NANNING
WHERE: South China, capital of Guangxi province, also bordering Yunnan and Guizhou - and Vietnam. You can get here with planes, trains and automobiles.
WHY: Because it's warm (but humid). Because there's not so much to see and that consequently means people will not regard you only as a tourist. On the other hand, everything you see is, while not an attraction, interesting. Because of cheap and good food. Because Guangxi is still, at least officially, "in development", which means many opportunities to see "traditional" life, if not in relatively urban town, then outside of it. Because Zhuang minority, the biggest in China , is very important here, and here in Guangxi you've got 10 (or 11, depends on how you are counting it) more minorities to visit.
AND ALSO: Guilin doesn't happen only in Guilin: Guangxi has a lot of less known similar spaces. And very nice coastline (Beihai). Wonderful mountains. Hospitable people. CAEXPO in autumn. And while it is not really as green as it used to be, it is still very green, and plans for the development of town look promising.
WHY: Because it's warm (but humid). Because there's not so much to see and that consequently means people will not regard you only as a tourist. On the other hand, everything you see is, while not an attraction, interesting. Because of cheap and good food. Because Guangxi is still, at least officially, "in development", which means many opportunities to see "traditional" life, if not in relatively urban town, then outside of it. Because Zhuang minority, the biggest in China , is very important here, and here in Guangxi you've got 10 (or 11, depends on how you are counting it) more minorities to visit.
AND ALSO: Guilin doesn't happen only in Guilin: Guangxi has a lot of less known similar spaces. And very nice coastline (Beihai). Wonderful mountains. Hospitable people. CAEXPO in autumn. And while it is not really as green as it used to be, it is still very green, and plans for the development of town look promising.
LONGLIN AND DE'YE
WHERE: 6 buses a day from Beida Zhan, from 100 RMB up, nine hours to Longlin. At the end of 2010 the highway should be opened and time of travel shortened to 4 hours. From Longlin local buses go to De'ye - it takes one hour.
WHY: It is a multi national county. Zhuang zu, Yi zu, Yao zu, Gelao zu.... but mostly Miao zu, which are again divided into 6 different groups, Qing Shui Miao, Hong Pou Miao, Zai Jian Miao, Bai Miao, Su Miao and Pian Miao. This all live in relatively small and amazing area.
AND ALSO: I guess that every place I mention here is a treasure; this one is, because of being relatively untouched, and because so many different people live here, if anything, even greater treasure. You will not be able to stop walking and again, people are extremely hospitable. I guess that from 2011 it is going to start to change very fast.
WHY: It is a multi national county. Zhuang zu, Yi zu, Yao zu, Gelao zu.... but mostly Miao zu, which are again divided into 6 different groups, Qing Shui Miao, Hong Pou Miao, Zai Jian Miao, Bai Miao, Su Miao and Pian Miao. This all live in relatively small and amazing area.
AND ALSO: I guess that every place I mention here is a treasure; this one is, because of being relatively untouched, and because so many different people live here, if anything, even greater treasure. You will not be able to stop walking and again, people are extremely hospitable. I guess that from 2011 it is going to start to change very fast.
NAPO AND TUN LI
WHERE: You can take a bus straight from Nanning to Napo: Beida zhan, 130 RMB, 6 hours. Or you can take a train first to Baise (38 RMB, 3 hours) and then drive with bus from Baise - another 3 hours, another 68 RMB. Tun Li is more complicated. "Mini van" will take you from Napo to the village for 200 RMB there and back again. But you can also risk and walk - it's 4 hours through mountains and snakey roads. If you are lucky, someone will take you on motorbike and drive you up. I'm told the entrance to the village is another 60 RMB.
WHY: Mountains are breathtakingly wonderful, but mostly you go here because of Hei Zhuang or Black Zhuang. "Living fosil ethnic culture" is on brink of dissapearance, people are enormously hospitable, villages are scattered around mountains.
AND ALSO: Sleep there. Take a walk around. Take a drink. Talk to them. I do not think more needs to be said - this is a very special place.
WHY: Mountains are breathtakingly wonderful, but mostly you go here because of Hei Zhuang or Black Zhuang. "Living fosil ethnic culture" is on brink of dissapearance, people are enormously hospitable, villages are scattered around mountains.
AND ALSO: Sleep there. Take a walk around. Take a drink. Talk to them. I do not think more needs to be said - this is a very special place.
NANDAN AND LIHU
WHERE: From Nanning north: to Hechi and further, close to Guizhou border. Direct long distance bus from An Ji Zhan costs 100 RMB. You have a lot of local buses from Nandan - to get to Lihu you need another hour. Than walking.
WHY: It is an otherworldy experience. Mountain high peaks, villages connected with stone stairs, home of Baiku Yao minority. It is one of those minorities who wear folk costumes in everyday life, and further you go, more traditional life is. They are farmers, mostly using wooden tools. Going there is a trip into the past.
