Guilin national park china. What is worth seeing in Guilin? Bamboo Flute Cave

Guilin was formed as a result of the erosion of limestone deposits that arose more than 300 thousand years ago. And numerous limestone formations of various shapes and sizes have survived to this day.

The name of the mountains is translated from Chinese as “forest of cassia trees.” And this is not without reason. The rock formations really do look a lot like trees. On this territory there is a city of the same name with the largest airport in the country. Let's get acquainted with some attractions in Guilin.

Lijiang River

Lijiang or simply Li is the cleanest river in China and the pearl of Guilin. It originates from Cat Mountain and extends 426 kilometers along Guilin territory. The Li flows into the Xijiang River, which in turn is part of the Pearl River. Tourists will forever remember the most amazing cruise along the river from the city of Guilin to the settlement of Yangshuo, approximately 80 kilometers long. The mountain and forest landscapes that open up will remain in the memory of vacationers for a long time. Due to frequent fogs, the surrounding nature resembles a mirage that disappears with the slightest haze. A unique spectacle that attracted not only tourists, but also filmmakers who shot numerous films here.

All excursion route is divided into three parts: from the starting point to the buffalo gorge, from the gorge to Xingping, from the village to Yangshuo. At the first stop of the cruise you will come across buildings dating back to the Ming era. Their age is estimated at several thousand years. Against the backdrop of the oldest monuments, entire mountain ranges emerge from the water, giving this place a fabulous feel. The buffalo gorge got its name from the huge hill that resembles a bull.

Further, after the buffalo gorge, a mandatory stop will be the mountain “a woman missing her husband.” This is an unusual natural complex. It consists of a rock that resembles a man dressed in national costume and a large hill that resembles a woman with a child on her back. There is a legend that a married couple with a child lived in these places. They earned their living by transporting goods by water. But one day, during the family's difficult journey, the river dries up. Tired young people decide to stop on the shore and rest until the morning. During a meager snack, a very hungry old man approached them and asked for some food to feed his large family. The young people took pity on him and gave away all their provisions. After this, the man decided to climb the hill and see if some ship might appear that could save the family from imminent death. But, alas, there was no way to wait for help, and the man turned into stone from the long wait. The young wife had been waiting for her betrothed for a long time. It was a long time before she went looking for him with the baby on her back. And so, having found her husband who became a rock, the girl’s heart broke, turning her and the child also into stone. This is such a sad but beautiful legend that goes around Guilin.

The next section of the route is the most beautiful along the entire cruise. Here you can admire the magnificent mountain peaks and banks covered with dense thickets of bamboo. These places are literally teeming with buffalos, ducks splashing merrily on the river, and numerous fishermen. Arriving here, you feel comfortable in a cozy, quiet environment, where there is only you and nature. Of all this splendor, the Nine Horseshoe Hill stands out. It is named so because all the stone complexes here resemble horse hooves. According to legend, if a person can see all nine stone formations, it means he is truly wise. And finally, having “traveled” the whole way, tourists end up in Yangshuo, where they can relax, have a snack and stay overnight.

Hill Elephant Trunk

In the south of the Li River there is a national park where the main attraction is the Elephant Trunk Hill. From the outside it looks very much like an elephant drinking from a pond. There is a legend that this elephant once belonged to the imperial army, but after falling ill, it was abandoned and forgotten. Very dense thickets grow around the hill, completely hiding the “Elephant Trunk”. This was done for a reason. The Chinese decided to make more money and planted the entire area around with bamboo. And if a tourist wants to look at the hill, he will have to pay for the visit.

Reed Flute Cave

This is one of the most unique places not only in China, but throughout the world. It is located in Xishan Park. The cave got its name in honor of the reed thickets growing around. Since ancient times, the Chinese have made flutes from them. According to documentary data, the cave was found by a peasant who accidentally fell into it during his work. Once in the cave, the underground kingdom opens up, created by nature over the centuries. Illuminated stalactites and stalagmites surprise with their unusualness and fabulous shades. On the walls of the cave you can see more than seventy inscriptions, presumably left in the Tang era.

Mount Fuboshan

The mountain is located a couple of kilometers from Elephant Mountain. The name translates from Chinese as “mountain that conquers the waves.” Indeed, part of the foot of Fuboshan is covered with water, and in the spring the river level rises sharply. The mountain does its best to block the path of numerous waves, living up to its name. You can climb it using special steps. Once at the top you find yourself on a platform from which a magnificent view of the entire mountain area opens. Inside the mountain there is a cave called “The Returned Pearl”. One legend is connected with this, which tells about a woman who lived on the banks of the Li with her son. Once, a child noticed a long-bearded man sleeping on the shore with a pearl lying next to him. The boy admired her and decided to show the jewel to his mother. However, the woman immediately realized that her son had made a mistake and told him to return the pearl to its place before the man woke up. The sleeping stranger turned out to be the king of dragons. The woman’s act touched him, and the king decided to give the family gifts so that they would no longer need anything. Another attraction is the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas, which has collected numerous Buddha statues from different eras on its territory. On one of the walls, you will also see extraordinary beauty a fresco that is over a thousand years old.

