First trip to Nanning's Qingxiu Mountain? Warning! These 7 pitfalls can drive you crazy!

Listen up, friends! I just took my parents on a whirlwind tour of Qingxiu Mountain, and my legs are screaming! 😭 This botanical garden is 3 times bigger than the Forbidden City! Follow my route and survival guide for a smooth trip with amazing photos! (Nanny-level route map included) 🚗 Transportation Tip: Don't trust the map navigation to the East Gate! 90% of tourists are crammed there in line. Locals told me to enter through the North Gate (B10 bus goes directly there). Security is faster, with fewer people, and it's cooler! For the return trip, exit from the West Gate and take the subway—super convenient~🚌 🌿 Optimized Route (Original route retained + tested improvements): North Gate > Orchid Garden > Shade Plant Garden > Sightseeing Bus > Guanyin Zen Temple > Ancient & Modern Photo Spot > Peach Blossom Island > Sightseeing Bus > Huanshan Xiuping > China-Thailand Friendship Garden > Longxiang Tower > Buyun Gate > Sightseeing Bus > West Gate > Yongzhou Pavilion ⚠️Important! Buy the three-trip sightseeing bus ticket (single trip 5 yuan/person, three-trip ticket only 12 yuan). Learn from my painful experience and save enough for 3 cups of milk tea! 🥤 📸 Photo Tips: The mist in the Shade Plant Garden isn't sprayed all day! It sprays for 15 minutes every hour on the hour from 9:00–17:00 (least crowded at noon, 12:00). I recommend wearing a long white dress and standing in the fern area for a truly ethereal look. 🧚♀️ For the ancient & modern photo spot, walk to the third viewing platform (look for the inscribed stone tablet), place your phone on the ground, and shoot upwards. The modern buildings + ancient temple framing is amazing! 🚫 Killer Climb Warning: Longxiang Tower doesn't look tall, but climbing it is equivalent to 15 floors! If you have knee problems, I suggest taking a bottom-up shot (use 2x portrait mode). The sunlight at 4pm gives the tower's tip a golden edge—absolutely stunning! If you're up for the challenge, climb to the top, but remember to bring a small fan. 💨 🌺 Seasonal Hidden Gems: The bougainvillea waterfall behind the China-Thailand Friendship Garden (search for "Thai Red Pavilion") is super photogenic! The snapdragon flower sea is in the Yezi Garden (towards the East Gate). Visiting in March–April is like stepping into a Miyazaki movie. The sightseeing bus driver told me that camellias bloom most vibrantly around Lunar New Year. 💰 Ticket Saving Tip: Student IDs get half price, but you must bring the physical card! Digital versions don't work (don't ask how I know 😭). Seniors over 60 can enter directly with their ID card. I recommend buying tickets in advance on the "Qingxiu Mountain Ticket Mall." Scanning the QR code is 3 times faster than paper tickets! 💡 Local Tips: 1️⃣ Arrive at the North Gate before 9am on weekends to have the entire Orchid Garden mist forest to yourself. 2️⃣ Wait for the lights to come on at Yongzhou Pavilion for the best photos (winter time 18:30 / summer time 19:10). 3️⃣ Avoid visiting on the 1st or 15th of the lunar month! Guanyin Zen Temple is unbelievably crowded, and you'll wait 2 hours to get a fortune stick. 4️⃣ Bring mosquito repellent! Bring mosquito repellent! Bring mosquito repellent! (Important things must be said three times) Flights to Nanning are incredibly cheap right now! Save this guide and tag your hiking buddies—let's go!