Guangxi has truly become a legendary destination! Before visiting, you might have thought that Guangxi only had Guilin to offer. However, as National Geographic once said, “Guilin’s scenery is the finest under heaven, and Guangxi is full of places like Guilin.”
Some say that the scenery in Chongzuo rivals that of Guilin. If you have already been to Guilin or do not want to visit popular tourist spots, then Chongzuo in Guangxi is definitely suitable for you.
Here, you will find the same karst landforms as in Guilin, as well as Asia’s largest transnational waterfall. Every step presents a new view, and every casual snapshot is a picturesque landscape painting.
If you also want to visit Chongzuo, take a look at this “Guangxi Chongzuo Travel Guide” compiled by the editor, which includes information on scenic areas, must-see attractions, and must-try delicacies.
For those preparing for an independent trip, save this guide and continue reading below!
Chongzuo: A Border Town
Chongzuo, Guangxi, is an underestimated border town. Surrounded by mysterious karst landforms, it feels like being in a fairyland, earning the praise “Guilin’s scenery is the finest under heaven, and Chongzuo’s scenery is the finest in Guilin.” It borders Vietnam and is the prefecture-level city with the longest border line in Guangxi.
From Nanning, it takes about 2 hours by car to reach Chongzuo, where you can appreciate the unique charm of Sino-Vietnamese culture. If time permits, it is recommended to visit Chongzuo between June and November, which is the high-water season, providing better experiences for viewing waterfalls and enjoying rafting.
Chongzuo: Transportation Guide
How to Reach Chongzuo
✈️ Plane + High-speed Train: Chongzuo does not have an airport, so if you are coming from a distant place, you need to take a plane to Nanning first and then transfer to a high-speed train to Chongzuo.
🚄 High-speed Train: For those from surrounding provinces and cities in Guangxi, you can directly purchase tickets to Chongzuo Station. After arriving at the train station, you can take a taxi or arrange for hotel pick-up in advance.
🚗 Self-driving: From Nanning, it takes about 2 hours to reach Chongzuo by car.
Local Transportation for Sightseeing
There are many attractions in Chongzuo, and the distances between them are not very close (refer to the map above). If conditions permit, self-driving is the preferred option.
Alternatively, you can join a group tour or hire a car, which is quite convenient. It is recommended to choose a larger local travel agency for a more secure trip and compare prices to select the best option.
For those who do not want to join a tour group and cannot self-drive, you can choose to take a taxi (it is best to make a reservation a day in advance) or use public transportation. The prices and routes can be found below:
Nanning – Detian Waterfall
Langdong Bus Station (Langdong Bus Station – Chongzuo – Detian Waterfall) 💰 90 yuan/person
Detian Waterfall – Ming Shi Tian Yuan
Direct bus from the scenic area (board directly at the parking lot) Departs at 17:30 💰 10 yuan/person
Ming Shi Tian Yuan – Chongzuo South Station
Direct bus from the scenic area (board directly at the parking lot) Departs at 10:30/18:30 💰 40 yuan/person
Chongzuo – Nanning
High-speed train (choose the station according to your itinerary) 💰 36-61 yuan/person
Chongzuo: Attraction Guide
Detian Waterfall
Detian Waterfall in Chongzuo is one of the largest transnational waterfalls in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. Its average annual water flow is about three times that of Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou. It is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction in China.
The waterfall is magnificent and spectacular. It is also one of the filming locations for the TV series “The Journey of Flower.” It is definitely worth a visit.
It is highly recommended to experience the bamboo raft, which allows you to view the waterfall up close. The opposite bank of the river is Vietnam (PS: You may encounter Vietnamese people approaching the bamboo raft to sell things, just ignore them).
🎫 Ticket: Adult ticket price is 80 yuan/person
🚌 Sightseeing bus: 35 yuan/person
🚣🏻 Bamboo raft: 30 yuan/person
💰 Magic carpet + slide: 88 yuan/person
‼️ Combo ticket: 228 yuan/person (includes admission ticket, sightseeing bus, bamboo raft, flying magic carpet, and slide)
Gulongshan Grand Canyon
Compared to Detian Transnational Waterfall, Gulongshan Grand Canyon is more pristine. It combines canyons, caves, waterfalls, primitive vegetation, and towering cliffs.