Two rivers and four lakes

This is the name given to the whole water system Guilin. Although it would be best if it was called a national park. Part water complex includes all the most large rivers and lakes in Guilin. They are so popular among tourists and local residents that excursions and cruises are constantly held here, and the wealthy population even builds their houses on the shore. Poets and writers praise these scenic spots. For convenience and even greater aesthetics, patterned bridges were erected over the rivers and tea houses were built so that anyone could relax in peace and comfort with a cup of delicious tea.

Seven Stars Park

The park covers an area of 120 hectares and is considered the largest in the entire territory of Guilin. The park got its name because of the seven mountain peaks, towering on its territory. If you look at them from a great height, you will notice a resemblance to the constellation Ursa Major. Walking through the park, you will see lakes with crystal clear water, zoos, museums, beautiful caves and much more. It gained its fame during the reign of the Sui and Tang eras. The most interesting attractions of the park were the Flower Bridge, Mount Putuo and others. The oldest place of all the above was the Flower Bridge, built back in the Song Dynasty. It is best to visit it in the warm season, when plants are flowering. It is on these days that the bridge lights up with new colors and smells so fragrant that the aroma can be felt several kilometers away. On the territory of the bridge, the water is always calm and in the reflection you can see the entire surrounding landscape.

Mount Puto is the central part of the park, which contains numerous caves and grottoes. It is named after the famous Chinese mountain Putuoshan. At the base of Puto there is a huge Camel Hill, which, as you already understood, resembled a camel. Rumor has it that during the era of one of the dynasties, a hermit lived here who grew plums. To this day, the hill is surrounded by numerous plum trees. There is also a zoo in the park where pandas live.

Lingqu Channel

This is the only man-made reservoir in Guilin. Well, as usual in China, the name has several translation options: imperial channel, divine channel and flexible channel.

Construction began in 214 BC. during the reign of the Qin Dynasty. The construction was connected with the emperor’s desire to strengthen the borders of the state in the south. The canal was planned to be used during the transportation of food and weapons. Lingqu has a length of 75 kilometers with a width of only 5 meters. Scientists call the canal one of the wonders of the world, since during its construction technologies unusual for that time were used. Despite his advanced age, Lingqu still performs its functions and pleases the eyes of tourists.

Mount Yao Guilin

The mountain is located in the city of Guilin. It got its name in honor imperial palace, founded for the ruler Yao, whose existence is still in question. Mount Yao is recognized as the highest in all of Guilin. It is interesting because its landscape changes depending on the seasons. For example, in spring you can see azaleas on it, and in summer Yao is overgrown with bamboo. At the very top there are several other attractions: Yao Temple, White Deer Temple and Jade Soul Pond. At the very base, scientists generally found ancient burial places of emperors, extending over an area of 100 square meters. meters.

Since the mountain is very high, it is quite difficult to reach the top on foot, so there is a funicular for tourists. There is also a cable car, built twenty years ago, but this option is suitable for extreme sports enthusiasts. But the descent is of interest, as it is a slide like in a water park.

Gudong Waterfall

Gudong Waterfall is one of the most popular tourist routes. In fact, it is just a small part huge park with wonderful wildlife and rich animal life. Here for tourists they have created a whole attraction to conquer huge waterfall. Anyone who wants to will be given special helmets and shown cables that can be used to climb up through the splashes and powerful jets of the waterfall. Quite an exciting activity for those who love water and are not afraid of difficulties. The climb is especially interesting for fans of team play. For those who don't really want to get their clothes wet, there is a bypass path to the top of the waterfall.

Another attraction of the park is the “rain bridge”. It is designed in the national Chinese style, which attracts vacationers. The bridge is equipped in such a way that during bad weather, park guests can relax and gain strength.

Hill Folded Brocade

Here's another one famous place Guilin, located in the east of the city. The hill is famous for its magical views from the top and unusual stone formations created by nature over many millennia. The hill got its name because of its unusual structure, similar to a layer cake. Brocade Hill extends over a distance of two kilometers and contains several attractions: the Silk Pavilion, a memorial plaque in honor of two Chinese soldiers. A little further from the slab is the Wind Cave, which got its name because of the constant drafts. Right at the entrance you can see three characters depicted by Chinese calligrapher Shen Yimo. Numerous rock paintings and frescoes dating back to the Tang Dynasty have survived to this day.

