Red Water River First Bend Must-Visit
Red Water River Basin Scenery and Culture Travel Guide
🌊 Core Highlights of the Itinerary
· Traverse the "Devil's Mountain Ni": Immerse yourself in the world's densest karst peak cluster depression—Qibainong. On the "Eight Miles Nine Bends" mountain road, feel the grandeur and desolation of the earth torn apart by time.
· Overlook the "Earth's Most Elegant Turn": At the Red Water River First Bend viewing platform, witness the roaring river carving a nearly 360-degree perfect "Ω" shaped arc through countless mountains and valleys, experiencing the absolute scale of this geographic wonder.
· Decode the "River's Diary": From the vast flat lake of Yantan Reservoir to the myriad treasures of Dahua Strange Stone Museum, understand the hydraulic epic and strange stone culture created by billions of years of erosion by the Red Water River.
⚠️ Important Premise: Hardcore Adventure and In-Depth Cultural Journey
· Adventure Nature: The core attractions are located deep in the mountains of northwest Guangxi, with complex road conditions requiring high driving skills and suitable vehicles. This is not a comfortable vacation but a deep exploration of nature and culture.
· Best Season: September to November. The weather is crisp and clear, water levels stable, visibility high, and red leaves beginning to appear. Avoid summer (high risk of landslides during rainy season) and winter (possible frequent rain and fog).
· Physical Requirements: Involves mountain climbing and hiking, requiring good physical fitness.
🗺️ 3-Day In-Depth Self-Driving Loop Plan (Entry/Exit via Hechi/Nanning)
Day 1: Assemble → Dahua · Prologue of Strange Stones and Flat Lake
· Morning: Drive from Nanning/Hechi to Dahua Yao Autonomous County (about 2 hours from Nanning, about 1.5 hours from Hechi).
· Afternoon Core Experiences:
1. Dahua Strange Stone Museum: The best prologue of the journey. View colorful jade stones, mo stone, pear skin stone, and more nurtured by the Red Water River, understanding the origin and aesthetics of "strange stone culture." These stones, polished by river water for billions of years, are the first step to interpreting the Red Water River.
2. Yantan Reservoir (Red Water River section) Viewing: Head to the reservoir area to see the wild Red Water River calm like a lake here, with mountains reflecting in the water. Feel the human engineering shaping the river.
· Evening: Stay in Dahua County town and taste Red Water River fish (such as sesame swordfish, with fresh and delicious meat).
· Accommodation: Dahua County town.
Day 2: Dahua → Qibainong · Traverse the Karst Maze
· Morning: Drive into Qibainong National Geopark (about 1.5 hours from Dahua County town). The focus is not on the bottom of the "nong" (depression), but on the "Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Nongs Viewing Platform" and the "Eight Miles Nine Bends" road. This is the best spot for panoramic views, with a sea of peaks that is breathtaking.
· Driving Experience: The "Eight Miles Nine Bends" is the highlight of this trip, with intense winding over just a few kilometers, offering great driving fun and visual impact. Please drive safely and slowly.
· Afternoon Core Experiences:
1. Climb the "Heaven on Earth" Viewing Platform: Requires hiking a steep set of stairs, but rewards with a 360-degree unobstructed panoramic view of the peak clusters.
2. Visit the "World's First Nong" (Ganfang Nong): You can drive nearby and take a short hike to feel the isolated sensation of being at the bottom of a huge depression.
· Important Reminder: Living conditions in the Qibainong area are harsh; overnight stays are not recommended. Be sure to depart before sunset to stay in Donglan County or Bama County (about 2-2.5 hours drive).
· Accommodation: Donglan County town or Bama County Poyue Village.
Day 3: Donglan → Red Water River First Bend → Return
· Morning: Head to the Red Water River First Bend viewing platform (about 40 minutes from Donglan County town, with clear signs). You need to climb about 20 minutes of stairs to reach the mountaintop pavilion.
· Core Experiences:
· Visual Feast: Prepare your camera and drone (if you have one). The scene is incredibly magnificent—the Red Water River encircles a massive mountain body, carving a canyon nearly 300 meters deep. Morning or afternoon light is best.
· Geological Reflection: This is a textbook example of river capture and lateral erosion in a karst area.
