崇左市

Why this place

Chongzuo is the border prefecture in southwest Guangxi, and its Detian waterfall is the largest transnational waterfall in Asia — it drops across the border into Vietnam. The surrounding karst is spectacular and the area is home to the Zhuang and to a rare monkey species.

What to see

• Detian (Ban Gioc) waterfall, the main attraction, with boat trips to the base
• The Mingshi rural landscape — karst peaks and rice fields, less visited than Guilin's
• The Friendship Pass, the historic border gateway to Vietnam
• The white-headed langur reserve, for one of the rarest primates in the world

What to eat

• Border-region cooking, with Vietnamese influence
• Chongzuo is known for its 'waxberry' and its tropical fruit

Best time

October–December and April–May; the waterfall is fullest after the rains, June–September