Jinxiu

The Dayao Mountains, the 'Yao capital of the world', where the striking peaks of Shengtang Mountain sit alongside Lianhua Mountain and the old-growth forest of Yinshan Park, rich in the culture of five Yao branches including the Pan Yao and Chashan Yao.

Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County lies in central Guangxi, in the east of Laibin, deep in the Dayao Mountains. Founded in 1952, it was China's first Yao autonomous county and is home to five Yao branches – the Pan Yao, Chashan Yao, Hualan Yao, Shanzi Yao and Ao Yao – earning it the title 'Yao capital of the world'. The Dayao Mountains are a national nature reserve with dense forests and abundant water; the main peak, Shengtang Mountain, rises to about 1,979 m.

Areas to explore: ① the county town – the Jinxiu Yao Museum and Yao Culture Square, your base for food, lodging and day trips, with Guzhan Yao Village and Luohan Mountain nearby; ② near town – the rock peaks and plank walkways of Lianhua Mountain, a 4A-rated (nationally top-tier) scenic area; ③ the northeast – Yinshan Forest Park and its 'King of Cathaya Trees'; ④ the south – Shengtang Lake and Shengtang Mountain, the main peak of the Dayao Mountains, and further south Mentou Village in Liuxiang Township, where Fei Xiaotong and Wang Tonghui carried out their Dayao Mountains field study.

Seasons: rhododendrons bloom on Shengtang Mountain in Apr–May; Jul–Aug is cool in the mountains, ideal for escaping the heat; Oct–Nov brings crisp autumn weather, and the Panwang Festival falls around the 16th day of the 10th lunar month. In winter Shengtang Mountain is cold, with occasional rime and ice, so watch for road closures. Getting there: there is no railway to the county town; take a long-distance bus from Laibin, Liuzhou or Guilin, or drive about 2 hours from Liuzhou. Roads between sights are mostly mountainous, so self-driving or hiring a car is recommended. Allow 2–3 days: one for Lianhua Mountain and the county town, one for Shengtang Mountain and Shengtang Lake, and one for Yinshan Park or Guzhan Yao Village. Food: Chashan Yao dishes, Yao cured pork, bamboo-tube rice and oil tea. Note: check entry and sightseeing shuttle prices as posted by each scenic area; it is cold on the summits, so bring a jacket.

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