TRAVEL GUILIN
GENERAL INFORMATION-Guilin is the spectacular scenery and natural beauty of the area, the astonishing Karst landscape. The name 'Guilin' means "forest of sweet Osmanthus" in Chinese. The region is home to large number of sweet fragrant Osmanthus trees located in the city. The strangely shaped hills or karsts, with the vegetation ranging from bamboos to conifers together with crystal clear waters and wonderful caves make the city such an appealing destination. There are many scenic places within short traveling distance of Guilin. These include Longsheng with its famous Longji rice terraces, the Lijiang River. Overnight buses and trains from Guangzhou, Shenzhen (Hong Kong border) and Zhuhai (Macau border, only bus) take approx 10 hrs.
Distance by Air is-
i- Guilin =1hr 10 mts,
ii- Chengdu-Guilin =1hr 30 mts,
iii-Xian-Guilin =2hrs,
iv- Shanghai-Guilin =2hrs,
v- Beijing-Guilin =3hrs.
HISTORY-Guilin was not brought into the official prefecture until 214 B.C. when the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-206 B.C.).
GEOGRAPHY-Guilin is situated in the north east of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the southern part of China. Guilin is a beautiful city. The town center is surrounded by two rivers and four lakes and studded with sheer sided karst mountains.
KARST- Karst topography is a landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes, dolines, and caves.
CLIMATE-The best time to travel in Guilin is from April to October.
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
HIGH 12 13 16 23 27 30 33 33 30 27 20 15
LOW 5 7 10 16 20 23 25 25 22 17 12 7
RAINY DAYS 16 16 19 20 19 18 16 15 8 10 9 9
AREA-27,809 km2
POPULATION- 47,48, 000
CO-ORDINATES-25°16′14″N 110°17′31″E
TIME ZONE-UTC+8
AIRPORT-Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is located 28km southwest of Guilin City. There are daily direct flights connecting Guilin and all the major cities in mainland China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huangshan, Zhuhai, Nanning, Chongqing, Ningbo, Chengdu etc.
ATTRACTIONS & SIGHTS-
HIGH 12 13 16 23 27 30 33 33 30 27 20 15
LOW 5 7 10 16 20 23 25 25 22 17 12 7
RAINY DAYS 16 16 19 20 19 18 16 15 8 10 9 9
AREA-27,809 km2
POPULATION- 47,48, 000
CO-ORDINATES-25°16′14″N 110°17′31″E
TIME ZONE-UTC+8
AIRPORT-Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is located 28km southwest of Guilin City. There are daily direct flights connecting Guilin and all the major cities in mainland China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huangshan, Zhuhai, Nanning, Chongqing, Ningbo, Chengdu etc.
ATTRACTIONS & SIGHTS-
001-THE LI RIVER CRUISE-The cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the centerpiece, the scenery along the river become one of China's top tourist destinations. The river trip is over 90 kilometers long and is estimated to take four to five hours. Most cruises starts from Zhujiang Wharf. It is about 40 minutes' drive from Guilin city. Then a 4 hour cruise will take you to the beautiful and fascinating county town of Yangshuo. The river generally has three sections.
a-Section-1(Guilin to Ox Gorge)-Following scenery will be seen-
a-Section-1(Guilin to Ox Gorge)-Following scenery will be seen-
i-Elephant-Trunk Hill- Situated on the western bank of the river, the hill resembles an elephant sucking water from the river with its long trunk. The most impressive is said to be the water reflection of a moon-like cave when the moonlight over the river, hence the name 'Moon over the Water'.
ii-Pagoda Hill-On the west bank is a small hill topped with a pagoda. The hexagonal pagoda is called Longevity Buddha Pagoda. The seven-story brick pagoda was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is a multi-eave pagoda and its plane is trapezoidal. Many maple trees are planted at the foot of the hill. In autumn, the hill is illuminated with red maples and is very charming.
iii- Forest of Odd Shaped Peaks-Cruising down the river, not far from Jingping Hill, a cluster of mountain peaks come into sight, resembling either fresh bamboo shoots or thousands of swords. Due to its nearness to Qifeng (odd-shaped peaks) Town, located 10 km from Guilin, the scene here is also known as Odd-Shaped Peaks by the River or Odd-Shaped Peaks Standing in Great Numbers. Formerly a vast ocean containing scattered lands, a thousand-meter layer of limestone settled under the ocean. As Guangxi Province rose out of the ocean to become land, the movement of the earth's crust caused numerous folds and fractures to the terrain. Rainwater permeated and dislocated calcium carbonate from the limestone over time, forming numerous odd-shaped peaks.
