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GUILIN

Famous for its wonderful scenery, rivers and karst peaks covered in lush greenery, Guilin has a long history as the most beautiful place in China. Established in the Qin Dynasty as a regional power base for the first emperor of China, Guilin's population exploded to around a million during the 1930s when the city was a Communist stronghold against the Japanese. In recent decades, although development and exploding tourism are changing the face of this beautiful city, Guilin has remained one of China's greenest and scenic cities.
Guilin is situated along the Lijiang River, which is a favorite travel attraction in itself. The beauty of the water and the karst peaks towering into the sky have attracted travelers to this area for centuries.
Parallel to the Lijiang River runs Zhongshan Road, Guilin's main street. In the middle of the city on both sides of Zhongshan Road are Banyan Lake and Fir Lake respectively, each a beautiful park in its own right. To the north stands Solitary Beauty Peak, Guilin's most prominent karst peak. Along the Lijiang River are two more peaks, Wave Subduing Hill and Elephant Trunk Hill, each proudly showing off Guilin's unique scenery. Elsewhere in the city is the immense Seven Star Park with seven peaks and six caves as well as pavilions and gardens to enjoy. Lastly, on the northwestern outskirts of town is Reed Flute Cave, one of the area's wonderful underground sights.
While Guilin is a very beautiful place, many travelers simply pass though Guilin on the way to their true destination, Yangshuo. Yangshuo is 83 kilometers along the Lijiang River, settled amongst the most beautiful part of the Lijiang River's karst scenery. Less than 2 hours by bus, Yangshuo has become something of a backpacker's legend and the relaxed pace of life, good food (including some great western cuisine), friendly people, scenic beauty, flat landscape of rice fields and streams perfect for cycling make it paradise for all those who wish to get a rest from the harsher aspects of life in China. Yangshuo's best sights include Moon Hill with its local villages and caves, Green Lotus Peak, and Yangdi Village.

Tourist Attractions in Guilin:

Banyan Lake (Rong Hu) and Fir Lake (Shan Hu)

Banyan Lake (Rong Hu) and Fir Lake (Shan Hu) are two beautiful lake parks conveniently located in the center of Guilin! Banyan Lake is on the west side of Zhongshan Road and is named after the surrounding banyan trees, including an ancient banyan tree (800 years old) on its northern shore. Fir Lake is to the east, south of Shanhu Bei Road.
These two lakes were originally the southern section of the moat that protected the ancient city of Guilin. An ancient south gate to the city is on the northern shore of Banyan Lake.

Elephant Trunk Hill

Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan) is one of the Lijiang River's most famous sights. The hill is situated on the western bank of the Lijiang River, to the southeast of Guilin.
It looks like an elephant, dipping its snout into the Lijiang River, hence the name "Elephant Trunk Hill". This sight is very representative of the landscape around Guilin and is a symbol of Guilin itself. A park and a Ming Dynasty pagoda are found on and around the Elephant Trunk Hill.

Folded Brocade Hill (Diecai Shan)

Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Feng) is Yangshuo's most prominent peak and stands near the the Li Jiang River in the southeast area of the town.
The north face of the peak is said to be relatively flat, resembling a Chinese bronze mirror (a geomantic tool for redirecting misfortune and bad feng shui) and therefore the peak is also known as Bronze Mirror Peak (Tongjing Feng).
There is a train leading up the mountain on the northwest side.

Wave Subduing Hill (Fuboshan)

Wave Subduing Hill (Fuboshan), yet another of Guilin's karst mountains, has one of the most unique and interesting shapes of all the hills around here and contains many interesting sights. The mountain itself resembles a wave reaching up to the sky and descending down into the river.

The sights on the hill include a temple to the Wave Subduing General (Fubo Jiangjun), after whom the hill is named. Elsewhere on the hill, Returned Pearl Cave and Thousand Buddhas Cave are also great places to see some Tang and Song Buddhist statues. Lastly, the Wave Listening Pavilion, on the southeast cliff of Fuboshan, is a great place to view the surrounding area. Built in 1964, while not ancient, the Pavilion is a great place to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Guilin area.

Yangdi Village

The most beautiful and unique peaks are along the Lijiang River between Yangshuo and Yangdi Village, which is about a third of the way to Guilin from Yangshuo. Look for "Crown Rock", "Mandarin Ducks Play in the Water", "Nine Horses Mountain", "Screw Mountain", "Mural Hill" and many other strange and fascinating peaks along the way to Yangdi.

