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Home> China City Guide> Guilin
Full travelling information of Guilin, where "boasts the most beautiful scenery under Heaven", Li River cruise, Yangshuo, Longsheng, Sanjiang and more...
Introduction
Located in the northeastern part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, between latitude 24
8
and 25
with an annual rainfall of 1890 mm.
Guilin is a historical and cultural city as well as a tourist wonderland of world fame. It literally means "cassia tree forest", named for the local cassia trees, whose scent wafts through the city in autumn.
"Guilin boasts the most beautiful scenery under Heaven" is a saying popular among its admirers. There are green hills and fields, forests of peculiar pinnacles and the beautiful Li River winding through the city. From Guilin to Yangshuo, the river travels 83 kilometers with both shores decorated with "numerous green hills popped up out of the ground," a poetic and picturesque environment in which one cannot but feel relaxed and refreshed.
The history of Guilin dates back to over 2,000 years ago. It became a town of strategic importance in south China when the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty ordered digging a canal to link the Xiang River (which flows into the Yangtze River) and the Tan River (which flows into the Pearl River), thus connecting two of China's major waterways. Over the last few thousand years, generations of literary writers and poets have chanted out numerous pieces of verse and prose in its praise, many of which have been passed down to the present day thanks to various carvings and inscriptions on precipices. The picturesque city is graced with humanistic flavor by ruins of prehistoric cultures of about 40 to 50 thousand years ago, stone tombs of the Ming Dynasty, inscriptions and sculptures on rocks scattered around in every corner of the city, and by an ancient town kept intact. Guilin is a typical karst landform area. Several hundred million years ago, it was a sea here, under which there were accumulated limestone layers a few thousand metres thick. In the movement of the earth's crust, rocks deep down below the sea surged up and the sea gave way to the land. Then, about another 70 million years had passed before the landscape of Guilin developed, with the help of the natural elements of wind and rain, into a wonderland of weird shaped and isolated peaks and bizarre and fantastic-looking caves amidst limpid waters and nice fields.
Guilin is also a multi-national city with a population of 1.25 million of 11 ethnic groups of the Han, Zhuang, Miao, Yao, etc. The diversity in dresses and social customs of different ethnic groups offers colorful folklife and attracts large numbers of tourists from home and abroad.
Guilin, now a world famous tourist city, attracts large numbers of tourists from the world over. The increasing number of tourists has promoted the rapid development of tourist facilities. Today, there are over 20 air routes connecting Guilin with Hong Kong and major domestic tourist cities.
Guilin is a clean city with charming waterfront and ever-changing moods. Hills and parks mottle the urban landscape. A few sights, like Elephant Trunk Hill, Wave-Subduing (Fubo) Hill, and the port area, are illuminated at night. And the many small restaurants offer particularly Li River cuisine, such as fish, eel, frog, snail, shrimp and snake.
In addition to the landscape tour in Guilin, tourists today are offered added attractions in the neighboring areas, including a virgin forest in Longsheng, the Ancient Ling Canal in Xing'an and floating on Li River, etc.
Solitary Beauty Peak in the city center appears to have popped up majestically from the ground to be called the "Pillar of the Southern Sky". The hill has a special light effect with its colour changing from purple to golden as the sun rises and sets. Therefore, it is also called "Purple-golden Hill". Covered by lush flowers and woods, the hill has gurgling springs and peculiar caves, presenting a quiet and charming scenery. Yuan Mei, a noted poet of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), once wrote, "of all the weird -shaped Guilin hills, the Solitary Beauty Peak is the queerest."
Diecai Hill lies along the Li River north of Guilin. It consists of Yuyue Hill, Gazing Around Hill, Crane Peak and Mingyue (Bright Moon) Peak. The unique rock formation, with patterns that suggest a great pile of folded brocade, has given the hill its name. From the southern side of the hill, a flight of stone steps leads to Nayun (Cloud-Catching) Pavilion on top of Mingyue Peak, which is 223 meters above sea level. Along the way there are Diecai Pavilion, Diecai Archway, the Windy Cave and Watching the River Pavilion as well as dozens of masterpieces of inscriptions and carvings. From the Cloud-Catching Pavilion one has the most magnificent bird's-eye view of the whole city.
Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan)
Situated at the confluence of the Lijiang River and Peach Blossom River, Elephant Trunk Hill, as its name suggests, looks alike a giant elephant drinking water with its trunk. Between the trunk and the legs is a moon-shaped cave, which inspired people to name it Moon-over-Water Cave. Halfway up the hill is a cave which goes through the hill and serves as the eyes of the elephant. On top of the hill stands a pagoda named Puxian Pagoda, built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In and out of the cave are many carvings and inscriptions, the most well -known of which is a poem by Lu You (1125-1210), one of the four great poets of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 -1279).
The cavern half way up the Puto Mountain to the east of the city is divided into three parts. The upper part is so high and steep that one can hardly climb up. Its lower part is an underground river channel. Although the murmuring streams can be heard, it is difficult to find them. The part in the middle, an 800-meter-long spacious tunnel, is a gallery of sparkling stalactites and stalagmites with myriad of shapes and forms. It became a sightseeing spot as in the Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907), and since then many poems and other inscriptions have been left behind on its walls by visiting writers and scholars.
Reed Flute Cave is located in the Guangming Mountain in the northwest suburbs of Guilin. Lined along its entire 500-meter zigzag length with stalactites in dazzling colours, the cave is also known as a "Palace of Natural Art".multicolored lighting and fantastic stalactites and stalagmites there resemble a set from Journey to the Center of the Earth. The entrance to the cave was once distinguished by clumps of reeds used by locals to make musical instruments, hence the name.
One grotto, the Crystal Palace of the Dragon King, can comfortably hold about 1000 people, although many more crammed in here during the war when the cave was used as as air-raid shelter. The dominant feature of the cave is a great slab of white rock hanging from a ledge like a cataract, while opposite stands a huge stalactite said to resemble an old scholar. The story goes that a visiting scholar wished to write a poem worthy of the cave's beauty. After a long time he had composed only to find the right words, turned to stone.
The other story is that the slab is the Dragon King's needle, used as a weapon by his opponent the Monkey King. The Monkey King used the needle to destroy the dragon's army of snails and jellyfish., leaving their petrified remains scattered around the floor of the cave.
Another rare scene in the cave is the 70 calligraphic works written on its walls since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) which are still clearly visible.
Wave-Subduing Hill (Fubo Hill)
Fu Bo Hill stands alone on the west bank of the Li River, with half of the hill extending into the river. At the foot of the hill is Pearl-Returning Cave.The story goes that the cave was illuminated by a single pearl and inhabited by a dragon; one day a fisherman stole the pearl, but he was overcome by shame and returned it. In the cave there hangs from the ceiling a rock, Sword-Testing Rock, which nearly touches the ground. Legend has it that the gap below it was made by an ancient general Fu Bo when he tested his sword. At the end of the cave is Thousand-Buddha Cave, where there are actually over 200 Buddha statues of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) style. On the western side, a flight of steps leads to Kuishui Pavilion and then to the top. From there, one can have a bird's-eye view of the Li River.
The crystal clear Li River is sand witched between precipitous peaks hung with waterfalls. Among poems singing the praise of its beauty are these tow lines: "He who travels in Guilin hills finds himself in a fairyland", and "He who sails along the Li River finds himself boating in a sweet dream." On the 83-kilometer riverbank form Guilin to Yangshuo line numerous natural wonders, which have inspired the saying: "Guilin has the most beautiful scenery in China, and Yangshuo is the most beautiful part of Guilin."
