Stand at the northern edge of the Longjing Area and the Youjiang River curves around you at a 270-degree angle, the Chengbi River meeting it at the point where Peninsula Park sits. This is the shape of Baise: a river city in western Guangxi where forested mountains rise behind the streets and the old town keeps its own slower rhythm.
Baise suits travellers who are interested in twentieth-century history, in Zhuang and other ethnic minority culture, and in a part of Guangxi that sees far fewer visitors than the better-known cities to the east. The border areas nearby are among the least developed lands left in China, and the forested mountains around the city hold a wide range of plants and animals.
This guide covers the sights and experiences in and around the city itself, from the revolutionary sites on Houlong Mountain to the parks and lake north of town, and ends with a plan for a single day.
Top things to do in Baise
1. Baise Uprising Memorial Hall
The Baise Uprising Memorial Park is one of China's most important Red Tourism sites, commemorating the Baise Uprising of 1929 led by Deng Xiaoping. The park brings together the Memorial Hall, monuments, former revolutionary sites and exhibition areas, and works both as a historical education base and as a large public park with panoramic views over the city.
Because the park holds several separate sights, it repays a half day rather than an hour. Combine the Memorial Hall with the Martyrs Monument and the Youjiang Museum of Nationalities, both of which sit within the same park area.
2. Yuedong Meeting Hall
At 39 Jiefang Road in Youjiang District, the Yuedong Meeting Hall is where you can learn more about the Baise rebellion. It is one of the former revolutionary sites tied to the events of 1929.
Take bus no. 11 and get off at the Jiefang Road bus stop. It pairs naturally with the Baise Uprising Memorial Hall, since both tell the same story from different vantage points.
3. Baise Uprising Martyrs Monument
The Martyrs Monument stands on Houlong Mountain in Youjiang District, part of the group of revolutionary sights that define Baise's red culture.
It sits on the mountain above the city, so treat the climb as part of the visit and go when you have time to linger rather than as a quick stop between other sights.
4. Youjiang Museum of Nationalities
Inside the Baise Uprising Memorial Park at 12 Houlongshan, Chengdong Road, Youjiang District, this museum covers the ethnic cultures of the region. It is open Tuesday to Friday 08:30–12:00 and 14:30–17:30, Saturday and Sunday 09:00–16:30, and closed on Mondays. Entry is free.
Note the midday closure on weekdays when you plan your route, and check the Monday closure before setting out. The phone number is +86 776 2932787.
5. Chengbi Lake
Chengbi Lake, also known as the Chengbi River Reservoir, is a recreational centre with lakes, islands and mountains about 6 km north of the city. You can sail here and learn about the local ethnic groups.
Take bus 2 to reach it. It is the obvious choice when you want a day away from the streets and a different side of the region's culture at the same time.
6. Peninsula Park
On Huandao 2nd Road in Youjiang District, Peninsula Park sits at the confluence of the Chengbi River and the Youjiang River, surrounded by the Youjiang at a 270-degree angle. It is in the northern part of the Longjing Area and is free to enter.
Shared e-bikes are a practical way to get there. The water on three sides makes it a good place to end a day of walking.
7. People's Park
People's Park at 22 Xinxing Road, Youjiang District, is the oldest park in Baise, known also as Forest Park or People's Square. It has a children's playground and a small zoo, and entry is free.
It sits in the heart of the old city, which makes it easy to fold into a walk through the surrounding streets. It is also the venue for the March 3rd Ethnic Song Festival.
8. March 3rd Ethnic Song Festival
Held inside People's Park, this festival is mainly celebrated by the Zhuang people and usually falls on the third day of the third lunar month. Activities include antiphonal singing, folk song competitions, throwing embroidered balls, ethnic dances, traditional costume displays and folk markets.
If your dates are flexible, timing a visit around the festival gives you the fullest picture of local culture in one place. Otherwise, People's Park is worth visiting on any ordinary day.
9. Baise Uprising Commemoration Activities
Every December, Baise holds a commemorative ceremony and a series of red culture activities marking the 1929 Baise Uprising. These include a commemorative meeting, themed exhibitions, red-themed cultural performances and patriotic education activities.
The events have a distinct local historical character and are the clearest expression of the city's red culture. Plan a December visit around them if the history is your main reason for coming.
10. Baise Gymnasium
On Wenti Lane 10 in Youjiang District, Baise Gymnasium is a major indoor sports facility in the old city. It hosts indoor sports training, local competitions and public fitness activities.
It is a straightforward stop if you want to see how the city uses its sports venues, and its old-city location means you can combine it with a walk to People's Park or the Yuedong Meeting Hall.
11. Baise Sports Center
Also in Youjiang District, the Baise Sports Center is designed for large-scale sporting events, professional training and public fitness programmes.
Check locally whether anything is scheduled during your stay, since the venue is built around events rather than around casual visits.
12. Stars International Cinema
Stars International Cinema is on the first floor of Forest Center City, 117 Zhongshan 2nd Road, in the bustling Forest Center City complex. It is a popular cinema in the old town.
Buses serve the area. An evening film here fits neatly after a day spent in the old city's parks and revolutionary sites.
13. Guangying International Cinema
On the fifth floor of the Dream Island Shopping Center at 16 Longjing West Road, Guangying International Cinema is in the Longjing area. It is relatively new and large, with good screening rooms.
Its Longjing location makes it a natural pairing with Peninsula Park, which is in the northern part of the same area.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Baise Uprising Memorial Hall and the surrounding Baise Uprising Memorial Park, then climb to the Baise Uprising Martyrs Monument on Houlong Mountain. On a weekday, fit in the Youjiang Museum of Nationalities before its midday closure, or save it for the weekend when it stays open through the day.
Afternoon: Head to the Yuedong Meeting Hall on Jiefang Road, reached by bus no. 11, to see another side of the 1929 story. Then walk through People's Park in the heart of the old city, which is free and easy to combine with the surrounding streets.
Evening: Take a shared e-bike or bus to Peninsula Park in the Longjing Area, where the Chengbi and Youjiang rivers meet. Finish with a film at Guangying International Cinema on Longjing West Road, or at Stars International Cinema in Forest Center City if you are staying closer to the old town.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Baise?
Winters are short, mild and dry, while summers are long, very hot and humid, with most rain falling from June to August. The western parts of the prefecture sit at higher elevation and have noticeably more moderate summers. December also brings the Baise Uprising Commemoration Activities.
Which sights are free to enter?
Peninsula Park and People's Park are free, and the Youjiang Museum of Nationalities is free as well. The museum is closed on Mondays.
How do I get to Chengbi Lake and Peninsula Park?
Chengbi Lake is about 6 km north of the city and is served by bus 2. Peninsula Park, in the northern part of the Longjing Area, can be reached by shared e-bikes.
What is there to do in Baise in the evening?
Both Stars International Cinema in Forest Center City and Guangying International Cinema in the Dream Island Shopping Center in the Longjing area show films into the evening.
Decide whether the history or the river is your starting point, check the museum's Monday closure against your dates, and the rest of a Baise itinerary falls into place.