Cat Mountain

It is located in the town of Xinan. It will take you two hours to get there, but it's worth it. While you drive, you can admire the surrounding landscapes. In southern China, Cat Mountain is considered the highest. At its base, three rivers take their sources: Li, Zi and Xun. The mountain got its name because of its peak, which resembled the head of a cat with protruding ears. It is famous for its rare plants, of which there are a lot growing here. More recently, Cat Mountain was almost impossible to reach, but recently this problem was solved by the construction of a stone staircase. Before you go upstairs, you should know that there are no shops nearby, and you will have to take all provisions with you.

Photo report about a trip to China. Neighborhood of Yangshuo, Guilin Province (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, South Central China). Li River (Lijiang). Yulong River. Karst hills. Xin Ping Village. Rafting on bamboo rafts. Chinese traditional night fishing with cormorant. China. Guilin. Yangshuo. Lee River. Yulong River.

Just a little about us.
We are Alexey and Victoria, a married couple, living and working in the city of Novosibirsk. We are united not only by our love for each other, but also by our love of travel and photography. Finally, we decided to share our impressions and photographs.

In the spring of this year we made a trip to China, seemingly close, but so far away, very amazing and majestic, incredible in the beauty of nature and preserved ancient culture and history in the modern appearance of cities.
The starting point of the route was the capital of China, Beijing (Beijing / 北京), then a flight to Shanghai (Shanghai / 上海), from there by night train to the Huangshan Mountains (Huangshan Shi / 黄山), where we visited the ancient village of Hongcun /宏村). Returning back to Shanghai, we flew to Guilin (桂林), from where we took a taxi to Yangshuo County (阳朔). From Yangshuo we took several buses to the Longji rice terraces (龙脊) in Longsheng (龙胜) district. From Guilin we flew to Sanya (三亚) on Hainan Island, where we rested from a two-week trip around China.

In the first part we decided to talk about the city of Yangshuo.

Yangshuo (阳朔) can be reached from Guilin Airport in about 2 hours by bus, but since... The plane from Shanghai arrived late in the evening, we had to take a taxi.
If you like parties and nightlife, then it is better to stay in Yangshuo itself; there are always a lot of tourists there (and, unlike the rest of China, a lot of foreigners), many bars, restaurants, and tourist offices. But this region attracts primarily with its fabulous hills overgrown with greenery, through which small rivers meander, so it is better to stay away from traffic jams and the bustle of the city. In the vicinity of Yangshuo there are many small villages where you can find cozy hotels, breathe in the flavor of calm village life, and admire the morning foggy landscapes.

We stayed at a hotel on the banks of the Yulong River (遇龙河) 40 minutes drive from Yangshuo. Here you are surrounded only local residents, karst hills, humid tropical air, and only occasionally tourists float by on bamboo rafts.

In China, it is better to start the day early, because the Chinese get up with the roosters at 5:00 am and finish work at 18:00. Many establishments are already closing, and it gets dark early; the tropical climate makes itself felt.

On the first day, we rented bicycles and went to explore the surrounding area.

Along the way there are small villages consisting of several courtyards, whose residents work right there in the fields.

The bike tour mainly runs along the Yulong River, surrounded by hills and bamboo thickets. Locals take tourists on bamboo rafts along the river.

This entertainment is very popular among the Chinese, but tourists from other countries know little about this place, since very little has been written about this river on the Internet.

The river is shallow, so the Chinese push off from the bottom with a long bamboo stick, and the raft floats along the leisurely current. At the end of the rafting, bamboo boats are transported upstream by car instead of the beginning of the rafting and are thrown into the entrance, then seats are installed and new tourists are boarded.

One of the main attractions of the Yulong River is the Dragon Bridge, which is over 400 years old.

We also decided to finish the bike ride by rafting down the river. We advise you to start rafting closer to 17.00, at this time there are fewer tourists and the evening scenery of the river is simply fantastic. We reached the departure station by 18:00 and all the boatmen refused to start rafting at that time, but we were very lucky and found a boatman who agreed to take us for a ride. The entire rafting took 2 hours, our bicycles were taken by car downstream.

During the rafting, we did not meet a single tourist, the calm and magic of the river enchanted us, unprecedented landscapes, fabulous fogs, splashes of water and the sounds of animals and birds pleased the eye and caressed the ears.

There are small rapids on the river that can be easily navigated by experienced boaters.

It is very romantic to watch the sunset while rafting down the river on a bamboo boat in an exotic camp.

The next morning we decided to go rafting along a route well-known not only for Chinese, but also for European tourists - rafting on the Lee River. To do this, we reached within an hour the village of Xin Ping (Xingping / 兴坪), which is more than 1700 years old.

This village has a central street where there is a souvenir market and antique shops; prices here are much lower than in Yangshuo itself. Here you can try national dishes of local cuisine for little money.

