Sanjiang · Chengyang – Duolun Duoye in the Dong Villages

Guangxi's unique 'Sanyuesan' holiday from April 14 to 17 gave me the perfect chance for a short trip within the region. I chose Sanjiang, a minority area in Liuzhou—home to the Dong people. Duolun Duoye means young Dong men and women singing and dancing in circles.

There are many high-speed train routes from Nanning to Sanjiang, taking about 3.5 hours, slightly farther than Guilin. Since it was my first visit and I worried about hotel availability during the holiday, I rushed to book two nights at a guesthouse inside the Chengyang scenic area on Ctrip, only to find later that booking ahead was completely unnecessary and overpriced. Inside the scenic area, especially near the north gate, there are many guesthouses at affordable prices—only 150 yuan per night even during the holiday.

Itinerary:

1. April 15: Nanning East – Sanjiang South high-speed train.

2. April 15–16: Stay in a guesthouse in Chengyang Eight Villages scenic area.

3. April 17: Return trip.

Transport tips:

(1) Bus: After arriving at Sanjiang South Station, take bus No. 4 to Guangchang Station (fare 3 yuan, WeChat/Alipay accepted). Nearby attractions include the 'Bird's Nest' (where the Zuomei performance is held twice in the evening, and sometimes bullfighting during the day), Sanjiang Drum Tower, and Moon Street (reportedly beautiful at night; I visited during the day and it was nothing special). All are within a few minutes' walk.

From Sanjiang county town to Chengyang scenic area, walk from Guangchang Station across Yicheng Bridge to catch a bus. The 12 km ride takes about half an hour (fare 4 yuan, cash only, buses run every half to one hour; the last bus from town to the scenic area is around 6 p.m.).

(2) Car-sharing: You can rent an E200 by scanning a QR code—a nice self-drive option. I only noticed these shared cars on my way back.

Accommodation advice:

(1) For a two-day trip, stay the first night in a newer guesthouse near the north gate of Chengyang Eight Villages. Avoid wooden guesthouses—soundproofing is terrible; footsteps upstairs sound like thunder, and you can hear the toilet flush as if right next to your ear. The second night, you can stay in Sanjiang county town.

(2) If you have a car and only one day, experience the 'Hundred-family Banquet' and the 'Dong Love in Chengyang' ethnic show, then return to the county town for the night.

Day 1: Visit Sanjiang Drum Tower, Moon Street, Sanjiang Wind and Rain Bridge, and Chengyang Eight Villages (scenic area). At 6 p.m., enjoy the Hundred-family Banquet at Pingzhai village; at 7:30 p.m., watch the 'Dong Love in Chengyang' performance.

The drum tower, the tallest building type in a Dong village, gets its name from the drum placed upstairs. It serves as a meeting hall where Dong villagers beat the drum to gather for major events and discussions, and as a venue for social, recreational, and festive gatherings.

Day 2: Dress in ethnic costumes for photos in Chengyang Eight Villages, hike, and visit the Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County Museum. At 2 p.m., watch bullfighting at the Bird's Nest; at 7 p.m., enjoy the Zuomei performance at the Bird's Nest.

Local specialties are dominated by sour and spicy flavors, with plenty of smoked foods (like cured sausages and bacon). Deep-fried dried small fish are delicious, and the chili sauce is good, too. Of course, the most famous are the local oil tea (hand-picked and pan-dried tea leaves made by locals) and Chongyang wine.