Can't make it to Xinjiang? Baise is a great alternative!

National Day highlights: Sea of clouds at Dashiwei Tiankeng ☁️, underground river rafting at Gulong Canyon 🚣, and the first red leaves of Debao maple trees 🍁 (70% chance in late October)! 🚗 Transportation & Travel Tips - Main transport: → Fly to Baise Bama Airport (direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen), or take high-speed rail to Baise Station (1.5 hours from Nanning, ¥88). - Key tips: → Scenic spots are scattered with many mountain roads—renting a car/self-driving offers more freedom (SUV ¥300/day, be cautious with right-hand drive vehicles); → Book tickets for popular attractions 3 days in advance (Dashiwei has strict visitor limits!); → Average October temps: 20-28°C—pack sun-protective clothing and anti-slip hiking shoes (canyons can be slippery). 📅 5-Day Itinerary: From Red Earth to Underground Wonders Day 1: Red City Prelude | Revolutionary Sparks × Youjiang River Nightlife ▫️ 9:00 (Historical immersion!) → Baise Uprising Memorial Park (free/requires reservation): ✅ Climb the monument for panoramic views of the Youjiang River, touch Deng Xiaoping's handwritten slogan wall, and capture solemn silhouettes at the martyrs' sculpture garden. ▫️ 12:00 → Zhuang cuisine at Jiefang Street (¥40/person): → Shredded lemon duck (spicy and appetizing) + five-color sticky rice (plant-dyed rice with honey), paired with hawthorn leaf tea to cut the grease. ▫️ 15:00 → Eastern Guangdong Guildhall (free): → Admire the intricate carvings of Qing-era Lingnan architecture and find the kerosene lamp at the Red Seventh Army headquarters site. ▫️ Dusk → Youjiang River night cruise (¥60/person): → Ride a replica antique boat to enjoy riverside light shows, and photograph neon-lit Jiefang Bridge and fishing boats (200mm lens + tripod recommended). Day 2: Canyon Fantasia | Tongling Waterfall × Underground River Whispers ▫️ 7:30 (Beat the crowds!) → Tongling Grand Canyon (¥115): ✅ Capture the rainbow at the 188-meter waterfall in backlight (before 10:00 AM), hike through Nianba Karst Cave's stalagmite forest—wear anti-slip shoes and bring a raincoat. ▫️ 12:00 → Farmhouse meal in Hurun Town (¥35/person): → Wild mushroom chicken soup (with freshly picked termitomyces) + bamboo tube rice (smoked pork with glutinous rice), paired with sour green mango for a refreshing kick. ▫️ 14:30 → Gulong Canyon Underground River Rafting (¥198): → Drift through a three-day-three-night underground river in a raft, spotlight billion-year-old stalactites with a headlamp, and spot blind fish (choose the classic route). ▫️ Stay at Jingxi Yunshan Xiaozhu Homestay (¥280/night), stargazing from the terrace with frog serenades. Day 3: Lakes & Mountains Poetry | Haokun Lake × Tea Terraces ▫️ 8:00 → Haokun Lake (¥48 + boat ticket ¥45): ✅ Climb the bamboo ladder at Zhulong Cave for aerial shots of the emerald lake, visit Fisherman’s Wharf by boat, and wear white for mirror-like reflections on the wind-and-rain bridge. ▫️ 12:00 → Science Hotel Restaurant (¥60/person): → Savor clear-broth river fish soup (sweet and non-fishy) + Yao-style bamboo tube rice (with cured pork and peas). ▫️ 15:00 → Lingyun Tea Terraces "Pyramid" (¥40): → Pick autumn Lingyun white tea (with free frying experience), photograph thousand-acre terraces from the summit, and enjoy oil tea with sticky rice cakes. ▫️ Night at Haokun Lake Star Camp (¥150/tent)—see the Milky Way reflected on the water. Day 4: Tiankeng Finale | Abyss × First Maple Reds ▫️ 9:00 → Dashiwei Tiankeng Cluster (¥90/shuttle): ✅ Ride the elevator to the "Cloud Sea Sky Ship" glass platform (1,450m altitude), peer into the 613-meter abyss, and hike the "Journey to the Earth’s Core" to find tree ferns. ▫️ 12:00 → Leye Highland Wild Vegetable Restaurant (¥40/person): → Hotpot with wild mushrooms (porcini + chanterelle) and hemp tofu dipped in chili sauce. ▫️ 15:00 → Luomei Lotus Cave (¥80): → See the world’s largest karst lotus basins, with laser projections recreating cave formation history. ▫️ Bonus: If visiting late October, detour to Debao (1.5-hour drive) for fiery maple leaves at Red Leaf Forest Park (¥60). Day 5: Heritage Finale | Embroidered Balls × Miniature Horses ▫️ 8:00 → Jingxi Jiuzhou Ancient Town (free): ✅ Learn Zhuang embroidered ball DIY (¥50 to keep), photograph Wenchang Pavilion + rice field reflections (16mm wide-angle, low angle). ▫️ 11:00 → Debao Pony Kingdom (¥75): → Ride the world’s shortest horse breed (<1m tall), watch equestrian shows, and buy pony plushies for kids (¥35). ▫️ Souvenirs: → Jingxi pickled fruits (green mango + plum, ¥20/jar) + Lingyun white tea (autumn harvest, ¥80/jin). 🍜 Foodie Hall of Fame (and Shame) Must-Try - Sour Fish Soup (Tianzhou Ancient Town): Wild tilapia + fermented tomato broth—down three bowls with rice. - Grilled Pig Eyes (Night stalls): Bursting texture with perilla. - Rice Noodle Rolls (Jiefang Street breakfast): Rice skin wrapped with wood ear mushrooms and minced pork, drizzled with yellow bean sauce—full of local charm. ⚠️ National Day Survival Guide 10 Ticket Traps: → Tongling Canyon online tickets are ¥10 cheaper; Dashiwei shuttle is mandatory (hiking is risky). → Debao Pony Kingdom child tickets are cheaper on-site (online bundles include useless add-ons). 20 Safety Rules: → No standing during Gulong rafting (hidden rocks); no running on Dashiwei’s glass platform (windy). → Offer a cigarette before photographing Zhuang elders (etiquette); circle temple prayer wheels clockwise. 30 Cultural Taboos: → Don’t step on Yao fire tripods (sacrilege); never stick chopsticks upright in rice (funeral symbolism). 🌌 Hidden Gems - Free Adventures: → Fulu River Waterfalls (Youjiang District): Hike wild trails for tiered falls and macaque sightings ⭐Navigate to "Fulu Village." → Chengbi Lake Pine Island: Rent a fishing boat to explore misty morning lake islands ⭐¥100/boat with guide. - Local Experiences: → Night rice-field fishing with Zhuang villagers (Jiuzhou Terraces, ¥30): Catch fish by kerosene light, grill with lemongrass ⭐Book ahead. → Traditional tea-making (Tea Pyramid, ¥80): Picking → frying → rolling → drying—take home your batch. Bonus: 24-Hour Zhuang Life Clock ⏰ 7:00 Wake up with rice noodle rolls and yellow bean sauce. ⏰ 10:00 Spicy-sour pickled fruits shock your taste buds. ⏰ 13:00 Sour fish soup + grilled pig eyes. ⏰ 16:00 Warm up with ginger-infused oil tea. ⏰ 19:00 Night market grilled sausage wraps with lettuce. ⏰ 22:00 Hawthorn leaf tea for sweet dreams.