Here we recommend visiting the best observation deck in the entire area - Laozai Hill (老寨山). The path goes along a stone staircase, carved out of stone, through the jungle. The path begins through a stone arch, which can be found to the left of the main embankment of the XingPin village.
But the climb is not easy, it will take about 40 minutes, you will have to stop several times for a break, we recommend stocking up on water, but at the end of the journey all your efforts will be worth it. At the top of the mountain there is an equipped gazebo overlooking the city.

But if you climb a little higher on the rocks, you will see the “horseshoe” of the Li River and the hills stretching beyond the horizon.

Rafting on the Li River begins from the place depicted on the 20 yuan banknote. We do not recommend making arrangements to raft the river on your own; it is better to buy a tour in advance in Yangshuo, because boatmen set the price higher than in the travel agency. It differs from the previous rafting in the large mountains and wide river, but the rafts for four tourists are not made of real bamboo, and move with the help of a motor that roars loudly.

For the evening we planned another excursion - a night one. To do this, we needed to get to Yangshuo. All reviews about Yangshuo say that it is a small and very beautiful scenic village. But in reality it's Big city, filled with tourists, with wide streets, car noise, large areas and a bunch of entertainment venues with high prices.

Here you can agree on a traditional ancient night fishing, in which cormorants are used.

Tamed cormorants dive for fish, but cannot swallow them because they have a string tied around their necks. The fisherman catches a cormorant and puts the fish in a basket, the small fish goes to the bird.

Fishing continues until the morning.

It is very good that tourism does not allow such unusual traditions to die.

Guilin Province is a unique and incredibly beautiful place, preserved in populous and industrial China. This is the place where you want to return only after leaving it.

Guilin is a city in China, located in one of the most fascinating corners of the planet. Residential areas are located in close proximity to the amazing beauty of mountain karst formations and are surrounded by thickets of fragrant osmanthus shrubs. It is no coincidence that the name of the million-strong metropolis is translated as “Forest of Sweet Osmanthus.”

Affairs of past years

It is difficult to name the exact date of the founding of the city of Guilia in China. According to historical chronicles, back in 314 BC. e. was founded on the banks of the Li River small settlement. During the military campaigns (221-207 BC) against the state of Nanyue, a garrison was located in this area.

The official status of the inhabited area was given in 111 BC. e. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Shi An district was created here, which can be considered the beginning of the formation of the city.

Guilin in China flourished under the Song. He was the link between the central government and the southwestern border territory, for the protection of which regular army units were stationed in the settlement. To transport food from the fertile Yangtze plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire, canals were dug to the city.

New time

After the expansion of borders and strengthening of China, Guilin lost its border status. It was quiet provincial town, which was rarely reached by waves of unrest and conquerors. Travelers often visited here, including from Europe. They were attracted by the unique beauty of karst peaks, as if growing out of the ground.

Serious upheavals and changes began to occur only in the 20th century, when world empires clashed for the right to dominate China. This provoked both imperialist and civil wars, which excited the country until the 1950s.

The revolutionary events of the 1920s led to the fact that Guilin hosted one of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army of the Kuomintang Party, led by Sun Yat-sen, who fought both the Japanese aggressors and the communists. The victory of the latter at the end of the 1940s led to the establishment of a new government.

Since the 1950s, the settlement has developed intensively. In 1981, Guilin in China was included by the State Council in a special list of four cities (the other three are Beijing, Hangzhou and Suzhou), where the protection of historical and cultural heritage, as well as natural landscapes is a task of paramount importance.

Administrative subordination

Guilin Prefecture (China) is located in the north of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and covers an area of 27.6 km 2 . It is divided into 17 administrative units:

Areas: Xiufeng, Xiangshan, Diecai, Qixing, Yanshan, Lingui.
Counties: Yangshuo, Lingchuan, Xing'an, Quanzhou, Yongfu, Ziyuan, Guanyang, Pingle, Lipu.
Autonomous Counties: Gongcheng Yao, Longsheng Various Nationalities.

The total population of the prefecture exceeds 5 million people, with 1.4 million residents living directly within the city limits.

Geography

It is no coincidence that the city and its surroundings are considered one of the most beautiful regions of China. Tours to Guilin are organized by many travel companies around the world. Travelers are drawn to surreal landscapes formed by residual karst formations: rocks and dome-shaped rises rising above the plain; numerous caves; residential areas and cultivated fields nestled between the mountains. The meandering River Li, which flows through the town, adds to the charm of the area. The area attracts filmmakers; in particular, one of the Star Wars episodes was filmed here.

Locality located in the heart of the Nanling Range, eroded for hundreds of millions of years by frequent rains characteristic of a humid subtropical climate. Wherein average height above sea level does not exceed 150 meters. Organized in the prefecture National Park Guilin.

