What is Guangxi famous for?

Two halves: the karst north of Guilin and Yangshuo (Li River, Longji terraces), and the tropical south of Nanning, Chongzuo and Beihai (Detian transnational waterfall, Silver Beach and Weizhou volcanic island). Locals sum it up as 'Guilin's scenery is best under heaven, and Beihai's Silver Beach is its southern pride.'

How many days do I need for Guangxi?

A week to ten days covers the classic sweep: 2-3 days Guilin and Yangshuo, 1 day Longji terraces, 1 day to the Detian waterfall, 2-3 days Beihai and Weizhou island, plus a day in Nanning for food. Our sample plans run 6, 8 and 9 days.

When is the best time to visit Guangxi?

April to October. The Longji terraces flood into mirrors after the lunar 15th of April and turn golden at harvest; the coast is warm from spring; summer (July-August) is hot at 30-38 C and wet, so pack sun and rain and watch for typhoons.

Is Guangxi expensive?

No. A bowl of rice noodles costs about RMB 5, street meals RMB 10-20. A full 8-day trip runs roughly RMB 4,000 per person including long-haul transport; the big spends are the Li River boat, the Detian and Weizhou entry tickets and the Beihai hotel by the sea.

How do I get around Guangxi?

Three airports (Guilin, Nanning, Beihai), a high-speed rail network centred on Nanning and Guilin, and buses everywhere. Nanning is the transport hub to the south; direct coaches even run from Nanning to Hanoi in Vietnam.

Can I book my Guangxi trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Yes. Email info@joyotour.com or message us on WhatsApp. We arrange hotels, Li River boats, Detian and Weizhou tickets, ferries, guides and cross-city trains free of charge, with no obligation.

Guangxi Travel Guide 2026 — Guilin Karst, Detian Falls, Beihai Coast & Zhuang Lands

What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Guangxi Bucket Listthe six experiences that define the province

1 · Drift the Li River's 22 km essence

The Yangdi-to-Xingping bamboo raft past Nine Horses Hill, the Yellow Cloth Reflection and the very peaks printed on the RMB 20 note — the single most famous stretch of water in China.

2 · Stand on the Vietnam border at Detian

Asia's largest transnational waterfall thunders off the cliff at Detian village, the Guichun River looping out of China, into Vietnam and back again. Bamboo rafts put you at the base of the curtain.

3 · Cycle the Yangshuo countryside

Flat roads between karst peaks, rice paddies and the Ten Li Gallery — a morning on the Yulong River rafts and an afternoon on two wheels is the heart of the region.

4 · Wake above the Longji terraces

Carved by Zhuang and Yao farmers over centuries, the tiered slopes of Ping'an and Jinkeng flood into mirrors in May and turn to gold at the September harvest.

5 · Swim the Silver Beach and ferry to Weizhou

24 km of limpid, shark-free sand at Beihai, then a boat out to Weizhou — China's youngest volcanic island, with coral reefs, a century-old coral-rock church and sunsets over lava.

6 · Eat all night on Nanning's Zhongshan Road

Old-friend rice noodles, sour pickled fruit, grilled skewers and congee — a thousand metres of stalls that run until the small hours, the best introduction to Guangxi's food.

What Guangxi Does Bestthe six reasons travellers come

No.1 · Guilin — scenery best under heaven 桂林

The karst capital: solitary peaks, caves and the Li River, where the old saying runs 'wish to be a Guilin man, not an immortal'. Start on the Guilin guide.

No.2 · Yangshuo — scenery best in Guilin 阳朔

'Guilin's scenery is best under heaven; Yangshuo's is best in Guilin.' West Street, the Yulong River and the Ten Li Gallery — the countryside half of the karst story.

No.3 · Chongzuo — a waterfall that crosses the border 崇左

The Detian transnational waterfall and the Friendship Gate at Pingxiang — French-style villas, Zhuang cliff paintings and Vietnamese goods at the border markets.

No.4 · Beihai — the island coast 北海

Silver Beach, the old arcade street, Star Island Lake and Weizhou volcanic island — everything that has to do with the sea, plus southern pearls. See the Beihai guide.

No.5 · Longsheng — spectacular terraces 龙胜

Longji's terraced hills, Zhuang and Yao villages, bamboo-tube rice and the forest hot springs — a world-class rice-landscape 87 km north of Guilin.

