In recent years, slow travel and the slow life have quietly emerged in China, especially becoming a trend in the fast-paced Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region. "Slow" does not mean lax or sluggish, but rather a natural, unhurried, and poetic way of traveling. To further promote Guangxi’s "slow tourism" and "high-speed rail tourism" concepts, the Guangxi Regional Tourism Development Commission, in collaboration with Guangdong Southern Media Group, jointly organized the "Travel through Guangxi by High-Speed Rail Route Design Competition." The competition, themed around "Leisurely Exploring Guangxi," with the theme of "Slowly Enjoying Life,"featured elements of Guangxi’s tourism resources,and took advantage of Guangxi’s well-developed high-speed rail network. After more than a month of submissions, it sparked an online discussion craze about "Leisurely Traveling through Guangxi by High-Speed Rail."
11At the end of the month, the designers of the "Top Ten Travel Routes for Leisurely Traveling through Guangxi by High-Speed Rail," selected by the organizers, gathered in Guangzhou and attended the "Travel through Guangxi by High-Speed Rail" departure ceremony. These included travel photographer Lu Zhonghua ( Street Light Photography), renowned travel blogger Li Jian (@Guizhou Li Jian), travel enthusiast@Du Hongming (Chongqing Yufan),@Niu Yan (@), Napingqi (@jennynuiWinter's Wonder), and others. Subsequently, under the witness of numerous media outlets, the "Travel through Guangxi by High-Speed Rail" experience group, formed by the route designers, officially set off for Guangxi.@The "Travel through Guangxi by High-Speed Rail" experience group’s first stop was the Xishan Mountain in Guiping, known for its five wonders: "lush forests, unique rocks, sweet springs, fragrant tea, and sacred Buddhism." Upon arrival, seeing the ancient temple before them, experiencer Chongqing Yufan remarked: "The Longhua Ancient Temple is simple and serene, with steep cliffs and numerous stone carvings, and the main hall is majestic and resplendent. Strolling through it, with birds singing and flowers fragrant, is refreshing and perfect for a slow, contemplative visit!" After leaving the Longhua Temple and walking along the mountain path to the Halfway Pavilion, a notice seeking couplets caught the group’s attention: "At the halfway pavilion, pause your halfway journey—don’t waste your efforts halfway." After some deep thought, they came up with the matching line: "At Longhua Temple, attend to Longhua—the dragon moves with purpose." Seeing this couplet, how would you match it?
Still immersed in the fun of composing the matching line, the experience group unknowingly arrived at the Longtan National Forest Park. In this pristine forest away from the hustle and bustle, breathing in the fresh air, listening to the sounds of the forest and birdsong, and walking through the narrow canyons, the biggest delight for the experiencers was playing with the monkeys. One little rascal seemed to share a past-life bond with the visitors, jumping straight onto one of their shoulders upon meeting. The "honored guest," Xie Jianshen@Hero, "teased" on Weibo: "This eldest disciple is too bold. I just opened my backpack to get a battery, and they were so enthusiastic, jumping onto me and reaching into my bag for food. The wild monkeys of Longtan." But the monkeys' mischievousness only made everyone grab their cameras to capture this lucky moment.
Waving goodbye to the adorable monkeys, the group slowly walked down the stone steps to the very bottom of the Longtan Gorge. A silvery-white waterfall cascaded down between the rocks, falling into an emerald-green pool that reflected the blue sky, white clouds, distant mountains, and nearby trees, creating an incredibly beautiful landscape painting that was truly intoxicating. Standing on the red stone beach and looking up, the experiencers shouted into the gorge, fully enjoying this rare scenery and moment.@Afterward, they arrived at Nanshan Temple, where the deep, clear tolling of the temple bell echoed within the courtyard. The morning mist drifted through the caves, creating an illusion of riding the clouds. Witnessing this magical scene, experiencer-Global Traveler Hailan couldn’t help but write on WeChat: "'Push open the window and see the Buddha'—once seen, impossible to forget. It seems I do have some Buddhist affinity. Guigang’s Nanshan Temple was built during the Tang Dynasty, originally named Wanshou Temple, and embodies the traditional Chinese longevity culture of 'living as long as the southern mountain.' Visiting Nanshan Temple today, sipping the lotus tea offered by Abbot Tiru and listening to his discussions on Buddhism and Zen, felt like 'hearing one word from you is better than reading ten years of books.'"
Meanwhile, at Lianyin Temple in Shanglin, the experiencers had another unique feeling. This place has a profound historical and cultural heritage, with ancient inscriptions and paintings from different dynasties carved into the temple’s rock walls. Here, we could not only feel the sacredness of Buddhism but also glimpse real historical events through these rock carvings.
The experiencers were also specially arranged to try a session of meditation. With the soft chanting of Buddhist sutras in their ears and a faint fragrance calming their hearts, in this tranquil environment, they soothed their restless minds and found inner clarity. Experiencer@Xie Jianshen
Hero was moved to say: "Life needs a session of meditation, a view of scenery, a moment of reflection, and a journey of joy. Walking through the mortal world yet living beyond time. With a body and mind that are ethereal and serene, I am brought back to the origin of life. Through lifetimes of journeying, I follow the shadows of flowers and the fragrance of lotuses.