Economy

Until 1949, the city only had a thermal power plant, cement factories and small textile factories. However, since the 1950s, such areas as the production of electronics, engineering and agricultural equipment, pharmaceutical products, rubber products, fertilizers, and buses have begun to develop. There are textile, silk and cotton yarn factories.

Food processing, based on local agricultural products, remains a critical industry. Oranges, persimmons, monk fruit, ginkgo, water chestnut, soybeans, grains, grapes, cinnamon, tea, and aromatic herbs are grown here. They catch fish.

Recently, the production complex has been modernized through the introduction high technology and new equipment. Particular attention is paid to tourism, medicine, trade and services. In 2009, the GDP was 19,400 yuan (about $2,850) per capita. This is only the 125th figure among large

Natural attractions

Guilin in China is primarily known for its natural monuments of world significance. Among them, the following stand out:

Elephant Trunk Hill on the banks of the Li River. This business card cities. Reminds me of a giant elephant at a watering hole.
Moon Hill. A dome-shaped rise, in the middle of which a crescent-shaped hole formed. You can climb to the top via steep steps. Entrance - 14 yuan.
Kitten Mountain is the highest peak in Guangxi with a height of 2142 m, formed more than 500 million years ago. National Nature Reserve.
Cave of the Seven Stars. A vast limestone complex that has attracted travelers for 1,300 years. The name comes from the fact that the main karst limestone peaks resemble the alignment of the stars of the constellation Ursa Major. In its place, a recreation park of the same name was formed for the townspeople.

One of the main attractions of Guilin in China is the Reed Flute Cave. In its vicinity, reeds grow, from which folk musical instruments are made. Considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Bizarre stalactites and stalagmites hanging over an underground lake, artificially illuminated with multi-colored lights, are effectively reflected in the water surface. The age of the Palace of Natural Arts (alternative name) is about 180 million years.

More than 70 inscriptions left by ancient travelers have been discovered. The oldest of them are more than 1200 years old. Interestingly, information about the location of the cave was subsequently lost. It was rediscovered by a group of refugees fleeing Japanese aggressors in the 1940s.

Cultural attractions

Despite its venerable age, Guilin is not one of the architectural pearls. Chinese authorities have paid little attention to regional issues for centuries. administrative center. However, there is something to see in the city. First of all, the urban landscape itself is attractive - residential areas are chaotically scattered across a vast territory, located between karst rocks, rivers and farmland.

The Palace of the Jingjiang Princes, built in 1372-1392 during the Ming Dynasty, is of greatest historical value. During the imperial period, it was an “inner city” where only local rulers, high dignitaries and their families had the right to reside. The complex consists of 40 buildings, 4 pavilions and 4 reception halls and covers an area of 20 hectares. The 1.5-kilometer city wall 8 m high and 5.5 m thick. The gates of Tiren (Donghua), Duanli (Zhengyang), Zunyi (Xihua) and Guangzhi (Gugong) lead into the palace from the four cardinal directions. Today it houses Guangxi Normal University. The structure remains open to the public as a popular attraction that combines natural formations, history, traditional architecture and local culture.

The beauty of man-made rice terraces and fields sown with “colorful” crops is not inferior to natural beauties. The settlements of Yangshuo, Cuiping, Xinping, and Daxu are especially picturesque. Tourists are amazed by the Longsheng rice terraces. They are located on the slopes of the coastal ridge (at altitudes up to 800 meters), rising from the foot to the very peaks. According to archaeological excavations, they were built about 650 years ago.

Guilin is a city located on the scenic Li River (Lijiang), which is one of the most beautiful bodies of water on the planet. It is recognized as one of the cleanest in the country and enchants even the most experienced aesthete travelers with its beauty. The mesmerizing view of the “silk ribbon” meandering among the green hills and pointed rocks shrouded in mist, like the teeth of a dragon, gave it another name - “the river of poems and paintings.” Many famous people admired the beauty of Guilin. Former US President Richard Nixon called Guilin the pearl of China. The city of Guilin got its name from a tree that grows here. "Gui" in Chinese means osmanthus, and "lin" means forest. The first inhabitants of the city are mentioned in the chronicles of the Qin Dynasty (221-206). Guilin flourished and developed over many centuries during the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties. Now this is one of the most popular destinations tourism in China. From Guilin you can go to the famous Yangshuo, which is also located on the Li River and is surrounded by stunningly beautiful mountains.

Shoe shiners in Guilin:

Guilin - modern city with a population of 1.3 million. We found it beautiful and cozy on the main streets and in the areas of tourist attractions. But when we were traveling by bus from Yangshuo through all sorts of simpler streets, in some places we again saw dirt and slums.

How to get to Guilin

The most convenient way to get to Guilin is by plane. The city connects with in different parts There are many airlines in China. You can fly directly to Guilin from Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea and Thailand. Guilin International Airport is located 30 km west of the city. Flight Moscow - Guilin.

