Guide to Guìlín

Guìlín

Guìlín is an amazingly beautiful Chinese city that never fails to attract tourists. Featured in poems and painting of great painters, it is a picturesque city in the true sense of the term. The city is full of lively attractions. Of late it has also progressed in trade and experienced a rapid economic growth.

Situated to the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region at the western bank of Li River, the city boasts of its ancient limestone formations that cast a magical spell over visitors. The city is surrounded by Ocean Hill, Tianping Hill, Yuecheng Range and Jiaqiao Range. Guilin also facilitates visits to other unrenowned Chinese villages like Miao, Yao and Dong.

Divided into five city districts, ten counties and two autonomous counties, the people of Guilin speak the Guilin Dialect. Like other Chinese cities it also has a time that is 8 hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time. While Osmanthus is the City Tree, its flower is regarded as the City Flower.

Historical background of Guilin

It is said that Guilin has a 10,000-year old history. Guilin Shire was set up by first Emperor of Qin Dynasty and acted as the gateway between Central Plains and Lingnan Region. The Eastern Han Dynasty founded the Shian County in Guilin. It developed into a political centre during Three Kingdom Period. Renamed as Lingui County during Tang Dynasty it became a great southern prefecture and was extended to Hainan Island during Song Dynasty. Guilin was an important economic and political centre during the rule of Ming and Qing dynasties. It had also been the base for warlords and revolutionists during the War of Resistance against Japan and served as a cultural hub of intellectuals as well.

Guilin Festivals

Guilin is a multiethnic land and offers multifarious festivals throughout the Lunar year. Like the rest of China, the city celebrates common Chinese festivals such as the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, the Song Festival, Fireworks Festival, Miao New Year celebrations, Guilin Mountain and Water Tourism Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival.

Guilin cuisine

Guilin offers exclusive spread of delicious cuisines. Being surrounded by the Li River, fresh water fish forms an usual part of the menu. Traditional favourites include Guilin Rice Noodles, Yangshuo beer fish, Girdle Cooked Beef Steak, Zongzi, Luohanguo and Lipu Taro Looped Meat.

Shopping in Guilin

Shopping calls for much spending while in Guilin. The city has many shopping areas and departmental stores. Zhengyang Pedestrian Street is a shopper's paradise with many small and big shops. The shops offer a wide display of commodities on offer. From jackets, silk shirts and ties to scrolls, bamboo carvings, paintings, carved seals, embroidered tablecloths and carved tea seats, jade rings, bracelets, Guilin shops sell all. Local specialties include Folk Embroidery, Yangshuo Drawing Fans, Root and Stone Carving as well as Ethical Finery.

Guilin Activities

While in Guilin, you would never feel bored. The city offers activities for every kind of traveller. The adventurous ones can avail a Golf Car Rice Paddie Tour or visit the Crown Cave and Gudong Forest Waterfall. An Evening cruise on Li River and surrounding lakes offers quite a fascinating retreat. You can undertake a trekking trip along the Li River or Yao Mountain as well as go biking around Yangshuo. From Bamboo Rafting on Yulong River to watching the Cormorant Bird's fish catching trick, you would lead an active life while travelling in Guilin. Take the Tai Chi classes or watch the Dreamlike Lijiang Evening Show and forget all your worries.

Tourist attractions at Guilin

Guilin has too many famous attractions to boast. Important and tourist friendly attractions include the Reed Flute Cave, Li River, Folded Brocade Hill, Elephant-trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Banyan and Cedar Lake, Guilin Ethnic Culture Village, Ancient South Gate, Mural Hill, Grotesque Peak Village, Guilin Museum, Yellow Cloth Shoal, Peach Blossom River, West Hill, Seven-star Park, Bear and Tiger Village, Solitary Beauty Peak and South Creek Peak.