A break at Kuangxi waterfall helps reinvigorate city dwellers

As the sun sets on another hot summer day, people usually head out for a walk around the Kuangxi waterfall complex in Luang Prabang province. 

Bridges over the waterfall.               --Photo provided to Vientiane Times

Even a few minutes spent at the waterfall usually refreshes most people. While I have travelled to this waterfall many times, I recently met a 55-year-old man from Vientiane who had visited it for the first time. He said he had taken a relaxing walk before sunset around Kuangxi when he went there with his family.
When he and his family walked into the site, they saw other tourists and local residents heading out after spending several hours at the waterfall.
Those who don’t like hot weather, can immediately feel the cooler temperature in the area around the waterfall, almost as if they are in a different world. This is because the many trees in the area block out the heat of the sun.
The man from Vientiane, whose name is Mr Vieng, and I first met at my friend’s house for a small party on the weekend.
“I immediately experienced the fresh air and the area was full of greenery, including big trees.  felt as if I was a teenager again when the cool breeze blew on my face,” he said excitedly.
The path to the main stream of the waterfall takes about 10 minutes to traverse. Once you arrive, you are greeted by the cool rushing water that is deep green in colour.
In order to get to Kuangxi, travellers can take a lodsongthaew, tuktuk or motorcycle. The waterfall is located about 29 km from the town of Luang Prabang and it takes about 40 minutes to get there.
There are public toilets all over the site and bamboo waste bins make it eco-friendly.
When travellers approach the waterfall, they immediately feel refreshed and this makes the site popular among local residents and tourists alike during the summer.
Most visitors want to spend hours swimming at the waterfall, enjoying the cool temperature and the natural air-conditioning.
The trees cool the air by a process called dehydration. The trees release water into the atmosphere from their leaves via transpiration, cooling the surrounding air.
Sitting under the shade and watching others swimming and playing in the pools can be very relaxing and enjoyable.
Mr Vieng noted that the land on the right side on the road leading to Kuangxi waterfall is beautiful, with green fields below a small mountain.
This land is used for terrace farming, a method that has remained popular for centuries in northern Laos. This type of rice farming is also common in neighbouring countries.
A terraced field has many levels in series, and each level is a small field. The water naturally flows down from the upper levels.
The view of the rice fields, when one stands on the edge of the road, resembles a beautiful painting.
Luang Prabang is a famous tourist attraction of Laos that attracts many tourists every year. But the number of tourists fell to an all-time low in the past two years due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Luang Prabang used to be the capital of the Lane Xang kingdom, and it has been variously called Muang Swa, Meuang Xiengdong and Meuang Xiengthong over the years.
In 1353, King Fa Ngum brought the sacred Prabang statue to Meuang Viengkham, and in 1489, the revered Buddha image was moved to Meuang Xiengthong for public worship. The name of the town was then changed to Meuang Luang Prabang in acknowledgement of the presence of the statue, and has remained unchanged ever since.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update July 8, 2022)