iv-Daxu Ancient Town-Runs two kilometers along the river bank. There are quarters for businessmen in the past times.
b-Section-2 (Ox Gorge to Water-Dropping Village)-Following scenery will be seen- Wangfu Rock (Yearning-for-Husband's-Return Rock), Crown Cave, Half-Side Ferry, Yangdi Village, Mural Hill, Xianggong Mountain, Yellow Cloth Shoal, and Xingping Town.
b-Section-2 (Ox Gorge to Water-Dropping Village)-Following scenery will be seen- Wangfu Rock (Yearning-for-Husband's-Return Rock), Crown Cave, Half-Side Ferry, Yangdi Village, Mural Hill, Xianggong Mountain, Yellow Cloth Shoal, and Xingping Town.
i- Crown Cave- Crown Cave Scenic Area consists of Crown Cave and the hills, villages, rivers. Crown Cave (Guanyan Cave) is not far from Caoping Town and is about 29 km south of Guilin. Due to the crown-shaped hill, the cave beneath was given the present name.
The overall length of cave is 12 km. The 3 km near Li River has been developed and opened to the public. It is unique in ways of sight-seeing. First you can reach the mountainside by light rail and descend into the cave by elevator. There are altogether five caves. The stalactites, stalagmites and stone pillars inside will capture the imagination .Then you can take the light rail to Palm Hall. The tallest palm-like stone pillar among the four in the hall is taller than 50 meters, reaching the ceiling of the cave. The 'palm tree' is so thick that it takes several people to put their arms around it. It is really a wonder. Then you can take a small boat to experience the distinctive views of the underground river. Crown Cave was listed in the Guinness World Records as a cave with the most ways of traveling. Besides Crown Cave, the peach and plum garden, folk craftwork shops, cottages and farmhouse and elephant show in the scenic area are all worth visiting. Illuminating lights, sound control tour guide system and escalators are equipped in the scenic area and sightseeing cars and boats enable visitors to tour inside the cave. It is estimated to become an important excursion site along the river. Tourists can stay in the hotels and villas in the scenic area.
ii-Yangdi Village-This part is the highlight of the cruise. From Yangdi to Xingping, the river passes an endless procession of distinct peaks and bamboo groves and the stunning landscape.
The overall length of cave is 12 km. The 3 km near Li River has been developed and opened to the public. It is unique in ways of sight-seeing. First you can reach the mountainside by light rail and descend into the cave by elevator. There are altogether five caves. The stalactites, stalagmites and stone pillars inside will capture the imagination .Then you can take the light rail to Palm Hall. The tallest palm-like stone pillar among the four in the hall is taller than 50 meters, reaching the ceiling of the cave. The 'palm tree' is so thick that it takes several people to put their arms around it. It is really a wonder. Then you can take a small boat to experience the distinctive views of the underground river. Crown Cave was listed in the Guinness World Records as a cave with the most ways of traveling. Besides Crown Cave, the peach and plum garden, folk craftwork shops, cottages and farmhouse and elephant show in the scenic area are all worth visiting. Illuminating lights, sound control tour guide system and escalators are equipped in the scenic area and sightseeing cars and boats enable visitors to tour inside the cave. It is estimated to become an important excursion site along the river. Tourists can stay in the hotels and villas in the scenic area.
ii-Yangdi Village-This part is the highlight of the cruise. From Yangdi to Xingping, the river passes an endless procession of distinct peaks and bamboo groves and the stunning landscape.
iii-Mural Hill- Mural Hill is located 61 kilometers from Guilin city. Standing 536.3 meters high, Mural Hill is a cliff rising abruptly above the water. Its full name is “Nine Horse Mural Hill” and is named because of the naturally shaped images of nine horses in different positions on the cliff. It is said that anyone who can recognize all nine horses will be the Number One Scholar (the title conferred on the one placing first in the highest imperial examination in the Confucian era ). The image of the ninth horse can only be seen by looking down on the hill from the sky.
Cormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from swallowing the fish.