The Li River, which runs through the center of Guilin, is a complimentary attraction to the peaks and a setting for displays of cormorant fishing.Fishermen on bamboorafts use strong lights suspended over the water to attract the fish. The cormorants, which are tethered with rings round the base of their necks, catch the fish and then disgorge them for the fishermen ( until their work is done nad the tings are removed so they can eat). These shows are regular features of the high season, or they can be arranged , along eith riverboats for an evening's entertainment afloat.
Also there is the Li River tour, which no one should miss. Depending on the season and level of the water, the your boats depart from piers downstream from Guilin and disembark passengers in Yangshuo, a journey of about three hours. Enroute there is a fantastic parade of peaks, to which the Chinese have fiven descriptive names like Wave Crag, Miller at Work Hill, White Horse Cliff and Five Tigers Catch a Goat Hill.
Lipu is 100 kilometers from Guilin. Fengyu Cave, which was named by teeming with oil Feng fish in its underground river, is commended upon "A cave links nine big hills, wonderful landscapes are unique in the world." "A cave of the first rank in Asia." At present, it is exploited becoming a new pattern of journeys in Guilin.
Yaoshan Mountain located in the eastern suburbs of Guilin and about 10 kilometers away from downtown. With elevation of 903.3 meters, it is the highest mountain in Guilin. Taking the cable car from the foot of the mountain up to the top, you can enjoy the whole scenery of Guilin hills and rivers with your own eyes.
In short, Guilin is a Forest of Pinnacles; each clotted with wondrous caves. It is also a galaxy of scenic spots that have a lot of historical anecdotes to tell about.
Around four and seven hours respectively by bus to the northwest to Guilin, Longsheng and Sanjing are close to the border of Guizhou Province and are good introduction to the rich minority cultures of this region. The Longsheng area is home to a colorful mixture of Dong, Zhuang, Yao and Miao minorities, while Sanjiang is mainly Dong
Longsheng
Longsheng's main attraction is definitely not the town. Not far out of town, however, are the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces (longji titian) and a nearby hot spring. The hot spring is a tacky tourist highlight. The area is reminiscent of Banaue in northern Luzon, Philippines. It is possible to desert the bus around 6km to 7km from the hot spring and take off into the hills for some exploring. The three protected natural reserves (Huaping, Peng Zu Ping and Xijiang Ping ) have forest and luxuriant vegetation and are known as “Plants Treasure House”. The ‘Live Fossil” Cathaya Argyropghylla grows in Huaping forest area. When you return from the day's outing, Longsheng offers good accommodation and food at its lively night market.
Longsheng Scenery and Folkways
The national customs of the Longsheng are rich and colorful from the pole Dancing of the Zhuang to Harmony Folk Songs of the Dong. The Reed-Pipe Dancing, Bride Carrying water and Long Drum Dancing of the yao to the stick of lncense Dancing of Miao,. They all have their own distinctive national Characteristics, The colorful customs and folk songs are pleasing to both the eyes and mind. The fragrant Pearl Oil Tea Of the Miao and the mellow Dragons Backbone Wine of the Zhuang, the Alid Banquet of the Dong and Bamboo Rice of the Yao possess their own ethnic flavors as well as these Fascinating Customs and traditions,. There are many buildings of different styles, the ingenious Drum Tower, the wind Rain Bridge of the Dong and the Dras Jiac Tower of the Zhuang, if you come here, you will certainly be treated cordially by the hospitable nationalities.
Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces
The Dragon's Backbone Rice terraces sees these feats of farm engineering reach all the way up a string of 800m peaks. A half-hour climb to the top delivers an amazing vista, if the Yao women who trinkets allow you to enjoy it.
There're some other tourist sights around Longsheng, including forest reserves, Dong and Yao village and unusual stone formations.
Sanjiang
Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County lies at the north of Guangxi, the boundary between the three Provinces of Hunan, Guangxi and Guizhou. There are Dong, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Han nationalities living in this part. Dong People Occupy over 50 percent of the popular on of the whole county Dong belongs to one branches of the Luo Yue nationality. It is the ancient one of Chinese nationality.
