Explore Chongzuo on a budget of 800 RMB per person! A 3-day, 2-night tested guide with tips to avoid pitfalls and capture perfect photos

Just got back from Chongzuo! This place is wilder and more magical than I imagined—the karst peak forest stands like an ink painting before your eyes, the water of Mingshi River is so green it almost looks blue, and even the air carries the scent of grass and trees~ I've put together a super detailed tested guide; follow it to avoid any mistakes! 🚗 How to choose transportation? The most convenient ways tested - Long-distance travel: Chongzuo has no airport, so it’s recommended to fly to Nanning Wuxu Airport (after landing, there is an airport shuttle bus directly to Chongzuo city center, 2 hours/50 RMB; or rent a car and drive yourself, taking the Nanyou Expressway, 1.5 hours to Chongzuo, with beautiful scenery along the way!) - City transportation: Attractions are very spread out! Detian Waterfall and Mingshi Pastoral are 40 minutes apart by car, so renting a car or hiring a driver is best (we rented an SUV, 3 days for 300+ RMB, fuel 150 RMB, much cheaper than taxis) - Hidden tip: On the way from Mingshi Pastoral to Detian Waterfall, you’ll pass the “Greenway,” which has free viewing platforms along the way—stop to take photos of the peak forest reflections, it’s amazing! 🏞️ 3-day, 2-night itinerary (with daily expenses) Day 1: Nanning → Mingshi Pastoral (stay in Mingshi) - 10:00 Depart from Nanning, 1.5-hour self-drive to Mingshi Pastoral - 12:00 Eat at “Mingshi First House” (recommend the braised native duck, the meat is firm and not dry, paired with local sour bamboo shoots—delicious, 80 RMB for two) - 14:00 Bamboo raft drifting on Mingshi River (choose the 120 RMB/person manual raft! The guide will pole you to shallow spots for photos and tell legends of the peak forest; electric rafts are too fast and lack soul) - 16:00 Bike ride along Mingshi River (rent an electric bike for 30 RMB/hour, ride from Mingshi Bridge to Yulin Dam, the sunset on the rice fields looks like sprinkled gold dust, backlit hair glow shots are stunning) - 19:00 Stay at “Zaiye Suji” (the mushroom house villa is super photogenic! The rooftop infinity pool reflects the peak forest, off-season price 600+ RMB, including breakfast for two) Day 2: Mingshi → Detian Waterfall → Dragon Palace Wonderland (stay in Detian) - 8:30 Early morning shoot of Mingshi morning mist (there’s a thin mist over the river from 7-8 am, the peak forest looks like floating on clouds, photos straight from your phone camera look beautiful) - 10:00 Drive to Detian Waterfall (40 minutes, passing “Heishui River” on the way, stop to take photos of the karst peak clusters on both sides, free!) - 11:30 Visit Detian Waterfall (ticket + shuttle bus 115 RMB/person, must walk the “Magic Carpet Walkway”! Standing on the glass platform facing the waterfall, the mist splashes on your face and feels refreshing; around noon, the sunlight can create rainbows) - 14:00 Eat at the Zhuang ethnic restaurant at the scenic area entrance (tried the sour platter, with green mango, pineapple, starfruit mixed with chili powder, sour and spicy and refreshing, 30 RMB/portion) - 16:00 Dragon Palace Wonderland cave (ticket 80 RMB, the stalactites inside “glow”! Follow the guide to hear the sound of water dripping through stone; photos with flash look even better) - 19:00 Stay at Detian “Old Kapok Hotel” (open the window to see the China-Vietnam border river, at night you can see the lights of Vietnam across the river, great value, 400+ RMB including breakfast) Day 3: Detian → Taiping Ancient Town → Return to Nanning - 9:00 Detian Waterfall “High Viewing Platform” (few people! Overlook the full waterfall panorama, it looks like a white silk ribbon hanging between green mountains, remember to shoot videos in slow motion) - 11:00 Drive to Taiping Ancient Town (1.5 hours, the ancient town is free, fewer people at noon, the reflection of Wangjiang Tower is super clear) - 12:30 Eat at “Taiping Ancient Town Sour Snack Stall” (tried charcoal-grilled pig’s eye! Juicy bite, paired with lemon leaves to cut the grease, a must-try for the brave) - 14:00 Visit the ancient town’s intangible cultural heritage shop (bought a Zhuang brocade bookmark, 25 RMB each, pattern is bronze drum design, very unique as a gift) - 16:00 Return to Nanning 📸 Must-shoot spots (with angle tips) 1. Mingshi Pastoral: Bamboo raft drifting under “Camel Peak,” have someone stand at the raft’s rear to capture the peak forest, bamboo raft, and water reflection all in one frame; wearing a white dress makes the photo pop 2. Detian Waterfall: Middle of the Magic Carpet Walkway, stand sideways with the waterfall behind you, capture the mist as it drifts by; wet hair adds atmosphere 3. Taiping Ancient Town: Arrive at Wind and Rain Bridge at 6 pm, with Wangjiang Tower as background, shoot from a low angle with your phone to capture triple reflections of lanterns, bridge arches, and tower shadows 4. Dragon Palace Wonderland: In front of the “Heaven-supporting Jade Pillar” inside the cave, turn on your phone flashlight shining upward to create a mysterious silhouette 💰 Expense details (total for 2 people 1600+ RMB) - Transportation: car rental 300 + fuel 150 + tolls 50 = 500 - Accommodation: Zaiye Suji 600 + Old Kapok 400 = 1000 - Tickets: Mingshi bamboo raft 240 + Detian Waterfall 230 + Dragon Palace Wonderland 160 = 630 - Food: about 500 for 3 days (keep each meal under 150, enough to eat) - Total: 2630 RMB, 1315 per person (if staying in budget hotels, can reduce to 800+ per person) ⚠️ Pitfall warnings 1. Don’t buy from Detian Waterfall’s “Cross-border Shopping Street”! Vietnamese specialties are cheaper in Nanning supermarkets 2. The “Bamboo Raft Afternoon Tea” at Mingshi Pastoral is overpriced (200+ RMB per set), better to bring your own milk tea to enjoy by the river 3. Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! UV rays are very strong in the mountains; I didn’t apply enough and got two shades darker 4. Border areas check ID at any time, be sure to bring yours! The beauty of Chongzuo is the kind that looks like wallpaper in every casual shot, especially the morning mist and evening light. Walking around, you can’t help but marvel, “How can it be so magical?” This summer, go to Chongzuo and be a “mountain and water idler” for a few days!