Attractions and Sightseeings in Guilin

Highlights:
It is by no means necessary to make additional acclaim to Guilin--the attractions here speak for themselves.  Asked which of China's natural scenery is the best to visit, a vast majority of mainlander's are sure to point to the beautiful karst scenery of the Guilin area, as the ancient Chinese saying goes: Guilin's attractions top the world.

Within the city itself there are a wealth of good sights to be seen, and a little geographic tour here should guide you. Parallel to the Lijiang River runs Zhongshan Road, Guilin's main street. In the middle of the city on both sides of the road are the Banyan and Fir Lakes respectively, each  beautiful parks in their own right. To the north stands Solitary Beauty Peak, Guilin's most prominent karst peak while along the Lijiang River are two more peaks, Wave Subduing Hill and Elephant Trunk Hill, each proudly showing off Guilin's unique scenery. Elsewhere in the city is the immense Seven Star Park with seven peaks and six caves as well as pavilions and gardens to enjoy. Lastly, on the northwestern outskirts of town is Reed Flute Cave, one of this area's most wonderful underground sights.

Of course few people coming to Guilin will skip a visit to the Lijiang River which bends all around this region curving around the many karst peaks. Withstanding the exorbitant cost, thousands of people still take the Lijiang Tour, during which you can see a plethora of these beautiful yet strange hills as you glide your way down- or up- stream. Many head for the popular little town of Yangshuo. If you are interested by ancient Chinese history, the Ling Canal is also definitely a place not to miss, for it was constructed under orders from the first emperor of China. However, this is only for the enthusiasts being a good 70km from the city.
Yangshuo, in the past few years, has become the ultimate haven for tired backpackers, with its picturesque Fuli Village, Green Lotus Peak and Moon Hill.

1. Li River Cruise
Guilin scenery is acclaimed as the "Best Under Heaven" and the most beautiful scenes are found along the Li-River.
Originating in cat mountain in Xin'an county northeast of Guilin, the Li River winds its way southeast for about 437 km, passing through Guilin, Yangshuo, Pingle, Zhaoping and finally meets Xi River in Wulin. It boasts the largest and most beautiful scenic area in China and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The 83-km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is like an artist's masterpiece. The landscape is decorated with rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves, leisurely boats and is lined with bamboo. A poem says: "The River is a green silk ribbon, and the hills are jade hair-pins".
Mostly the cruise starts from Zhujiang Wharf. It is about 40 minutes' drive from Guilin city. and then 4 to 5 hours' cruise will take you to a beautiful and sedate ancient city - Yangshuo.

2. Yangshuo

Yangshuo is located 65km (40 miles) southeast of Guilin by road, and is the popular destination of river cruises from the city. Yangshuo has the same striking scenery as Guilin, but is a much smaller and quieter town and is closer to the craggy limestone hills. Many tourists just visit Yangshuo for a few hours at the end of a boat cruise but a longer stay allows visitors to relax and enjoy its mellow atmosphere.
Yangshuo is a great place for exploring the countryside by bike; gain first hand experience of rural China and a different perspective of the region. The climb up Moon Hill is a wonderful way to view the landscape and other places to look out for as you peddle alongside paddy fields include Green Lotus Peak, and Buddha Cave.
3. The Reed Flute Cave
Located almost 6km (4 miles) northwest of Guilin city is the Reed Flute Cave which goes 240 meters (790ft) into the mountain. This cave is named after the reeds which grow at its entrance that were once used to make flutes with legendary musical qualities.
The cave is filled with many bizarre stalactites and stalagmites and visitors will enjoy using their imagination to name and bring to life the many different shapes and forms. The cave is a part of the Reed Flute Park (ludi gongyuan) and visitors can join different walking tours that are conducted in Chinese. Across from the entrance of the cave are paths leading to a peak from which visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the countryside.
4. Long sheng
Zhuang and Yao Ethnic Tribes Longsheng Terraced Field in Longji area: The terraces look like great chains or ribbons as they wind from the foot to the top of the hill. They were built from the Yuan dynasty to the beginning of Qing dynasty by the minority peoples of the area

5. Elephant Trunk Hill  
Guilin's most famous peak lies at the junction of the Li and Yang rivers. The rock hill with an arched hole (known as the water-moon arch) is named after its striking resemblance to an elephant sipping water.
On calm days, this giant elephant is reflected on the mirror-like surface of the river and in the evening, when viewed under a moonlit sky, the hill creates a lasting and magical impression.
A narrow winding path leads to the top of the hill and the Samantabhadra Tower. Built from solid brick and dating from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the tower’s core is round like a bottle or the handle of a sword, so the tower is also referred to as the Precious Bottle Tower or the Sword Handle Tower.
6. Wave Subduing Hill
Wave Subduing Hill (Fuboshan), yet another of Guilin's karst mountains, has one of the most unique and interesting shapes of all the hills around here and contains many interesting sights. The mountain itself resembles a wave reaching up to the sky and descending down into the river. The sights on the hill include a temple to the Wave Subduing General (Fubo Jiangjun), after whom the hill is named. Elsewhere on the hill, Returned Pearl Cave and Thousand Buddhas Cave are also great places to see some Tang and Song Buddhist statues. Lastly, the Wave Listening Pavilion, on the southeast cliff of Fuboshan, is a great place to view the surrounding area. Built in 1964, while not ancient, the Pavilion is a great place to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Guilin area

