Building Bridges between East and West through Education and Cultural Exchange
Album: Detian Waterfall (Guangxi)
The DeTian Waterfall Scenic Area is only slowly becoming known to the average Chinese person. I was happy to visit this area in September, 2009 (following the rainy season) when there was a good flow of water still in the river.
Click on the first photo below for full screen viewing (41 photos).
The relatively unknown Detian Waterfall lies on the Guichun River which defines the border with Vietnam, southwest of Nanning.
We got off our bus in Daxin. We engaged a Mitsubishi minivan for our trip to the DeTian Scenic Area.
Many of the photos en-route to the waterfall were shot through the window of the minivan.
Karst mountains, with these beautiful eroded shapes, are common in Guangxi Province, like Guilin much farther north.
While villages show many signs of more modern building construction, they may often lack good access for cars.
The valleys are terraced and well cultivated with crops of rice, primarily.
Most roads enroute to Detian were much better than this, but this is not uncommon in the back country of Guangxi.
Just another village, nestled amongst the karst mountains.
Sensing this valley might be interesting, I asked the driver to stop. Leaning over the guardrail, I was rewarded with this breathtaking scene.
Glancing through the window again, I sensed another photo op and asked to stop. I was sure we were arriving at the waterfall, so I wanted to capture this distant view.
This is not our destination, but given my flat prairie Canadian world, I would be happy to travel this far for such a scene.
Back on the road, I learn that Detain is now only a short distance to go.
Local farmers with their water buffalo.
The location is “transnational” in the sense that the waterfall is on the boundary between China and Vietnam.
A first view of the Detian Falls (aka Ban Gioc in Vietnamese)… and the beginning of a 1000 m walkway along the valley.
We “lucked out” on the water flow this time (late September). It was much better than often seen at other times.
Is it really the 2nd largest transnational waterfall? Definitely smaller than our own Niagara, but maybe more beautiful.
With a tropical climate and lots of moisture, we find many signs of beauty.
Upstream from the falls.
Another view of the river upstream from the falls.
This marker indicates an improvement in relations between China and Vietnam and a joint decision to promote tourism.
Near the boundary marker above the falls, we find this cluster of Vietnamese traders and the water buffalo.
Returning down the valley, we explore pathways that allow us to get close to sections of the waterfall.
At times we can almost reach out to touch the falling water.
Normally described as a three-stage cascade, various branches create a host of smaller waterfalls.
Rafting is the traditional way of life for people on the rivers in Guangxi.
Our fisherman navigates to his new fishing spot. He has already placed one small net in the stream at the left.
Note the local fisherman at the bottom right, and his rod and line fixed above the current.
The same guy, possibly fixing bate on his line for another try.
The river is shallow enough for navigation by poling.
The rafts are used to take us tourists up closer to the falls.
Locals traders will approach the tourist boats with things to sell.
The falls are about 200 m in width and are described as 70 m overall in height.
WC stops are important of course… but seldom are the facilities as beautiful as this one.
The smaller falls here are on the Vietnamese side. The Vietnamese name for the falls is Ban Gioc.
Development was underway just outside the park entrance. There are good reasons to plan for more tourism.
Now, we are back on the road to Daxin in late afternoon to catch the bus back to Nanning.
Water being carried in the traditional Chinese way.
Through the windshield of the minivan, an idyllic rural scene in southern Guangxi.
The old and new. The farmer, here, appears to be talking on his mobile phone.
An example, here, of the small tractor units commonly used by farmers in the area. (LAST IN SERIES)
