Located in southern China, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is famous for its picturesque landscape and gorgeous natural scenery. 

But back in 1958, it was quite difficult for tourists to visit Guangxi as there were just three railways, spanning 1,346 km, connecting only with neighboring provinces. While sixty years later, the railway route has expanded to 5,191 km, including 1,771 km for high-speed trains. 

The development of high-speed trains has made commuting between other provinces and Guangxi much easier and has greatly boosted its tourism in recent years. Let' hop on a high-speed train that goes all the way from Guilin to the south to visit five cities that you can't miss in Guangxi.

Guilin 8:00 a.m.

Guilin's landscape is known to the world as "the best under heaven." Located in the north end of Guangxi, it is an ideal place to start your trip as there are more than 10 high-speed trains passing through Guilin to the southern part of Guangxi every day.

When traveling in Guilin, you can't miss the 83-kilometer-long "river art gallery” of Li River. The waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo County is like an artist's masterpiece, decorated with startling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves and farming villages. A 3.5-hour cruise trip from Mopanshan Pier will take you to the beautiful and fascinating county of Yangshuo.

Nightlife in Yangshuo is never boring as thousands of tourists will gather to watch the Liu San Jie Impression Light Show, which is said to be the largest natural theater in the world. The water of the Li River sets the stage and a dozen beautifully lit karst formations form the natural backdrop. The stunning visual effect and beautiful folk songs will linger in your mind making this trip unforgettable.

Do try the rice noodles, river snails, beer fish and shrimps of Li River when you are in Guilin as the gourmet here is another reason you'll fall in love with this city.

Liuzhou 9:05 a.m.

Located on the banks of Liu River in north central Guangxi, Liuzhou is a fascinating tourist city as well as a historic and cultural city.

As with much of Guangxi, the landscape in Liuzhou is a mix of mountain peaks, crystal water, bizarre caves and amazing scenery. The city consists of river bends in the center, karst plains in the north, peaks and valleys in the south, and river terraces, karst basins and hills in the east. Yufeng Peak Park and Jiangbin Park are all highly recommended for a city tour.

It is also an ideal place for exploring the minority villages in the area. The folk songs of the Zhuang Minority, dances of the Yao Minority, festivals of the Miao Minority and the architectures of the Dong Minority are hailed as the "four distinct features of the ethnic customs" in Liuzhou.

Snail rice vermicelli, orange, grapefruit and longan are some of the must-try food here.

Guigang 10:10 a.m.

A one-hour high-speed train trip will take you from Liuzhou to Guigang, a city that locates at the geometric center of four big cities in Guangxi, including Nanning, Liuzhou, Wuzhou and Beihai.

Remember to visit the Tropic of Cancer Sign Park in the Shiju Town, 8 kilometers east of Guiping. The 5-centimeter-wide and 20-meter-long sign is also the indicator line between tropic and temperate zone. Standing in the center of the line, your voice will sound extraordinarily sonorous. This is the only landmark tower of tropic of cancer having strong echoes among the nine globally.

The Xishan Mountain scenic area is one of the seven holy places of Buddhism in China which is famous for its strange stones, elegant woods, sweet spring water and fragrant tea. You are also recommended to go for a hike and enjoy the serenity at Jiuling Lake and East Lake. Nature lovers will surely want to check out Mount Pingtian National Forest Park.

Lotus roots, Tantang Maojian tea, litchi, mangosteen, and chufa are very popular in Guigang.

Nanning 11:13 a.m.

Nanning is the capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is also named "Green City" as it has a humid subtropical climate that endows the city with evergreen trees and fragrant flowers all year round.

For a better understanding of Guangxi, you're recommended to visit The Museum of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where you'll have a thorough understanding of the history and culture of the region. Qingxiu Mountain is a must-see scenic spot in Nanning. Though it's called a mountain, it is actually an enormous park with many natural and man-made attractions, including sculptures, ponds, temples, pagodas, gardens and the China-ASEAN Friendship Corridor, which contains photos and information about all the countries of Southeast Asia.

If you have enough time, Detian Waterfall, the largest transnational waterfall in Asia, is a place you can't miss. The waterfall locates at the China-Vietnam border and is a five-hour drive from Nanning City.

Beihai 12:38 p.m.

Beihai is a charming coastal city located at the south of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and at the north bank of Beibu Gulf. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Beihai was one of the starting harbors of the ancient "Maritime Silk Road” and was a political, cultural and economic center.

Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Beihai boasts a beautiful silver beach and charming islands. The Silver Beach is regarded as “the greatest beach in China” for its long flat beach, soft white sand, clean seawater, soft waves and safe environment without sharks. Taking a stroll on the beach will shed away all your burdens.

If you long for life on an island, a one-hour cruise trip will take you from the city life to Weizhou Island, which locates to the south of Guangxi. Weizhou Island is a young volcanic island, known as one of the most beautiful islands only second to Xisha Islands in China. Embraced by green mountains on three sides, the island is a geological park with rich marine and bird life, volcanic lava and colorful living coral. Crocodile Crater Park, Great Church Tourism Zone, sea caves, sea-cliffs and bizarre rock formations on the island will entertain all the tourists.

Weizhou Island offers many different kinds of tasty seafood, such as oysters, scallops, and Weizhou shrimps, which are much cheaper than in Beihai City. You are suggested to pick up fresh seafood at the Nanwan Seafood Market and then find a restaurant to cook them for you according to your taste.

Guangxi is China's first ethnic autonomous region to have high-speed trains, which has put the region's development on fast track. Twelve of the 14 cities in Guangxi have been linked by high-speed trains, making it more convenient to travel within the region. According to the official data, Guangxi received 523 million domestic and foreign tourists in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 27.9 percent. This number is expected to rise to 650 million in 2018.