Seven Star Park

Seven Star Park is one of the best urban parks in China and has something for just about everyone.
The park is named after the seven peaks located throughout here that are shaped like the Big Dipper constellation. Amongst the peaks are several explorable caves, including "Seven Star Cave", which are quite famous for having stalagmites, stalactites and other natural formations that resemble animals and landscapes.
The rest of this fantastic park is filled with trees and gardens. With its beautiful peaks, caves and gardens, this park has enough to keep any visitor entertained for hours.

Solitary Beauty Peak (Duxiu Feng)

Solitary Beauty Peak (Duxiu Feng) is one of Guilin's most prominent karst peaks and is located in the city center.
If you are willing to make the 306 step trek to the peak, you will be rewarded with fantastic views of Guilin, the Lijiang River, and the surrounding peaks. However, the stairs are very steep and reaching the top can be dangerous. Depending on the weather and your experience level, it may be best to explore only part of the way.

Lijiang River Cruise

River tours between Guilin and Yangshuo are an extremely popular way to see the natural scenery along the river, which is some of the best in China. However, the tours can be on the expensive side with a one way ride to Yangshuo costing about RMB360 and some trips costing as much as RMB500 (but including a bus ride back to Guilin). These prices also include lunch on the boat.
Tickets can be booked through many hotels or bought at the ticket office on Binjiang Road near the Lijiang River and south of Fir Lake. The boats leave in the early morning at about 8 or 8:30 am and hotel shuttles to the dock typically leave at 7:30am.
As the best sections of natural scenery are near Yangshuo, if you plan to spend a lot of time in Yangshuo, then you may wish to skip the Guilin Lijiang River tour and take one of the minibuses that leave Guilin South Railway station, where trains from Beijing and Shanghai (and all destinations north) arrive. The bus should cost you RMB5 and this is the most convenient way to reach Yangshuo.

The Ling Canal (Ling Qu)

The Ling Canal (Ling Qu) in Xing'an County, has an interesting and ancient history. Construction of the canal was begun by the first Emperor of China with the aim of supplying his troops and uniting the empire. The canal is a masterpiece of China's ancient irrigation methods and is one of the oldest canals in the world. The area makes for a nice day trip if you like hiking or visiting ancient Chinese ruins.

Moon Hill (Yueliang Shan)

About an hour bicycle ride southeast of Yangshuo, is Moon Hill (Yueliang Shan). The fantastic views from the top have made this hill one of Yangshuo's best attractions! Moon Hill has a natural round cave at the peak and from a distance, the cave (a hole in the peak) resembles the moon, hence the name.
Moon Hill Village can also be seen from Moon Hill's peak. Local villagers will offer guided tours of Moon Hill and the surrounding peaks, caves (see below) and villages for relatively reasonable prices (RMB50-100 for one day). They are quite friendly and may even offer you lunch at their home as part of the tour.
Between the village and Moon Hill, stands a Banyan tree that according to legend, was planted in the Jin Dynasty, about 1,500 years ago. While impressive and very old, up close you will find it is just an old tree and not particularly inspiring!

On the way to or back from Moon Hill, it is great fun to explore the nearby caves. The Black Buddha New Water Caves and the Black Dragon Caves are lots of fun for those who love a little adventure. The Black Dragon Caves tour is partly by boat and requires some wading. This expedition takes you through some great underground swimming holes so go prepared to get wet and dirty! The caves are only open in the summer and tours cost as much as RMB100, but you can bargain (especially when part of a larger group) and it is very much worth it.

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan)

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) contains some of the most extraordinary underground scenery in all of China.
The natural rock formations in the cave make up several scenes including "Primitive Forest", "Crystal Palace", and "Flower and Fruit Mountain". While the multi-colored lighting may be annoying, the caves are really quite impressive.
You can either follow one of the tours that go through the cave every 20 minutes, or take your time rejoining a tour later on.
Reed Flute Cave is located on the northwest outskirts of Guilin, 5 kilometers away from the downtown area. Tickets into the cave cost RMB45 and it is well worth it.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo, located in northeastern par of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, lies south of Guilin and is under the jurisdiction of the city of Guilin. Yangshuo County covers an area of 1,428 square km and has 20,000 hectares of land used for agricultural cultivation. It has a population about 300,000, making up of different ethnic groups such as Han, Zhuang, Yao, Hui, etc. The weather in Yangshuo is subtropical, with sufficient rainfall, sunlight, and heat around the whole year. On average each year the temperature is 19 centigrade, the amount of sunlight is 1,465 hours, the rainfall is 1,640mm. There are about 300 days per year without frost. In general, the weather is neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter.