AND ALSO: Nandan was in 2010 a city in construction. It looks like it is going to become large shopping center. People are friendly and not used to foreigners. You can see minority people coming to the market, but to really get the feel of things, you have to walk - or ride a bike or motorcycle - out of Nandan, through the peaks. Go into the mud houses village. Walk the stone stairs.
WHY: It is an otherworldy experience. Mountain high peaks, villages connected with stone stairs, home of Baiku Yao minority. It is one of those minorities who wear folk costumes in everyday life, and further you go, more traditional life is. They are farmers, mostly using wooden tools. Going there is a trip into the past.
AND ALSO: Nandan was in 2010 a city in construction. It looks like it is going to become large shopping center. People are friendly and not used to foreigners. You can see minority people coming to the market, but to really get the feel of things, you have to walk - or ride a bike or motorcycle - out of Nandan, through the peaks. Go into the mud houses village. Walk the stone stairs.
JINGDAO
WHERE: South from Nanning - to the sea. You can take the bus directly, it will cost around 50 RMB, and it will get you there in 3 hours. If you miss the bus - they are rare - take the train to Fangchengang, and from there, bus to Dongcheng (in itself an interesting city, bordering Vietnam), and than bus from Dongcheng to Jingdao. This means you will have to drive up and down, but I've been told that there's no direct bus from Fangchengang to Jingdao. That's how it goes.
WHY: Former three islands are now connected to the land and are home to richest minority in China, Jing. They are mostly fisherman, but if you catch them on festival or wedding or other important occasion, you can see some traditional rituals and clothes. On the picture you can see Ha pavilion - the place where rituals happen.
AND ALSO: They do welcome - mostly Chinese, because foreigners are rare - tourists, so again, hotels abound. Beach is wonderful. Of course a lot of fish food.
WHY: Former three islands are now connected to the land and are home to richest minority in China, Jing. They are mostly fisherman, but if you catch them on festival or wedding or other important occasion, you can see some traditional rituals and clothes. On the picture you can see Ha pavilion - the place where rituals happen.
AND ALSO: They do welcome - mostly Chinese, because foreigners are rare - tourists, so again, hotels abound. Beach is wonderful. Of course a lot of fish food.
WEIZHOU DAO
WHERE: You go from Nanning south, to Beihai, which is easy. Manny trains and buses, price around 40 - 50 RMB, it takes you around 3 hours to get there. Local Beihai bus Nr. 3 takes you to the Silver beach and couple of stations before this stops at dock. From morning to afternoon you got around 5 -6 ships, and you need one hour to get to the island. Contrary to some info there are no slow ships. So ticket is always the same: 120 RMB one way. You also need 90 RMB to get a "pass" for the island. It is easy to find a place to sleep on the island, hotels are there, but locals will also want to take to their houses. One night from 50 RMB and up.
WHY: it is the youngest island of vulcanic origin in China.Lots of chances for walks, you can get around it - slowly - in one day. Most of Chinese tourists come for one or two days, so it might happen you get the whole sandy beach for yourself.
AND ALSO: You can go snorkeling.
WHY: it is the youngest island of vulcanic origin in China.Lots of chances for walks, you can get around it - slowly - in one day. Most of Chinese tourists come for one or two days, so it might happen you get the whole sandy beach for yourself.
AND ALSO: You can go snorkeling.
HUANJIANG AND XIANAN
WHERE: around 300 km north from Nanning, to Hechi and a little bit further. Bus goes from An Ji Zhan, long distance bus station, ticket is 110 RMB. The drive lasts around 5 hours, with one stop. You can get to Xianan from Huanjiang with no problems - take the local bus. It's further 80 km away, and it takes you 2 hours. Ticket is 16 RMB.
WHY: Huanjiang is the heart of autonomous county of minority called Maonan. They also live in Xianan, Zhongnan, Shanghan.
AND ALSO: You've got small or slightly bigger hotels as much as you want. And people are EXTREMELY hospitable. If you expect minority tradition, you've got to come for the festival. Any Chinese festival will do, but their own Fenlongjie starts around 22. of June (and lasts about a week). The country is magnificent: same peaks as in Guilin. Going to Xianan means possibility of long strolls. From Maonan villages you will relatively fastly come to Zhuang villages.
WHY: Huanjiang is the heart of autonomous county of minority called Maonan. They also live in Xianan, Zhongnan, Shanghan.
AND ALSO: You've got small or slightly bigger hotels as much as you want. And people are EXTREMELY hospitable. If you expect minority tradition, you've got to come for the festival. Any Chinese festival will do, but their own Fenlongjie starts around 22. of June (and lasts about a week). The country is magnificent: same peaks as in Guilin. Going to Xianan means possibility of long strolls. From Maonan villages you will relatively fastly come to Zhuang villages.
