Hidden Secret of the China-Vietnam Border in Jingxi, Guangxi
My trip to Jingxi was a complete accident.
I originally planned to go to Guilin, but then I came across a place called Tongling Grand Canyon, with a waterfall drop of 188 meters, even taller than Huangguoshu Waterfall. After checking, I found it was in Jingxi, Guangxi, right next to the Vietnam border, several hundred kilometers away from Guilin. After hesitating for three seconds, I changed my route.
Jingxi is a very low-key city. It is a county-level city under Baise City, with a China-Vietnam border line over 150 kilometers long, and 99% of the population are Zhuang ethnic group. But you hardly see its name in travel guides. Taking a bus from Nanning takes over four hours, and the scenery outside the window changes from city to hills and then to karst peaks, making you feel like entering another world.
On the first day, I went to Tongling Grand Canyon. Honestly, I thought the 98 yuan ticket was a bit expensive at the entrance, but after going in, I just want to say: totally worth it.
This canyon was formed by crustal movement, with vertical rock walls over 300 meters high on both sides. Walking inside feels like entering the earth’s core. After walking down the plank road for more than ten minutes, it got narrower and darker. The rock walls on both sides were covered with various ferns and vines. The air was damp and cool, and I could hear the distant rumbling of water but couldn’t see the waterfall yet. Suddenly, at the deepest part, the view opened up—a white ribbon of water poured down from a crack overhead, mist spreading like rain, with a rainbow faintly visible in the mist. At that moment, I was stunned—not because the waterfall was spectacular, but because the scene looked like a fantasy world from a movie.
Behind the waterfall, there is a cave you can enter. Inside the cave is an underground river with water so clear it looks blue. Shining a flashlight reveals stones and swimming fish at the bottom. Stalactites hang from the cave ceiling, and water droplets occasionally fall on your head, cold and thrilling. My legs trembled climbing out of the canyon, but my heart was full of satisfaction.
On the second day, I went to Equan (Goose Spring). The name is so ordinary I almost missed it. But once there, I realized how beautiful it is—a lake formed by natural spring water, with emerald blue-green water so clear you can see five to six meters deep. A 15-arched ancient stone bridge from the Ming Dynasty spans the river. The bridge surface is polished smooth and shiny from hundreds of years of footsteps, with some stone slabs cracked and covered in moss. Locals wash vegetables and clothes by the bridge, blending daily life perfectly with the scenery.
I sat on a stone by the bridge and daydreamed all afternoon, watching reflections on the water, distant green hills, and fish occasionally jumping out of the water. Time seemed to slow down. This kind of peace and beauty is impossible to experience in big cities. Equan is also the source of Detian Waterfall. Can you imagine such a magnificent waterfall starts from such a gentle place?
The Old Zhou Ancient Town also surprised me. This small town is famous for Zhuang embroidery balls, and almost every household makes them. Walking on the bluestone road, colorful embroidery balls hang at the doors of houses on both sides. Elderly women sit on doorsteps sewing with needle and thread, their movements as natural as breathing. I bought a palm-sized embroidery ball for 20 yuan, purely handmade, with exquisite color matching and stitching. Compared to factory-made ones online, each stitch here carries warmth.
On the streets of Old Zhou, there are also vendors selling Jingxi rice noodles, small bowls for 5 yuan. The noodles are very thin and smooth, with a broth made from pork bones and local spices, topped with pickled long beans, crushed peanuts, and a spoonful of chili. One slurp delivers a sour, spicy, fresh, and fragrant taste even better than Nanning’s famous Laoyou noodles. I ate two bowls in a row, and the shop owner laughed, asking if I had never tasted anything so delicious before.
On the third day, I went to Quyang Lake. This place shocked me—it is a large karst lake with more than a dozen independent small peaks scattered on the surface, resembling Guilin’s landscape but completely deserted. I rented a bamboo raft, and an old man slowly paddled with a bamboo pole on the calm lake, which was like a mirror reflecting the peaks and blue sky. Apart from the sound of the bamboo pole dipping into the water and occasional bird calls, it was so quiet I could hear my own heartbeat.
Jingxi also has a lesser-known place called Aibu Waterfall, a free wild waterfall cluster. It’s not one big waterfall but several tiers, with water cascading down moss-covered rocks layer by layer, each layer having a turquoise pool below. I played here for two hours, soaking my feet on the stones in the ice-cold water. There was no one around, just me, the waterfalls, and the forest.
On the way to Jingxi, I also passed a section of the China-Vietnam border road. On the right side of the road is Vietnam, separated by barbed wire and boundary markers. Standing by the roadside, you can see villages and farmland on the Vietnam side. The feeling of standing with one foot in two countries is very strange.
Jingxi gave me the impression that it has the mountains and waters of Guilin, the grandeur of Detian, and the ancient town charm of Lijiang, but with only a tenth of the tourists. Its beauty is raw, real, and quiet—naturally captivating without any embellishment.
If you want to visit a stunningly beautiful but less crowded place, Jingxi is truly worth it. But go soon—places like this will become popular sooner or later.
Tongling Grand Canyon: Hurun Town, Jingxi City, ticket 98 yuan, recommend 3-4 hours, wear non-slip shoes
Equan: Xinjing Town, Jingxi City, ticket 48 yuan, best light for photos in the afternoon
Old Zhou Ancient Town: Xinjing Town, Jingxi City, free, embroidery balls 20-50 yuan each
Quyang Lake: Quyang Town, Jingxi City, free, bamboo raft about 80 yuan/hour
Aibu Waterfall: Renzhuang Township, Jingxi City, free wild attraction, road is rough
⏰ Recommended 3-4 days to slow down and savor the experience
💰 Very low cost, about 100-150 yuan per person per day, accommodation 80-200 yuan
💡 Tips: Direct bus from Nanning takes 4 hours; waterfalls are most spectacular in rainy summer; bring mosquito repellent and raincoat; be careful not to cross the border on the border road