Chongzuo Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 崇左 (chóng zuǒ)
Population: 2,517,001
Area: 17,331.77 square kilometers (6,691.83 square miles)
Location: in the southwest of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southwestern China
Administrative Division: 1 district (Jiangzhou); 5 counties (Fusui, Daxin, Tiandeng, Ningming, Longzhou); 1 county-level city (Pingxiang)
Area Code: 0771
Zip Code: 532200
GDP (2018): CNY 101.65 billion (USD 15.36 billion)
Nationalities: Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, Dong
 

Chongzuo is situated in the southwestern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and is the region's communications hub. It borders Nanning to the northeast, Baise to the north and Fangchenggang to the southeast. Four counties of Congzuo share boundary with Vietnam, stretching a 553 km (344 mi) long border line. Apart from being the south gate to China, Chongzuo is a super sugar and manganese industry base. The annual output of sugar in the city is about 2 million tons, accounting for about one fifth of that in China. The reserves of manganese ore resources account for 19.41% of China's, ranking first in the country. When touring Chongzuo, you cannot miss the Detian Waterfall, the largest transnational waterfall in Asia, Rock Paintings of Mountain Huashan and Nongguan Ecological Park. The Double Third Festival celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month is the grandest and most popular Zhuangs' festival. Various activities will be held such as the folk song competition, ceremony of sacrifice to ancestor Luoyuegen, Zhuang folk art party and kapok viewing.

Nongguan Ecological Park is a protected nature reserve for white-headed langurs. In the entire world, these long-tailed monkeys are found only in the southwest Guangxi region. At present there are only seven hundred remaining. Because their survival is so endangered, they are treated with the same level of care reverence as China's national treasure, the Panda.

Detian Waterfall is a beautiful cascade in Daxin County, only 50 meters (55 yards) from the China-Vietnam border. The main body of the waterfall is 100 meters (109 yards) in width, 60 meters (66 yards) in depth with a fall of 70 meters (77 yards). Combined with Vietnam's Ban Gioc waterfall, Detian becomes 208 meters (227 yards) wide making it the largest natural border waterfall in Southeast Asia.

Mingshi Tian Yuan is a 20 square kilometer (7.7 square miles) scenic areea famous for its breathtaking pastoral landscape. It is 53 kilometers (33 miles) from Daxin County and is usually spoken of as the 'Lesser Guilin'.

Other Scenic Spots: Rock Paintings of Mountain Huashan, Guilong Inclined Pagoda (one of the eight leaning towers in the world), Chongzuo Stone Forest, Nonggang National Nature Reserve, and Youyi Pass.

There is no airport in Chongzuo, but it is only 80 kilometers (50 miles) from downtown area to Nanning Wuxu International Airport. Xianggui (Hunan-Guangxi) Railway runs through the sity and meets the Vietnamese railway at Youyi Pass in Pingxiang on the way to the capital city of Hanoi. The local railway station is on Jiangnan Lu. There are two trains daily shuttling between Nanning and Pingxiang that go through downtown area.

The long-distance bus station of Chongzuo is on Yan shan Lu. It is about an eighty minute ride to Nanning. Visitors can also sail on a yacht to visit Huashan Mountain and view the Huashan Rock Paintings. This scenic area is 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the Ningming county seat. Tour ships are available at Tuolongqiao Dock, just 200 meters (219 yards) from the railway station. Private vehicles are available for rental as well.

Chongzuo is located in a subtropical monsoon climatic zone so that the weather is humid all year round. The averages temperatures in the coldest January and hottest July are 13.8℃ (56.8℉) and 28.1℃ (82.6℉) respectively. The annual average temperature is about 21.6℃ (70.9℉). The region can be affected by tropical storms in August and September.
 
 When to Go: Spring and autumn are the best times to visit.    

 History: The city's original area was first settled by the Louyue minority (ancestors of the present Zhuang ethnic minority) over two thousand years ago. During the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC), Chongzuo came under the Xiang Shire. Over the years, it became rich in mineral, agricultural and tourism resources. In 1951, Chongsan and Zuoxian counties were merged into Chongzuo County. In 2003, the city was officially established.

 Physical Features: The region has a hilly topography and vast areas of karst similar to Guilin. There are imposing mountain ranges in the western and southern parts of the city. The Zuojiang River flows through central of the city.

 Special Local Products: Tropical fruit (longan, banana, and pineapple), bitter tea and red cluster pepper (capsicum)

 Local Highlights: There are Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, Hui, Dong, Shui and Jing ethnic groups living in Chongzuo. Ethnic groups comprise over eighty-eight percent of the city's total population. The Zhuang minority dominates making up the vast majority of the ethnic population. The city has the largest Zhuang population of any city in China.