Pingxiang is located in the southwest part of Guangxi Zhuang Minority Autonomous Region, run through by Hengyang-Pingxiang Railway and National Highway 322. The city borders Ningming County on the east, Longzhou County on the north, and Vietnam on the west and south. It is about 180 km away from Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (about one and a half hours by car). The city covers an area of 650.32 square kilometers, with five townships under its jurisdiction. It has a total population of approximately 100,000, including Han, Zhuang, Yao, Dong and Miao ethnicities. About 72,000 residents live in rural areas.
Inside the city are two national-level trading ports, Youyi Guan (Friendship Gate), a major railway station and five border crossings. The city is the most convenient key land-based border crossing to Vietnam and a major route to other Southeast Asian countries. Main tourist destinations such as Youyi Guan (Friendship Gate), Fakashan Mountain, Jinjishan Mountain, Dalian Center and Pingguoling Underground Great Wall, are worth visiting. Among them the most famous one is Youyi Guan (Friendship Gate), a national tourist scenic spot.
Attractions
Pingxiang is the border city between China and Vietnam, and is not a popular tourist city in China. The only famous attraction is the Friendship Gate, which is the largest and most important port on the Sino-Vietnamese border. If you are interested in this famous pass in China (one of nine), you can contact us to tailor-make your own tour of the area.
Friendship Gate
It is about 18 kilometers southwest from Pingxiang City.Pingxiang has long been a site of strategic importance on the Sino-Vietnamese border. The city is surrounded by mountains. At both sides of its gateway to Vietnam, mountains stand precariously, and a tower-style house stands on the gorge channel. It is 22 meters high, with a thick wall as its base and a central dome as its gate. On its arch are engraved three Chinese characters “You Yi Guan” (Friendship Gate), ascribed by Marshal Chen Yi.
Youyi Guan (Friendship Gate), previously called Zhengnan Guan, was originally built during Han Dynasty. It is regarded now as one of the top nine gates in China. In 1885, General Feng Zhicai of the Qing Dynasty defeated French invaders here, and the battlefield site has been preserved. Local people call the battle “Zhengnan Guan Big Blow” After the communist’s takeover, the gate was named Youyi Guan so as to enhance the friendship and brotherhood of the Chinese and Vietnamese people.
Transportation
Railway
Hunan-Guangxi Railway runs through Chongzuo from northeast to southwest, linking the border city of Pingxiang to Vietnam Railway, on which travelers can have direct access to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Two trains from Pingxiang Railway Station depart for Chongzuo and Nanning every day.
Highway
Nanning-Yongyi Highway and National Highway 322 link the city with a Vietnamese highway, which is only 160 km to reach the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. There are passenger buses from Pingxiang Bus Station bound for Nanning, Fangchenggang, Jingxi, Dongxing and other major cities in the province every day.
