Things to do in Guilin

 

Guilin is world famous for its magnificent landscape and deservedly so, but there is so much more to this ancient city. Guilin has been a tourist destination for thousands of years. There is a famous poem that says, "Guilin scenery is the best under heaven". It is this scenery that has been such an inspiration for artists and poets.

Guilin is filled with beautiful parks and stunning mountains that offer something for everybody. The beautiful mountains of Guilin lend themselves beautifully to parks. There are parks of every size. The largest is Seven Star Park. It received its name from the seven peaks of the mountains in the park. The park features a temple built in the style of the Tang Dynasty, children's play ground, caves, open air areas, a zoo with two giant pandas, and many beautiful flora. The three most famous hills in Guilin are surrounded by parks of their own. Guilin's Elephant Trunk Hill, the city's landmark is a natural Karst rock formation shaped like a giant elephant drinking from the Li River. Visitors can climb the hill, wander around the manicured paths that surround the hill, and enjoy leisure sightseeing cruises around Elephant Trunk Hill on traditional bamboo rafts. Diecai Hill is one of Guilin's larger parks. It has mountains with pavilions nestled on their sides that offer amazing bird's eye views of the city. Fubo Hill, located near the city center has numerous caves inside of it. One of the caves named The Thousand Buddha Cave is filled with ancient carvings of Buddhist deities. There is another very beautiful scenic area in Guilin known as the Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area. The area borders the four lakes located in downtown Guilin. It is a beautiful area especially at night when it is all lit up. The paved walkways meander through the trees and are lined with flowers and plants. There are statues scattered here and there. One lake has a teahouse and garden located in the middle of the lake that can be reached from a marble zigzaging bridge. Another lake has two pagodas. One is made of wood and the other is made entirely of copper. The copper pagoda is located in the middle of the lake and can only be reached by an underwater walkway from the other pagoda. There are marble bridges and pavilions located throughout the Two River Four Lake Scenic Area. It is a truly beautiful spot.

Guilin is a shopper's paradise and has many different places for visitors to get their shopping done. The pedestrian mall in the city center is filled with shops selling clothing, jewelry, and accessories. It is a place to see and be seen. It is dotted with restaurants and nightclubs, and really comes alive at night. The Wayao Wholesale Market is filled with unique items and handicrafts at wholesale prices. Wayao has something for everybody. It has shops ranging from house wares and clothing, to jade and silk. Prices are low, but bargaining is still a must. The Guilin Night Market located downtown is a place to get many wonderful souvenirs it is always packed with people who are shopping, or just hanging out.

There are a number of sites within driving area of Guilin City that should not be missed. In Longsheng County is an area known as the dragon's backbone. It is an area where the entire mountain range is covered with terraced rice fields, and scattered across the rice fields are ethnic minority villages. The terraced rice fields are exceptionally beautiful and are different during each season. They were built over more than a thousand years by minority groups hiding from the Han people that would periodically attack them. There are three main minority groups that live in the area they are the Yao, Miao, and Dong minorities. They live in traditional houses and have kept their customs and traditions alive. It is unique that so many different minority groups live in the same area in harmony and have yet maintained their own unique traditions.

No visit to Guilin is complete without a cruise down the picturesque Li River. Traveling down the Li River is like traveling through a living ancient Chinese painting. The most beautiful mountains and Karst rock formations are located along the river and the slow cruising boat highlights the unmatched beauty of the area. Local villagers can be seen along the banks working in their fields, or washing their clothing. Water buffalos can be seen cooling themselves off in the clear water of the Li River. The Cruise lasts approximately four hours and ends in Yangshuo.

The city of Yangshuo located near the city of Guilin is a vibrant place. It is world famous as a must-see destination for any visitor to Guilin, and famous throughout China as a place inhabited by westerners. Yangshuo is an exciting and unique spot. Since the 1980's when the first backpackers showed up in what was then a small fishing village, Yangshuo has become a gathering place for foreigners. The main street of Yangshuo is West Street. The street is lined with shops, bars, restaurants, all built in a Chinese style of architecture. It is at night Yangshuo really comes to life. The streets are filled with people strolling between restaurants and bars. The majority of the people who work in Yangshuo can speak English and it is rather funny to hear an old Chinese grandma speaking in English. It is a very fun destination and one that should not be missed. [Detail things to do in yangshuo]

Recommended a Guilin highlights tour

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