No.6 · Nanning — food without end 南宁

The capital 'Green City': Zhongshan Road night market, Qingxiu Mountain, the yearly ASEAN Expo and the gateway to Vietnam. See the Nanning guide.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Guangxi

How do I split my time between the north and south?

Most travellers do the karst north first — Guilin, Yangshuo, Longji (4-5 days) — then fly or take the high-speed train south to Nanning and Beihai (3-4 days). Direct trains link Guilin and Nanning, and coaches run Nanning to Beihai every 40 minutes.

Can I cross into Vietnam from here?

Yes. Nanning's Langdong coach station runs direct buses to Hanoi; from Pingxiang you reach the Friendship Gate on foot, and from Dongxing you enter Mong Cai. Bring your passport, keep the crossing receipts and arrange a Beihai or Pingxiang hotel for the night.

What ethnic groups and festivals will I see?

Besides the Han, Guangxi is home to 11 minorities — the Zhuang are the largest in China (about a third of the population), plus Yao, Miao, Dong and others. The Zhuang song-fair on the third day of the third lunar month (San Yue San) is the loudest, with singing fairs by day and night.

Is it safe to eat the street food?

Yes — it is the point of the trip. Nanning's sour pickled fruit (sour items), Guilin rice noodles and Beihai seafood are all streetside classics. At the coast, buy seafood at the market and have a restaurant cook it to avoid resort markup.

Do I need a car?

No. The rail and coach network reaches every county; the Li River, Detian and Weizhou all work by boat or shuttle. Only the Longji terraces and remote canyon days are easier on an organised shuttle.

Can you book the whole province for us?

Yes — email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. We book hotels, boats, tickets, ferries and cross-city trains free of charge.

Sample Itinerariescross-city plans that link the whole province

Karst to Coast 6-Day Tour

The headline sweep: Guilin and Yangshuo, the Li River raft, then the train south to Nanning and Beihai, finishing with Silver Beach and Weizhou island. Highlights: Li River · Yangshuo · Nanning · Silver Beach View day-by-day plan →

Day 1

Guilin city. Jingjiang Princes' City & Duxiu Peak (¥130) in the morning, the riverside past Elephant Trunk Hill (¥75), and an evening walk around Two Rivers & Four Lakes as the Sun-Moon Towers light up.

Day 2

Li River raft → Yangshuo. Shuttle to Yangdi and raft the Li River 's 22 km essence stretch to Xingping (¥95–120) — Nine Horses Hill and the RMB 20-note peaks. Coach to Yangshuo (¥7) and the lanterns of West Street at night, with Impression Liu Sanjie (¥188–680, 20:00) if you wish.

Day 3

Yangshuo countryside. Morning Yulong River rafts (¥120–240 per two-person raft), then a bicycle down the Ten Li Gallery to Moon Hill. Evening back in Yangshuo for beer fish on West Street.

Day 4

South to Nanning. Train or coach from Guilin to Nanning (about 3–4 h). Afternoon on Qingxiu Mountain (from ¥18), then the night market on Zhongshan Road — old-friend noodles, sour fruit and grilled skewers.

Day 5

Nanning → Beihai. Coach or fast train to Beihai (~3 h, ¥55–60). Afternoon on Silver Beach — 24 km of fine white sand, sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin — then the colonial arcade buildings of Beihai Old Street.

Day 6

Weizhou island or the beach. Take the morning ferry to Weizhou Island (from ¥98 entry, ~70 min) and cycle the volcanic-crater geopark and Shiluokou coral beach, returning on the afternoon boat. Prefer a slow day? Stay on Silver Beach and the seafood market instead.

Nanning & Vietnam Border 4-Day

Southwest Guangxi: Nanning food, the Detian transnational waterfall, Mingshi pastoral landscape and the Friendship Gate at Pingxiang. Highlights: Detian Falls · Mingshi · Friendship Gate · Nanning View day-by-day plan →

Day 1

Nanning. Qingxiu Mountain (from ¥18) in the morning for the Longxiang Pagoda over the Yong River, the China-ASEAN Convention Center at lunch, then Zhongshan Road at night — old-friend noodles, sour fruit and grilled skewers. Base near the railway station for tomorrow's coach.

