Guangxi

Guangxi, officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in South China and bordering Vietnam (Hà Giang, Cao Bằng, Lạng Sơn, and Quảng Ninh Provinces) and the Gulf of Tonkin. Formerly a province, Guangxi became an autonomous region in 1958. Its current capital is Nanning. Guangxi's location, in mountainous terrain in the far south of China, has placed it on the frontier of Chinese civilization throughout much of Chinese history. The current name "Guang" means "expanse" and has been associated with the region since the creation of Guang Prefecture in 226 AD. It was given provincial level status during the Yuan dynasty, but even into the 20th century, it was considered an open, wild territory. The abbreviation of the region is 桂 (Hanyu pinyin: Guì; Zhuang: Gvei), which comes from the name of the city of Guilin, the provincial capital during both the Ming and Qing dynasties. Guangxi contains the largest population of China's ethnic minorities after Yunnan, in particular, the Zhuang people, who make up 34% of the population. Various regional languages and dialects such as Pinghua, Zhuang, Kam, Cantonese, Hakka, and Min are spoken alongside Mandarin Chinese. Guangxi, officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in South China and bordering Vietnam (Hà Giang, Cao Bằng, Lạng Sơn, and Quảng Ninh Provinces) and the Gulf of Tonkin. Formerly a province, Guangxi became an autonomous region in 1958. Its current capital is Nanning. Guangxi's location, in mountainous terrain in the far south of China, has placed it on the frontier of Chinese civilization throughout much of Chinese history. The current name "Guang" means "expanse" and has been associated with the region since the creation of Guang Prefecture in 226 AD.

One-Day Guangxi Tour Itinerary Recommendations

Theme:

World-Famous Landscapes + Ethnic Culture + Borderland Mysteries

Suitable for:

Short trips to Guilin/Yangshuo/Chongzuo, optimal with high-speed rail + Li River cruise/e-bike

Practical Tips

Best Seasons:

Li River: Apr-Oct (high water) | Longji: May (water) / Sep (golden) | Detian: Jun-Aug (peak flow)

Ticket Prices:

Elephant Hill ¥55 | Li River raft ¥216 | Detian ¥115

Must-Try Flavors:

Guilin: Rice noodles (luosifen), taro pork

Longji: Bamboo chicken, terrace chili

Chongzuo: Sago palm flour, ant egg sauce

Optimization Tips:

Guilin alternative: Two Rivers & Four Lakes night cruise (Sun & Moon Pagodas)

Longji best with overnight stay for morning mist magic

Detian combo: Gulong Canyon rafting (requires 2-day trip)

(Note: Guilin→Yangshuo high-speed rail 30mins | No direct rail to Longji)

Option 1:

Guilin Classic Karst Tour

Best for:

First-time visitors, photographers

Transport:

City bus + Li River cruise

07:30-09:30 Elephant Trunk Hill Park

Iconic city symbol photo | Free entry before 8am

10:00-12:00 Li River Bamboo Raft (Yangdi-Xingping)

Nine-Horse Mural Hill + Yellow Cloth Reflection (¥20 RMB background)

12:30-14:00 Yangshuo Beer Fish Lunch

Recommended: Sister Xie's (fish with local beer + stuffed river snails)

14:30-17:00 Ten-Mile Gallery Cycling

E-bike past Moon Hill + Big Banyan Tree | Yulong River countryside

18:00 West Street Nightlife

Osmanthus cakes + pine candy | Try Zhuang brocade embroidery

Option 2:

Longji Terraces Discovery

Best for:

Nature lovers, cultural explorers

Transport:

Shuttle from Guilin Xiangjiang Hotel (2.5hrs)

06:30-09:00 Jinkeng Terraces

Cable car to "Music from Paradise" viewpoint | May-Oct water-filled terraces

09:30-12:00 Huangluo Yao Village

"World's Longest Hair Village" | Red Yao weaving + bamboo tube rice DIY

12:30-14:00 Farmhouse Lunch

Terraced chicken hotpot + glutinous rice wine (mountain-view restaurant)

14:30-17:00 Ping'an Village "Nine Dragons & Five Tigers"

Flagstone path hike | Seven Stars Viewing Platform

18:00 Starlit Terraces

Stay in stilt houses (book ahead) | Nighttime insect symphony

Option 3:

Detian Transnational Waterfalls

Best for:

Border adventurers, geography fans

Transport:

Bus from Nanning Langdong Station (4hrs) or self-drive

07:00-10:00 Detian Waterfall

Asia's largest transnational falls | Bamboo raft to Vietnam's Ban Gioc (bring border pass)

10:30-12:30 Mingshi Pastoral

"Journey of Flower" filming site | Cycling through karst scenery

12:30-14:00 Zhuang Ethnic Lunch

Five-color sticky rice + lemongrass grilled fish (Mingshi Resort)

14:30-17:00 Tongling Grand Canyon

Primeval forest hike | 188m waterfall + underground river

18:00 Shuolong Border Market

Vietnamese coffee + agarwood | Try "balut" duck embryo eggs