In Guilin there is Train Station Guilin (also called Guilin South Railway Station). There is also Guilin North Railway Station, which is called that, but on the tickets and at the station itself you will see the name Guilinbei.

We arrived in Guilin by train from, just to Guilinbei Station:

You can read about our misadventures on the Xian-Guilin train and how we staged a riot on this train in the article. From the same station it is convenient to go to the city of Shenzhen, which is adjacent to Hong Kong, just 3 hours away by high speed train and you are there. Which we soon took advantage of.

Public transport in Guilin

There are buses between both stations double-decker buses 99 and 100, fare 2 yuan. Stops there are announced in Chinese and English. These same buses can take you from the North Station to the city center and the bus station, where the bus to Yangshuo departs. Buses in Guilin can cost 1 yuan if there is no air conditioning and a stove, and 2 yuan if all this is present.

Have your change ready in advance, because when you board the bus, you simply put your money in the receiver next to the driver, who does not give change. In this photo, on the 2nd floor of the bus, I felt like a conductor: “We’ll pass on the fare!”

When we arrived at Guilin North Station almost at night, taxi drivers offered us a ride to our hotel for 50 yuan, but the tuk-tuk driver offered us only 20 and we decided to try this local attraction:

To be honest, it was even a little scary when this rattle started moving! And in front of the roundabout near the hotel, he did not go along the roundabout, but simply rushed in the opposite direction, through the oncoming traffic towards our hotel. Fortunately, there was practically no one on the road at night.

Busy traffic in Guilin

In fact, during the day there is very busy traffic in Guilin and hordes of scooters are added to the road transport:

A special lane is allocated for them. And be prepared that you will cross it on the way to bus stops. And at pedestrian crossings, scooters will cross the roadway with you. In addition, scooters may also end up on the pedestrian sidewalk, so be careful! In general, the rules traffic Only motorists observe, and strictly, pedestrians sometimes violate them, but rarely, it is at least unsafe. But mopeds, scooters, scooters and other jalopies drive as they please, oncoming traffic is not a problem, the pedestrian path is not a problem. A variety of small electric vehicles turned out to be especially dangerous, and there are many of them here. They sneak up silently from behind on the pedestrian path and crush unsuspecting tourists in a moment, honking the horn.

At pedestrian crossings, traffic is often regulated by special people:

There are also overground pedestrian crossings:

Where to Stay in Guilin

There are many different hotels in Guilin to suit every taste.

From unusual hotels Guilin can offer a hotel with a waterfall. The Lijiang Waterfall Hotel Guilin in Guilin is notable for the fact that the tallest man-made waterfall in the whole world falls directly from its roof. The height of the waterfall is 45 meters. It turns on daily from 8-30 to 8-45 pm.

Here is this stop on the map of Guilin relative to our hotel:

But in Guilin you can also try traditional local cuisine.

Oil tea

Butter tea is the true flavor of Guilin. This is how butter tea is prepared. Tea leaves are fried in oil with garlic, salt, ginger and hot pepper. In this case, they use the method of quick frying over high heat with stirring. Add water and bring to a boil. The liquid now resembles broth. It is passed through a sieve - and the original invigorating drink is ready. Oil tea has a gray-green color and a bright, unusual taste. It is drunk from bowls resembling a bowl, sometimes adding (if it is morning) dough balls or peanuts.

Guilin Rice Noodles (Mifen)

This is the most popular comfort food in the city. Guilin-style rice noodles are eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It seems that this dish can be found within a radius of one hundred meters in any area of the city. Mifen costs only 2.5 yuan per serving. This dish is quite simple to prepare. Add aromatic liquid to the boiled rice noodles - something between a sauce and broth, fried peanuts or soybeans, chopped green onions and boiled thin slices different types meat. Chopped onion shoots, hot peppers, pickled beans and pickled white radishes are also added. Where these noodles are sold, you can also buy youtiao - long sticks of dough fried in oil.

Fish in beer in Yangshuo style

Fish caught in the River Li is cooked in local beer with the addition of vegetables and special local spices. Prepared and served whole.

What to see in Guilin

Some people think that there is nothing to see in Guilin and only consider it as a destination for Yangshuo. Actually this is not true. Even after our brief acquaintance, we liked the city and would come here again. Sights of Guilin are presented on the map:

Park "Two Rivers, Four Lakes"

It stretches along four lakes and two rivers (Li and Yulong). Spruce Lake (Shan Hu) and Banyan Lake (Rong Hu) are located in the heart of Guilin city along different sides one of the main streets is Zhongshan Zhonglu. Mention of lakes is found in sources from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Back then the lakes were part of the city moat. Guilin developed, expanding in all directions, and over time the moat turned into a lake. Near these lakes there is very beautiful park with well maintained paths. It is very easy to breathe there, the air is filled with the aroma of green plants. The park is free.

