广西壮族自治区

Why this place

Guangxi is the province of the karst — the limestone peaks around Guilin and Yangshuo are the most painted landscape in southern China — and of the Zhuang, China's largest ethnic minority, whose language and festivals shape the region. The coast at Beihai and the border with Vietnam make it unusually varied for its size.

What to see

• The Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, and the karst around Xingping
• The Longji rice terraces and the Zhuang and Yao villages
• Detian waterfall on the Vietnam border, and the Mingshi karst
• Beihai's beaches and Weizhou Island's volcano and coral
• Nanning's museum of nationalities, and the Dong villages of Liuzhou's north

What to eat

• Guilin rice noodles, and Yangshuo's beer fish
• Liuzhou's luosifen — snail rice noodles, the most polarising dish in China
• Zhuang five-colour rice and the region's sour pickled vegetables

How to plan

Five days: Guilin and the Li River two, Yangshuo two, plus Beihai or Detian.

Best time

April–May and September–October

Cities 14

南宁市 Nanning柳州市 Liuzhou桂林市 Guilin梧州市 Wuzhou北海市 Beihai防城港市 Fangchenggang钦州市 Qinzhou贵港市 Guigang玉林市 Yulin百色市 Baise贺州市 Hezhou河池市 Hechi来宾市 Laibin崇左市 Chongzuo