As a seasoned traveler who has been three times, I’m sharing my ultimate step-by-step guide
I’ve been to Guigang three times. Here’s my advice... 😭
Clickbait warning ⚠️ Don’t rush to Guigang in summer! Otherwise, you’ll completely fall in love with this “Lotus City” and want to come back every year to relax. Copy this guide after reading📝
· --
🌿 Why must you visit Guigang in summer?
Guigang, a thousand-year-old county hidden by the Xijiang River, is known as the “Lotus City” for its abundant lotus flowers. It’s also one of the “Top 10 best lotus viewing spots in China.” In summer, Pingtian Mountain is 5–8℃ cooler than the city, basically an “outdoor air conditioner”! The 1,200-acre lotus sea is breathtaking. You can enjoy three days here for just over 500 yuan per person, making it a great value!
📍 Must-visit spots (highly recommended!)
1️⃣ Pingtian Mountain National Forest Park — Guangxi’s largest alpine meadow, shrouded in mist with cows and sheep grazing. It’s so cool in summer you won’t want to leave. Hiking, creek trekking, tea picking, and camping are all available! Ticket 23 yuan
2️⃣ Hemei Qintang · Humei Four Seasons — 1,200 acres of blooming lotus flowers with over 30 varieties. So beautiful even poet Yang Wanli would be inspired to write
3️⃣ Guiping Xishan Scenic Area — A hugely popular Buddhist site in Guangxi! The air is incredibly fresh. The panoramic view of Guigang from the summit is stunning. Ticket 80 yuan
4️⃣ Nanshan Temple — A thousand-year-old temple hidden in a karst cave. Walking here after rain is magical and very healing. Ticket 20 yuan
5️⃣ Beidishan Tourist Area — Guangxi’s version of Zhangjiajie, featuring thrilling high-wire acts and glass walkways that will leave your legs weak. Tickets start at 100 yuan, glass walkway costs an extra 30 yuan
6️⃣ Donghu Park — Guangxi’s largest inland lake park, with weeping willows and lake breezes, perfect for relaxing and sightseeing
7️⃣ Guigang Museum — Free! 1,910 artifacts tell the story of the region since the Qin and Han dynasties. Closed on Mondays, don’t go empty-handed
8️⃣ Wuyuan — Su-style garden with beautiful ancient architecture, perfect for photos. Ticket 50 yuan
🍜 Food map (missing out is a waste!)
Breakfast must-tries:
· Qiaoxu duck rice noodles — Guigang’s signature! Old duck slow-cooked for 6 hours into a rich broth, duck meat firm but tender. Recommended: Qiaoxu A Lin Duck Rice Noodles (20+ years old)
· Guiping pig’s feet rice noodles — Pig’s feet stewed until tender and falling off the bone, rich in collagen, a breakfast favorite
· Luoxiu rice noodles — Guiping intangible cultural heritage, as thin as hair, chewy and hard to break, known as a “Chinese delicacy”
· Donglong sour rice noodles — Sweet and sour, refreshing and appetizing in summer
Main dishes:
· Qintang lotus root feast — The city’s calling card! Lotus root stewed with ribs, lotus root sandwiches, lotus root balls, sweet and glutinous
· Honggu four-sided pork — Intangible cultural heritage of Gangbei, “no banquet without four-sided pork,” soft, tender, and not greasy
· Snail and duck feet hot pot — The king of late-night snacks, duck feet tender and falling off the bone, fresh and flavorful snails
Snacks and desserts:
· Zhou’s meatballs — 38-year-old shop, handmade without starch, chewy and springy
· Liu’s tofu pudding — 30-year-old shop, as soft as a cloud, 5 yuan per bowl
· Suanye — Mango, guava, and radish pickled in rice vinegar and chili, sweet, sour, and crunchy
🏠 Where to stay?
· Near the high-speed rail station: Jintu Hotel, Chengji Hotel, close to the station with many shared bikes, very convenient for travel
· Downtown business district: Hecheng Hotel, Yaste Meitu, clean and comfortable, 150–300 yuan per night
· Premium experience: Hilton Hampton, lobby HUB design, 151 rooms with great style
🗺️ Three-day, two-night itinerary (copy exactly, no regrets)
Day 1 classic check-in day 🌞
Morning: Guiping Xishan Scenic Area (7:00 AM–6:00 PM)
Lunch: Old Neighborhood rice noodles (6:30 AM–2:00 PM, go early!)
Afternoon: Nanshan Temple (8:00 AM–5:30 PM)
Evening: Guigang night market (6:00 PM–12:00 AM) — grilled fish, snail rice noodles, barbecue, 30 yuan per person to eat until full
Day 2 nature escape day 🌿
Morning: Pingtian Mountain National Forest Park (natural oxygen bar, hiking is super relaxing)
Lunch: Farmhouse restaurant near the park, fresh free-range chicken soup so good you’ll want to drink the bowl
Afternoon: Guigang Museum (9:00 AM–5:00 PM, closed Monday)
Evening: Phoenix Street night market for snail and duck feet hot pot
Day 3 lotus flower viewing day 🌸
Morning: Hemei Qintang · Humei Four Seasons (1,200-acre lotus sea, at least two hours for photos)
Lunch: Qintang lotus root feast
Afternoon: Wuyuan for ancient-style photos → Dadong Wharf to catch the sunset → buy some local specialties to take home
📸 Photo spots (perfect for social media likes)
· Hemei Qintang: wear a light-colored dress in the lotus sea, every shot is wallpaper-worthy
· Pingtian Mountain: mountaintop meadow + mist + cows and sheep, a real fairyland
· Nanshan Temple: rain-soaked bluestone path + cave temple, cinematic vibes
· Wuyuan: Su-style garden pavilions, perfect for Hanfu photos
· Dadong Wharf: catch the sunset over the Yu River in the evening, atmosphere on point
· Binjiang Park: silhouette shots under the Xijiang Bridge, super photogenic
⚠️ Pitfall guide (learn from my mistakes!)
1. Book tickets in advance: Pingtian Mountain 23 yuan, Guiping Xishan 80 yuan, Beidishan starting at 100 yuan. Lock tickets on Trip.com a day early or you’ll cry waiting in line on weekends
2. Museum hours: free but stops admitting at 4:45 PM, closed Monday, don’t waste a trip
3. Avoid undeveloped areas: Longwo, Longyan, Baihua Mountain, Pingtian Mountain undeveloped zones are strictly off-limits! Don’t be fooled by influencer photos
4. Beware of low-price tour traps: choose reputable agencies, sign proper contracts, don’t trust unreasonable low-price ads
5. Sky prairie ticket trap: 58 yuan for out-of-town visitors, but some were charged 138 yuan on site! Confirm before going
6. Beidishan weather: foggy on rainy days, hundreds of kilometers wasted
7. Summer gear: sunscreen + mosquito repellent + rain gear + comfortable shoes
🚗 Travel tips
· High-speed rail: Nanning East → Guigang about 40 minutes, Guangzhou → Guigang about 3.5 hours
· In the city: electric scooter rental 30 yuan/day, very convenient, Guigang is very friendly to motorcycles and electric bikes
· To nearby attractions: self-driving or chartered car recommended
Guigang, a seriously underrated treasure city in Guangxi, will surprise you again and again! Don’t rush in summer, be the ultimate traveler! Save this guide and review it before you go~ 💚