2 Days in Nanning
The government buildings in Nanning, China
Exploring in Nanning, China
Guilin to Nanning by Train
After a few adventurous days in Guilin, we hopped on another high-speed train headed for Nanning closer to the Vietnamese border. It was a grey day and the air pollution was easy to spot as the train neared Nanning. You see the factories, as silhouettes in the distance. Grey on grey.
Di has started wearing a mask as her cough is definitely related to poor air quality. Nanning is another large city with a population of 2.5 million, and our stopover city en route to Hanoi.
Originally planned as a one-night stop, we ended up staying an extra day due to the entry date on Di's visa. As a Dane, I am granted 15 days of visa-free travel in Vietnam.
Checking out the view from the Pagoda on the Yong River in Nanning, China
Phoenix Hotel in Nanning
We checked into our conference-style hotel, Phoenix Hotel Nanning, located within walking distance of the train station. We felt completely safe in this area. The front desk staff was dressed in traditional outfits but no one spoke English.
We had a bit of a problem, as they would not accept our credit card to pay the deposit. We found an ATM nearby, and the problem was solved. Communication was aided by a smartphone app and everyone smiled in the end. The room was of a good standard, about $22.00 per night but had no window.
A busy Nanning Street with car traffic captured from the Pagoda by the Yong River
E-Scooters in Nanning
One of the first things we noticed in China was electrical scooters. They are everywhere, in huge numbers, on sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections.
You see one bicycle for every 50 e-scooters. A strange sensation at first as they are completely silent. Fifty scooters pass by, right in front of you and you barely hear a thing.
The scooters are quiet, except for the constant honking and alarms. An arcade-like sound rings out as people remotely lock or unlock their scooters. It took us a while to figure out where this noise was coming from.
Rush hour traffic in Nanning, China
Dining and Sightseeing
On the first night, a lady at the next table helped us order traditional Chinese dinner, bone broth soup, and more. At the Guangxi Provincial Museum restaurant, a young boy about age seven who spoke some English came over and helped us order lunch.
The Guangxi Provincial Museum was a worthwhile stop and has an impressive collection of ancient dong bronze drums, some dating back more than 2000 years.
We treated ourselves to a foot/back massage near our hotel and had a wonderful time with the staff there. Di told them about the app at the hotel and another customer downloaded a different speaking app. Laughs all around.
Having pictures on the menu can be a huge help when choosing your main course dinner in Nanning
A City Bursting With Energy
China and the cities we have visited are bursting with energy. The Western influence is significant with department stores, countless cell phone stores, fashion outlets, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and KFC to name a few well-known brand name stores.
Sound systems are set up outside many stores and music is booming out into the street. A sales clerk works the microphone trying to lure customers in. We had no idea what they were saying but it reverberated down the street from store to store.
An inner city river in Nanning
Karaoke
On our way back to the hotel on our last afternoon, we witnessed one of the most bizarre things we have seen on our trip. In a town square, a battle of the bands sort of thing was happening. Fifteen or more different keyboard/singer duos, small bands, and karaoke singers played simultaneously.
It sounded absolutely awful as the performers indulged in their own noise. They all appeared to be having a great time. Definitely a clash of cultural tastes.
Final Thoughts
Nanning turned into a nice surprise. The people were friendly and eager to speak with us. It is a strange feeling to have so many eyes on you. I saw one other westerner in our two days there. One! We walked close to 20 km exploring the local area. After a couple of days in Nanning, our next stop was Hanoi in Vietnam.
Travel Photography From Nanning, China
There is ample opportunity for street photography in Nanning. The markets are colorful and rarely do people mind having their photos taken.
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The photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Lightroom. I used of Fujifilm film simulations in some of the photos.