Day 2

Nanning → Detian. Coach southwest to Daxin (about 3 h). Afternoon at the Detian Waterfall (from ¥115 incl. shuttle, open 08:00–22:00) — Asia's largest transnational waterfall, bamboo rafts to the foot of the curtain. Stay in Daxin or the scenic area.

Day 3

Mingshi & the Friendship Gate. Morning at Mingshi pastoral — the 'little Guilin' river and karst fields near the falls. Then on to Pingxiang and the Friendship Gate (Youyiguan), a 2,000-year-old pass on the Vietnam border. With your passport, walk across for the border town of Dong Dang and the Vietnamese market; otherwise browse the border goods in Pingxiang.

Day 4

Back to Nanning. Coach back north, optionally detouring to the Tongling Grand Canyon at Baise (from ¥99) — rainforest walkways, a 188 m waterfall and fresh air — before the evening train or flight out of Nanning.

Full Guangxi 9-Day Grand Tour

Everything: Guilin and Yangshuo, the Longji terraces, Nanning, Chongzuo, Beihai and Weizhou — the complete north-to-south province. Highlights: Li River · Longji · Detian · Beihai · Weizhou View day-by-day plan →

Day 1

Guilin city. Elephant Trunk Hill (¥75), Princes' City & Duxiu Peak (¥130), and the night walk of Two Rivers & Four Lakes .

Day 2

Li River → Yangshuo. Raft the Li River essence from Yangdi to Xingping (¥95–120), then on to Yangshuo and West Street at night.

Day 3

Yangshuo. Yulong River rafts (¥120–240) in the morning, Ten Li Gallery cycling to Moon Hill in the afternoon, beer fish on West Street at night.

Day 4

Longji Terraces. Shuttle up to Longsheng and the Longji Rice Terraces (from ¥80) — Ping'an Zhuang village and the tiered slopes, lunch of bamboo-tube rice; stay a terrace guesthouse for the sunrise.

Day 5

Longsheng → Nanning. Back to Guilin and the train or coach south to Nanning. Evening on Zhongshan Road — old-friend noodles, sour fruit, grilled skewers.

Day 6

Nanning → Detian. Morning at Qingxiu Mountain (from ¥18), then coach southwest to the Detian Waterfall (from ¥115) for the late-afternoon light and bamboo rafts.

Day 7

Detian → Beihai. Morning Mingshi pastoral near the falls, then the long transfer south to Beihai. Evening on Silver Beach and the seafood market.

Day 8

Weizhou Island. Ferry to Weizhou Island (from ¥98) — cycle the volcanic crater geopark, Shiluokou coral beach and the coral-rock Catholic church, sunset over the sea.

Day 9

Beihai departure. Morning on the Silver Beach boardwalk or Beihai Old Street's arcade buildings, then the airport or train out of Beihai.

Every plan is bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full Guangxi itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day excursions.

Top Attractionsthe best of the whole province

The Li River — Guilin's signature scenery

Li River 漓江

The 83 km backbone of Guilin's karst, of which the 22 km Yangdi–Xingping stretch is unmissable. Cruise boats run from Mopanshan and Zhujiang docks; bamboo rafts start at Yangdi. See the Guilin guide for docks and times.

Cruise

¥190–450 by class

Tips: Raft: ¥95–120

View details →

Longji Rice Terraces 龙脊梯田

A world-class rice-terrace landscape of Zhuang and Yao villages — Ping'an and the red-yao Jinkeng terraces, 87 km from Guilin. Mirrors after mid-May, golden at the September harvest. Entry from ¥80, shuttle combos ¥124–130.

Admission	from ¥80
Best season	May flood / Sept gold

View details →

Bamboo rafts on the Yulong River, Yangshuo

Yulong River & Yangshuo 遇龙河·阳朔

The gentler emerald river beneath the karst walls, floated on two-person rafts, and the Ten Li Gallery cycling road to Moon Hill. West Street's lanterns are the evening reward.

Tips: Raft: ¥120–240 per two-person raft

View details →

Detian transnational waterfall on the Vietnam border

Detian Waterfall 德天跨国瀑布

Asia's largest and the world's fourth-largest transnational waterfall, straddling China and Vietnam on the Guichun River at Daxin. Bamboo rafts put you at the foot of the 70 m curtain; entry plus shuttle from ¥115, open 08:00–22:00.