Shanglin, Lianyin Temple"@Beihai is a romantic coastal city, and its most famous spot is Silver Beach. The sand here is as fine as powder and as bright as silver. Looking out, the beach sparkles under the sunlight, and being there, you are greeted by the breath of nature. First-time visitors to such a vast beach, experiencer Lin Shaoyin and their friends excitedly took off their sunglasses, folded up their umbrellas, and ran and jumped in the sea breeze, fully immersing themselves in this romantic beach.―A hero was moved to say: “Life calls for a moment of meditation, a stretch of scenery, a session of contemplation, and a journey of joy. Walking through the mortal world, yet living beyond time. With body and mind ethereal and serene, I am drawn back to the origin of life. Amidst the journey across lifetimes, I follow the fleeting shadows of flowers and the fragrance of lotus blossoms.”――Shanglin, Lianyin Temple”
Beihai is a romantic coastal city, and its most famous spot is undoubtedly Silver Beach. The sand here is as fine as powder and as bright as silver. Looking out, the beach glimmers under the sunlight, and being there, you’re greeted by the fresh breath of nature. Lin Shaoyin, who experienced such a vast expanse of beach for the first time, excitedly took off their sunglasses and folded up the sun umbrella alongside their friends, running and jumping in the sea breeze, fully immersed in the romance of this stunning beach.
Adjacent to Beihai Silver Beach lies a mangrove forest. Climbing the steps, crossing the embankment, and walking along the pontoon-connected boardwalk over the sea, it’s fascinating to watch fiddler crabs and mudskippers playing among the mangrove roots in the silt. — Experience participant@Winter Wonderland marveled on Weibo: “Traveling with u?yi Tingzhu to Xiamen, I felt the city’s unique vibe and met such warm, kind friends. Sharing their pressure-free lifestyle here, I truly experienced the joy of travel!” —/span>
On the other side of Beihai City lies an old street—Beihai Old Street—one of China’s best-preserved arcade-style streets. Strolling through the area, you can admire the blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles in its arcade buildings, as well as a rich array of shops, murals, old pawnshops, historic business signs, watch foreign firms, ancient wells, and other cultural sights. Perhaps moved by nostalgia, the experience participant@Guizhou Lijian poetically wrote on Weibo: “[The sea breeze, blowing into my heart] In the evening, from the stone path washed by the morning sea, I heard the ancient, weathered Beihai Old Street slowly recounting her past loves and hates. Many bars, bright with lights and colors, open their lonely doors….” And so, a group of friends walked together, chatting and snacking on authentic local treats, naturally blending into the slow pace of life here.
On the fifth day, the experience group arrived at Qingxiu Mountain in Nanning City. An ancient poem reads: “The green hills never age through the seasons; the traveler, far from home, finds spring delightful. I bring the colors of spring up the mountain, where blossoms greet the season one by one.” Lying on the soft, lush grass, singing, chatting, and playing together, the accumulated fatigue melted away with the leisurely, comforting time. Afterwards, the experience participant@jennynuifondly recalled on Weibo: “Today, I spent a delightful afternoon in Qingxiu Mountain, surrounded by abundant negative ions. Thanks to the first photo taken by Teacher Yufan. Qingxiu Mountain is not only beautiful but also home to a thousand-year-old iron tree king and various plants. The vast lawns are perfect for relaxation and fun.”
Yiling Cave is a karst cave formed millions of years ago. Inside, it resembles an “underground palace,” while outside lies what is called a “living” gallery of Zhuang ethnic culture. Photographer@Streetlight Photography couldn’t contain his excitement: “The Zhuang village’s [Yiling Cave] is a typical karst cave in Nanning, known as the ‘underground palace.’ Its myriad stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, stone flowers, and draperies, enhanced by modern lighting, create countless breathtakingly realistic scenes—truly a marvel of nature’s artistry. The hospitable Zhuang people will greet you with suona music and fine wine!”
Dalong Lake features karst landforms, with azure waters stretching to the horizon, shimmering under the sunlight, surrounded by embracing mountains and shoulder-to-shoulder stone peaks, all reflected in the water. pleasure boats drift gently over the emerald waters. This stunning scenery stirred the poetic side of experience participant@Chongqing Yufan, who spontaneously composed a poem: “Impromptu at Dalong Lake” Green hills, gentle flowing waters; we cruise joyfully on Dalong Lake; Inspired, I pen fine lines, suddenly finding new words to delight fellow travelers. The mountains resemble Guilin’s screens, picturesque and serene; The waters flow with West Lake’s poetic grace—who could feel sorrow in such a scene? His verses won enthusiastic praise from the group, who hailed him as a talented poet.
On the final day of the trip, the group visited Guming Village in Shanglin County—a pristine Zhuang ethnic village surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, with fresh air and peaceful tranquility. The ancient village retains its simple folk customs, with warm and welcoming residents, and well-preserved Qing Dynasty architecture. The serene Guming Village in the photo looks like a painting, offering an unprecedented sense of simplicity and purity. Life here moves slowly, far from the noise of the city, allowing one to enjoy true peace. For urban dwellers, staying here for a few days to find inner calm and return to simplicity is especially worthwhile.
The entire high-speed rail journey through Guangxi was filled with wonder. The group stopped and went as they pleased, taking in many sights, walking countless paths, feeling many sunny days, and tasting a variety of Guangxi’s special foods. They also paused on quiet nights to seek the true meaning of travel with their hearts. Travel should be just like this—wherever you go, slow down, and embrace slow travel, slow food, and slow conversation, and you’re sure to craft a unique and memorable journey…