Holiday Destination: Guilin

Guìlín is a prefecture level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. The city has long been renowned for its unique scenery. Guilin is a scenic town and one of the best known tourist destinations in China. There are many scenic places within short traveling distance of Guilin. These include Longsheng with its famous Longji rice terraces the Lijiang River. Guilin is a beautiful city. The town center is surrounded by two rivers and four lakes and studded with sheer sided karst mountains. Outside the city center, the buildings are less well kept. The main industry in the city is tourism so the city is much cleaner than other Chinese cities. Guilin itself is like most other medium size Chinese cities, other than that it has a large number of western style hotels, tourists and is relatively free of air pollution. Many Chinese domestic tourists also flock to this area. What makes it special is its proximity to many picturesque limestone mountains and formations. The city was also a nexus between the central government and the southwest border, and it was where regular armies were placed to guard that border. Canals were built through the city so that food supplies could be directly transported from the food productive Yangtze plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire.

Climate

Summer 32.6 °C (90.7 °F), Winter 5.4 °C (41.7 °F)

Tourist Season

October and November is best for tourism.

Accommodation

Hotels.

General Information Of Guilin

• Land Area: 10,737 sq mi (27,809 km2)
• Population: 47 Lakh.
• Capital City: Guangxi.
• Language: Chinese, Mandarin and English.

Tourist Attraction in or Near by Guilin

The Li River in Guilin

The Li River is a river in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The Li River winds and meanders its way for about 80 km from Guilin to Yangshou. The 80 km long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo resembles an artists's masterpiece, painted with rolling mountains, featuring cliffs, unique caves, comfortable boats. The 80-km water way is flanked by the hills for about 40km. All the hills are lined with bamboo and green belt. Very often the cruise boats starts from Zhujiang Wharf. First you take about 40 minutes drive from Guilin city to the wharf. Then take 4 to 5 hours cruise to a beautiful and tranquil ancient city Yangshuo. Along the 80 km riverbank from Guilin to Yangshuo are lots of important attractions. All the attractions are made more beautiful by their mirrored reflection on the The Li Riverpeaceful water of the river; they have fired the saying, Guilin has the most beautiful scenery in China, and Yangshuo is the most valueble part of Guilin.

Yangshuo in Guilin

Yangshuo County is a county in Guilin, Guangxi Province, China. Its seat is located in Yangshuo Town. Surrounded by karst peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River it is easily accessible by bus or by boat from nearby Guilin. In the 1980s, the town became popular with foreign backpackers, and by the late 1990s packaged tourists began arriving in greater numbers. At that time, domestic tourism represented only a small fraction of the tourists but by 2005 domestic tourists outnumbered foreign tourists by a great margin. Today, the town has become a resort destination for both domestic and foreign travelers. The areaa around Ynagshou is dotted with Karst peaks and the Li river meanders its way around them. Yangshuo is your ideal break from all the other cities in China. In Yangshuo, you can enjoy here the rural China life if you go on a trip.

The Reed Flute Cave in Guilin

The Reed Flute Cave is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China. It is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting and has been one of Guilin’s most interesting attractions for over 1200 years. It is over 180 million years old. The cave got its name from the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into melodious flutes. Reed Flute Cave is filled with a large number of stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations in weird and wonderful shapes. Inside, there are more than 70 inscriptions written in ink, which can be dated back as far as 792 AD in the Tang Dynasty. The Reed Flute CaveThe Reed Flute Cave is about 240 meters long, providing a fantastic wonderland of karst caves with landscape and rural scenery. It is a amzing fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars in different shapes and colors, all glittering against the colorful electric lights.

Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin

The Elephant Trunk Hill is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China. Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of the city of Guilin. It got its name because it looks like an elephant drinking water. The round opening that would be under the elephant’s trunk is known as Water Moon Cave because at night the reflection of the moon can be seen through the arch and it looks like it is under the water and floating on the surface of the water at the same time. Elephant Trunk Hill and Water Moon Cave are located at the confluence of the Taohua River and the Lijiang River. A narrow winding path leads to the top of the hill and the Samantabhadra Tower. Built from solid brick and dating from the Ming dynasty, the tower core is round like a bottle or the handle of a sword, so the tower is also referred to as the Precious Bottle Tower or the Sword Handle Tower. Elephant Trunk Hill is regarded as the symbol of Guilin.

