Dreamlike destination

Our guide says Detian is the third most popular tourist destination in Guangxi, after world-acclaimed Guilin and the coastal city of Beihai.

"But Detian is less commercialized," she says.

Detian is also known for its karst caves and landscapes.

Remnants of the war between China and Vietnam in 1979 are evident in some parts of the historical suburb, with small underground tunnels dug by Chinese soldiers to hide from artillery shelling.

The road to Detian Falls runs parallel along Guichun River, which borders China and Vietnam. Because of the proximity, one gets to see Vietnamese vendors who cross the river to sell their products at local weekend markets in Detian.

Winter is not the best season to visit the waterfalls, which have the lowest volume of water. But it is the best time to avoid the crowds.

It is said that one third of Detian Falls belongs to Vietnam and two thirds to China. Just 50 meters to its left is a smaller waterfall called Ban Gioc Falls, which belongs to Vietnam.

Detian Falls is a three-level waterfall 200 meters wide and dropping 60 meters.

Visitors can ride a bamboo raft, which costs 30 yuan ($5), to see the waterfall up close. It doesn't look imposing from a distance, but when you are on the raft, you realize how small your raft is compared to the waterfall.

After the raft ride, you can climb the man-made stairs to the top of the waterfall.

A transnational market about 600 meters from the waterfall is a good place for souvenir shopping. A wide range of Vietnamese products are available, like coffee, rosewood bracelets and toys made of bullets and bombshells.

It is also a good spot to take a photo of the China-Vietnam border mark, which was erected in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Our trip to Detian Falls is quite relaxing but the visit to Tongling Grand Canyon is more challenging.

Tourists first walk down 817 steps to the bottom of the canyon. The path is lined with lush tropical plants, such as huge gomuti palm trees and tree ferns, a rare species that have survived since the age of dinosaurs.

The walk is about 3 km, but because it is a winding path, it feels much longer.

Visitors explore the countryside on bicycles.

A ride on a bamboo raft is a relaxing way to take in the scenery in Detian.

The next morning, we explore the surroundings of the resort using a river raft. The scenery along the river is amazing: round hills, floating clouds and tall bamboo trees on the bank casting reflections into the water.

Our Zhuang ethnic group guides even sing folk songs for us. After half an hour of rafting, we stop at a village to have a feel for local life and a taste of local snacks made of sugarcane and wild longans.

Then we continue exploring the countryside by bicycle, which to me is the best part of the trip.

We pass by sugarcane fields, and see ducks swimming in ponds, egrets feeding in wheat fields and a water buffalo working in the field.

Even the most stressed-out visitors will feel relaxed by breathing in the fresh air and taking in the beautiful scenery.

Contact the writer at yejun@chinadaily.com.cn.