There appears to be plenty of better type accommodation around the railway station and associated bus station (which is not the Central Bus station which is a km or so to the north). But it is not easy to know which way to go for budget accom...which to me means 100rmb or less.

DO NOT be tempted by the touts offering a 31rmb room, it is a disgusting place.

Turn right (south) from the station and follow the road out of the square.... there are few places to choose from on the right...one uses the same stairway as a Net bar. I stayed in the Zhong Mei Hotel opposite (and not before!) the large Yinji Commercial and Trading building. It only has rooms without bathroom, for 45 rmb single, but it is probably the cleanest place I have been in. There is a hotel at the far end of this street too. The 2 net bars here are the best I have even been in. There are also two good cheap eating places by second net bar.

A bit more expensive: as you exit the station go around the block opposite, which hides the bus station, and you will find the Datong Hotel, advertsed rate 100rmb... I don't know what it is like.

But there doesn't seem a lot to come here for !!

In the west we are used to a green man at traffic lights meaning it is safe to cross. This is most definitely NOT the case in China. Traffic also often has a green light and does not give way.

It is NEVER safe to cross w ithout looking both ways first

Shijiazhuang applies the 'no foreigners in cheap hotels' rule to some extent. However, if you go to the southern end of the station (arrivals exit) and then look out to your right, there is a subway under the road. On the left are twwo cheap hotels, I stayed in the first for 80 rmb, for a room with shower/toilet. Small but better than many others I have been in. (60 rmb for a single without bathroom)

The town of Daxin is west of Nanning and the nearest town to DeTian Bu Pu (waterfalls on Mekong R), which are worth a visit. This town has little of interest. The hotel opposite the bus station cost me Y30, half the advertised price without bargaining, amazing! Otherwise, there are a few hotels including the luxurious looking Daxin Hotel in superb grounds - to the left as you exit from bus station. Thereis a small but lively outside dining street in the evenings just past the Daxin hotel on the other side of street.

There is one historic site, a drab fortified wall gate. Turn left from the bus station and it is somewhere on the left from there!

Caught bus from bus station to DeTian waterfalls,

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!