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| (China Daily/Ye Jun) |
Our guide says Detian is the third most popular tourist destination in Guangxi, after world-acclaimed Guilin and the coastal city of Beihai.
"But Detian is less commercialized," she says.
Detian is also known for its karst caves and landscapes.
Remnants of the war between China and Vietnam in 1979 are evident in some parts of the historical suburb, with small underground tunnels dug by Chinese soldiers to hide from artillery shelling.
The road to Detian Falls runs parallel along Guichun River, which borders China and Vietnam. Because of the proximity, one gets to see Vietnamese vendors who cross the river to sell their products at local weekend markets in Detian.
Winter is not the best season to visit the waterfalls, which have the lowest volume of water. But it is the best time to avoid the crowds.
It is said that one third of Detian Falls belongs to Vietnam and two thirds to China. Just 50 meters to its left is a smaller waterfall called Ban Gioc Falls, which belongs to Vietnam.
Detian Falls is a three-level waterfall 200 meters wide and dropping 60 meters.
Visitors can ride a bamboo raft, which costs 30 yuan ($5), to see the waterfall up close. It doesn't look imposing from a distance, but when you are on the raft, you realize how small your raft is compared to the waterfall.
After the raft ride, you can climb the man-made stairs to the top of the waterfall.
A transnational market about 600 meters from the waterfall is a good place for souvenir shopping. A wide range of Vietnamese products are available, like coffee, rosewood bracelets and toys made of bullets and bombshells.
It is also a good spot to take a photo of the China-Vietnam border mark, which was erected in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
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