From Wikitravel

Nanning (南宁; Nánníng) is the capital of Guangxi in south-west China. It is a huge, modern city and a transport gateway for travellers to and from Vietnam.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Nanning has an airport serving both domestic and international flights, though the latter feature is only offered on a few destinations on a non-daily basis. But there are plans to have Nanning-Ho Chi Minh City and Nanning-Bangkok direct flights in the near future. Since Nanning City is China's gateway to Southeast Asian countries, the local government puts a lot of emphasis on connecting Nanning to the capitals of every Southeast Asian country. Getting there: There is a shuttle bus every half hour to/from Chaoyang Lu in front of the Minhang (CAAC) Hotel and next to the Yinhe Hotel close to the railway station. RMB 15 per person. 45 minutes.

You can also take a taxi. As of March 2006, a taxi costs about 75 RMB. If you're going to the city center or close by, don't let them charge you more. Have them use the meter. As of November 2008, fixed price to downtown (Wal-Mart and Parksons shopping center) is 100 RMB for two persons.

[edit] By train

The railway station is at the northern end of Chaoyang Lu just north of the city center.

To	Departure	Price (Yuan)	Duration (h)	Last update
Beijing	0950		28	1 Nov 2006
Guilin	0513, 0559, 0825, 0828, 0950 (to Beijing Xi), 1049 (to Xi'an), 1415, 1524, 1829, 1942	65.00	5 to 6	1 Nov 2006
Kunming	18:10	~200.00	10	5 June 2005
Pingxiang (Border to Vietnam)	8.00	17.00	3.5	9 November 2007

Through service from Nanning to Hanoi, Vietnam started running on January 1, 2009.

[edit] By bus

Nanning has two major bus terminals.

• Langdong bus terminal is on Minzu Dadao to the east of the city centre amongst all the new skyscrapers.

• Jiangnan bus terminal is on Xingguang Dadao way south of the city center. Buses to the south, Pingxiang near the Vietnam border (departures roughly hourly, 2.5 hrs, ¥60), and Yangshuo (via Guilin) operate from Jiangnan. Getting there/away: Bus 41 (RMB 3, 20min journey) connects Jiangnan to Chaoyang Lu in the city centre. Catch them from the square in front of the terminal. Alternatively a taxi will take you for approx. RMB 5-Y10.

Yunde [1] buses for Hanoi leave from Lang Dong bus station, and are priced at 150RMB (June 2008), which includes drinks, a lunch at Pingxiang and insurance. (it is possible to opt out of insurance, which costs 2RMB, if you tell the ticket-seller) This is a through-service, which will bring you all the way to Hanoi, though it does involve a change of buses and other vehicles in between. Buses leave Langdong at 8.30 am, 10 am and 1.40 pm. The journey took approximately 7 hours.

There are also direct buses from Nanning to Haiphong and Ha Long Bay.

As at February 2, 2009, here are costs and departure locations for the daily bus service to Hanoi, Haiphong and Halong Bay in Vietnam, from Nanning, as per the Yunde company notice board:

TO HANOI: fare 150 RMB (inc 2 RMB insurance), duration 7 hrs

07:30 Nan Fang Hotel

08:00 Nanning International Tourism Distribution Centre [NITDC] ( #10 Youai Lu, at Zhong Hua Lu intersection, about 500 mtrs east of Nanning Railway Station)

08:20 NITDC

08:30 LangDong Bus Station, Gate 15 [LDBS15] (Minzu Da Dao, well to the east of the city centre)

09:00 LDBS15

10:00 LDBS15

13:40 LDBS15

TO HALONG BAY fare 168 RMB, duration about 8 hrs

07:30 NITDC

TO HAIPHONG fare 158 RMB, duration about 8 hrs

08:40 NITDC

09:30 LDBS15

13:40 LDBS15

[edit] Get around

Local buses serve the city, and most are at RMB 1.20 per trip. Purchase a bus map of the city at around RMB 5 for the routes around the city, which doubles as a city map. Bus #301 also serves the Wuxu International Airport, and costs RMB 3 for the 1hr ride to the city-- it terminates at the city center.

