Stand on the riverbank at the intersection of Zuojiang Road and Xinmin Road and you will see it: a whitewashed pagoda balanced on a single large rock in the middle of the water, with a small boat waiting to ferry you across. That is the Leaning Pagoda, and it is as good a first hour in Chongzuo as any.
Chongzuo suits travellers who are drawn to karst scenery, Zhuang culture and a pace that has not been organised around visitors. The city sits in southwestern Guangxi near the Vietnamese border, and much of what is worth your time is either in Jiangzhou District or reached by a short ride from the bus station.
This guide covers the sights within the city and the seasonal festivals worth timing a trip around, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions travellers ask most.
Top things to do in Chongzuo
1. Leaning Pagoda
A whitewashed pagoda stands on top of a large rock in the middle of the river, and it is open at all hours. When you reach the riverbank, a small boat can take you across so you can climb the pagoda, for around ¥5.
Take bus 3 from the bus station and tell the driver you want to go to the pagoda; it is a 500-metre walk from where the bus stops. Crossing is not possible when the water is too high, mostly during the rainy season in spring and summer, so check conditions before you set out.
2. Chongzuo Zhuang Nationality Museum
Despite the name, this large museum is only partly about Zhuang customs and culture. Most of its three floors are given to a well-designed exhibition on the Huashan rock paintings, painted along the nearby Zuojiang River in Ningming some 2,000 years ago and today a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It is on New Min Road in Jiangzhou District and open 09:00–17:00, with free entrance. Come here before any trip out to the rock paintings themselves, as the exhibition gives you the context for what you will see on the cliffs.
3. Stone Forest
This park is arranged around natural karst stone formations that form a landscape somewhat like a forest made of stone. It is smaller than similar parks near Yunnan's Kunming, but it is a pleasant spot and much less visited.
It sits on Shijinglin Road in Jiangzhou District and is open 08:00–18:00, with adult tickets at ¥36 and child tickets at ¥18. Because it draws few people, you can take your time among the formations without working around crowds.
4. Chongzuo Ecology Park
This is a research centre run by Beijing University for the white-headed leaf monkey, around 500 of which live in and near the reservation. Every morning the monkeys leave their caves to spend the day on the hilltops, then return in the evening around sunset, and there are observation points around the caves.
During the daytime you most likely will not be able to see them, so plan around the morning departure or the evening return rather than the middle of the day. A minibus from the bus station takes about an hour for ¥10 and can drop you at the park, which is on Shi Jinglin Road in Jiangzhou District and open 08:00–18:00; adult tickets are ¥36 and child tickets ¥18. There are rooms to stay and a restaurant in the park, but as of July 2011 these were out of service and the park was virtually empty, so do not rely on them.
5. Zhuang People's Sanyuesan Festival
Sanyuesan is the most important traditional festival of the Zhuang ethnic group and is widely celebrated in Chongzuo. It usually takes place on the third day of the third lunar month and features folk singing, bamboo pole dances, traditional costumes, ancestor worship and colourful ethnic markets.
It is often described as a song fair, and it reflects the Zhuang cultural heritage that runs through the region. If your dates are flexible, this is the period to build a trip around.
6. Nongzhang Festival
The Nongzhang Festival is a traditional folk festival unique to Zhuang communities in parts of Chongzuo, especially in rural and mountainous areas. It is closely related to agricultural worship and village solidarity, with sacrificial rituals, communal feasts, folk songs and dances expressing prayers for good harvests, peace and prosperity.
Because it is tied to rural communities rather than a single venue, treat it as something to ask about locally when you arrive rather than a fixed item on an itinerary.
7. China–Vietnam Border Folk Culture Festival
Held in border areas such as Pingxiang and Youyiguan, this festival highlights cultural exchange between China and Vietnam. It features folk performances, traditional music and dance, ethnic costumes and trade activities.
It reflects Chongzuo's role as a gateway city and cultural bridge along the China–Vietnam border. Pair it with time in the border areas themselves if you are already heading that way.
8. City Stadium
Chongzuo City Stadium is a public sports facility serving local residents and visitors, hosting athletic events, physical education activities and community sports programmes. It is often used for football matches, track events, mass fitness activities and sometimes cultural gatherings.
It is on Chengxi Road in Jiangzhou District and centrally located, which makes it convenient whether you are after organised sport or a casual session.
9. Sports Center Gymnasium
The sports centre complex includes a main stadium, an indoor gymnasium, tennis halls, training facilities and fitness areas. It has hosted regional athletic games and events such as the Traditional Ethnic Sports Games of Guangxi, and it supports community fitness programmes.
If you want to watch or join organised sport during your stay, this is the hub for large-scale competitions in the city.
10. Fusui County Gymnasium
This indoor sports hall in Fusui County provides facilities for basketball, badminton, table tennis and general fitness. It serves residents in the county and is commonly used for local competitions, school sports events and community fitness classes.
It is a straightforward option if you are spending time in Fusui County and want to keep up your routine.
11. Cinema China Film
On the fourth floor of Yatu Film & TV Plaza at No. 20 Lichuan Road, this cinema shows current domestic and international films across multiple screens with comfortable seating. It is part of a larger entertainment and shopping complex.
That makes it easy to combine a film with shopping and dining in the same building, which is useful on a wet or tired evening.
12. Municipal Cinema
Municipal Cinema screens popular films and is known as a neighbourhood favourite for the latest Chinese releases and family films. It sits at 325 Provincial Road.
Its location along a main road makes it convenient to reach, and it is visited by residents and visitors alike.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Leaning Pagoda at the intersection of Zuojiang Road and Xinmin Road, taking bus 3 from the bus station and asking the driver to drop you for the pagoda. Cross by small boat to climb it if the water level allows.
Afternoon: Head to the Chongzuo Zhuang Nationality Museum on New Min Road for the Huashan rock paintings exhibition, then continue to the Stone Forest on Shijinglin Road while it is still open.
Evening: Finish at Chongzuo Ecology Park for the white-headed leaf monkeys' return to their caves around sunset, or, if you would rather stay in the city, take in a film at Cinema China Film on Lichuan Road.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the white-headed leaf monkeys?
They leave their caves in the morning to spend the day on the hilltops and return in the evening around sunset. During the daytime you most likely will not be able to see them, so plan your visit around those two windows.
Can I cross to the Leaning Pagoda at any time of year?
The pagoda itself is accessible at all hours, but crossing is not possible when the water is too high, mostly during the rainy season in spring and summer.
What does it cost to visit the Stone Forest and Chongzuo Ecology Park?
Both charge ¥36 for adults and ¥18 for children. The Chongzuo Zhuang Nationality Museum has free entrance.
Which festival should I plan a trip around?
Sanyuesan, usually on the third day of the third lunar month, is the most important traditional festival of the Zhuang ethnic group and is widely celebrated in Chongzuo, with folk singing, bamboo pole dances, traditional costumes, ancestor worship and ethnic markets.
Check the lunar calendar against your travel dates, pick your season, and start mapping out your days in Chongzuo.