Cormorants are good sized birds who enjoy diving underwater in search of fish. Fishermen use the cormorants to catch the fish and return them to the boat. Usually fishermen seem to be more sun-tanned. The fisherman drive the birds into the water where they dive below the surface in search of fish. When the birds catch a fish they return to the boat and the fisherman removes the fish from their throat and places it in the basket. The secret is that the fisherman places a cord around the bird's neck to keep the bird from swallowing the fish.
iv-Yellow Cloth Shoal-A huge yellow flagstone lying under the limpid waters can easily be seen. It is like a cloth piece and people called it Yellow Cloth Shoal. Yellow Cloth Shoal lies about 60 kilometers away from Guilin city. It's about 500 meters downstream southward from the Mural Hill. Peaks are steep and the river is wide and quiet and a huge yellow flagstone lying under the still waters can easily be seen. The area gets its name from the huge flagstone at the bottom of the shoal. It has become very attractive to tourists because the water here is extremely clear and calm and is a natural mirror making perfect images of the peaks in this area. The Shoal is escorted by seven peaks at both sides of the Li River resembling seven fairy ladies.
v-Xingping Town-The river takes a big turn at Xingping and endowed with beautiful and poetic scenery. It has been reproduced in many Chinese landscape paintings. Even the newly-issued 20 RMB note has the scenery on its back.
c-Section-3-(Water-Dropping Village to Yanshuo)-Following scenery will be seen-Snail Hill, Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Peak), and Shutong Hill (Schoolboy Hill).
i-Yanshou- Located some 90 kilometers south of Guilin City, this town is the downstream end of the cruise. The tourists will disembark at the Shuidongmen Dock near the Green Lotus Peak or Fu'an Dock near the Schoolboy Hill.
v-Xingping Town-The river takes a big turn at Xingping and endowed with beautiful and poetic scenery. It has been reproduced in many Chinese landscape paintings. Even the newly-issued 20 RMB note has the scenery on its back.
c-Section-3-(Water-Dropping Village to Yanshuo)-Following scenery will be seen-Snail Hill, Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Peak), and Shutong Hill (Schoolboy Hill).
i-Yanshou- Located some 90 kilometers south of Guilin City, this town is the downstream end of the cruise. The tourists will disembark at the Shuidongmen Dock near the Green Lotus Peak or Fu'an Dock near the Schoolboy Hill.
002-REED FLUTE CAVE (LU DI YAN) - Located at five kilometers northwest of the downtown of Guilin, the Reed Flute Cave is a brilliant cave. The cave got its name from the reeds growing outside it, with which people make flutes. Inside this water-eroded cave is a spectacular world of various stalactites, stone pillars and rock formations created by carbonate deposition. Illuminated by colored lighting, the fantastic spectacle is found in many variations along this 240-meter-long cave. Walking through the serried stone pillars. Tourists enter the cave and then take a U-shaped sight-seeing route to see different spots, whereupon they exit it from another cave quite near the entrance one. One trip lasts about one hour. A park is built for the cave with zigzag path, elegant pavilions, ponds, bridges, plants and other garden structures.
003-TWO RIVERS AND FOUR LAKES SCENIC SPOT-Located in picturesque Guilin City. This includes Li River (the part within the city) and Taohua (Peach Blossom) River, Mulong Lake- Guihu Lake- Ronghu Lake - Shanhu Lake. Take a cruise to visit the Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area. Visitors take a cruise to visit the Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area.It is a 90 minutes sailing.
i-Guihu Lake Scenic Area- Guihu Lake was originally the city moat of the western Guilin City in Song Dynasty (960-1279). It measures over 1,700 meters (1 mile) from north to south and about 110 meters (120 yards) wide on average.
ii-Ronghu-Shanhu Lake Scenic Area-Its history can be traced back to Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties. Originally called Nanyang River, it was the manmade city moat of the southern Guilin at that time.
iii-Mulong Lake Scenic Area-The construction includes Song Street, Half-side Street, Mulong Pagoda, Mulong at Night, and Ancient Song City.
iv-Li River and Taohua (Peach Blossom) River -The beautiful Li River, is an important component of the mountains and waters in Guilin. Taohua River was diverged into Li River in Ming Dynasty. The two rivers thus connected and have added more beauty to each other.
i-Guihu Lake Scenic Area- Guihu Lake was originally the city moat of the western Guilin City in Song Dynasty (960-1279). It measures over 1,700 meters (1 mile) from north to south and about 110 meters (120 yards) wide on average.
ii-Ronghu-Shanhu Lake Scenic Area-Its history can be traced back to Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties. Originally called Nanyang River, it was the manmade city moat of the southern Guilin at that time.
iii-Mulong Lake Scenic Area-The construction includes Song Street, Half-side Street, Mulong Pagoda, Mulong at Night, and Ancient Song City.
iv-Li River and Taohua (Peach Blossom) River -The beautiful Li River, is an important component of the mountains and waters in Guilin. Taohua River was diverged into Li River in Ming Dynasty. The two rivers thus connected and have added more beauty to each other.
