Luzhai County 鹿寨县

Setting and landscape

To the east Luzhai meets Lipu (荔浦市), Yongfu County (永福县) and the Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County (金秀瑶族自治县); across the Liu River to the south lie Liujiang District (柳江区) and Xiangzhou County (象州县). Rong'an County (融安县) is to the north and Liucheng County (柳城县) to the west. The Luoqing River (洛清江), a tributary of the Liu, flows south out of the Guilin area through Yongfu and Luzhai and joins the Liu at Jiangkou Township (江口乡).

History

The county traces its administrative line to Changan County (常安县), created by the Eastern Wu state in 265 AD. Zhongdu (中渡), the town where that county was founded, grew into an economic and military centre where Luzhai, Rong'an and Yongfu meet, helped by boat traffic on the Luoqing River. Luzhai carries the Guangxi titles of home of calligraphy, of folk song and of folk art.

What to see

Zhongdu Ancient Town (中渡古镇), 28 km northwest of the county seat on the Luoqing River, is a national 4A scenic area. Its sights include a Martial Temple (武庙), a museum, the Dongnan Inn (东南客栈), the Guangdong Guild Hall (粤东会馆), stretches of old city wall, a gun tower and an old ferry landing, and the town holds a City God temple fair (城隍庙会) known by its date, "5.28".

Xiangqiao Karst National Geopark (香桥岩溶国家地质公园), also in Zhongdu Town, became a 4A scenic area in 2009. Its natural bridge is 40 m long and stands 42 m above the water, the Xiangyan rock (香岩) holds karst caves, with a pool nearby where an underground stream emerges, and Jiulong Cave (九龙岩), about 1 km north, runs for more than 660 m. The Lagou nature reserve (拉沟自然保护区) in Lagou Township is a regional bird reserve covering old-growth forest.

Food and local products

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Guangxi route guide lists Zhongdu's tripe-and-lung soup (肚肺汤), a mixed stew (大杂烩), sweet-and-sour meatballs (酸甜肉圆) and firewood-cooked rice noodles (柴火粉), and names the "hejia" banquet (和家宴) among the town's folk customs. The Luzhai honey orange (鹿寨蜜橙) is a Chinese geographical-indication product, once called the Shanglong orange after the hamlet in Daojiang Township (导江乡) where it was grown; dozens of trees there are close to a hundred years old.

Getting oriented

The county government puts Luzhai 115 km from Guilin and 260 km from Nanning. The Hunan–Guangxi Railway (湘桂铁路) stops at Luzhai station and the Hengyang–Liuzhou high-speed line (衡柳高铁) at Luzhai North.

Highlights

• Zhongdu Ancient Town 中渡古镇: National 4A old town on the Luoqing River with a Martial Temple, Guangdong Guild Hall and old city wall.
• Xiangqiao Karst National Geopark 香桥岩溶国家地质公园: Natural bridge 42 m above the water, karst caves and a 4A rating since 2009.
• Lagou nature reserve 拉沟自然保护区: Regional bird reserve with old-growth forest in Lagou Township.
• Luzhai honey orange 鹿寨蜜橙: Geographical-indication orange first grown at Shanglong hamlet in Daojiang Township.