Guangxi’s version of the “Xinjiang Grassland” is deeply hidden!
Jade River winds like a green carpet, herds of cattle and sheep roam freely—one visit will blow up your social media.
Ladies, listen up!
If your impression of Guangxi is still stuck on Guilin’s landscapes and Yangshuo’s West Street, you’re really missing out!
This time, I discovered a “Little Xinjiang” hidden deep in the mountains of Debao, Baise, privately kept by locals—Qinglong Lake, also called “Longkalai” by the locals. Surrounded by karst peak forests lies an emerald meadow, with a winding green river like a swimming azure dragon weaving through it. Cattle, sheep, and horses stroll leisurely under the blue sky and white clouds. The best part—free admission, free parking, and completely authentic with no commercialization! Just a 3-hour drive from Nanning, you can unlock a “pretend you’re in Xinjiang” grassland picnic over the weekend! 🐮🌿
1. Why is Qinglong Lake called the “Little Xinjiang of Guangxi”?
A secret grassland in the karst peak forest, a magical blend of two landforms
Qinglong Lake is nestled in the folds of mountains in Maji Town, Debao County. On one side are Guangxi’s iconic karst peak forests, and on the other, expansive alpine meadows—a marvelous combination of “mountains with plains, plains with water” that makes every visitor exclaim, “Isn’t this Xinjiang?”
Over a hundred acres of grass spread out like a soft carpet. In the center, a winding river snakes like a blue dragon, showing a dreamy gradient of green under the sunlight. Trees flourish along the riverbanks, their reflections dancing in the water like a lively ink painting.
Herds of cattle, sheep, and horses roam freely—a photographer’s “paradise meadow”
This is not a man-made attraction but a natural pasture for local herders. Herds of cattle, horses, and sheep graze, stroll, and bathe on the meadow without fear of people. Sitting on a slope watching them amble by, every shot you take is worthy of a screensaver.
“Seeing cows bathing in the river, ducks swimming in formation, and horses frolicking on the grassland—I really felt like I was in Nalati!” said a visitor who’s been there.
The emerald “Qinglong” River changes its blue hues all year round
The water color of Qinglong Lake changes with the seasons: during the rainy season (June to August), water levels rise and flow abundantly; in the dry season (November to April), the meadow opens wide, and the winding river looks like a jade belt embedded in a green carpet—every snapshot looks like it’s straight out of National Geographic.
A pristine camping paradise, lie back and watch the clouds roll by
It’s so quiet here you can hear cicadas and birds singing. A gentle breeze carries the fresh scent of grass and trees. Locals often bring canopies and picnic mats to sit on the meadow, watching white clouds drift across the vast blue sky. Children chase and play on the grass, while adults lean on slopes and enjoy the bliss of “harmony between man and nature.” Nearby are wild spots like Leiwei Waterfall Cluster and Longyang Tiankeng sinkhole to explore.
2. How to play? A one-day, one-night “relax and unwind” itinerary
Transportation guide (self-driving is king!)
🚗 Self-driving (highly recommended!): Navigate to “Longkalai” (⚠️ Don’t just search for “Qinglong Lake,” you must search “Longkalai” to find it!). About 1.5 hours from Baise city center, about 3 hours from Nanning.
⚠️ Road conditions: After the highway exit, there are about 15 kilometers of mountain roads, paved but narrow, drive slowly when meeting oncoming vehicles. Signal is spotty in some sections, so download offline maps in advance.
🅿️ Parking: Free! Skilled SUV drivers can drive to the edge of the big meadow; regular cars should park at the mountain foot and walk 5-10 minutes to the lake.
🎟️ Admission: Free! No charge for the scenic area or parking.