Taxis are also a convenient way of getting around the city, and most rides within the city should come under RMB 20. Fares start at RMB 7, but there is an additional RMB 1 fuel surcharge to be added to your final fare, regardless of distance.

Another way of getting around is a three-wheeled buggy that resembles a motorbike with two seats.

[edit][add listing] See

• Guangxi Museum (Guǎngxī Shěng Bówùguǎn; 广西省博物馆), 34 Minzu Dadao (34 Mínzú Dàdào; 民族大道34号). 8.30am-11.30am and 2.30pm-5.00pm. Located vaguely opposite Minzu square, it has quite an eclectic exhibition. One hall is dedicated to the bronze drums found in Guangxi and neighbouring Yunnan province. In a way, this is also an exhibition about the early culture of Guangxi. Another hall is dedicated to the various ethnic minorities in Guangxi. There is also an open-air exhibition, with performances, and has houses of some of the minorities. CNY5.  edit
• South Lake (Nán Hú; 南湖), Gucheng Street (Gǔchéng Lù; 古城路). 8.00am-5.00pm. Lake in the southeastern part of town surrounded by a park including bonsai and orchid gardens. CNY2.  edit
• White Dragon Park (Bái Lóng Gōngyuán; 百龙公园), Renmin East Street (Rénmín Dōnglù; 人民东路).  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

Nanning Bird and Flower Market in Yuan hu Lu, at the Zhong hua Lu intersection, and right behind the People's Park (Ren Min Gong Yuan) is an eclectic mix of flowers, shrubs, pot plants and all thing floral, as well as a vast array of birds, fish, and other pets. Thrown into the mix is an assortment of household goodies to brighten up an otherwise dull abode: furniture fashioned from tree stumps, traditional Chinese tea sets, carvings, wall hangings, etc... This is an amzingly interesting place to while away an afternoon, and get some truly good-value items.

WARNING: this place is packed out on weekends, and is a notorious place for pick-pockets, who cleverly razor-slash pockets and bags to retrieve any valuable carelessly stowed. Keep money, mobile phones and any valuables securely in zippered compartments inside bags. NEVER keep anything valuable in a back pack, which should be carried in front!

[edit] Learn

Though the older people speak Cantonese (GuangDongHua), the younger generation mainly speak Mandarin (PuTongHua). Nanning is regarded as one of the most successful cities in China in terms of popularizing Mandarin or 'common language'. So it is a very good place to learn PuTongHua for foreigners. Universities offering Chinese courses are many, including Guangxi University for Nationalities and Guangxi University. However, be aware that Nanning people, like virtually all Chinese in the south, have a non-standard pronunciation for many of the basic sounds of Mandarin (which comes from the northern Han people).

Note also that Nanning, as the capital of Guangxi, which is an autonomous Zhuang province, embraces the Zhuang ethnic language, and virtually all signs in Nanning display the Zhuang written text. It is not to be confused with pin yin, the anglicised phonetic written language of pu tong hua.

[edit] Work

As a provincial capital, Nanning has a lot of working opportunities compared to other cities of the Guangxi region. The booming import and export business exchanges between Guangxi and Vietnam means that there is a big demand for people who can speak both Chinese and Vietnamese. Also, if you are a native English speaker, teaching jobs are also abundant. However,if you do plan on teaching, be aware that government regulations have tightened considerably, post-Olympics, and to gain employment you MUST have TWO years teaching experience in China already; have a minimun Bachelors degree, and preferably, additionally, ESL/EFL certification.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Chao Yang Road, Chao Yang Lu 朝阳路. The main shopping street of Nanning city, it is lined with several department stores, like Nanning Department Store, and Walmart, in addition al several other intentional brands and local brands. It is also a nice place to go people-watching, as people from all walks of life can be seen here: youngsters, street performers, roadside vendors, etc.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