YangShuo has a long history of 1400 year in which the people there have created their own culture, such as long drum dance, song gathering Cai Diao opera, dragon and lion dance, the natural scenery there are gardens mrelics and sites in the history, ancient bridge and other architectures and stone carvings.

As the old saying goes , "Guilin's scenery is the most beautiful in the world, Yangshuo 's scenery is far more superior to that of Guilin's". From this, one can know that the natural scenery of Yangshuo is unique and like none other in the world. In Yangshuo County alone, there are over 20,000 hill and over 250 scenic spits. The clean and clear Li River winds through Yangshuo for 56km. On both sides of the river, magical peaks and push green bamboo trees reflect off the mirror like surface of the water to paint beautiful mountain and water murals. The most notable scenic spots of Guilin are in Yangshuo, i.e, Nine-Horse Painted Hill, Yellow Reflection Point, Xingping Village, Lotus Cave, Young Scholar Hill, Snow Lion Ridge, the Big Banyan Tree, Moon Hill, and Dragon River. Moreover, many consider the land scape of the plains and the villages to be like a beautiful picturesque poem. Amongst the mountains and waters are old buildings and old bridges that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Yangshuo. Just by observing these, One can learn much about Yangshuo's history. Yangshuo was one of the first counties to be appointed as a national tourism area. Each year 1.5 million visitors come to Yang shuo.

Baisha Town: Bridge the Centuries on the Yulong River

The "Meet the Dragon" or Yulong River, which begins in Zouzai Village, is the largest tributary running into the Li Rive. The excellent composition of water, ancient bridges and mountains along this waterway is one of the favorite choices of photographers and artists coming to the area. For those who are looking for a fabulous hike, start at Baisha's Yulong Bridge and stay on the path down river to Gao Tian. You'll pass six unforgettable ancient bridges during the 5-hour walk.

Fuli: Home to the "Third Sister"

Those who know Chinese cinema, will immediately recognize Fuli's distinctive wharf as the backdrop for shooting parts of the now famous film, "The Liu Family's Third Sister".

Like Xing Ping, travelers can experience the lovely "mountain-water" scenery of the area by taking the 50-minute boat ride on the lower reaches of the Li River down to this quaint spot. In the town, visit some of the best local artists and their shops or just sip some tea on the wharf at "Three-Sister's" Restaurant.

Gao Tian: Retreat to the Country

The most popular route for 1-2 day biking trips is the road to Gao Tian. Gao Tian, a predominantly Zhuang minority area, offers some of the most memorable sights and experiences for those who want to encounter China "off the road" Moonhill, a large mountain with a cavity that appears to "change phases" as travelers pass by , is the centerpiece of the area. On a day trip, bikers will usually go first to the Big BanYan Tree, and perhaps do some caving. Many then opt to stay overnight in the county at a farmer's home or better yet, rent a room at the "Riverside Retreat", a very welcoming bed and breakfast run in a renovated mill house beside the "Meet the Dragon"

Xingping: Take me home country roads

The cruise form Yangshuo to Xingping is a "must do" for many adventurous travelers who want to see the mountains and Li River from another vantage point. The fascinating shapes and coloration of the limestone mountains sometimes tell a story. River men eagerly point out such sights as "Nine Horses Painted Cliff", "Monk and Nun's Peak", and "Snail Hill". With bikes loaded onto small riverboats, energetic tourists travel up, enjoy the serenity of the magnificent hills surrounding the town, and then bike back by way of winding country roads.

The "Fish Village" of Yangshuo County-a "time capsule" you shouldn't miss

During the boat cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, travelers often stop near the halfway point to visit the famous "Fish Village". From the start, visitors notice the authentic and well-preserved structures, which reflect a way of life that has continued for nearly 500 years. What is striking as well, is that this is not a museum, locals still eat, sleep, and work out their lives there.

Historically, the village has enjoyed its moments. Kang Youwei, a Qing Dynasty reformist, publicized his progressive ideas of reform there. Sun Yat Sun visited Fish Village when he made preparations for the war against the warlords of the north.

Elegant, sloping rooftops, ornamental eaves, and narrow lanes set among the famous mountains of Yangshuo, have attracted scholars and notable persons for years. On July 2,1998,American President Clinton and delegation visited Fish Village to enjoy its history and architecture.