Seven Star Park in Guilin

Seven Star Park is located to the east of Li-River in the Guilin city. The park is named after from its seven peaks resemble the pattern of the Big Dipper constellation. The park has such attractions like Seven Star Cave, Dragon Hiding Cave, Flowers Bridge etc. It is the largest park, consists of some of the most spectacular sights in the city. Entering the park, you will find a hill, named Camel Hill, another attraction in the park. This limestone outcrop looks exactly like a camel resting among the trees, hence the Seven Star Parkname. The Seven Star Cave remains at a constant 20 degrees Celsius and it has been a tourist site since the Tang Dynasty. But with the discovery of the Reed Flute, Seven Stars Cave pales.

Folded Brocade Hill in Guilin

Folded Brocade Hill, or also called Diecai Hill is overlooking Li River's west bank. Folded Brocade Hill is located in the north of Guilin city. It is one of the three renowned hills in the city of Guilin. The sunlit stratified rocks on the hill likens piles of brocades, hence the name Diecai Folded Brocade Hill. The main attractions in Folded Brocade hill include the Folded Brocade Pavilion, the Yuyue Pavilion, the Chengren Tablet of Masters Qu and Zhang etc.

Solitary Beauty Hill in Guilin

Solitary Beauty Hill is located in the ancient houde of former Prince Jingjiang, in the middle of Guilin City, Guangxi Province. This hill is one of three famous hills in Guilin. The peak is named from the famous line of a poem in Southern Dynasty nothing can outpace this solitary peak in beauty. When sunlit in the dawn sunshine or sunset, the hill looks to be having a purple gown and a golden belt, hence the other name 'Purple Golden Peak'. You can climb a stone stair of 306 steps which will take you to the top of the hill. On the top of the hill, you can have a commanding view of the beautiful scene of Guilin City. The most renown one is the Dushu Cave at the east foot of the peak. It resembles a stone room with natural windows and beds inside. It is recorded that about 1,500 years ago, writer called Yan Tingzhi, governor of Guilin at that time, often studied here. Again at the west foot of the hill located a cave called the Taiping Rock.

Longji Terraced Field in Longsheng

Longsheng is part of the greater Guilin area. Its main attraction is the Longji rice terraces, called Dragon Backbones by the locals. Also of interest are the hot springs and the small mountain villages among the wooded areas of trees and Longji Terraced Field in Longshengbamboos. Longji Terraced Field is located about 100km northeast of the downtown Guilin, about 2 hours' drive from Guilin. The rice terraces are built into the hillsides. Longji literally means Dragon's Backbone in Chinese. There is a group of large-scaled rice terraces built into the hillside. Some of the terraces look like great chains, other look like ribbons as they extend from the foot to the top of the hills. This clever building makes the best use of the limited arable land and water resources in the mountainous area.

Fengyu Cave in Lipu County Guilin

Lipu County is about 100 km to the south of Guilin. The county is rich in natural scenic spots and historical relics, such as the Fengyu Cave, Swan Feather Temple, and the Eight Diagrams Villa. Fengyu Cave, is the largest cave of its kind in Asia, winding through nine hills with the most beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and also an underground river of five kilometers. Fengyu Cave is named after a kind of fish in the cave. Fengyu Cave is 5.300 km long with a river about 4,300m, running through nine mountains with one hall being as large as 25,500 sq meters. It is said to be The No. 1 Cave in Asia. The cave was named after the the fengyu, the name of the red fish, a kind Fengyu Cave in Lipu County Guilinof blind fish living in the cave river. The cave tour is done by boating on the underground river. The cave has fine speleothems, like dripstones, helictites, and curtains. It has the characteristic of fast growing and slim stalagmites.

Accessibility

Bus Terminal in or Near by

Guilin Bus Terminal

Longsheng
Guilin, Guangxi, China

Xiangbishan

22 South Ring Road
Xiangshan, Guilin, Guangxi, China

Airports in or Near by

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport: For international flights.

Railway Stations

Guilin Railway Station

Zhongshan South Road
Xiangshan, Guilin, Guangxi, China

Guilin South Railway Station

Xiangshan
Guilin, Guangxi, China

Guilin North Railway Station

Zhanqian Road
Diecai, Guilin, Guangxi, China

Guilin East Railway Station

Qixing
Guilin, Guangxi, China

Lingchuan Railway Station

Lingchuan
Guilin, Guangxi, China