A Day Trip Driving Through Five Attractions in Luzhai, Liuzhou: From Zhongdu Ancient Town to Xiangqiao Karst National Geopark
Recently, I came to Liuzhou, Guangxi on a business trip and wanted to explore some interesting attractions around the city over the weekend. A colleague recommended Luzhai County, which has many scenic spots, the most famous being Xiangqiao Karst National Geoparkβa place known for its unique rocks, deep caves, and beautiful waters. Karst geologists call it "a microcosm of China's karst landforms" and "a natural museum of karst geology," making it very distinctive. There are also other smaller attractions worth visiting. Since my colleague had a car, we drove together for a weekend road trip.
In one day, we visited five attractions: Zhongdu Ancient TownβXianghe Xiangyun Scenic AreaβZhongdu Town Xiangshui WaterfallβYouyou Luming ParkβXiangqiao Karst National Geopark. Each spot is about 2 kilometers apart. None of these attractions along this route are accessible by public transport; you can only drive.
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Stop 1 δΈ¨ Zhongdu Ancient Town
Our group of three drove from Yuanboyuan for an hour and a half to reach the first stop, Zhongdu Ancient Town. But we finished exploring in about five minutesβthere were hardly any people, and it was under renovation. For someone like me who has seen many ancient towns in Jiangnan, it wasn't very impressive. So we moved on to the next stop.
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Stop 2 δΈ¨ Xianghe Xiangyun Scenic Area
After driving 2 kilometers, we arrived at Xianghe Xiangyun Scenic Area, a village with an incredibly beautiful environmentβsurrounded by mountains, lotus ponds, white walls, and green tiles. It's truly a pleasant place to live. There's also a self-pick greenhouse where you can harvest cherry tomatoes and other fruits. Children were catching crayfish by the lotus pond, reminding me of my own childhood.
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Stop 3 δΈ¨ Zhongdu Town Xiangshui Waterfall
Another 2 kilometers brought us to Xiangshui Waterfall, right next to the road. The waterfall was quite loud, but actually very low. In the shallow areas, you could wade into the water and play.
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Stop 4 δΈ¨ Youyou Luming Park
Then we drove 3 kilometers to reach Youyou Luming Park, a small park surrounded by mountains. The entrance fee is 10 yuan. Inside, there were only sika deer on a lawn, but you can get close to them.
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Stop 5 δΈ¨ Xiangqiao Karst National Geopark
Leaving the cute deer behind, we drove another 2 kilometers to reach the main attraction of the tripβXiangqiao Karst National Geopark. The park features more than 50 major geological and geomorphological relics, including Xiangqiao Natural Bridge, Xiangqiao Canyon, Jiulong Cave, Xiangshui Stone Forest, and Xiangshui Waterfall. It integrates strange rocks, deep caves, and beautiful waters, offering high scientific research and tourism valueβa precious natural heritage bestowed by nature.
When we visited, there were few people, and it had just rained, making it feel like being deep in the mountains, allowing us to experience the awe of nature. It takes about two hours to explore, and there are karst caves inside. The on-site ticket costs 45 yuan, but booking through Ctrip or similar platforms costs 38 yuan. Highly recommended.
