-destination favourite famed for its beaches, pleasant climate and deliciously-infused food. Due to its geographical sitting, Beihai food is a mixture of Chinese, Cantonese and Vietnamese: that can only lead to yumminess. Besides the snacks, Weizhou Island is the main draw card of the city. Actually an extinct volcano, Weizhou Island is home to a myriad of spotless beaches, coral reefs, vegetation and lava-defined seaside.
Baise
Straddling Vietnam, Baise is known for fruit and tobacco production. Baise city proper may not have too much to offer, but the bit further afar Tongling Grand Canyon is one of Guangxi’s most beautiful spots. Home to rainforests, waterfalls, and a spectacular canyon, Tongling Grand Canyon is also a fascinating repository of stunning lava deposits and ancient tree specimens. If you do find yourself around, Goose Spring in nearby Jingxi city is a quaint scenic spot nestled among towering mountains and rolling farmland.
