Laibin Travel Guide: Jinxiu's Yao Mountains, Hot Springs and the Hongshui River
Laibin is a sugarcane-and-industry city in central Guangxi, on the high-speed line between Nanning and Liuzhou. The city itself has little to hold you. Its real draw is Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County in the Dayao Mountains to the east, which brands itself the "world Yao capital": the 1,979-metre Shengtangshan, Lianhua Mountain's stone forest, a cliffside glass walkway at Gushagou, and Yao villages and food. Plan two days with a car, or treat Laibin as a one-night transit stop.
Jinxiu: the Dayao Mountains
Jinxiu county, set up in 1952 as a Yao autonomous area, has about 130,000 residents and several Yao branches with their own dress and customs. Its county town has been turned into a scenic area of its own, with a city gate, the Gongde Bridge, a Yao museum and the Yaodu Square. Its mountain parks are the main reason to come. They're rated 4A, cooler than the lowlands and best reached by car.
Shengtangshan
The main peak of the Dayao Mountains, sacred to the local Yao and marketed as "Guangxi's Huangshan". At 1,979 metres it is the highest summit in central Guangxi. Expect rocky outcrops, twisted pines, a stone "river" and long views when the mist lifts, which isn't often, so pick a clear forecast. In May the slopes are covered in rhododendrons, the busiest and best time. Shengtang Lake at the foot of the mountain has rafting and boat trips in summer.
Lianhua Mountain
Laibin's first 4A site, in northwest Jinxiu, named for its lotus-like shape. Come for a stone forest, walks through old-growth forest, and the Panhu Temple to the Yao ancestral figure. It's an easier day than Shengtangshan.
Gushagou
In Bale village, 48 km northeast of the county town and billed as the "village closest to the sky", Gushagou has a glass walkway clinging to the cliffs at Shimenguan, a stone-forest peak, high grassland, homestays and sunrise over a sea of cloud. Skip it if you dislike heights.
Closer to the city
- Xiangzhou hot springs. The Guxiang scenic area in Xiangzhou county is built around a hot spring billed as the "first spring of central-south China". Bathing is charged separately.
- Xincheng lavender manor. Guangxi's largest lavender farm, in Xincheng county, is mostly a flower-field photo stop. Check what is in bloom first.
- The Hongshui River. The river runs through Laibin on its way to the Xi River, and riverside walks are the easy evening in town.
The countryside
The countryside around the city is farmland and fish ponds, pleasant from a train window but not a destination. The prefecture has been settled for over 30,000 years, and about 69% of its people are Zhuang.
When to come to Laibin
April to June and September to November. The climate is subtropical, averaging about 21 °C, with heavy rain of nearly 2,000 mm a year, mostly in summer. The mountains in Jinxiu are noticeably cooler, which makes them a summer escape, but storms can close trails and hide the views. Rhododendron season on Shengtangshan peaks in May.
Getting in and where to stay
- High-speed rail: Laibin North station opened in July 2014 on the Liuzhou–Nanning line, a short hop to either city. The older Laibin station handles conventional trains.
- To Jinxiu: Jinxiu town is a long drive east into the mountains. A hired car or self-drive is the practical way to string the scenic areas together; local tourism offices recommend driving or a tour.
For a transit night, stay near Laibin North. For the mountains, sleep in Jinxiu town or a homestay near Shengtangshan or Gushagou.
Eating in Laibin
In the city, it's central Guangxi home cooking and rice noodles; Liuzhou, next door, is the home of luosifen, so try it there. In Jinxiu, look for Yao dishes with mountain vegetables, bamboo shoots, smoked meats and wild-herb soups, often in village guesthouses. Agree on prices before ordering in tourist spots.
How to arrange the route
Transit night: Arrive at Laibin North, walk the river, eat, and catch a morning train to Nanning or Liuzhou.
Two days with a car:
- Day 1: Drive to Jinxiu, visit Lianhua Mountain, explore the county town and Yao museum.
- Day 2: Shengtangshan early before the mist, then Shengtang Lake or the hot springs at Xiangzhou on the way back.
Add a day for Gushagou and a homestay night on the mountain.
What to cut if short on time
Without a car, skip Jinxiu altogether and treat Laibin as a stopover. With one day in the mountains, choose Shengtangshan in clear weather and Lianhua Mountain if it's misty. The lavender manor is the first cut.
Things to confirm before you go
- Weather and trail status at Shengtangshan.
- Scenic area tickets, shuttles and glass-walkway rules on the official notices.
- Road conditions in Jinxiu after heavy rain.
- What is in bloom at the lavender manor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Laibin worth a stop?
The city alone isn't. The Jinxiu mountains are, if you have a car and a day or two.
How high is Shengtangshan?
1,979 metres, the highest peak in central Guangxi.
Is Laibin a Guilin alternative?
No. Jinxiu is forested mountains and Yao culture, not karst river scenery. For that, go to Guilin.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 25, 2026, and rechecked on October 18, 2026.
- Laibin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laibin
- Laibin (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/来宾市
- Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/金秀瑶族自治县
- Laibin North station (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/来宾北站
- Laibin's 4A scenic areas, Laibin Daily via The Paper https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_9843916
Tickets change; this article does not quote yuan amounts.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses or public domain; re-use requires attribution.
- laibin-landmark.jpg from File:Landmark for Laibin.jpg, by PQ77wd, CC BY-SA 4.0
- laibin-view.jpg from File:登高远望 - panoramio - jiang-wen-jie.jpg, by jiang-wen-jie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- laibin-pond.jpg from File:来宾市良江镇鱼塘 - panoramio.jpg, by 莫春誉, CC BY-SA 3.0