Admission

from ¥115 (incl. shuttle)

Tips: Visit: 3–5 h

View details →

Beihai Silver Beach — 24 km of limpid sand

Beihai Silver Beach 北海银滩

24 km of fine white quartz sand — 'flat beach, fine white sand, clean warm water, soft waves, no sharks'. Open all day; beach-park shuttle ¥80, sea activities extra. Guangxi's coastal pride, 'north of Guilin's mountains, south of Beihai's beach'.

Tips: Beach: free Shuttle: ¥80 Visit: 2–4 h

View details →

Weizhou Island — China's youngest volcanic island

Weizhou Island 涠洲岛

36 nautical miles off Beihai: China's largest and youngest volcanic island, 25 sq km, 85% Hakka. The volcanic-crater geopark, Shiluokou coral beach, the coral-rock Catholic church (bell cast 1889) and Wucai sunrise. Entry from ¥98.

Admission	from ¥98
Cruise	from Beihai, ~70 min

View details →

Longxiang Pagoda on Qingxiu Mountain above the Yong River, Nanning

Qingxiu Mountain 青秀山

Nanning's green lung by the Yong River — 13.5 sq km of peaks, the Ming-dynasty Longxiang Pagoda, cycad garden and ASEAN friendship gardens. 'The jade of the Green City, the phoenix of the Zhuang lands.' Entry from ¥18, open 06:00–23:59.

Admission	from ¥18
Hours	06:00–23:59

View details →

More across the province: Tongling Grand Canyon at Baise (from ¥99), Daming Mountain (from ¥120, 'spring flowers, summer waterfalls, autumn clouds, winter snow'), Xingping Ancient Town, the Qin-era Lingqu Canal at Xing'an (from ¥45), Mao'er Mountain (Guangxi's highest, 2,141 m) and Yangshuo. Browse every Guangxi sight on the Guangxi attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsriver, reef, terrace and song

Impression Liu Sanjie 印象·刘三姐

Zhang Yimou's landscape show on the Li River at Yangshuo — 600 performers, the karst peaks as the stage, nightly at 20:00. Tickets ¥188–680 by seating. The legend of the Zhuang Third Sister Liu is the province's favourite folk tale.

San Yue San song-fair 三月三

The Zhuang new-spring singing festival on the third day of the third lunar month — song fairs by day and night across Guangxi, the loudest in the Zhuang heartlands of Nanning, Chongzuo and Baise.

Weizhou diving & cycling 涠洲岛潜水

Dive the coral ribbon off Weizhou with a professional coach, or rent a bicycle and circle the island's volcanic coastline — the classic way to see the crater geopark, Shiluokou beach and Wucai sunrise.

Yangshuo rock climbing 攀岩

China's climbing mecca — limestone crags of every grade, beginner walls by Butterfly Spring on the Ten Li Gallery (~¥120/hour with gear and a coach). Gentle Yulong River rafts and white-water Longjing trips sit alongside.

Longji hiking & hot springs 龙脊徒步

Hike the tiered paths above Ping'an and Jinkeng villages, lunch on bamboo-tube rice, then soak in the Longsheng forest hot springs (45–58 C mineral pools, 32 km from the county town).

ASEAN Expo & border markets 东博会

Every September (20–24) Nanning hosts the China-ASEAN Expo at the International Convention Center — Southeast Asian goods, performances and food without leaving China. At the Pingxiang and Dongxing borders, Vietnamese balm, slippers and coffee are cheap by the pocketful.

Where to Staysix regional bases across the province

Guangxi's hotels span every price — book early for golden-week and festival peaks. The trick is to base yourself by region rather than one city. Every property below is bookable by our team; browse the full Guangxi hotels directory.

Guilin city & Yangshuo 桂林·阳朔

Base for the karst. Guilin's riverside hotels run from five-star (Sheraton, Lijiang Waterfall) to hostels from ¥35; Yangshuo's West Street inns start around ¥120, countryside guesthouses higher. Full list on the Guilin guide.

Longji terraces 龙胜

Stay up in the village — Zhuang and Yao family lodges from about ¥100 a room, with the terraces outside your window and the sunrise at dawn. Choose a higher room for the view.