Zhong Shan Lu (中山路)is Nanning's 'food street', with a vast assortment of street stalls serving many kinds of 'Liang Guang' (literally, the 'two Guang' provinces - Guang Xi (West), and Guang Dong (East)) foods, as well as food from neighbouring provinces, such as Hunan and Yunnan. It is diagonally opposite the Wan Da Plaza, home of Wal-Mart, and is rumoured to be up for re-development in 2010. Throughout the city there are many good-value restaurants. Few have English menus. There are a number of McDonald's to be found in and around the city centre, and KFC is widely spread throughout the whole city area. The newly developed eastern end of the city (around Langdong, and the APEC Exhibition Centre)has lots of up-market restaurants, cafes and coffee lounges

[edit] Budget

The dumpling stalls and small eating houses all over the city. Fresh, tasty and very cheap. Zhong Shan Road food stalls. Try the local rice noodle soup called Lao You Fen (老友粉), literally translated meaning "old friend rice noodle". It is traditionally made with pork based broth, pickled bamboo shoots, fermented soy beans, and other typical Chinese spices. It is an acquired tasted due to the pickled bamboo shoots. [[2]]

[edit] Mid-range

Just about 90% of the restaurants in Nanning would fall into this category. Some of the better ones include the Little (Fat) Sheep (xiao fei yang) chain (traditional hotpot, with lamb the meat of choice, Donge ge Lu, in the south, and Hen yang Lu in the northwest), Old Chengdu (Si Chuan hot, spicy food, You ai Lu, just off Dong ge Lu in the south, and Hen yang Lu, at the You ai Lu intersection, in the north west)and Mao Jia (Mao's Home) national chain (Hunan spicy food, You ai Lu , at the Hen yang Lu intersection, in the north west).

[edit] Splurge

Anything in/around Langdong or the Five Elephant Plaza (financial district); the YongJiang Hotel, by the river, has an excellent buffet, with fresh seafood, and good quality meat BBQs.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Many popular bars are to be found along Minzu Da Dao, the long avenue that runs from east to west through the city, bisecting South Lake. Many have a cover charge, and offer a variety of international as well as domestic beers, in addition to the standard supply of liquors. The '100' bar area (near the city library) has a cluster of up-market bars and coffee lounges, many featuring live music. A number of more intimate, low key bars and pubs can be found in the university district in the north west of the city, around University Road (Da Xue Lu) and Mingxiu Road.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Jingtong Business (Nanning Dongge) (jing1tong1shang1wu4jiu3dian4(nan2ning2dong1ge3dian4); 精通商务酒店(南宁东葛店)), nan2ning2qing1xiu4qu1dong1ge3lu4100hao4; 南宁青秀区东葛路100号. Good location (3km to centre, 5km to train station, 30km to airport) close to lake, shopping and transportation. Ordinary rooms, business rooms and luxus rooms ranging from 15m2 to 20m2. Business and party facilities. Recently renovated with large and bright rooms. Good service. Doubles from CNY330 but seen discounted to CNY128.  edit

• March Flower Hotel (nan2ning2san1yue4hua1da4jiu3dian4南宁三月花大酒店), nan2ning2qing1xiu4qu1dong1ge3lu4119hao4南宁青秀区东葛路119号 (Bus no 1, 12, 16). Well located (2.5km to centre, 10km to train station, 30km to airport)three star business hotel close to park and lake with nice view. Well designed hotel with well equiped rooms. Rooms including ordinary, business and luxus. Rooms ranging from 15m2 to 25m2. Free internet in the rooms. Business facilities. Rooms from CNY288 but seen discounted to CNY128.  edit

• Yingbing Hotel, (directly infront of railway station, on the right side of Chaoyang Lu if looking away from station), ☎ 86-771-2116288 (yingbin.hotel@163.com), [3]. Huge budget hotel with long corridors of rooms (probably a former hospital). Rooms are small but adequate. Location is ideal for the station. English-speaking staff on 24 hour duty and a comprehensive list of train and bus connections. However, if you need to get more than 15 minutes continuous sleep, turn the ringer of the phone off, or leave it off the hook. Prostitutes will call repeatedly, offering their services.  edit

• Nanning Civil Aviation Hotel, 82 Chaoyang Road (Near the railway station), ☎ 867712099000. Rooms with air con, electronical lock, cable TV and internet. The hotel provides a shuttle bus to the centre. Discounted rates from CNY168.  edit

