Chongzuo, here we come!

Below is a detailed three-day, two-night travel guide for Chongzuo, Guangxi, covering natural scenery, border customs, and Zhuang culture, suitable for a relaxing and in-depth tour:

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### **Day 1: Arrive in Chongzuo → Mingshi Pastoral Scenery**
**Morning: Departure and Arrival**
- **Transportation recommendations**: Rent a car and drive from Nanning Wuxu International Airport/Nanning East Railway Station (about 2 hours to downtown Chongzuo), or take the high-speed train to Chongzuo South Railway Station (about 1 hour from Nanning).
- **Downtown Chongzuo**: Take a short break and enjoy a local breakfast of Jipi Fen (chicken rice noodles) (recommended: Laoyou Fen Dian).

**Afternoon: Mingshi Pastoral Scenery**
- **Transportation**: 1.5 hours by car from downtown Chongzuo (or chartered car for about CNY 200).
- **Highlights**:
- Bamboo raft drifting (CNY 80/person, about 1 hour), traveling through the karst landscape.
- Cycling through the countryside (bicycle rental CNY 20/hour), visit the filming location of *The Journey of Flower*.
- Photograph the sunset over the peaks and forests in the evening. Mingshi Bridge is a recommended viewing spot.

**Accommodation**:
- **High-end**: Mingshi Nali Hotel (swimming pool + mountain view rooms, about CNY 1000/night).
- **Cost-effective**: Mingshi Villa (Zhuang style, about CNY 400/night).

**Dinner**: Try Xiangye Kao Yu (herb-roasted fish) and Zhutong Fan (bamboo rice) at a local restaurant, paired with Zhuang glutinous rice wine.

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### **Day 2: Detian Transnational Waterfall → Tongling Grand Canyon/Anping Fairy River**
**Morning: Detian Transnational Waterfall (Asia's largest transnational waterfall)**
- **Transportation**: 40 minutes by car from Mingshi Pastoral Scenery (or chartered car for about CNY 150).
- **Travel tips**:
- Tickets include sightseeing bus (CNY 140/person). It is recommended to arrive before 9am to avoid crowds.
- Take a bamboo raft to see the waterfall up close (CNY 30/person) and visit the Sino-Vietnamese border marker.
- Climb to the Detian Temple viewing platform for a bird's-eye view of the Banyue Falls in Vietnam.

**Lunch**: Vietnamese food street in the scenic area. Vietnamese spring rolls and coconut coffee are recommended.

**Afternoon (choose one)**:
- **Option 1: Tongling Grand Canyon** (1 hour by car)
- Hike through the primeval canyon (entrance fee CNY 115) and explore the underground river and ancient hanging coffins.
- **Option 2: Anping Fairy River** (30 minutes by car)
- Take a chartered boat trip on the river (CNY 200/boat, 1.5 hours), visit the filming location of Changliu Wonderland in *The Journey of Flower*.

**Accommodation**:
- **Near Detian**: Detian Laomumian Hotel (border river view, about CNY 600/night).
- **Shuolong Town**: Border Hotel (budget-friendly, about CNY 200/night).

**Dinner**: Try Ningmeng Suanzhou Huoguo (sour porridge hot pot) in Ningming County (featuring fermented rice soup base, recommended: Luoyue Suanzhou).

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### **Day 3: Huashan Rock Paintings → Return**
**Morning: Ningming Huashan Rock Paintings (World Cultural Heritage Site)**
- **Transportation**: 2 hours by car from Detian Waterfall (or 1 hour from downtown Chongzuo).
- **Highlights**:
- Take a boat to view the murals of the Luoyue people, ancestors of the Zhuang people, from 2,000 years ago (tickets CNY 80 including boat fare).
- Explore the sacrificial and dancing scenes in the rock paintings and experience the mysterious culture.

**Lunch**: Try Ningmeng Suanzhou Huoguo (sour porridge hot pot) in Ningming County (featuring fermented rice soup base, recommended: Luoyue Suanzhou).

**Afternoon Return**:
- Drive back to Nanning (about 2.5 hours), or take the high-speed train from Chongzuo South Railway Station (30 minutes to Nanning).

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### **📌 Practical Tips**
1. **Best season**: May-October has the highest waterfall volume, while spring and autumn offer pleasant weather.
2. **Border tips**: Bring your ID card to Detian Waterfall. Drones are prohibited.
3. **Alternative for a shorter trip**: If time is limited, skip Tongling Grand Canyon and spend an extra half day at Mingshi Pastoral Scenery.
4. **Cultural experience**: Mingshi Pastoral Scenery offers Zhuang bonfire performances in the evening (free at some hotels).

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**Budget reference (per person)**:
- Transportation: Car rental CNY 300/day + fuel, or chartered car CNY 500/day.
- Tickets: About CNY 400 (including all major attractions).
- Accommodation and food: CNY 600/day (mid-range standard).

Chongzuo combines the landscape of Guilin, the beauty of Jiuzhaigou, and the exotic charm of Vietnam. A three-day trip is enough to experience the unique charm of "Little Southeast Asia"!🌿