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Nanning 南宁

The capital city of Guangxi Province in the South-west corner of China and has a border with Vietnam where you will find Detian Waterfall (德天瀑布 [Détiān Pùbù]) in Daxin County Guangxi Province. Nanning is the center of the Zhuang minority culture, and its population is more than 63% Zhuang.

The city is also known as the Green City, due to an abundance of lush tropical foliage. Nanning has many Parks, one of which is Nanhu Park located in the South East of Nanning city.

The Hibiscus - Zhūjǐn in the picture on the right is the Nanning City Flower. It also has a pink variety.

Image of Nanning City Flower - Hibiscus - Zhūjǐn - 朱槿

Nanning City Flower - Hibiscus - Zhūjǐn - 朱槿

Getting to Nanning and China from the UK.

Having travelled to China and Nanning on several occasions we have flown from Manchester Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport. Travelling from Manchester has usually meant flying to Amsterdam then onto Beijing or Guangzhou then to Nanning, travelling time around 24 hours including taxis and airport waiting times.

The travel sites we have used are Skyscanner which usually gives KLM and China Southern as the airlines or Kayak which has given Air France as the main carrier.

On this site you can find information about Chinese Festivals, Travel Advice for China, Hong Kong and Macao, and Visa information the three main types for tourists or visiting family.

We also have links to the British and Chinese consulates in the UK and China at the bottom of the page.

Golden Camellia Park - Nanning

One of the many parks to visit during the cooler part of the year in Nanning, is November to April is the Golden Camellia Park which is also the best time to view the camellias.

There are 8,160 camellias comprised of 302 camellia species which includes yello camellias, Camellia Japonica, C. oleifera and C. sasanqua. Entry is free seven days a week the park is situated at, No. 3-5 Gecun Road Nanning.

Image of the Map of Nanning Golden Camellia Park

Map of Golden Camellia Tea Park - Nanning

Chinese Festivals

Click on the Festival Title below to read more.

  • Laba Festival : January 7th 2025

    Today is the traditional Laba Festival in China. Laba means the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar.
    Laba Porridge is a combination of rice, beans, nuts and dates. The festival is linked to both the new harvest and Buddhism.

  • Spring Festival and Chinese New Year : January 29th 2025

    Spring Festival is the most important festival in the chinese calendar. This is the 1st day of the 1st Lunar month.

    Chinese New Year is the first day of the New Year in the Chinese lunisolar calendar (Chinese traditional calendar). It is also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. The first day of the festival begins on the New Moon sometime each year between January 21st and February 20th. The holiday/festival lasts 16 days from New Year’s Eve to the 15th day of the New Year which also happens to be the Lantern Festival.

  • Lantern Festival : Februay 12th 2025

    The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or March.

  • QingMing Tomb Sweeping Festival : April 5th 2024

    Qingming festival is celebrated two weeks after the Vernal Equinox, on the 4th or 5th of April. Tomb sweeping is one of the most important and popular activities to respect to ancestors.

  • Chinese Youth Day : May 4th 2024

    Commemorating the 1919 student demonstration against foreign aggression.

  • Dragon Boat Festival : June 10th 2024

    The Dragon Boat Festival is a lunar holiday, and varies from year to year. Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional and important celebration in China.

  • Double Seventh Festival : August 10th 2024

    The Double Seventh Festival (Qixi Festival) is one of Chinas traditional festivals, also known as a Chinese Valentine's Day. It falls on the seventh day of the seventh Chinese lunar month.

  • Hungry Ghost Festival : August 18th 2024

    The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of several important festival days of Ghost Month (鬼月) — the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. - Read More.

  • Mid Autumn (Moon) Festival : September 17th 2024

    Chinese Moon Festival is traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunisolar month (see Mid-Autumn Festival Dates), which is in September or October. Chinese people will have a two-day holiday.

  • National Day : October 1st - 7th 2024

    October 1st is the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, and is celebrated as the National Holiday all over China. Lantern Festval is held in Nanning on October 6 in the Peaples Park.

  • Chong Yang (Double Ninth) Festival : October 11th 2024

    Held on the 21st of October Chong means double in Chinese. The Double Ninth Festival, also known as Chongyang Festival, is held on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. It is also known as the Senior Citizens’ Festival.