Spruce Lake

Spruce Lake got its name from one of the species of trees growing on its shores - Chinese spruce. Right in the middle of the lake there are two towers - the Sun and Moon Pagodas. The Sun Tower is painted gold and is taller. In the evenings it is flooded with bright yellow lights. Tower Moon is darker. In the evenings it shines much brighter than the moon in the sky. Her lights are rather white in color. The golden pagoda consists of nine floors with a height of 41 meters, the silver one is slightly lower - 35 meters.
The Sun and Moon Pagodas are connected by an underwater passage. You can enter the Sun Pagoda only through an underground corridor, where through the glass you can observe the underwater life of the lake.

Pagoda Tower Sun:

Moon Tower Pagoda:

There is an entrance fee to these pagodas, about 50 yuan. There is a lively souvenir trade nearby. So we couldn’t resist and bought ourselves a Chinese backpack for 45 yuan.

You don’t have to go to the pagodas, but just take a walk around, it’s very picturesque here, there are a lot of sculptures.

Banyan Lake

Banyan Lake got its name because of the large banyan tree that stands on the shore next to the thousand-year-old South City Gate. A winding bridge leads to small island in the middle of the lake.

There are pavilions and ancient buildings on the island.

Glass bridge:

The entrance to this bridge is paid, and Chinese national costumes for photographs are offered for rent.

There are a great many bridges here and you can imagine yourself in Budapest:

Or in San Francisco:

Water buses run along the lakes:

Near this lake there is a tourist information Center Guilin, where you can get a tourist card:

The embankment around the lake is very nice:

Souvenir shops:

Here you can often find Chinese doing health-improving gymnastics:

Beautiful compositions were made on the lake:

The park contains monuments and sculptures:

Elephant Trunk Mountain (Xianbishan)

A little south of the old city, on the west bank of the Li River, there is an elephant. True, this huge animal does not have ears, legs or a tail, nevertheless, it looks exactly like an elephant that lowered its trunk to Lijiang.

This impression is created due to the hole in the mountain. This curiosity can be observed from the park located on the shore to the north of it. The mountain is located opposite Elephant Trunk Park. The park got its name thanks to the 100-meter hill located here, which appearance very similar to an elephant drinking water from the Li River.

According to legend, the elephant belonged to the imperial army, but in local lands it fell ill and was abandoned to its fate. Local residents left him, the elephant did not want to return and the angry emperor turned him into stone. In the park you can see a variety of elephants and baby elephants. Entrance to the park costs 70 yuan.

Seven Stars Park

Seven Stars Park is the largest park in Guilin, covering an area of 120 hectares. The park is located two kilometers from the city center. The place got its name due to the seven peaks located on its territory. From above, the peaks form a figure similar to the constellation Ursa Major. In the spacious and picturesque park you can see rivers with clear water, grottoes, caves, meadows, tropical plants, bizarre peaks and wild animals. According to history, the park was popular back in the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) eras. There are attractions such as Flower Bridge, Putuo Mountain, Seven Stars Cave, Camel Hill, Zoo, Buddhist temple and others.

Reed Flute Cave

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) is an amazing sculpture gallery formed by limestone rocks. It has been attracting tourists for 1200 years. Now multi-colored lighting has been added to its natural beauty. Reed Flute Cave is located in the northwestern suburbs of Guilin (it's only 4 km from the center). The cave got its name because people knew how to make flutes from the reeds growing outside. The cave has many different stone formations of the most bizarre shapes. The length of the cave is about 240 m, and the duration of the inspection is about an hour. Illuminated by multi-colored lights, the cave looks like a luxurious underground palace. That’s why it is sometimes called the Palace of Natural Arts. More than 70 inscriptions can be seen inside the cave. Some of them were made as early as 792 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). And this tells us that the cave has been a tourist attraction since time immemorial. Since 1962, when the cave was opened to the public, millions of people have visited it. Entrance 90 yuan.

Mount Fuboshan

Fuboshan Mountain is located north of the city center on the embankment of the Lijiang River, 2 km upstream from Elephant Trunk Mountain. Translated from Chinese, the name of the peak means “mountain that conquers the waves.” Indeed, about half of the base of the peak stands directly in the river, and in the spring, when Lijiang floods, the peak blocks the path of rapid flows of water, justifying its romantic name. The second version about the origin of the name of the peak is more prosaic: on the hill during the reign of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) a temple was built in honor of General Fubo, which is where the name of the mountain came from. You can climb Fuboshan Hill by stone steps; there is a built Observation deck, offering wonderful views of the Lijiang River and Guilin.