The architecture of Dong is Mostanding. It’s skill is passed on by Luban. The wind and Rain Bridges, Drum Tower and the Woodenlivng buildings are all the rabbets cedar style. They are built without Ground, They don’t deed to design any drawings not limited by the topography and the land forms that Means they can be put up not inlay on the pin but on the slope. bridges, the towers and the living buildings form a Group of wooden construction. there are more than a hundred wind and rain bridges. Drum tower and Millions of wooden ling buildings over the land of Sanjiang county. the most consummate is the chen yang bridge, which is the national important relies Porte citing unit. the other one is napang drum tower. which is preservation of cultural relies of the autonomous province.
Although there arena’t any scripts in dong history, it has maintained the simple and unsophisticated traditional cultures by the special ways of its literature are and style custom and till now it becomes one of the splendid cultures of Chinese nationality. this is another outstanding side of dong culture.
Sum up, we can know that Sanjiang has a high value on ethnology folk custom sociology, anthropology history and aesthetics and so on.
Chengyang Winds & Rain Bridge
If arriving in Sanjiang leaves you wondering why you made the trip, don't worry. Like Longsheng, the idea is to get out and about. About 20km to the west of town, Chengyang Wind & Rain Bridge and the surrounding Dong villages are as peaceful and attractive as Sanjiang is not
Chengyang Wind & Rain Bridge, more than 80 years olds elegant covered, is considered by the Dong to be the finest of the 108 such structures in Sanjiang county, and took out over a lush valley dotted with Dong villages and water wheels. The inevitable minority women hawking wares are there as well.
The county town of Yangshuo, located 65 kilometers southeast to Guilin, is an ancient city of over 1000 years, built in the Jin Dynasty (265-420).
Yangshuo is famous for a profusion of scenic hills and rivers. The Lijiang and Tianjia Rivers, which run by the town, are the two largest of the 12 rivers in the county. Peaks are so peculiar, so beautiful and so many that they are seen one after another to an incalculable extent.
Famous scenic spots in Yangshuo include Jianshan Mountain, Bilian Peak, Shutong Hill, Yangshuo Park, Chuanyan Cave, etc. A commercial street in the town is also a tourists favorite. Native products are abundant thanks to the fertile mountains and rivers. Fruits here are most famous at home and abroad including orange, tangerine, pomelo, chestnut, kumquat, etc.
Green Lotus Peak( Bilian Peak)
The main peak in Yangshuo is Green Lotus Peak, which stands next to the Li River in the southeastern comer of the town. It is also called Bronze Mirror Peak because it has a flat northern face, which is supposed to look like an ancient bronze mirror.
Yangshuo Park
Yangshuo Park is in the western part of the town, and here you'll find Man Hill, which is meant to resemble a young man bowing and scraping to a shy young girl represented by Lady Hill. You may just want to look from the outside-it. Other hills nearby are named after animals: Crab Hill, Swan Hill, Dragon Head Hill and the like.
Moon Hill
The highway from Guilin turns southward at Yangshuo and after a couple of kilometer crosses the Jingbao River. South of this river and just to the west of the highway is Moon Hill, a limestone pinnacle with a moon-shaped the main road out of town towards the river and turn right on the road about 200m before the bridge. Cycle for about 50 minutes Moon Hill is on your right and the views from the top is incredible! You can espy Moon Hill Village -itself worth checking out- and the ancient Big Banyan Tree.
A series of cave have been opened up not far from Moon Hill: the Black Buddha Cave, New Water Caves and Dragon Cave If you head out to Moon Hill, you will undoubtedly be intercepted and invited to visit the caves. The caves and famous spots, as well as people's villages will even bring you a wonderful time!
River Excursions
A popular riverboat trip is to the picturesque village of Fuli, a shout distance down the Li River, where you'll see stone houses and cobbled lanes. If you're keen on a river trip, the thing is that about three hours upstream from Yangshuo, the mountain scenery around Xing ping is breathtaking, and there are many caves.
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