Travel Advice

A short summary of travel advice from the Gov.uk website

Hong Kong

Please check the Gov.uk website

As of 23 November 2023

Hong Kong does not recognise dual nationality. If you have both British and Chinese nationality, you may be treated as a Chinese citizen by local authorities, even if you enter Hong Kong on your British passport. If this is the case, the British Consulate-General may not be able to offer you consular help.

If you have formally renounced Chinese citizenship, carry evidence that you have done so.

See guidance on nationality in China.

Visa Requirements

Hong Kong is part of the People’s Republic of China, but it is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its own immigration controls.

You can visit Hong Kong for up to 6 months without a visa. For information on entry requirements see the Hong Kong SAR government website.

To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons) you must get a visa.

China

Please check the Gov.uk website

As of 1 December 2023

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering China.

Travellers entering and exiting China are still required to complete the Health Declaration Form via the China Customs website or through the China Customs App, WeChat or Alipay account.

You must register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. British nationals need a visa to enter mainland China, including Hainan Island, but not Hong Kong or Macao.

It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover.

China is currently experiencing its largest COVID-19 outbreak, and there may be an increased risk of infection. You should ensure you have a supply of medication for COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms. For more information, check the ‘Coronavirus’ section.

Macao

Please check the Gov.uk website

As of 6 April 2023

Macao does not require travellers to provide a negative Covid-19 test result to enter the SAR, regardless of your vaccination status.

The typhoon season in Macao normally runs from April to October. You should monitor the progress of approaching storms and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Macao, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Crime levels are low, but you should take sensible precautions against pick pockets and other street crime.

Macao, like other parts of China, does not recognise dual nationality. If you have both British and Chinese nationality you may be treated as a Chinese citizen by local authorities, even if you enter Macao on your British passport. If this is the case, the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong may not be able to offer you consular assistance. The FCDO has published guidance on nationality in China. If you have formally renounced Chinese citizenship, you should carry evidence that you have done so.

Chinese visa

The Chinese visa is available for different travellers, information here is concerned with the L, Q1 and Q2 Visas.

Chinese Visa Application Centre Logo - link - New Tab

When you travel to China you will require a Chinese Visa to enter and exit the country.

Important Notice on Fingerprints Collection of Visa Application

As of 1st Nov. 2018, the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in London, Manchester and Edinburgh(hereinafter referred to as 'Visa Application Centres') will capture all applicants' fingerprints on behalf of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, and based on the the principle of reciprocity. Applicants who apply for the diplomatic visa, official visa or courtesy visa, please apply and have the fingerprints taken at the Embassy or Consulates in the UK .

Applicants who are aged between 14 to 70 inclusive applying for Chinese visas are required to submit the application in person to get fingerprints take at the Visa Application Centres.

Visitors to China whose fingerprints do not match may be denied entry and should bear all the consequences. Meanwhile, every applicant is kindly reminded to book an appointment online as early as possible well ahead of the travel schedule.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in London 18th Oct.2018

  • What you will need to apply for a Chinese Visa.
  • 6 Months remaining on your passport.
  • 2 Blank pages for Visa and Entry / Exit stamps.
  • One Photo less than 6 months old.
  • Flight itinerary.
  • Hotel reservations.

The Q2 Multi Entry Visa for visiting Family.

A completed Invitation letter form which can be downloaded from Chinese Visa Application Centre UK.

The form should be completed with all the relevant information and included in your application for Chinese Visa.

A copy of the parent or person you are staying with ID card.

This can be a photo sent via email to you of both the front and back of the ID Card.

Your flight schedule of when you intend to travel.

Your intended arrival and departure dates.

A passport with a minimum of six months left before expiration.

If you do not have six months left renew your passport before applying for the visa.

This Visa is a multi entry Visa, recommended that you have at least three years left on your passport before applying.

If you have plans to visit China several times this is your best option, the visa also allows you to exit and enter China after your initial entry.

The visa allows you to stay a maximum of 120 days for each entry.

For further and detailed information please visit the CVASC and apply online then print the form and send to the relevant consulate or embassy.