Guilin

Famous for its wonderful scenery, rivers and karst peaks covered in lush vegetation, 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 became, in southern China, a stronghold against the Japanese aggression. In recent decades, although development and the booming tour industry have added some commercial colors to this beautiful city, Guilin has remained the greenest and most scenic city in China.

Unlike most of the fast developing cities with skyscrapers, Guilin keeps its buildings relatively low because the people here do not want their beautiful peaks to be dwarfed.

Guilin is situated along the Li River, which is a great travel attraction itself. The beauty of the crystal-clear water and the karst peaks towering into the sky has attracted travelers and, particularly artists, to this area for centuries. The pointed peaks with sheer cliffs on all sides that you see in traditional Chinese paintings in museums are based on the reality of the Guilin Mountains. Therefore, it's not surprising that we have a picture of the Li River on the 20-yuan bank note which awards Guilin a higher reputation nationwide.

As a tourist, one must take a boat trip down the Li River to enjoy the unique and picturesque mountains and to experience the local country life along the river.

The Li River trip is usually ended at a small town called Yangshuo, which has become something of a backpacker's legend. The relaxing pace of life here, friendly people, good food, scenic beauty, rice fields and clear streams, country roads for cycling, all make it the paradise for those who wish to get a rest from the harsher aspects of life in the big cities. Yangshuo's best sights include the Moon Hill, Big Banyan Tree, Green Lotus Peak and Yulong River.

The Terraced Fields, somehow considered one of the world's wonders and only 85 km north of Guilin, are a great place highly recommended for those who wish to get a close look of the tribal life in China.Tribes like the Zhuang and Yao, officially recognized as minority groups, had moved from neighboring provinces and made their homes deep in the mountainous area to avoid social turbulences. They have successfully survived the hardship of life by cultivating in the narrow but long terraced fields high up on the big mountains for over 600 years. The history created by these tribal people is still a mystery to most of us!

Other remarkable scenic sights in town of Guilin that can be included in a city tour are: Elephant Hill, Reed Flute Cave and Fubo Hill.

Guilin Attractions

Yangshuo Attractions