 Guilin City Introduction
From the 7th to 13th centuries under the Tang and Song Dynasties the city acted as buffer zone between the Chinese heartlands and the southwestern border regions. Successive rulers garrisoned armies in the area and developed a network of canals to facilitate the distribution of food and supplies to the area below the Yangzte River.
Guilin was rebuilt following the Communist victory in 1949, albeit along bluntly utilitarian lines, resulting in a rather unattractive cityscape. Still, the city's many parks and bridges keep it beautiful, and recent decades have seen an increased interest in preservation and rehabilitation of traditional architecture—in 1981 China named Guilin as one of four cities (alongside Beijing, Hangzhou and Suzhou) whose cultural history, heritage and environment would be preserved and protected by the government. Just as Xian is a must when you travel to China no matter for Chinese or foreigners, A paradise in China so is Guilin. The stunning landscape in which the city is situated has a kind of magic that is all its own. The strangely shaped hills, or karsts, with the verdant vegetation ranging from bamboo to conifers together with wonderful caves make Guilin such an attraction for tourists.
Located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin is considered to be the pearl of China's thriving tourist industry o¬n account of the natural beauty and historic treasures. Covering an area of about 27,800 square kilometers (10,734 square miles), the city is rather compact when compared with other leading cities in the country. However, situated within this area o¬ne may find green mountains, crystal clear waters, unique caves and beautiful stones. Major attractions include Elephant Trunk Hill, Li River, Reed Flute Cave and Seven-Star Park that boasts a Stone Museum where amazing geological finds are displayed. Believe that each of these places and many other attractions will leave you the lasting memories.
Solitary Beauty Peak is considered to be the oldest place of interest and has been so since the far off days of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). The prosperity enjoyed by the city during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) is epitomized by the Tomb of Prince Jingjiang.
The many ethnic minorities represented here that include the Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao, Mulao, Maonan and Dong enrich the cultural life of the city. Each minority has its own unique customs and festivals and this means that they are much more abundant here than in many other places elsewhere in China.
Districts: Nangning Beihai Guilin Liuzhou Baise Dongxing FangchengGang Guigang Guiping Heshan Hechi Laibin Pingguo Qinzhou Tiandong Wuzhou Yangshuo Yulin
Guilin has a lot of famous tour Attractions such as: Double Rivers and Four Lakes Longji Terrace Diecai Hill Merry-land Resort Elephant Trunk Moutain Gongcheng Confucius Temple Seven Stars park Ling Canal silver rock Chengyang Wind and Rain Shelter Bridge
Guilin cuisine is known for its snacks and the use of spices, especially chili. The famous Guilin chili sauce, Guìlín làjiāojiàng (桂林辣椒酱), used widely in cooking by locals,[1] is made of fresh chili, garlic, and fermented soybeans, and is considered one of the city's Three Treasures (桂林三宝). The other two of the Three Treasures are Guilin Sanhua Jiu (桂林三花酒), a variety of rice baijiu, or liquor distilled from rice; and Guilin pickled tofu (桂林豆腐乳). A favorite protein among the locals is horse meat (mǎ ròu, 马肉), which is frequently added to noodle dishes, rice, or eaten on its own in a spicy sauce or barbequed. Fresh water fish, seafood and snake from the Li River often appears in Guilin's local cuisine. Steamed Mandarin fish and stewed fresh water clams are very popular dishes. A fairly new and highly regarded restaurant serving delicious local cuisine at reasonable prices is Taste Made Restaurant (Wèidao Zhìzào, 味道制造).
Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉) have been the local breakfast staple since the Qin dynasty and are renowned for their delicate taste. Legend has it that when Qin troops suffering from diarrhea entered this region, a cook created the Guilin rice noodles for the army because they had trouble eating the local food. Specifically, the local specialty is noodles with horse meat, but this dish can also be ordered without the horse meat. Zongzi (粽子), a dumpling made from glutinous rice and mung bean paste wrapped in a bamboo or banana leaf) is another popular delicacy in Guilin.
Bars & Clubs
As the sun sets, Guilin takes on an elegant charm, with city lights reflecting on the water beneath the karst peaks looming in the distance. Take advantage of the view from the water by boarding the Li River Yinzuo Ferry, an evening boat with ballroom dancing, a bar and karaoke. If terra firma better suits your mood, try the Mengbi Karaoke Nightclub for late-night dancing. The Guilin Bravo Hotel Reed Flute Cowboy Bar's dark, bone-decorated bar and good wine selection, darts and billiards make it a great place for a relaxed night out. The Ragazza Pub (Yīrén Jiǔbā, 伊人酒吧) is a quieter—and somewhat pricey—place to enjoy a cocktail at 27 Yiren Lu (Yìrén Lù, 衣仁路).
