City Prefecture of Guilin - 27,809 Sq Kilometers (10,737.1 square miles)
Population: The Total Urban Population of Guilin City is around 1 million 340.000.
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Anyone who visits Guilin must go and visit the famous Elephant Trunk Hill (Shang Pi Shan) situated by the Li River, it is the most well-known scenic spot of Guilin. The famous Hill can be reached overland or via the water. Some ways out of town at considerable distance to Guilin lies another famous and far more significant landmark. That is, situated at some 78 kilometers due North of Guilin City are the ancient Longji Titian, the so called Dragon Backbone Terraced fields, a wide array of ancient hill-sides cultivated for well over a 1000 years by the local people as rice paddies. This classic Chinese scenery is a must see for anyone traveling through the regions and interested in great views, Chinese history, Culture, or all three of those.
Today there are two official tourist zones which outsiders are welcomed to visit. Other regions are not designated as tourist area′s. The Jia Zone of Fields has been accesible to the public for many years, however more recently another huge zone has been opened for tourist development. This new and larger zone is far even more spectacular in scenery and known as Yi. The zones are also simply designated as A and B.
It is well worth the drive. One can also take the return bus links out of Heping Station in Guilin. By bus it is about a 3 hour drive out to the fields. Take a few days for a stay-over, bicyling tours and more.
Naturally, best times to visit are during the harvesting season, which happens 4 times a year.
There are many more spectacular things to see, and do, within Guilin City and Prefecture, as well as beyond.
Relatively near the center of Town is the Jiefang Qiao - the Liberation Bridge, which is one of the convenient and scenic places to unwind and get away from the crowded city. There are a multitude of restaurants and a few bars to pick from, giving opportunity to enjoy the view of the River while enjoying a snack or meal. Fresh fish from the Li River is often the chosen speciality and the Jiefang Bridge is a good place to start your acquaintance with the local cuisine. Locals prefer a fresh fish known as MaWeiGu, which is then most commonly stewed with soy sauce, or alternatively braised in a special soup. Both dishes are worth a try.
Although still at some 20 minutes walking distance, Jiefang Bridge is considered to be relatively close to the cities′ center or downtown area.
In the downtown area main attractions are the number one commercial street of ZhengyangLu, a pedestrian shopping zone with plenty of malls and stores, and the nearby Central Square of Zhongxin Guangchang, which is the location of the Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel, a spectacular landmark which has become, intentionally, another main tourist attraction of Guilin City. Every evening at 8:30 the crowds gather to witness a 45 meter high waterfall cascading down the flank of the Hotel. It is a spectacular show alright.
At a distance of some 20 kilometers from Guilin City lies the somewhat less overflocked scenic old town of Daxu. Daxu′s history is a lengthy one, it is said to have been established around 200 BC at the very beginning of the Han Dynasty. By now even Daxu has been modernized, that is, satisfied with their influx of tourist money, most inhabitants have prospered, moving their families into newly built districts in the hills surrounding the Old Town. Thus, the old city of Daxu -scenic and beautiful as it is- has died and become more alike a museum than a thriving living town. nevertheless, only a fool would miss out. Apart from its stunning and well-preserved architecture, Daxu Town is known as a town of silver-workers and craftsmen, hence silverware can be found on sale throughout. Do not be fooled by people claiming to sell antique ornaments. These have long been sold to passers or auction houses. Most items are new.
Public Transport in Guilin
There is no information on the Main Railway Station of Guilin at this Time.
Guilin has a Railroad Station as well as a National Airport. Buses to destinations outside of Guilin City proper leave from the Guilin Changtu Qichezhan, also known as the Guilin Heping Long Distance Bus Station.
More information Coming Soon !!
Several ethnic groups live in the mountains due North of Guilin City in and around the Longji Titian - Dragon Backbone Terraced Fields. The main groups living near and in the ancient rice paddy fields are the Dong and the Zhuang.
There is no information available on the history of Guilin.
Outside of Daxu Town lies Mazhou Island in the Li River. Covered with Orange Groves the island provides a fun getaway from the seclusion of the old town.
Apart from the Li River, the ancient Rice Paddies and the various Old Towns, Guilin is also quite famous for its array of underground caves. There are several caves open to the public in the vicinity of the City. Most famous among these are the Reed Flute Cave and the 7 star cave, but there are several others to find, explore and wonder at. For instance, find the less widely known silver cave at some 85 kilometers south of Guilin, at the Town of Mailing in Lipu County. At silver cave visitors can walk a two kilomter path through caves filled with collosal and spectacular stalagtites and stalagmites.
This location is just some 15 kilometers from the scenic town of Yangshuo, a world famous cultural
Magical scenery of the LiJiang, or Li River. Especially off-season tourist can find themselves rafting peaceful along the stream with magnificent views of Chinas most famous landscape.
heritage site.
Quite a bit more obscure, not as grandiose as other monuments but still a fun getaway is a trip to the Longsheng Hot Springs, a thermal hot vent which spouts water from some 1200 meters below the surface, yielding a large crystal clear pond with water ranging in temperatures between 45 to 58 Celcius. To get to this spot some 32 kilometers north-east of Guilin, head out to the Heping Long Distance Bus Station (Guilin Changtu Qichezhan; see: ′transport in- and around Guilin′).
Apart from the City itself, the Li River and the attractions in the immediate vicinity, there is plenty more to see and explore beyond the tourist City of Guilin. Just beyond lies the scenic city of Yangshuo, by now nearly equally well-visited as Guilin due to its special popularity with backpackers and easy travelers. Around Yangshuo there is yet another set of cultural sites to tour and visit.
A Full listing of Guilin City Landmarks, Monuments, Hotspots and other sites of importance in alphabetical order. Search through the list to find your Full Report and Photo-Virtual Tour of each monument or landmark within the City, or Region of Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China (PRC).