Nanning 南宁

Two zones: around the railway station and Zhongshan Road (central, food on the doorstep), or by the Convention Center and Langdong coach station (newer hotels and hostels). The best base for the south.

Beihai 北海

The resort villas by Silver Beach are the sweet spot — reasonable rates, the sea at the door. The old arcade street area is cheaper and walkable. Service at peak seafood restaurants varies; check menus first.

Weizhou Island 涠洲岛

Family-run island guesthouses (minsu) are the norm — book ahead in summer, take the ferry, and ask your host for the best sunset and seafood spots.

Chongzuo / Pingxiang 崇左·凭祥

Small but growing; hotels sit both inside the Detian scenic area and in Daxin town. Choose the scenic-area lodge if you want the waterfall at sunrise, the town for cheaper rooms.

Food & Restaurantsrice noodles, beer fish and the night market

Guilin rice noodles with a karst backdrop

Guilin rice noodles 桂林米粉

The breakfast of the north: silky noodles in savoury braised marinade with crispy pork, peanuts and pickles — about ¥5 a bowl, best at the busy local shop, not the famous tourist one. The Guilin Three Treasures — chili sauce, fermented bean curd, Sanhua liquor — are the souvenirs.

Yangshuo beer fish 啤酒鱼

Fish simmered in beer with tomatoes and peppers until the sauce turns glossy red — Yangshuo's signature, best a few streets back from West Street where prices stay honest. Add stuffed bitter melon and snails for the full local set.

Grilled skewers on Nanning's Zhongshan Road night market

Nanning Zhongshan Road 中山路

The capital's eating street: old-friend noodles (youfen), sour pickled fruit (sour items), congee, grilled skewers and glutinous rice — 'eat a day and still not finish'. The 'five tigers' of Nanning food are beef offal noodles, raw-fish salad, congee, mung-bean pork zongzi and glutinous balls.

Beihai seafood & pearls 北海海鲜

One of China's four great fishing grounds: grouper, mantis shrimp, sea cucumber and sea urchin — buy at the market and have it cooked. Beihai is the home of southern pearls (nanzhu), and Weizhou's bananas and pineapple are the island's sweetest export.

Getting There & Aroundthree airports, two rail hubs, one coast

By air

Flights to Guilin, Nanning and Beihai airports

By air

Three airports: Guilin Liangjiang (28 km out, 60+ routes to mainland cities plus Hong Kong, Macau, Fukuoka, Bangkok), Nanning Wuxu (32 km southwest, 38 domestic + international routes, the provincial hub) and Beihai Fucheng (limited direct flights — most visitors connect via Nanning or Guilin). Airport buses run to the city centres.

By rail

High-speed trains to Nanning and Guilin stations

By rail

Nanning Station (28 Zhongshan Middle Road) links Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Changsha, and is the launch point for Beihai, Qinzhou, Guilin and Baise. Guilin has the central South Station and Guilin North; the direct Nanning–Beihai fast train takes about three hours. Book seats in peak season.

By coach

Coaches between Nanning, Beihai and Chongzuo

By coach

Nanning is the road hub: Jiangnan Station (236 Xingguang Avenue) runs to Guilin (¥100), Beihai (¥55, every 40 min) and Chongzuo (¥40); Langdong Station (186 Minzu Avenue · +86 771 550 8333) serves Hanoi and Pingxiang. Beihai's main station (Beibuwan East Road · +86 779 202 2094) reaches Nanning in ~3 h (¥60) and Guilin in ~7 h (¥150–182).

By ferry & around town Ferries and local transport to Weizhou island

By ferry & around town

The Beihai–Weizhou ferry leaves from the international passenger terminal (Silver Beach 3rd Road · +86 779 388 0711); the Beihai–Haikou sailing departs daily at 18:00 (¥120–280 by class). On land, city buses and taxis reach every sight; in Yangshuo and on Weizhou, a bicycle is the best vehicle. At stations, flag down a moving cab rather than taking a waiting one.

Shopping & SouvenirsThree Treasures, southern pearls and border goods

Guilin Three Treasures 桂林三宝

Chili sauce, fermented bean curd and Sanhua liquor — the classic trio, joined by osmanthus tea and cakes, Shatian pomelo, summer oranges, kumquats, luo han guo, ginkgo, water chestnut cake, persimmon cakes and the big Lipu taro.

