| Brife Introduction of Guilin |
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| Locates in the southern province of Guangxi, Guilin is a beautiful city with long
history that evokes the fabled China of old. Surrounded by jagged mountains
of limestone covered with lush evergreen foliage, the scenery of this
charming city is reminiscent of an ancient Chinese scroll painting. The city
itself, with over 2000 years of history, straddles the lovely Li River,
and is home to some delightful examples of traditional Chinese architecture. |
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| Guilin is made even more striking by the imposing Solitary Beauty Peak, a
jungle-clad pinnacle that rises dramatically from the center of the city.
Nearly 400 stone steps lead to the summit where a view of unparalleled
grandeur awaits. A relaxing way to take in Guilin's sights at a leisurely
pace is by taking a one day long cruise on the Lijiang River from Guilin to
Yangshuo, a picturesque town that has become a popular destination in
itself. |
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| Guilin's gentle climate is famed throughout China, making the town the
perfect base to explore the many natural wonders to be found in the
surrounding countryside. The picturesque peaks of limestone, so stunning
from a distance, are even more mysterious up close, as they are riddled with
countless caves and caverns - some with ancient inscriptions and works of
sculpture carved into their walls. Whether you're an aficionado of natural
or cultural wonders, Guilin will not disappoint. |
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| Climate of Guilin:
April through October are warm but not too rainy, and many feel that this is
the best time to go as the mountains are at their greenest and there is a
better chance of sunshine in which to enjoy the views. The winter months of
December through February can be quite cool, temperatures averaging around
eight degrees Celsius. |
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Accomodation in Guilin
Guilin has a wide variety of hotels that cater to every budget. Five-star
accommodation is available at the luxurious Sheraton Guilin and The Lijiang
Waterfalls Hotel, both situated on the banks of the Lijiang River. There are
also plenty of midrange places of hotels, mostly catering to tour
groups from both abroad and other parts of China. |
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Accomodation in Yangshuo
Many places of budget accommodation can be found in Yangshuo, a town located south of Guilin. Yangshuo has become quite popular with backpacking budget travelers over the past decade and is worth a visit for the many restaurants and souvenir shops that cater to these budget travelers. |
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Food & Drink
Guilin's cuisine is made special by the many delicacies served up by the
local people. The Lijiang River is also an important culinary source -
there are many delicious dishes featuring fish fresh from the river. A tasty
local specialty is river fish steamed in a length of bamboo. Local food is
generally spicier than in most other parts of China. Western food is most
easily found in Guilin's upscale hotels. |
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Places to visit
The Solitary Beauty Peak (Duxiu feng)
with a height of over 200 meters, Guilin's famed Peak of Solitary Beauty
dramatically stands sentinel over the low-rise city. Located on the campus
of Guangxi Normal College, the hill has been celebrated for its beauty in
Chinese lore since ancient times. Qing Dynasty inscriptions on the eastern
side of the hill, such as the one proclaiming it the "Sky-Supporting
Pillar", give a sense of history to this natural wonder. A series of 396
stone steps lead visitors to the summit, where a breathtaking panorama of
the city and surrounding mountains can be viewed. |
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Fubo Hill (Fubo Shan)
Also known as Wave-Subduing Hill, Fubo Hill is another of Guilin's
picturesque peaks. Located near Solitary Beauty Peak, Fubo Hill is known for
a giant pot for cooking rice that sits near the entrance gate to the hill.
The hill also boasts some interesting caves that can be explored. The
Thousand Buddhas Cave has a collection of Buddha images dating back to the
Tang and Song dynasties. The Returned Pearl Cave has even more Buddha images
carved into its walls, some dating back hundreds of years. |
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Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbi Shan)
In the city center of Guilin is the imaginatively named Elephant
Trunk Hill, a natural arch of limestone at the edge of the Li River.
The arch was so named because it is said to resemble an elephant dipping its
trunk into the river for a drink. The riverbanks nearby are popular spots
for strolling and picnicking, and it is possible to rent a bamboo raft and
float around the arch. The hill can be climbed to explore caves and grottoes
decorated with ancient inscriptions, and there is a temple on the summit of
the hill that dates to the Ming Dynasty. |
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Seven Star Park (Qixing Gongyuan)
This wide green expanse is Guilin's largest city park and an excellent place
to stroll or relax after exploring the city. The park is crisscrossed with
paths around its scenic hills and a pavilion that affords a view of the
surrounding area. Children will enjoy the whimsical Camel Hill, the shape of
which looks like a resting camel. There is also a zoo and the famous "Stele
Forest", a collection of Chinese calligraphy signs carved into the stone
walls of a cave, as well as other caves to explore, Seven Star Cave and Moon
Cave. |
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Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan)
Located on the northern outskirts of Guilin, Reed Flute Cave has been
drawing curious visitors since the Tang Dynasty - as can be seen by the
inscriptions they left behind. Beginning in the 1960s, a pathway in the cave
was paved and colored lights were rigged to show off the otherworldly
natural formations to their fullest. Many of the stalagmites, stalagmites
and stone formations have been given names by the local people, based on their fanciful shapes. Vendors at the mouth of the cave peddle reed flutes
made from the stalk that once obscured the entrance to the cave and gave it
its name. |
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Li River
The graceful Li River has been celebrated for its beauty and
tranquility by Chinese artists and poets for the centuries. The LiRiver
cruise is probably the most relaxing and enjoyable way to view Guilin's
spectacular topography. From your slow boat you will see Nine Horse Hill, Bamboo Shoot Peak and many other fancifully
shaped karst formations that have been the subject of scroll paintings
through the ages. Guilin's flora is also best appreciated from a slow-moving
boat:Pastoral scenes of farming and fishing in the timeless manner of the
countryside can also be seen. |
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Yangshuo
The Li River cruise ended in Yangshuo.
The
mountain scenery is in Yangshuo is perhaps even more striking than that of
Guilin, owing to the city's comparatively small size. Yangshuo is located 60
kilometers south of Guilin and can be conveniently reached by bus or taxi in
about one hour. |
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