In the early morning, the Li River.
A bamboo raft slowly glides past, ripples spreading across the water. Green mountains on both banks reflect in the water, a fisherman wearing a bamboo hat, cormorants standing on the bamboo pole, waiting for the command to catch fish. Morning mist drifts among the mountains, distant peaks appearing and disappearing.
This is the scene on the back of the 20 yuan note.
Guangxi is a place that makes you want to stay.
Province Profile#
- Location: Southern China, bordering Vietnam
- Best Travel Season: April-October (Li River high water season)
- Highlights: Karst landscape, ethnic minority culture, border scenery, longevity hometown
Must-Visit Attractions#
Guilin Li River: Landscape Gallery#
“Guilin’s landscape tops the world,” and the Li River is the essence of Guilin’s landscape.
From Guilin to Yangshuo, 83 kilometers of waterway, with fantastic peaks on both banks in various shapes. Nine Horses Painting Mountain has nine horses naturally formed on the cliff face—legend says those who can see nine horses are geniuses. Yellow Cloth Reflection is the most beautiful section of the Li River, the clear water surface like a mirror reflecting green mountains.
Best Experience: Take a bamboo raft from Yangdi to Xingping—this is the most beautiful section of the Li River. Arrive in Yangshuo at dusk to see West Street’s lights.
Yangshuo: A Small Town Amidst Landscape#
Yangshuo is a backpacker’s paradise, and one of China’s earliest international tourist destinations.
West Street is Yangshuo’s soul, lined with bars, cafés, and craft shops. At night, tourists from all over the world drink and chat here, extremely lively.
Yulong River is a tributary of the Li River, quieter and more pristine. Take a bamboo raft drifting, with pastoral scenery on both banks—water buffalo grazing by the river, villagers working in the fields.
Ten-Mile Gallery is a cyclist’s favorite, riding along country roads with green mountains, fields, and villages on both sides—picturesque scenery.
Best Experience: Rent an e-bike and ride along country roads, stop at a farmhouse restaurant when tired, and eat a meal of beer fish.
Detian Waterfall: Transnational Grand Waterfall#
Detian Waterfall is China’s largest transnational waterfall, connected to Vietnam’s Ban Gioc Waterfall.
The waterfall is over 100 meters wide, with a drop of over 70 meters, cascading in three tiers. During the rainy season, water volume is abundant and momentum is magnificent. Standing on the viewing platform, watching the waterfall cascade down, water mist permeating, rainbows appearing and disappearing.
Boundary Marker 53 beside the waterfall marks the China-Vietnam border—you can see Vietnamese villages up close.
Best Experience: Take a bamboo raft close to the waterfall and feel the cool water mist on your face.
Special Experiences#
Longji Rice Terraces#
Longji Rice Terraces are the masterpiece of Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups’ generations of cultivation.
Terraced fields spiral from foothills to mountaintops, like giant dragons coiled on the mountains. In spring when filled with water, the terraces are like mirrors reflecting blue sky and white clouds; in autumn when rice matures, it’s a sea of golden yellow—breathtakingly beautiful.
Ping’an Village and Jinkeng Red Yao Village are good viewing spots—you can stay in the villages to see sunrise and sunset.
Beihai Silver Beach#
Beihai has “The First Beach Under Heaven,” with sand white and fine, water clear.
Weizhou Island is China’s youngest volcanic island, with volcanic rocks, coral reefs, and banana groves forming unique island scenery. Ride an e-bike around the island, watch sunset, eat seafood—this is the most pleasant summer experience.
Bama Longevity Village#
Bama is a world-famous longevity village, with an extremely high proportion of centenarians.
The water, air, and magnetic field here are all considered beneficial to health. Many urbanites come to Bama to stay for a period, breathing fresh air and drinking longevity water as a health regimen.
Travel Tips#
- Transportation: Guilin has Liangjiang Airport, with high-speed rail connecting to all parts of the country. Yangshuo also has a high-speed rail station. Detian Waterfall is about 3 hours by car from Nanning.
- Accommodation: In Yangshuo, stay near West Street or by Yulong River; in Guilin, stay near Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area.
- Note: Bamboo rafts may stop running during the Li River’s low water season (winter). Detian Waterfall is most spectacular during the rainy season.
Guangxi’s beauty is the kind that makes you want to stay.
Cycling through Yangshuo’s countryside, drifting on Yulong River, watching sunset at Longji Rice Terraces, spacing out on Beihai’s beach… time here seems to pass especially slowly.
Come to Guangxi and put your heart at ease.
Tomorrow, we head to Hainan to see the romance of Tianya Haijiao and the sunshine of Sanya.