Sanjiang

Sanjiang (三江; Sānjiāng) is a county in North Guangxi in China

Understand

Sanjiang means three rivers, named after the three rivers in the county, Rong River, Xun River and Miao River. Located in the north Guangxi, it is a juncture of Guangxi, Hunan and Guizhou Provinces. It has a common boundary with Longsheng, Guilin. It was built in the Song Dynasty (about 1105 AC) and became Dong Autonomous County of Guangxi in 1955. The autonomous region, covering an area of 2,454 square kilometers, mainly consisting of the Dong ethnic tribe, which makes up more than 54% of the county's total population.

It is the capital of a Dong Autonomous Prefecture with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The main reason to come to this dusty concrete town is to visit the amazing and peaceful Chengyang, which is about half an hour from here by bus.

Get in

There is good bus service to/from Guilin. There are also buses west into Guizhou. The usual traveller's route is to Congjiang then Kaili. Buses from Longsheng are 1.5 hours, and from Guilin 4.5 hours.

There is a railway station called Sanjiang County which is about 10km away from the centre of town and best reached by taxi or minibus. There are few trains but there is a sleeper to Zhangjiajie

See

Sanjiang is a wonderland, a mysterious region traditionally inhabited by the Dong people. The visitors who come here are intoxicated by its unique culture, buildings and picturesque landscapes. The most popular attractions are

• Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge (in Chengyang Village, Linxi Township of the Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County). Listed as one of the three famous ancient bridges in China. Built in 1912, this semi-permanent bridge has stone piers and wooden girders and pavilions connected by a tile-roofed corridor. 
• Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge Scenic Area. 
• Bird's Nest Stadium (Above the main square, on the opposite side of the drum tower), ☏ +86 7728562788. A bullfighting arena with shows about the Dong minority in the evenings 
• Danzhou Scenic Area. 
• Dong People's Eco-Museum. 
• Laobao Scenic Area. 
• Liangkou Scenic Area. 
• Mapang Scenic Area. 

Buy

Traditional Dong musical instruments, particularly the lusheng (reed mouth organ) are sold by shops near the Dong People's Eco-Museum.

Eat

Great tangyuan.

• Moria Cafe, Opposite Sanjiang city Drum Tower (30m from the entrance of the drum tower opposite the city square). An amazing place if you want to have real coffee, pizza, steak, spaghetti and cakes. The staff were taught by an American then he sold to a local but it is genuine and still good. Near the Wind rain bridge are a few places but this joint is the best in the whole area. (3 days searching to no avail, clearer location might help) (updated Sep 2017)

Sleep

• Dong Village Hotel. Beautifully located at the end of the smaller of the two wind and rain bridges. Unexpectedly western comfort in a large Dong-style building with riverside balcony. Worth it just for the breakfasts.