靖西市

Jingxi City is located in the southern part of Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, on the southeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, bordering Vietnam with a border line of 152.5 kilometers. The city covers an area of 3,322 square kilometers, with a permanent population of about 620,000, of which the Zhuang ethnic group accounts for over 99%, making it one of the county-level cities with the highest proportion of Zhuang population in China. Jingxi has a long history: it belonged to Xiang Commandery in the Qin Dynasty, Guichun Prefecture in the Tang Dynasty, Wennong Prefecture in the Song Dynasty, Guishun Prefecture in the Ming and Qing dynasties, renamed Jingxi County in 1912, and upgraded to a city in 2015. Jingxi is famous for its typical karst landforms, featuring attractions such as Tongling Grand Canyon, Gulongshan Canyon Group, Goose Spring, and Jiuzhou Ancient Town, earning it the nickname "Little Guilin." It is an important inheritance site of Zhuang culture, with intangible cultural heritages like embroidered ball making, Zhuang brocade weaving, and antiphonal singing. Jingxi has a pleasant climate with an average annual temperature of 19.1°C, cool summers, making it a summer resort and border tourism hotspot.

Jingxi City's core attractions are karst landscapes and Zhuang culture. Major sites include:

1. Tongling Grand Canyon (about 30 km from city center, 40-minute drive): National 4A scenic area, about 3.8 km long, consisting of Tongling Gorge and Nianba Gorge. The canyon features high waterfalls, with Tongling Waterfall having a single drop of 188 meters, one of the highest in Asia. Visitors can descend stone steps to the valley floor to see primeval forests, underground rivers, and karst caves. Ticket: about 115 yuan, open 8:00-17:00. Suggested visit time: 3-4 hours.

2. Goose Spring (about 6 km from city center, 15-minute drive): One of the three major springs in Southwest China, with crystal-clear water that never dries up. Ancient bridges, pavilions, and green hills reflect in the water, creating a picturesque scene. Visitors can take bamboo rafts and taste Goose Spring fish raised in the spring. Ticket: about 50 yuan, open 8:00-18:00. On the third day of the third lunar month, there is a Zhuang song fair.

3. Jiuzhou Ancient Town (about 8 km from city center, 20-minute drive): Built in the Southern Song Dynasty, it is the birthplace of Zhuang embroidered ball culture. The town preserves Ming and Qing architecture, Wenchang Pavilion, and Zhang Tianzong's Tomb. Visitors can experience embroidered ball making and buy handmade balls as souvenirs. Ticket: about 48 yuan, open 8:30-18:00.

4. Gulongshan Canyon Group (about 28 km from city center, 35-minute drive): Composed of Gulao Gorge, Xinling Gorge, and Xinqiao Gorge, known for canyon rafting and cave exploration. The rafting trip lasts about 2 hours, offering views of canyons, waterfalls, and caves. Ticket: about 190 yuan (including rafting), open 8:00-17:00.

5. Quyang Lake (about 20 km from city center, 30-minute drive): A large karst lake covering about 10 square kilometers with scattered islands. Visitors can take boat tours to enjoy the scenery. Free entry, boat fee about 50 yuan/person.

Food recommendations: Jingxi sour pickles (sour radish, sour papaya, etc.), Jingxi big fragrant glutinous rice (local specialty for making cakes and zongzi), five-color glutinous rice (traditional Zhuang festival food), Goose Spring fish (steamed or cooked with sour bamboo shoots), Jingxi rolled rice noodles (rice skin wrapped with fillings, served with sauce). Recommended to try in Jiuzhou Ancient Town or city food streets.

Transportation: - External: Take high-speed rail to Baise Station (about 1.5 hours by car) or fly to Baise Bama Airport (about 1 hour by car), then transfer to bus to Jingxi city. Direct buses from Nanning to Jingxi take about 3.5 hours. - Internal: City buses and taxis available; tourist shuttle buses connect major attractions. Renting a car or self-driving is recommended for convenience.

Suggested itinerary: D1: Goose Spring - Jiuzhou Ancient Town - Quyang Lake; D2: Tongling Grand Canyon - Gulongshan Canyon Group.