· Afternoon: Depending on your return direction, choose:
· Return to Nanning: Return directly from First Bend, about 4 hours drive.
· Extended Cultural Experience: Visit Donglan Wei Baqun’s Former Residence or Bama Longevity Village to enrich your trip.
🚗 Transportation and Driving Survival Guide
· Vehicle Requirements: Must be a high-clearance SUV. Some sections (such as inside Qibainong Scenic Area and parts of the rural road to First Bend) are mountain cement roads with sharp bends, steep slopes, and occasional potholes.
· Navigation Setup: Download offline maps in advance. Mountain signals are unstable; be sure to set waypoints:
1. Dahua Strange Stone Museum
2. Qibainong National Geopark (Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Nongs Viewing Platform)
3. Red Water River First Bend Scenic Area
· Driving Safety:
· Slow! Slow! Slow! No overtaking on curves, use horn signals frequently.
· Fuel Supply: Fill up in Dahua or Donglan; no gas stations in the mountains.
· Weather Monitoring: Check weather before departure; be cautious on rainy days due to possible landslides.
📸 Photography and Cultural Experience Highlights
1. Qibainong:
· Macro: Use wide-angle lenses to capture the majestic peak clusters, especially at the viewing platform.
· Micro: Photograph the lines of the mountain road, working Yao residents, and cornfields in the depression.
· Cultural: Respect local Yao people; ask permission before photographing individuals.
2. Red Water River First Bend:
· Panorama: Use a drone if possible to fully capture the entire view.
· Lighting: Shoot in morning side light or afternoon front light for better river color.
3. Strange Stone Culture:
· Observe carefully in the Strange Stone Museum, try to understand the standards of "shape, texture, color, and pattern" in stone appreciation, which adds a cultural perspective to the natural scenery tour.
🍽️ Local Flavor Recipes
· Dahua/Donglan:
· Red Water River raw fish or steamed river fish: Taste the freshest river delicacies.
· Qibainong corn porridge/hemp soup: Experience mountain specialty staples.
· Black mountain pork, goat: Yao and Zhuang ethnic dishes.
· Supply Tips: Bring enough drinking water and high-energy snacks (chocolate, nuts); supply points are scarce in the mountains.
🏨 Accommodation and Itinerary Alternatives
· Accommodation: Standard hotels in Dahua and Donglan County towns. For longevity and health experience, stay in Bama Poyue Village (more options but farther from next day’s First Bend).
· Alternatives (if time is tight or physical strength limited):
· Skip Qibainong: Focus on "Dahua Strange Stone Museum + Yantan Reservoir + Red Water River First Bend" for a lighter itinerary.
· Reverse Route: From Nanning directly to Donglan (longer drive), see First Bend first, then Qibainong, then Dahua.
💰 Budget Reference (Per Person, Based on 3 Days, 4-Person Self-Drive)
· Transportation: Car rental (SUV) + fuel + tolls ≈ 350 RMB/person.
· Accommodation: Budget hotel about 150 RMB/night × 2 nights = 300 RMB.
· Tickets: Qibainong ticket about 70 RMB, First Bend free, Strange Stone Museum about 30 RMB = 100 RMB.
· Meals: About 80 RMB/day, 3 days about 240 RMB.
· Total: About 990 RMB (flexible, excluding major transportation).
⚠️ Ultimate Practical Tips
1. Safety Red Line: Some viewing platforms in Qibainong have sparse railings; do not climb recklessly. The stairs at First Bend are steep; watch your step.
2. Supplies: Hiking shoes, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, power bank, common medicines (stomach medicine, band-aids).
3. Environmental Principle: Please take all trash with you to protect the fragile and magnificent natural environment.
4. Mindset Management: The beauty here is primitive, rugged, and imposing, not delicate or pretty. Approach with reverence.
📌 Summary
"A three-day itinerary completes a three-dimensional reading of the Red Water River: Day one, touch the 'bones' shaped by the river in the Strange Stone Museum; day two, feel the 'power' of the river cutting through the earth among the thousand mountains and ten thousand nongs of Qibainong; day three, gaze from the cliff at First Bend, the most magnificent 'period' the river writes on the land. This is a geological journey about time, power, and beauty."
Wishing you awe and reflection in the majestic scroll of the Red Water River.