7. Seven Star Park
Seven Star Park is on the eastern side of the Li River in the Guilin city. The park takes its name from its seven peaks which are resemble the pattern of the Big Dipper constellation. Attractions in the park include, Seven Star Cave, Dragon Hiding Cave, Flowers Bridge, the Zoo, Mosque, Potted Trees, Guihai Forest of Steles and much more. Covering an area of 134, 70 hectares, it is the largest park, composed of some of the finest sights in the city.
Flower Bridge
It is the main entrance of the park. the bridge was first built in Song dynasty. In ancient time, the area surrounding the bridges planted various flowers. When in the late spring and early summer, the flowers bloomed and the bridge was sheltered in flowers hence the name. But in the Qing Dynasty, the flowers gradually declined and today, visitors can not see any flowers surrounding the bridge.
Camel Hill
It is a wow sight in the park. In Guilin, you will find all the limestone hills look like somebody or something. This hill looks incredibly like a huge camel standing in vast grassland. When in a bright morning or afternoon, the sun sets on the hill, reflecting a brightly glow. On foot of the hill stretches a patch of grassland which offers a pleasant stroll. The place is very popular with the locals; many can be seen leisurely walking around in early mooning or late afternoon. Nearby you will find a zoo, which once hosted a Giant Panda named Meimei which died last year. Now the zoo only houses a few animals and we advice foreigner visitors to avoid it for the conditions of Chinese zoo are a little bit brutal for animal lovers.
Seven Star Cave
Nestling at the belly of the Putuo Hill, the cave is well-known for the dazzling stalagmites and stalactites within it. The cave stretches around 1,100 meters, with 50 meters at the widest point and 20 meters at the highest point. The cave has been a tourist attraction for hundreds of years. As early as song dynasty, some explorers adventured the cave and left their marks inside. With various oddly shaped karst formations, the cave is indeed overwhelming and well values your time and money.
Guihai Stele Forest
Guihai Stele Forest is set to the south of the Crescent Hill where about 218 stone carvings and inscriptions are well preserved. Most of these carving works were from Tang and Song Dynasties which have been of great importance in Chinese calligraphy culture. If you won’t have time to visit the Famous Forest of Stele in Xian, this one, however, will provide a ideal alternative.
Others:
Tombs of Prince Jingjiang is a state cultural relic. On the southwest of Yao Hill in east suburb of Guilin, these tombs are well preserved and date from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Xishan Park is the second largest park in Guilin, which is comprised of Xi Hill and Yin Hill. This used to be a shrine of Buddhism and one of the five Buddha Temples in the south. Guilin Museum is also located in the park.

Yu Hill Park is the cradle of Guilin history. Legend has it that one of the ancestor of Chinese nationality, Shun (Yu) visited here and Qin (B.C.220-B.C.206) people set up temple to memorize him. In the past 2000 years, numerous people came here to offer up sacrifices; hence this park has a strong influence of Confucianism.

Yuzi Paradise is the largest sculpture park in China. One hundred and fourteen artists from no less than forty-seven different countries have contributed to this magnificent symphony of nature and humanity. Located 30 km (18.6miles) from Guilin, this park is a harmonious blend of life and art. Visitors are given the opportunity to make clay wares under instruction. Also you can enjoy the delights of the art salon, cafe, barbeque and buffet.

In addition to the above-mentioned parks, Nanxi Park in the south of the city and Chuanshan Park in the southern suburbs each has their own beauty and attractions.

For visitors with children, the following two attractions would be a must.

Bear and Tiger Park is the largest wild animal centre. Four breeds of tigers facing extinction can be seen there. Over three hundred tigers, four hundred bears and a hundred lions will give you a fresh idea of the survival needs of such wild animals. Also there are animal performances, which will surely excite kids and adults alike.

Guilin Ocean World is on the south of Nanxi Park. Here can be seen many aquaria containing some thousand or so varieties of fish are divided. The centre has an observation area, performance area, tropical forest and waterfall area, a touching area, underwater tunnel, sea area and so on. Marine treasures like giant hundreds-year old salamander, lungfish, clownfish, sea flowers, nautilus, living coral and sharks from around the world can all be seen here.

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