004-DREAMING ON LI RIVER SHOW (Mènghuàn Líjiāng Xiù), 95 Qixing Rd (Qīxīnglù)- 8PM. A theatrical dance and music performance daily. Dreaming Li River Show is one of the best Chinese acrobatic shows about the life of the locals who live along Li River. The performers have been traveling with China president to many countries around the world to perform the show. The show starts at 8.00pm and for duration of 1.5hrs.
005-LONGJI TERRACED FIELDS-The Longji or call Longsheng Rice Terraces are located 23 kilometers from Longsheng City and about 100 km (2 hours’ drive) from Guilin city. The most popular are Ping An Rice Terrace and Jinkeng Rice Terrace. The terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountain top, the highest part being 880 m in elevation while the lowest part is 380 m. This ingenious irrigation method makes the best use of the scarce arable land and water resources in this mountainous area. There are about 66 square kilometers of terraced fields in southeast Longsheng County. The coiling line that starts from the mountain foot up to the mountain top divides the mountain into layers of water glittering in the sun in spring, layers of green rice shoots in summer, layers of golden rice in fall, and layers of silvery frost in winter. Climb up to the summit of the Longji Rice Terraces at an elevation of 2,886 feet (880 meters). A half-hour hike up offers an amazing panoramic vista of this incredible feat of farm engineering. At its beginning of Yuan Dynasty, the terraced fields were mostly built during the Ming Dynasty, about 500 years ago. The Zhuang people turned the mountains into farmland by creating terraced fields where the farmers could grow rice. The major villages include Ping'an, Jinkeng Dazhai, Ancient Zhuang Village, Huangluo Yao Village. The most popular terraced fields are the Jinkeng Red Yao terraced fields and the Ping'an Zhuang terraced fields. By comparison, the Ping'an Zhuang terraced fields were developed much earlier, and are more touristy and crowded, but the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Red Yao terraced fields are more spectacular and quiet.
Ping'an Zhuang Village Terraces-It is the earliest and most developed terraced fields in Longsheng, and the most touristy one. The rice terraces there are the largest in scale. Outside the village, the terraced fields stretch from the bottom to the top of the mountains, which take on different looks seasonally. The terraced fields look like silver ribbons in spring, green waves in summer, golden towers in autumn and flying dragons in winter.
Best Times to Visit-
i-From mid-April to mid-June the fields are well-watered and you can see water glittering in the sun in spring.
ii-From July to mid-September it is the growing period for the grain seedlings. You will see green and vigor everywhere.
iii-From September to early October, the rice on the fields is ripe; you will see layers of carpets of golden yellow. Farmers can be seen harvesting in the fields from around October 1st to 15th.
iv-You will see nothing more than the plain scenery of brown empty fields (and maybe snow) from October 15th to April.
Presented by-V P Gupta
Ping'an Zhuang Village Terraces-It is the earliest and most developed terraced fields in Longsheng, and the most touristy one. The rice terraces there are the largest in scale. Outside the village, the terraced fields stretch from the bottom to the top of the mountains, which take on different looks seasonally. The terraced fields look like silver ribbons in spring, green waves in summer, golden towers in autumn and flying dragons in winter.
Best Times to Visit-
i-From mid-April to mid-June the fields are well-watered and you can see water glittering in the sun in spring.
ii-From July to mid-September it is the growing period for the grain seedlings. You will see green and vigor everywhere.
iii-From September to early October, the rice on the fields is ripe; you will see layers of carpets of golden yellow. Farmers can be seen harvesting in the fields from around October 1st to 15th.
iv-You will see nothing more than the plain scenery of brown empty fields (and maybe snow) from October 15th to April.
Presented by-V P Gupta