Beihai southern pearls 南珠

'West pearls are not as good as east pearls, east pearls not as good as southern pearls.' Beihai is the home of nanzhu — plus sea cucumber, abalone and dried seafood, and Weizhou bananas and pineapple.

Border market goods 越南货

At Pingxiang (Friendship Gate) and the Detian area, Vietnamese balm, rubber slippers, coffee and fruit are cheap by the bag — a different souvenir from the usual tea and cake.

Crafts & where to buy

Zhuang brocade, Longji tea, Guilin embroidery, combs, paper umbrellas and painted fans. Best bought at the old streets — Yangshuo West Street, Beihai Old Street and Nanning's Zhongshan Road. Full product guides live on the Guangxi specialties page.

Practical Informationnumbers, language and local habits

Airports & stations

Guilin Liangjiang · Nanning Wuxu · Beihai Fucheng. Nanning Langdong coach station: +86 771 550 8333. Beihai main coach station: +86 779 202 2094. Beihai ferry terminal: +86 779 388 0711 / +86 779 306 6829.

Language

Mandarin works everywhere. Locally you will hear the Guilin dialect (a southern 'official' speech), Yue (Cantonese) in Nanning and the coast, and the Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Dong languages in the hills.

Cost of travel

Cheap by Chinese standards: rice noodles ¥5, street meals ¥10–20, buses ¥1–2. The big spends are the Li River boat, Detian and Weizhou entry, Silver Beach sea activities and a sea-facing Beihai room. An 8-day trip runs about RMB 4,000 per person.

Climate & weather

Subtropical monsoon — the Tropic of Cancer crosses the middle of the province. Annual average 16.5–23.1 C; July–August hits 30–38 C and is wet. Pack sun and rain in summer and watch for typhoons on the coast.

Minorities & border

11 minorities besides the Han; the Zhuang are the largest ethnic group in China. Cross into Vietnam from Pingxiang or Dongxing with your passport — keep the crossing receipt and allow time for the return.

Day Trips Across Guangxisingle-day excursions from the regional hubs

Detian Waterfall Day Trip

From Nanning by coach to Daxin — the transnational waterfall, bamboo raft at the base and the Mingshi pastoral landscape, back by evening.

From ¥115 entry · ~3 h each way

View the plan →

Weizhou Island Day Trip

The morning ferry from Beihai, a bicycle around the volcanic crater geopark, Shiluokou coral beach and the old Catholic church, then the afternoon boat back.

From ¥98 entry · Ferry ~70 min

View the plan →

Longji Rice Terraces day trip from Guilin

Longji Terraces Day Trip

Shuttle up to Longsheng, walk the Ping'an terraces, lunch on bamboo-tube rice — mirrors in May, gold at harvest, the classic day out from Guilin.

From ¥80 entry · ~2 h each way

View the plan →

Travel Tipsfive things to remember

1 · Book the ferries and boats ahead

The Beihai–Weizhou ferry sells out in summer, and the Li River cruise boats need at least a day's notice through a hotel desk or agency. We arrange both free of charge.

2 · Watch the coast weather

July and August are hot (30–38 C) and wet; typhoons can delay the Weizhou ferry. Check the forecast before the island day, and carry sun and rain everywhere.

3 · Haggle by the beach, check the menu

Seafood markup is real in Beihai — buy at the market and have it cooked, and read a restaurant's price board before sitting down. Taxis at the station: flag a moving cab, not a waiting one.

4 · Bring your passport for the border

The Detian area touches Vietnam, and Pingxiang/Dongxing are real crossings — a visa-free day trip to the border towns is possible, but keep your passport and crossing receipts, and book a Beihai or Pingxiang night if you cross.

5 · Time the terraces and festivals

The Longji mirrors appear for about two weeks after the lunar 15th of April and the gold at the September harvest; San Yue San (third day of the third lunar month) turns every Zhuang town into a singing fair. Both windows book out — plan ahead.

Background & Historygeography, history and the Zhuang lands

Geography & climate

Guangxi sits at low latitude, the Tropic of Cancer crossing its middle — a subtropical monsoon region turning tropical in the south. It slopes from the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau edge down to the Beibu Gulf, a basin ringed by hills and plateaus, with the Xunyu Plain around Guigang its largest flat land. Annual temperatures average 16.5–23.1 C.