Performing Arts
There are a number of entertaining shows put on for tourists that present packaged versions of the region's minority cultural traditions. Impression—a song and dance revue featuring some 600 performers—takes place at what is billed as the world's largest natural theater, situated on the Li River with a backdrop of some dozen nearby karst peaks. Enjoy a view of the water and ethnic dancing at the Li River Ethnic Night Performance at Guilin's water pavilion. The concert shows off the intricate and colorful designs of the local minority groups and traditional dance and song.
Museums & Galleries
The Guilin Museum is home to over 20,000 artifacts, with an excellent collection of Ming and Qing Dynasty porcelain and regional minority arts and crafts. The Guilin Art Museum specializes in classical Chinese art, though it also hosts modern and contemporary exhibitions. Local arts, crafts and paintings can be found in various shops and galleries around town as well as at the Artists Gallery on the second floor of the Guilin Art Museum. For fans of contemporary sculpture, or just for the curious who want to see unique art and architecture in an unmatched natural setting, Yuzi Paradise, an "art park" located some 30 km outside of Guilin city and halfway to Yangshuo, is home to a growing number of large, often fanciful sculptures by artists from all over the world.
Festivals & Events
The variety of ethnic minorities living in and around Guilin—the Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao and Dong all call the region home—means that no matter the season, there's probably a festival on somewhere in town or nearby. In addition to witnessing local takes on national holidays like the Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, visitors can enjoy unique folk festivals such as the March Third Festival, which features traditional Zhuang song and dance; the colorful Miao New Year Festival; the Dong Fireworks Festival, which features Dong opera as well as three days of celebratory explosions (held at different times of year determined by the Chinese zodiac) and the March Longsheng Red Clothes Festival celebrated by Hong Yao people. Note that many of these festivals take place in villages outside of Guilin city proper, providing excellent opportunities to explore the surrounding landscape and hobnob with the hospitable locals.
The best time of year to visit Guilin is between April and October. The subtropical climate makes for rain and humidity year round; summers are generally the wettest and lushest. Summers are also usually quite hot, averaging 28°C (83°F). Expect frequent afternoon showers. Winter brings moderate temperatures of around 8°C (46°F) and rain. Towards the end of the spring, through summer and into early fall are when Guilin is at its greenest and when the Li River waters run their highest and clearest. Keep in mind when exploring the area that heavy rains can fall at any time, causing flash flooding and loosening soil, making things slippery and unstable.
Guilin produces a plethora of handicrafts and textiles that are distributed all over southwestern China. Stroll around the city's alleyways and side streets and you're sure to bump into a number of workshops and artists working away at their craft. You might be able to buy directly from some of these make-shift studios but the Guilin International Commodity Market has an enormous display of souvenirs. If you're more in the market for clothing and electronics, check out Zhongshan Lu (Zhōngshān Lù, 中山路). This street has a large selection of department stores and shops selling mostly knock-offs. The stalls in Yangshuo sell inexpensive handicrafts and jewelry as well as osmanthus tea (guìhuā chá, 桂花茶) and osmanthus wine (guìhuā jiǔ, 桂花酒) the smells and tastes of which will remind you of your stay in Guilin. It is important to keep in mind that tourism is a large part of this city's economy and locals are notorious for ripping-off foreign visitors. Keep this in mind while shopping and don't be afraid to bargain.
Situated on the scenic Li River amid the distinctive towering green karst peaks made famous by centuries of Chinese landscape paintings, Guilin is best for outdoors activities on and around the river. After a day of exploring the natural wonders surrounding the city, there are also plenty of things to do in town for fun and entertainment.
Hotels in Guilin are a collection of luxury lodging, budget hotels and everything in between. Many hotels offer stunning views of the Li River and Elephant Trunk Hill within anyone's price range from the first-class Lijiang Waterfall Guilin to the romantic HOMA Chateau Guilin to the budget—but highly recommended—Golden Elephant Hotel. Many of Guilin's best restaurants can be found in hotels such as the city's best dim sum buffet in the Tailian Hotel or a light dinner from the Western-style café in the Sheraton Guilin.
Travelers can enjoy these pageants at the Li River Folk Customs Center.
Guilin is a well-developed tourist center with convenient transportation, communication and accommodation facilities. you are sure to find that your needs will be met beyond your expectations.
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