One Waterfall Spanning Two Countries, A Scenic Gem in the Borderland
In Daxin County, Chongzuo, Guangxi, located on the southwest border of the motherland, amidst the hundred-li landscape corridor shaped by karst landforms, lies a breathtaking natural wonder——Detian Transnational Waterfall. Here, "opening the door leads to Vietnam, and stepping across the border enters ASEAN". As the Guichun River meanders, the water flows down with the freshness of the mountains and wilds, drawing a silver ribbon-like boundary on the China-Vietnam border. As the largest transnational waterfall in Asia and one of the six most beautiful waterfalls in China, Detian Waterfall not only demonstrates the grandeur of nature with its majestic water flow but also carries the warmth of the interconnected mountains and rivers between China and Vietnam, becoming the most touching scenic imprint in the border area.
A Natural Gift by the Guichun River
The birth of Detian Waterfall is a perfect encounter between geology and hydrology, and even more a sincere gift from the Guichun River. Originating from E Spring in Jingxi County, Guangxi, the Guichun River stretches for 150 kilometers. This river, carrying the beautiful meaning of "returning to the motherland and encountering spring", flows through Vietnam for 35 kilometers in a tortuous way before quietly re-entering Detian Village, Shuolong Town, within Chinese territory. When the river reaches Detian Village, Putang Island in the middle of the river suddenly blocks the water's path. The turbulent river roars against the rocks, forces its way down, and falls off a cliff to form this three-level cascading waterfall with distinct height differences. Spanning China and Vietnam, the waterfall is about 200 meters wide, 60 meters deep, and has a drop of 70 meters. Its average annual runoff is 55.2 cubic meters per second, approximately three times that of Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou. The abundant water volume keeps it surging year-round, playing a majestic symphony among the mountains. The unique karst landform outlines a distinctive background for the waterfall. The green peaks on both banks are as dark as ink, with crisscrossing karst caves and underground rivers, forming a natural landscape painting with the surging waterfall.
The Changing Charm of the Waterfall Through Seasons
The beauty of Detian Waterfall lies in the passage of seasons, with distinct styles in each season. Late spring and early summer are the flood seasons of the waterfall. Abundant rainfall pushes the water volume to its peak, connecting the three-level waterfalls into one. The water flow is turbulent, and the sound of the waves shakes the sky. When the water pours down from the cliff and hits the rocks, it splashes water mist all over the sky. When the sun penetrates, a gorgeous rainbow can often be seen spanning both banks, connecting the mountains and rivers of China and Vietnam as one. Detian in autumn is more gentle. The water volume slows down, and the waterfall flows down layer by layer like silk and satin. The rice fields on both banks turn golden, and the fiery red flowers of kapok trees dot the mountains. The freshness of the waterfall blends with the tranquility of the countryside, fully showing the poetry of the southern borderland. Although the water volume decreases in winter, the waterfall becomes more elegant and beautiful. The water outlines flexible lines on the rocks, and the water mist condenses on the plants and trees on the cliff to form crystal-clear dewdrops. The mountains are shrouded in clouds and mist, adding a hazy beauty to this transnational scenic spot.
Border Feelings in Legends and Daily Life
Beyond the natural wonder, Detian Waterfall is deeply immersed in profound cultural heritage. There is a poignant and touching legend of the Frog God circulating locally: in ancient times, droughts and floods alternated, and people lived in dire straits. The God of Thunder sent the Frog God to descend on Detian Village to save the people. The Frog God met a beautiful girl, transformed into a human for love, but encountered a bride abduction on their wedding day, separating the lovers. The grief-stricken Frog God, with the help of the Flower God, awakened the power of the waterfall to rescue the girl, but violated the heavenly rules and aroused the anger of the God of Thunder, who turned the world into a purgatory. At the critical moment, the Frog God broke through the imprisonment of divine power and sacrificed himself to become nectar to save the people. To commemorate the Frog God, later generations established the "Maguai Festival" (Frog Festival) and held sacrifices and prayers from generation to generation. This reverence for nature and yearning for beauty have long been integrated into the lives of the border people. Today, the old No. 53 boundary marker in the scenic area stands quietly, witnessing the friendly exchanges between China and Vietnam; in the transnational market, the cries of vendors from both countries interweave, with Vietnamese specialty snacks and Chinese handicrafts in a dazzling array. The daily life atmosphere hides the most sincere border friendship.
Immersive Border Customs
To understand the beauty of Detian Waterfall, you may wish to personally integrate into this landscape. The jungle plank road in the scenic area is winding. Walking along the plank road, you can appreciate the grandeur of the waterfall from different angles. When you reach the bottom of the waterfall, the water mist blows towards you with a cool freshness, instantly dispelling all heat. If you want to experience the transnational customs up close, rafting on the border river is an excellent choice. Drifting downstream by bamboo raft, you can see Detian Waterfall in China on one side and Ban Gioc Waterfall in Vietnam on the other. The scenery on both banks is unobstructed, and you can occasionally wave to tourists on the opposite bank. The "Wonderful Night Detian", Asia's first immersive transnational night feast launched in 2020, has brought new vitality to the night here. Under the illumination of lights, the waterfall flows like a galaxy pouring down. Combined with live performances and folk customs displays, it allows tourists to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the borderland in the changing light and shadow. In addition, climbing Paotai Mountain for viewing and the thrilling experience of the cliff glass plank road add more fun to this border trip.
A New Chapter of Border Development Through Culture-Tourism Integration
Since opening to the outside world in 1992, Detian Waterfall has continuously radiated new vitality. In 2018, it was awarded the title of National 5A Scenic Area. As the core part of the Chinese side of the China-Vietnam Detian (Ban Gioc) Waterfall Transnational Tourism Cooperation Zone, it has become an important part of the "Belt and Road" and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Its unique scenery has attracted many film and television dramas such as "Legend of Fragrance", "The Taste of Love", and "The Cowherd and Weaver Girl" to shoot scenes here, bringing this border scenic spot into the vision of more people. Today, Detian Waterfall is no longer a simple natural landscape, but a cultural tourism destination integrating natural sightseeing, folk experience and transnational tourism. By improving tourism facilities and exploring cultural connotations, the local area allows tourists to appreciate the beauty of nature while feeling the humanistic customs of the borderland, and also makes this transnational waterfall an important link connecting China-Vietnam friendship and promoting border development.
A Millennium Symphony Witnessed by Mountains and Rivers
From the winding flow of the Guichun River to the endless surging of the waterfall; from the ancient legends passed down from generation to generation to the bustling transnational market, Detian Waterfall carries not only the uncanny craftsmanship of nature but also the profound friendship between the China-Vietnam border. Like a silent witness, it stands quietly on the southwest border, watching the seasons change and the years pass; it is also like an enthusiastic messenger, welcoming visitors from all over the world with its majestic waterfall and gentle customs. When we stand in front of the waterfall, listening to the roar of the water and looking at the green mountains on both banks, we can understand the transnational natural beauty and feel the deep friendship of interconnected mountains and rivers. Detian Transnational Waterfall, this natural symphony hidden in the borderland, is always worthy of careful appreciation.