• Lotusland Hostel, ☎ 86-771-2432592 (lotuslandhostel@163.com), [4]. Tiny hostel in a nice location, with a good backpacker vibe.  edit

• Around the square in front of the station. Several hotels offering bargains for rooms and dormbeds. Dorm beds starting at CNY15.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

• Wan Xing Hotel, There are two branches of this hotel, 47 Minzhu Street and 41-2 Beining Street (A 5-minute walking distance separate the two. Both are located about 2km from the train station, and within walking distance to the main shopping street in Nanning-- Chaoyang Street), [5]. Excellent, clean and elegantly-decorated rooms that have air-conditioning and come with ensuite bathrooms are available. Chinese breakfast that is adequate, though not something that I would wake up especially for. Counter staff speak some amounts of English and accept international credit cards. From CNY198.  edit

• Yin He Hotel, 84 Chaoyang Lu (right in the centre of town just south of the railway station and next to airport bus terminal), ☎ 86-771-2116688 (fax: 86-771-2420303). Conveniently located near the railway station, airport bus terminal, CAAC office, Langdong bus terminal ticketing office and other amenities. Some rooms newly renovated. Rooms from RMB 388, better ones from RMB 470.  edit

• Jinyue Hotel, 59 Xinmin Lu (about 20 minutes walk or 10 minutes by taxi from the railway station, 10 minutes from Chaoyang Square. Access to hotel is from a ramp from Minzhu Lu opposite post office). Oldish business hotel with recently upgraded rooms in 2006. Clean and comfortable rooms, all with bath, telephone and TV. Rooms from CNY388.  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Best Western Premier Red Forest Hotel, 127 Minzu Ave (Located near the Guangxi Exhibition hall, and generally within the business district), [6]. This five-star establishment offers excellent rooms at a reasonable rate. Higher rooms also offer a great view of the city, as rooms are furnished with floor-to-wall windows. Hotel amenities include an indoor pool and gym, and hotel staff are attentive and efficient. Although this hotel is a little far from the shopping district of Nanning, however, it is well-served by a large shopping mall that is a 3-minute walk from the hotel. Doubles start from RMB 488.  edit

• Guangxi Wharton International Hotel, 88 East Minzu Avenue Nanning 530022 (Located in the Landong Development Area). The hotel is nice by Chinese standards and centrally located. If you have a family, ask for a suite. There are a pool and a gym on the premises and a few restaurants inside as well. The Chinese restaurant in the basement (the "Shen Zhou Food Street") offers the best value. The rates are about $120 US per night for a nice sized room.  edit

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

Chinese cities are generally speaking very safe and Nanning is no exception. But petty robberies are quite common. On buses, be extra-careful about your mobile phones and wallets.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Vietnamese Consulate

The consulate issues Visas for Vietnam.

Address:

Ground floor, Touzi Dasha, 109 Minzu Dadao, Nanning.

Tel: (86-77) 1551 0562

Fax: (86-77) 1553 4738

Prices: These can vary according to nationality.

3 Day (standard): ¥580

2 Day : ¥480

1 Day : ¥380

Hours: Visa office hours are Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:30pm to 6:00pm. Application to be submitted by 12:00 noon. Passport with visa can be collected at/after 5:00pm

Getting There: You can either take a taxi there (ca. ¥15 one way) or the local bus (¥1.2 one way): Get bus number 6 bound south away from the railway station (the north-south part of the T junction, not the east-west), so get on at the train station on the same side of the road as the station, and get off at the second stop after you cross a big (100m long) bridge over the river. On the left as you go over the bridge is Guangxi Investment Building, with a large G logo on the top. The consulate is on the ground floor of the building to the left of Guangxi Investment Building, so you have to cross the road to get to it, when coming from the town centre.

[edit] Get out

• Northern Vietnam is within striking distance.
• There is a train to Kunming, reportedly a sensational ride through isolated mountainous country.
• The famously scenic tourist area around Guilin and Yangshuo is only a short distance from Nanning (about 5 hrs by direct bus, train: 5 hrs to Guilin, then 1 hr by bus to Yangshou)
• Visit the Detian Waterfall, with a 75 meter drop, on the Chinese-Vietnamese border, It's about 4 hours from Nanning.

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