Guangxi Province (广西)

Technically the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, this province has one of the densest population of ethnic minorities in China. The city of Guilin is a popular tourist destination in its own right, but its charms elude me. Spend your time in the areas around Guilin, either in the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces or in the town of Yangshuo, where a well-developed tourist industry offers everything from rafting to rock climbing to cooking classes, all in English. The Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge, above, is a good base from which to explore the surrounding villages.

Guilin | Yangshuo | Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces | Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge | Blog posts about Guangxi