When choosing Chongzuo as a destination, you can also look to the wider surrounding region: here, border landscapes and waterfalls are complemented by Zhuang village traditions and historic architecture. The different places and themes offer a range of starting points for planning your trip.
Border River and Waterfalls
The Detian Transnational Waterfall Scenic Area is located in Shuolong Town in Daxin County and continues to be designated a national 5A-level tourist attraction; it received this rating in 2018. The transnational Detian Waterfall is in Detian Village, on the upper reaches of the Guichun River, which forms the border between China and Vietnam. The natural and cultural area around the waterfall also includes a cross-border market, Border Marker No. 53 and Paotaishan Mountain.
The Shatun Waterfall has a different character: it consists of seven tiers. A 2013 description mentions fishermen navigating bamboo rafts between the tiers. This brings together the waterfall’s cascading form and a historical account of the river, without suggesting that the scene described was a present-day visitor activity.
The scenic areas in Shuolong Town also differ in their stated sizes and ownership. The Detian-Laomian Scenic Area in Shuolong Community was designated a AAAA-level tourist attraction on December 23, 2016. It covers four hectares and is privately operated. The Dayang Yougu Scenic Area, also in Shuolong Community, was designated a state-run AAAA-level tourist attraction on September 21, 2018; it covers 90 hectares. Comparing their areas makes the difference between the two locations clear, while each designation has its own date.
City History on the Zuojiang River
Taiping Ancient City lies on the banks of the Zuojiang River in Jiangzhou District, and its history dates back to the Song Dynasty. Construction of its city wall began in 1372. During the Ming Dynasty, Taiping was the seat of Taiping Prefecture, one of Guangxi’s eleven prefectures. Sections of the old city wall and ancient city gates remain along Taiping Road.
Features of Taiping Ancient City include the Taiping Prefecture Tower, several hundred lakeside buildings in the Lingnan-Huizhou style, and two stone wind-and-rain bridges with tiled roofs. Other features include a stele bearing the character “寿,” Houguan Pavilion and a Zhuang roundhouse. These buildings and landmarks complement the city wall with different forms of regional architectural and commemorative culture.
A redevelopment project launched in 2018 involved reconstructing and extending an inland canal at its original location, as well as restoring the old city wall. A 2024 report described Taiping Ancient City as a 4A scenic area and listed offerings related to folk customs, regional cuisine, leisure, creative products and themed accommodation.
Pagoda and Zhuang Villages
The Zuojiang Leaning Pagoda is also known as Guilong Pagoda and Shuibao Pagoda, and stands on an island in the river. Its octagonal floor plan is a distinctive feature. The tower was built with three stories in 1621; two more stories were added during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. This construction history gives the pagoda a different historical context from Taiping Ancient City, whose history dates back to the medieval period.
The traditional village of Longjian in Longjiantun, Aijiang, was established in the 1920s. Twenty-six traditional Zhuang stilt houses remain there. The village is one kilometer from the China-Vietnam border. In January 2025, performances by young Zhuang people singing and dancing in traditional clothing were described in Detian Zhuang Ancient Village in Longjiantun, Aijiang; visitors could join in the dancing.
The natural and cultural destinations described in the wider surrounding region differ considerably from one another.
Discover more destinations: Hezhou, Laibin, Qinzhou, Yangshuo, Guigang, Bose, Hechi, Wuzhou.
For the broader travel overview: Guangxi.
