South Tong Ancient Ferry is located at No. 40-4, Jiangnan Road, Jiangkou Street, Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It’s a historic ferry terminal with a long history dating back to the Song Dynasty (1053 AD). The name “Nantou” originated from its location on the south bank of the river and its importance as a necessary passage for travelers going north.
On the banks of Tong River, there is an ancient fig tree overgrown with centuries-old stories. Green trees shade the area, offering beautiful scenery.
The landscape around South Tong Ancient Ferry changes throughout the four seasons: clear water during dry winter months; shallow rapids and exposed sandbars in early spring; turbulent waves and thunderous sounds on stormy days during summer and autumn; and calm waters and majestic scenes under overcast skies on gray fall days.
Throughout history, the ancient ferry has undergone multiple renovations and transformations. In 1459 AD, then-County Magistrate, Shen Fang, wrote a poem titled “South Tong’s Evening Ferry” to describe its beauty. During the Qing Dynasty (1687 AD), Prefect Huang Liangji built stone walls at the entrance of the ferry terminal. Later during the Republic era (1908 AD), the local government constructed floating bridges.
After liberation, South Tong Ancient Ferry became a key transportation hub and received numerous funding allocations for reconstruction. In 1956, dry-season pontoons replaced boat ferries; after that, with improvements to Jiangnan Street in 1985, the ferry was connected to the city streets and surrounding environment underwent significant changes.
Today, South Tong Ancient Ferry has become an important scenic spot in Chongzuo City, attracting numerous tourists. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the Lancang River, experience the cultural heritage left behind throughout history, and take advantage of nearby tourism facilities like the Nantou Hotel to ease their journey.
South Ridge Ancient Ferry is located at No. 40-4, Jiangnan Road, Jiangnan Street, Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It’s a historic ferry crossing dating back to the Song Dynasty (1053 AD). Due to its location on the south bank and being a necessary passage for traffic between north and south banks, it was named South Ridge Ancient Ferry.
On the embankment of this ancient ferry is an old banyan tree, dense foliage providing shade, with beautiful scenery. The scenic views at the crossing change with each season: in winter and spring, shallow water and clear river; in summer and autumn, rising water levels create big waves and loud whirlpool sounds.
In history, South Ridge Ancient Ferry has undergone multiple renovations and reconstruction. During the Ming dynasty (1459 AD), Magistrate Duan Fang wrote a poem called “South Ridge Evening Ferry” depicting the beauty of the crossing. In the Qing dynasty (1687 AD), the Public Security Bureau built a stone shore at the ferry entrance; in 1908, floating bridges were set up by the Taiping Government.
During the Republican era, ferries continued to be used until liberation. After that, South Ridge Ancient Ferry became an important hub for transportation and government invested in its construction several times. In 1956, a dry-season float bridge replaced ferry service; in 1985, with the renovation of Jiangnan Street, South Ridge Ancient Ferry connected directly to the street, surrounding environment improved.
Nowadays, South Ridge Ancient Ferry has become one of Chongzuo City’s most important tourist attractions, attracting numerous visitors every year. Here, tourists can enjoy beautiful scenery along the Lijiang River, feel historical sedimentation and cultural heritage while also using nearby tourism facilities such as the South Ridge Hotel to provide convenient services for travelers.