Walk along the Li River (Lijiang)

River walk on pleasure boat along the Lijiang River from Guilin to Yangshuo is the main thing that attracts tourists to Guilin. Here you can get acquainted with the unique nature of these places, see quaint mountains, villages, colonies of swimmers and fishermen with cormorants passing by. For everyone river boats you can stand on upper deck and enjoy the opening panorama.

There are many interesting places around Guilin, we found that the region is rich in attractions, mostly natural. Even a simple enumeration and short description may take more than one article. Pointed mountains, caves, rivers and rafting along them, cycling routes and visiting rice fields - this is what attracts tourists to Guilin. And, of course, the most popular place This is Yangshuo.

Read more about the route we ended up getting around China in the article. There you can see a map of this route. Also in this article we talk about each city, what hotels we stayed in, how much the trip cost and where we could save money.

Guilin - modern Big City, located in southern China, in the Guangxi Zhuang region. For many decades, thanks to its picturesque karst landscapes, it has attracted great amount travelers, being the second most popular tourist destination in the country after Beijing. The settlement, founded more than 2,000 years ago, is located in a basin surrounded by limestone mountains that jut out from the water and land like the teeth of a giant dragon. Some of them are located in a row, almost vertically pressing against each other, and some stand apart. Most of These bizarre rock formations have caves and sometimes through holes. The name of the city means “forest of osmanthus,” a cinnamon tree grown in the area since ancient times.

Area: 28 km²;
Time zone: UTC+8;
Population: 5,046,000.

Weather

Guilin is located in the subtropical monsoon zone climate zone. In summer it is hot and humid, in winter it is damp and cold, in spring and autumn there is comfortable warm weather. The rainy season begins in May and lasts almost until the end of June. From November to March there is dry weather with little precipitation in the form of snow. The most favorable time to travel to this amazing corner of nature is from April to October.

How to get there

The most convenient way to get to Guilin is by plane. Local airport, located 30 kilometers from the city, serves mainly domestic flights, there are only a few international destinations, connecting Guilin with Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. From Russia you can get to the Chinese miracle of nature with transfers in Guangzhou, Beijing or Shanghai.

Selection profitable air tickets through Aviadiscounter (searches like Aviasales + a selection of airline promotions and sales).

And to select transport in Asia, try, the service offers the best ways to travel along popular routes.

Either or with the lowest price guarantee and create your own routes.

What to see

One of Guilin's most scenic attractions is the pristine Li or Lijiang River, which is included in the list of the 10 most attractive sites in the world, according to the popular magazine National Geographic. The river originates at the Lonely Beauty mountain peak 2141 meters above sea level, and its path from north to south continues through the entire city. A trip to Lijiang will allow you to enjoy the beauty of karst landscapes and remember it for a long time.

In the vicinity of Guilin there is another place of amazing beauty - rice fields created by cascades on the slopes of the mountains. This is probably the only such engineering structure, striking not only with its picturesqueness, but also with its scale: the area of the fields is about 60 square kilometers. It took local residents more than 500 years to create such huge terraces for growing cereals.

On the left coast of Leigh is largest park The city is Seven Stars, so named because it is surrounded by mountains located in the shape of the Big Dipper constellation. The park's middle name is Ursa Major. It is home to the city zoo, the Flower Bridge, built in the 10th-12th centuries, the Guihai “forest of stone slabs”, which is about 218 stone formations with ancient Chinese texts from the beginning of the 7th century, and the Seven Stars Cave, which reaches a length of 1100 meters.

However, the most popular cave in Guilin is the Reed Flute Cave, so named because of the abundance of reeds growing at its entrance. This natural material was used to make many musical instruments. The road to the cave also passes through the park of the same name. In the huge halls there are illuminated stalactites and stalagmites, the beauty of which is amazing, but a real gem- an underground lake located at the end of the route, at a depth of 200 meters.

The main object of Guilin is the mountains, of which there are a lot, and almost each has its own name. Thus, in the center of the city there is Duxiu Feng - the Mountain of Solitary Beauty; you can climb it by stairs that end in an observation deck and a temple. An interesting mountain that conquers the waves is Fuboshan. There is also a park of the same name with a huge bell and a dinner cauldron for a thousand people and the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas, and from the top of the mountain you can see a panorama of most of the city. The most popular photo object of tourists is the Elephant Trunk massif, located on the banks of the Li, and received its name for its resemblance to a drinking elephant.

Services for tourists that will allow you to save or get more for the same money:

Insurance: the journey begins with choosing a profitable insurance company, allows you to choose the best option according to your requirements;
Flight: Aviasales looks for the best tickets, you can also find airline promotions and sales in Aviadiscounter;
Accommodation: first we choose a hotel through (they have the largest database), and then see which site is cheaper to book it through RoomGuru;
Movements: you can order an inexpensive transfer to the airport and back, you can also rent a car at