Guilin Local Lifestyle
"I would rather live in Guilin than in heaven". This is what Guilin locals say about their homeland. Guilin is a blessed land filled with picturesque mountains, fantastic caves, and graceful rivers, where people live a happy and peaceful lifestyle. Guilin people are easygoing, hospitable, and really enjoy their life. Visitors often find they so quickly fell in love with Guilin, and so envious of the locals. Some of them chose to settle down and never wanted to leave.
Read on, and take a glimpse into the daily life of the Guilin people.
Ethnic Locals in Guilin
Early Morning
When the sun is just above the horizon in the early morning, elderly people can be seen walking the streets heading towards one of Guilin's parks, or open areas for their morning exercises. Guilin's elderly believe strongly in exercise and it gives them an excuse to visit with friends, share common interests and chat. They can be seen throughout the city practising tai chi, martial arts, ballroom dancing, singing, doing the local drum, or dancing with a Chinese fan.
Rice Noodles Are a Common Breakfast
After their exercises, they will head to local rice noodle restaurants. Guilin is famous for its rice noodles and they are a common breakfast food. Cooked in broth and served in a bowl of soup made from pork, beef, garlic, peanuts, peppers, radishes, etc, different kinds of rice noodle shops have different secret recipes to make their own rice noodles loved by people.
Rice Noodles
Family Relationship
They will then sit and chat for hours. Often, elderly women have their grandchildren in tow. In Chinese society, grandparents watch the children while their parents are working. The grandparents will then go to the local markets to buy food for the day. Chinese people believe that if the food wasn't picked that day, it isn't fresh and not worth eating.
In the Evening
Guilin really comes to life in the evenings. People return home from work for dinner, which is always a family affair. Normally dinner is eaten homemade by the grandmother, but occasionally people will go to a local restaurant, or roadside stand to eat.
After-Dinner Stroll and Night Market
After dinner, everyone steps out into the street for a stroll. There is an old idiom in Chinese that says "100 steps after eating is good for digestion". Hence, the night markets in Guilin have thrived. Families can be seen walking down the night market along the streets, chatting and spending time with each other. They will frequently stop and chat with neighbours and friends, or occasionally stop at a little roadside stand to pick up a snack. After their walk people will get together to play chess, mahjong, or cards.
Yangshuo at Night
Nightlife in Downtown Guilin
For the younger crowd, they can usually be seen in the city centre shopping or visiting nightclubs and bars. Guilin's downtown area has a hopping nightlife and there are many things to do. The most popular area during the night is Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, where brand boutiques, nightclubs, and bars line the street. Many people enjoy seeing and being seen. It is where all the fashionable people hang out. Many people simply like window shopping in the evening.
During the Weekend
Living in the "most scenic place under heaven", the weekend is the time Guilin folks upgrade their leisure time to the countryside. Hang out with family or friends in beautiful towns such as Yangshuo and Longji, or peaceful villages along the Li River. Outdoor activities such as trekking and rock climbing are extremely popular among younger generations.
The older generation has what they enjoy for the weekend. A good way to socialize is when old friends get together for tea drinking, playing chess, mahjong, or cards. It may sound surprising that trekking is not less popular among the local elderly. This may be a reason longevity is so common in the region.
What makes Guilin such a wonderful destination is not just its breathtaking landscape, but also its people. The people of Guilin have a warm spirit and are quick to greet visitors. They do their best to make people feel welcome in their city. Guilin residents are proud of their city and love to share it with others.
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