A brief history

People lived here 800,000 years ago (the Baise site); the 'Liujiang Man' dates to around 50,000 years ago. Qin Shi Huang unified the south in 214 BC, naming the Guilin Commandery and digging the Lingqu Canal. In the Han, Hepu was one of the starting ports of the Maritime Silk Road; the Zuojiang rock paintings were carved around this era. The name 'Guangxi' begins in the Song, the province in the Yuan (1363); for most of its modern life the capital was Guilin, moving to Nanning after 1949. Since 1958 it has been the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The Zhuang heartland

Beside the Han live 11 minorities — the Zhuang (about a third of the population, the largest ethnic group in China), the Yao, Miao, Dong, Mulao, Maonan, Hui, Jing, Shui, Gelao and others. Their dress, food, festivals and stilted villages shape the hills from Longsheng to Baise; the film Third Sister Liu is the province's love letter to them.

Plan Your Guangxi Tripattractions, hotels, flights and the three city guides

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Guangxi trip lives on the site.

More Guangxi attractions on ToursChinaTravel

Guangxi Travel Guide — Karst Peaks, a Tropical Coast & the Zhuang Heartland

Guangxi Bucket Listthe six experiences that define the province

1 · Drift the Li River's 22 km essence

2 · Stand on the Vietnam border at Detian

3 · Cycle the Yangshuo countryside

4 · Wake above the Longji terraces

5 · Swim the Silver Beach and ferry to Weizhou

6 · Eat all night on Nanning's Zhongshan Road

What Guangxi Does Bestthe six reasons travellers come

No.1 · Guilin — scenery best under heaven 桂林

No.2 · Yangshuo — scenery best in Guilin 阳朔

No.3 · Chongzuo — a waterfall that crosses the border 崇左

No.4 · Beihai — the island coast 北海

No.5 · Longsheng — spectacular terraces 龙胜

No.6 · Nanning — food without end 南宁

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Guangxi

How do I split my time between the north and south?

Can I cross into Vietnam from here?

What ethnic groups and festivals will I see?

Is it safe to eat the street food?

Do I need a car?

Can you book the whole province for us?

Sample Itinerariescross-city plans that link the whole province

Top Attractionsthe best of the whole province

Activities & Festivalsriver, reef, terrace and song

Impression Liu Sanjie 印象·刘三姐

San Yue San song-fair 三月三

Weizhou diving & cycling 涠洲岛潜水

Yangshuo rock climbing 攀岩

Longji hiking & hot springs 龙脊徒步

ASEAN Expo & border markets 东博会

Where to Staysix regional bases across the province

Guilin city & Yangshuo 桂林·阳朔

Longji terraces 龙胜

Nanning 南宁

Beihai 北海

Weizhou Island 涠洲岛

Chongzuo / Pingxiang 崇左·凭祥

Food & Restaurantsrice noodles, beer fish and the night market

Food & Restaurantsrice noodles, beer fish and the night market

Guilin rice noodles 桂林米粉

Yangshuo beer fish 啤酒鱼

Nanning Zhongshan Road 中山路

Beihai seafood & pearls 北海海鲜

Getting There & Aroundthree airports, two rail hubs, one coast

By air

By rail

By coach

By ferry & around town

Shopping & SouvenirsThree Treasures, southern pearls and border goods

Guilin Three Treasures 桂林三宝

Beihai southern pearls 南珠

Border market goods 越南货

Crafts & where to buy

Practical Informationnumbers, language and local habits

Airports & stations

Language

Cost of travel

Climate & weather

Minorities & border

Day Trips Across Guangxisingle-day excursions from the regional hubs

Day Trips Across Guangxisingle-day excursions from the regional hubs

Travel Tipsfive things to remember

1 · Book the ferries and boats ahead

2 · Watch the coast weather

3 · Haggle by the beach, check the menu

4 · Bring your passport for the border

5 · Time the terraces and festivals

Background & Historygeography, history and the Zhuang lands

Geography & climate

A brief history

The Zhuang heartland

Plan Your Guangxi Tripattractions, hotels, flights and the three city guides