DeTian Da Bu Pu (DaTian Great Waterfall) is on the Mekong River bordering Vietnam and is acccessible by bus. It is worth a visit even though the Y80 entrance fee is rather steep. It does not take long to see the whole waterfall and take a quick walk around the Vietnames market at the top (imitation foreign brand perfume etc. So it is probably best to take a bus in reasonably really and get ou the same day. (I bused from the unexciting town of Daxin for Y20)

There is a resort hotel in the park, and a couple of cheap hotels (Y60, clean) outside the vendor lined road up to the park.

It is also interesting to see how the Vietnamese cross the river wading and by boat, especially when the river is high!

A visit to Yangmai village less than 40km to the west of Nanning is a must for people interested in history and modern village life roled into one. It has many historic buildings and encourages small scale tourism while continuing normal rural activity; it has a sandy beach where you can barbecue, except in the rainy season (summer).

There are local foods and crafts for sale, restaurants both cheap and classy, small shops and a net café. It is on the Yongjian River on a peninsula and is only accessible by the village bus (refered to in some literature as a tourist bus). It takes 90 minutes on the bus as it crosses the river on a ferry and passengers get out, and travels on some narrow dirt roads. The cost (2006) is only Y8!

There is guest house and motel type accommodation in the village. The first is as you enter the village on the left (the bus passes it), price and staandard not known, another is by the river by the restaurants, (last building on the left)and costs Y40 per night. There are no soft mattresses, only bamboo sleeping mats but it has aircon.

It is worth having a guide to explain what you see but there is no offical English speaking guide. I found a university student who was my excellent guide. Try asking the bus driver if there is anyone.

If you don’t want to stay overnight make sure you take the early bus there and check out the time of the last one back again. The way in is the only way out!

Ignore tourist information and maps which suggest a train stops there, that is history!

Yangmai has a local delicacy, sha gao, which looks like a jam sandwich. It has a soft slightly crumbly white outer layer with a soft fruit paste inside. The nearest western equivalent I can think of is a fig roll (UK and Aus). By the river you can buy excellent barbecued seafood on sticks.