来宾市

Why this place

Laibin is a Zhuang region in central Guangxi, and it holds the site said to be the birthplace of the Zhuang ancestor figure. The Zhuang are China's largest ethnic minority, and this is their core territory — with their own language, songs and festival calendar.

What to see

• The Zhuang ancestral sites and the Miao-style performances of the region
• The Xiangzhou and Wuxuan old towns on the Qian River
• The karst hills and the Zhuang villages of the countryside

What to eat

• Zhuang cooking: five-colour glutinous rice, sour fish and the local rice wine
• Laibin is known for its 'Huanjiang' fragrant pork

Best time

October–December and March–April; the Zhuang Singing Festival is in the third lunar month