Thrilling! Visiting Tongling Grand Canyon literally scared my legs weak!

Family, I recently went to Tongling Grand Canyon and was truly shocked! As soon as I entered the canyon, the ancient trees and vines blocking the sky made me feel like I had stepped into a mysterious green tunnel, and I felt a bit uneasy. As I walked further, I suddenly heard a deafening roar, so powerful it felt like the whole mountain was trembling. Approaching it, the Tongling Waterfall, the highest single-drop waterfall in Asia, appeared before my eyes. With a drop of 188.6 meters, during the flood season, the water gushes down like a broken Milky Way. The mist filled the air, and standing on the viewing platform felt like being caught in a heavy rain. The rushing water vapor and the tremendous sound really gave me cold sweats! Going deeper into the canyon, the dark river caves crisscrossed, pitch black inside, with bizarrely shaped stalactites, some resembling clawing monsters. Coupled with the murmuring underground river, I was on edge the whole time, afraid that something unknown might suddenly appear. On the cliff walls, there are ancient cliff burial sites of the Zhuang ancestors, mysterious and unfathomable, as if pairs of eyes were watching in the darkness. It was really thrilling! Although I was scared on this trip, it was worth it. Such a stunning natural landscape is rare! Here’s a travel guide for everyone: 📍Location: Xinling Village, Hurun Town, Jingxi City, Baise, Guangxi 🎫Tickets: Adult ticket 115 RMB (includes cave, waterfall, and canyon pass), half price for seniors aged 60-65, free for children under 1.4 meters and active military personnel. Residents of Guangdong/Hong Kong/Macau with ID enjoy free or half-price first entrance ticket (April to December 2025). 🚗Transportation: - Self-drive: From Nanning, passing Chongzuo and Daxin, about 3.5 hours in total. - Bus: Direct bus from Jingxi Jingyu Bus Station at 8:30 to the scenic area, return at 16:00, ticket price 25 RMB. - Scenic area shuttle: From the exit to the parking lot is 1.5 km, sightseeing bus available for 10 RMB per person, best to bring some cash. 🌿Must-see highlights: 1. Tongling Waterfall: The core check-in spot, Asia’s highest single-drop waterfall. It’s magnificent during flood season, and the moss on the cliff is beautiful during dry season. There’s also a water curtain cave behind the waterfall, remember to wear a raincoat. 2. Tongling Treasure Cave: The cave’s stalactites are magical, with intertwining underground rivers and waterfalls. It’s super cool inside during summer. 3. Nianba Gorge Primitive Forest: Hiking trails weave through a group of tree ferns, with abundant negative oxygen ions, making you feel like your lungs are purified. 4. Ancient Hanging Coffins: Mysterious cliff coffins on a hundred-meter cliff, experiencing the mysterious culture of the Zhuang people for thousands of years. ⏰Tour route (3-4 hours total): Entrance → 818 steps → Zangjin Cave (Northern Song Dynasty site) → Tongling Treasure Cave → Lovers’ Road → Tongling Waterfall → Mandarin Duck Pool (may be closed during dry season) → Jiudie Waterfall (not yet open) → Dark River Tunnel → Cliff Coffin Burial → Exit ⚠️Notes: 5. The cave floor is slippery, be sure to wear non-slip shoes. You can also rent them at the entrance for 10 RMB per pair. 6. April to May is the rainy season, remember to bring a raincoat. The waterfall mist can easily soak you. 7. The downhill steps are steep; although the return route is gentle, it’s 1.5 km long. Wearing comfortable clothes is important. 8. To avoid crowds, arrive right at the 8:30 opening. Tour groups usually peak between 10:00 and 14:00. 9. Due to drought, the waterfall flow may be low in April 2025. You can call ahead to check the water flow. 🏨Accommodation recommendations: - Tongling Mountain Villa: Located inside the scenic area, a Zhuang-style three-star hotel with a restaurant and conference room, only 5 minutes’ walk to the entrance. - Nianba Tribe Homestay: Cost-effective and offers shuttle service. 🍜Food treats: - Bamboo tube rice at the scenic area entrance costs 8 RMB, five-color glutinous rice 5 RMB, both taste amazing. - In Jingxi city, be sure to try sour wild vegetables, rolled rice noodles, and wormwood soup for a new culinary experience! 📸Photo tips: 1. For waterfall front shots, use a wide-angle lens and a tripod for long exposure; the results are stunning. 2. The water curtain cave is perfect for backlit silhouette shots. If lucky, you can capture rainbows refracted by water droplets. 3. The cave is dark, so turn on your phone’s night mode and avoid direct strong light on the stalactites. 💡Trip combinations: - 1-day tour: Tongling Grand Canyon → Detian Transnational Waterfall (40 minutes by car) - 2-day tour: Day 1 Tongling Grand Canyon → Day 2 Equan (Jingxi’s Little Guilin) → Old Prefecture Embroidery Ball Street 🌟Off-the-beaten-path experiences: 1. You might encounter wild macaques deep in the canyon, but never feed them. 2. Explore the underground river caves during the rainy season for a real-life “Journey to the Center of the Earth” experience. 3. Join the Zhuang Song Festival in mid-April to experience folk customs like antiphonal singing and embroidery ball tossing—super fun!