The rafting journey spans nearly 6 kilometers, making you feel like you are in the Amazon rainforest. You can observe the Gulong Waterfall up close, which has a single-level drop of 128 meters and a width of over 70 meters. Those who have been there all say that this place is absolutely worth it!!
🎫 Ticket: Hiking ticket + shuttle bus for 115 yuan/person
🎫 Rafting: Free rafting for 180 yuan/person, classic rafting for 190 yuan/person (classic rafting includes a boatman to help paddle, while free rafting does not, so it will be more tiring. For those with children, no rafting experience, or average physical fitness, classic rafting is recommended)
Ming Shi Tian Yuan
Ming Shi Tian Yuan is a hidden paradise located by the Heishui River. There are few people here, the commercial atmosphere is not strong, and the consumption level is low. The scenery is beautiful, and the villagers are simple and honest.
It is highly recommended to rent a bicycle for cycling. You can rent from local residents, with bicycles costing around 10 yuan per hour and electric bicycles 15 yuan per hour.
Cycling through the rice fields allows you to experience the healing power of nature.
From Mingshi Bridge to Xingfu Bridge along Mingshi River, there are free greenways on both sides. You can stop and take photos by the rice fields. This section is the most beautiful! The Yulin Dam is also very pretty. In the evening, you can climb Longtou Mountain to watch the sunset and enjoy a panoramic view of Mingshi Village.
🎫 Ticket: Free
Anping Xianhe
Anping Xianhe is one of the filming locations for the famous TV series “The Journey of Flower.” The mountains embrace the water, and the water reflects the mountains. As you travel along, the scenery becomes more and more beautiful.
It is an AAAA-level attraction, and the main activity is to take a boat to enjoy the river scenery. When the boat passes by, there are impromptu performances and water mist sprays by NPCs on the riverbank. It is a relatively niche attraction, so if you have enough time, you can visit and play here.
🎫 Ticket: 80 yuan/person
🚣🏻 Boat ticket: 80 yuan/person (optional), recommended, worth experiencing
Huashan Rock Art
Huashan Rock Art is a representative of rock art in the Zuojiang River Basin. It is the largest single rock art panel, with the most concentrated images, the richest content, and the best-preserved rock art of its kind in the world. It is known as the largest symbol of rice cultivation culture in China, the gem of Zhuang culture, and the masterpiece of world rock art. It has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage site.
The largest rock painting is up to 3 meters high, making people wonder: How did the Luoyue people paint on the towering and steep rock walls? The colors remain vivid after thousands of years. The rock paintings mainly depict human activities, along with animals, objects, natural objects, and abstract patterns. The main themes express the scenes of shamans’ activities and reproduce the production and life scenes of that time.
🎫 Ticket: 90 yuan/person (includes boat ride)
Chongzuo: Food Guide
Chongzuo is a border city between Guangxi and Vietnam, with many places just a mountain away from Vietnam. Therefore, in addition to the flavors of Guangxi, you can also taste a wide variety of Vietnamese-style delicacies here.
Most of the cuisines have a sour and sweet taste. Friends who like sour and sweet flavors must try them. Must-try dishes include Vietnamese noodles, passion fruit pork ribs, and more. The editor has compiled some restaurants that have received many positive reviews online for your reference:
- No. 93 Small Kitchen
- Vietnamese Noodle Shop
- Old Street Local Cuisine Restaurant
- Shi Wei Restaurant
- Nalong Zhao Ji Seafood Porridge
- Old Chongzuo Flavor Restaurant
(Tastes vary from person to person, and the above restaurants are for reference only)
The above is ther Guangxi Chongzuo Travel Guide compiled by the editor for everyone.
Quickly forward it to your family and friends and embark on an impromptu trip!
