Beautypically

Guilin, China: Travel to the pearl in southeast China

The prefecture-level city of Guilin is located in the Guangxi Autonomous Region and has retained some of that free spirit itself. The name of the city means “city of the scented blossom forest” and refers to the groves of osmanthus trees in the city. The city nestles picturesquely on the Lauf de Li River and is surrounded by the famous cone and karst mountains of southeast China. With a history of over 2,100 years, Guilin has, in addition to the breathtaking landscape, also many cultural attractions to offer. Several days should always be planned for a study trip to Guilin, otherwise the many beauties of the city and the surrounding area cannot be adequately appreciated.

The following places are ideal for day trips:

• Yangshou village with traditional village life
• Lungqu Canal as a natural paradise
• Mao’ershan the “first mountain of South China”
• Peak of unique beauty with panoramic views over the city
• Seven Stars Park with a zoo, flower gardens and relaxation
• Fuboshan, the lonely mountain
• Banyan Lake and Cedar Lake
• Ming tombs

The actual tourist attractions, however, are the Li River, the Lngji Rice Terraces and Longsheng, the Elephant Trunk Hill and the Reed Flute Cave.

Untouched river in the heart of China

The Li River is one of the few so far virtually untouched rivers in all of China. This is also due to the fact that there are no major industrial cities on its banks and it was therefore able to preserve its originality. To this day, only gentle tourism is offered here. This ranges from classic river cruises that run along the famous range of hills, to fishing trips, swimming pools. A special attraction is bamboo rafting, which takes place on small bamboo rafts and is not too dangerous thanks to the steady flow of the river. The nightly light show by Liu Sanjie is a feast for the eyes.

Traditions and Uses in Longsheng

The Longsheng rice terraces are not far from Guilin. The multi-level terrace fields were created more than 800 years ago in the Yuan Dynasty. This area also offers the unique opportunity to get to know the national minorities of the region, the Zhuang and the Yao. Study trips are particularly suitable for exploring the traditions and customs of these ethnic groups. The path to the travel terraces offers unique views of the Li River and the surrounding hills.

Breathtaking reed flute cave

The name of the cave results from the surrounding reeds from which the traditional and melodious flutes are made. The stalactite cave is shaped like a horseshoe. The attraction are the numerous stalagmites and stalactites in bizarre shapes. Clever illumination turns the cave into a visually stunning experience. If you take a trip to Giulin, you should not miss this cave.

Experience highlights with the Elephant Trunk Hill

This rock is shaped like an elephant’s trunk and houses the water-moon cave. There are numerous sculptures and inscriptions by famous Chinese poets. With the elephant eye cave there is also another small cave with a wonderful view. In the vicinity of this rock formation is the centuries-old Puxian Pagoda from the Ming Dynasty, whose appearance resembles a sword hilt. Every evening the show “Elephant Legend” begins on this rock. Here the story of the formation of this rock is told with many colors and stylish lighting.

Giulin offers the visitor a unique natural landscape, cultural insights into traditions and customs as well as a piece of untouched China.