⏰ Best times to visit:
· May-June, September-October: pleasant climate, lush green meadows, avoid muddy rainy season
· 3-5 PM: softest light, golden glow on the grass, stunning silhouettes of cattle and sheep
· Sunny days with clouds: cloud shadows on the meadow, wind blowing grass low revealing cattle and sheep—perfect atmosphere
One-day highlight itinerary (tested and guaranteed)
Morning: Enter the “Little Xinjiang of Guangxi”
Depart before 9 AM from Baise or Debao town, about 1.5 hours to arrive. View the panorama from the “Qinglong Lake” stone monument—the meadow spreads like a green carpet, the winding river moves like a blue dragon.
Walk down the dirt road to the lakeside meadow, pick a flat spot to set up camp. Lay out picnic mats, set up a canopy, arrange snacks—picnicking with cattle and sheep around is an experience money can’t buy in the city!
Photo spots (must-have in your album!):
· High grass slope for overhead shots: use a wide-angle lens to frame the peak forest, meadow, river, and herds—pretend you’re in Xinjiang
· Backlit riverbank (4-5 PM): sunset dyes the river golden green, crouch for side profiles, atmosphere maxed out
· With cattle and sheep: slowly approach the herd, capture their adorable moments looking at the camera
· Abandoned houses/dead trees: natural props that make every shot stunning
Noon: Picnic/snack break
⚠️ Important reminder: No shops inside the scenic area! Bring your own food and water! Ready meals, fruit, snacks, drinks… a lazy grassland picnic is pure bliss!
Afternoon: Walk around the lake + visit nearby wild spots
Walk along the riverbank for different views—the water color changes with light and shadow. Energetic visitors can go over the hill to the back meadow for a wider grassland view!
After 4 PM, the light softens—this is the “golden hour” for photos. After packing up, on the way back you can visit:
· Longyang Tiankeng sinkhole (about 40 minutes from Qinglong Lake): a natural large pasture, green grass at the bottom, cattle and sheep roam freely, known by hikers as “Little Tibet of Guangxi”
· Leiwei Waterfall Cluster (about 30 minutes away): wild waterfalls, spectacular when water is abundant
· Debao Red Leaf Forest Park (about 20 minutes away): autumn only, mountains covered in red leaves
Dinner: Return to Debao town for authentic pig blood sausage
After the day’s adventure, drive to Debao town to try authentic pig blood sausage. Affordable and delicious at 10-15 yuan per jin, dipped in sour and spicy sauce, every bite is pure satisfaction! Also try local Baise lamb noodles (can be made mild for kids) and Tianyang fragrant mango.
3. Accommodation recommendations
Qinglong Lake is in the wild with no overnight facilities; it’s best to return to Debao town or nearby Jingxi city for lodging.
🏡 Convenient city hotel (Jingxi Fortune Plaza Branch)
If you want to continue exploring Jingxi’s landscapes (Equan, Tongling Grand Canyon, etc.) after Qinglong Lake, consider this hotel. About 1 hour from Qinglong Lake, located in Jingxi’s core business district, walking distance to Longtan Wetland Park, with nearby Zhuang ethnic night markets offering sour dishes, roasted pig eyes, five-color glutinous rice, and more. Convenient location with rich breakfast.
🏡 Debao town accommodations
Debao town has several budget hotels, clean and basic, about 30 minutes from Qinglong Lake. Suitable for day trips, so you can get an early start to catch the best light at Qinglong Lake.
Final words
Qinglong Lake is not a “trendy check-in spot.” It’s the “Little Xinjiang of Guangxi” embraced by karst peak forests, a free meadow where cattle, sheep, and horses roam, a wild secret kept by locals for years.
Here, you can daydream by the emerald Qinglong River, picnic on the meadow waiting for sunset, and rediscover the senses dulled by city life amid the jingling bells of cattle and sheep. Free admission, free parking, original stunning scenery—this kind of “exclusive grassland” luxury would cost thousands of miles of flying to Xinjiang, but here in Baise’s mountains, you can unlock it with one trip!
While the meadow is green and the cattle and sheep are plump, ladies, just go for it! 🐮🌿