- General Info
- Public Holidays
- Transportation
- Airport Info
- Main Attractions
Guilin is one of China's most famous places of historic interest and scenic beauty. Its scenery enjoys the highest fame under the Heaven. Lying in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and within the subtropical region, it enjoys a mild temperature with a yearly average temperature of 19℃. The city area of Guilin is 50 square kilometers and the population is about 500,000.
The region of Guilin takes on a Karst feature. Geological studies show that the original Guilin was a vast expanse of sea until 300 million years ago, the crustal movement made the limestone deposit in the deep sea rise and gradually formed to land. Being effloresced and eroded, it finally became the mountains with different shapes, the grottoes with beautiful views and the aboveground rivers with mysterious stories. These mountains with strangely shaped peaks and caves of unique formation, together with the crystal-clear Lijiang River that surrounds the city, characterize Guilin's scenery and have brought it world fame.
The special landmark integrated with the attractive pastorals has gained Guilin the fame of the finest under the Heaven. Guilin is a compact community by scores of minority nationalities. The population from 28 ethic nationalities such as the Zhuang, Miao, Yao, and Dong accounts for 8.5% of the total population in Guilin. The marvelous landscape makes the folk customs more delicate and fresh, in turn the unique customs enhances the beauty and vitality of the landscape.
Guilin has a splendid civilization. The prehistory civilization is represented by the Zhenpi Rock, the water conservancy civilization by the Ling Canal built in the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC), the Ming Fanwang civilization by the Jingjiang Tombs and Mansions, the landscape civilization by the Cliffside stone carvings and the landscape poems. Now 109 cultural relics sites are under the national, provincial and city level special protection. Poems, verses and Buddhist carvings can be found all over the caves and holes of the mountains, among which the most famous ones are the Stele Forest of Guilin and the Cliffside Stone Carvings on the Western Hill.
China Public Holiday Calendar 2010
1. New Year's Day: Jan 1-3, 2010 (FRI-SUN)
New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome(though other dates were also used in Rome). In all countries including China using the Gregorian calendar, except for Israel, it is a public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the New year starts.
2. Chinese New Year: February 13-19, 2010 (SAT-FRI)
For millions of Asians, Chinese New Year is more than one special day. Families spend weeks preparing for the big event - cleaning house,painting doors and windows red, and cooking special foods. Celebrations for Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, last a full fifteen days. (Date of Chinese New Year Day: first day of the first Chinese lunar month).
3. Ching Ming - the Tomb Sweeping Festival: April 3-5, 2010 (SAT-MON)
A gravesite picnic? Why not? The Tomb Sweeping festival is a time for families to honor the memory of their ancestors. Along with “tomb sweeping” - performing standard gravesite maintenance such as removing debris from the gravestones and replacing dead flowers - family members offer gifts of food, fruit and wine to the departed. After a formal ceremony, the food is shared among family members. Another tradition is to burn incense to ward off any evil spirits that may be lurking.
4. International Labour Day: May 1-3, 2010 (SAT-MON)
Like most countries in the world, Labour Day is celebrated on May 1, and is a public holiday in China. In the 1990s, the Labour Day holiday was extended from 1 day to 3 days. The Chinese government made it a 7 day holiday by moving the prior and upcoming weekends together with these 3 days. The Labour Day holiday was one of the three Golden Weeks in China, allowing millions of Chinese people to travel during this period. But Starting January 1, 2008, China reduced this holiday period down to 1 day, while simultaneously reviving three traditional Chinese holidays: Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
5. Dragon Boat Festival: June 14-16, 2010 (MON-TUE)
There are few sites more spectacular than a fleet of painted dragon boats racing toward the finish line, with a drummer in each boat hammering out the rhythm for the rowers to follow. The Dragon Boat Festival is China’s oldest festival. Find out more about this exciting event and learn how to make Zongzi, the sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves that are an essential feature of any Dragon Boat Festival celebration. (Date: fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month).
6. Mid-Autumn Mooncake Festival: September 22-24, 2010 (WED-FRI)
When the autumn harvest moon is at its fullest, the Chinese celebrate by lighting colorful lanterns and enjoying delicious mooncakes. Learn more about the legends behind the festival and try some mooncake recipes. (Date: fifteenth day of the eighth Chinese lunar month). The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on October 3, which is during the National Day holiday of 2010.
7. National Day: October 1-7, 2010 (FRI-THU)
The new China was founded on October 1, 1949 with a ceremony at Tian’anmen Square, Beijing. The Central Government passed the resolution and declared that October 1 is the Chinese National Day. The National Day Holiday is a golden week in China. When the anniversary is a multiple of five (e.g. the 50th, 55th, or 60th), large scale official celebrations may be held, including an inspection of troops on Tiananmen Square.The year of 2010 is the 61th anniversary.
1. By Air
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) is about 28 kilometers (about 17.4 miles) from the city center. About 50 airlines connect Guilin with domestic cities as well as foreign countries such as Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, etc. In particular, airlines schedule several flights daily to and from major cities in China like Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Kunming, Macau, Nanjing, Nanning, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Wuhan, Xian, Zhengzhou, Dalian, Shantou, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Tianjin, Jinan, Wenzhou, Changsha, Fuzhou, and Zhuhai.
The airport shuttle bus runs between the airport and the Civil Aviation Mansion located at No.18 Shanghai Road and the bus fare is about CNY20. The airport shuttle bus leaves for the city center following the flight arrivals. In the city center the airport shuttle bus leaves for the airport every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 20:00. Remember to take the bus two hours before your fight. It costs about CNY80 for taking taxi.
2. By Train
The two stations--Guilin Railway Station (South Station) and Guilin North Railway Station (North Station)--are the two main railroad passenger transport stations in Guilin. Every day many trains arrive and depart, as Guilin City is the railroad hub of Central China and is in the central part of the Hunan-Guangxi Railway Line.
The Guilin Railway Station (South Station) is located at Zhongshan Road (South) to the south of the city center but is more conveniently situated than the North Station. City bus No.3, 4, 16 can take you there. The Guilin North Railway Station (North Station) is situated in the northern suburbs of the city and has less convenient links with the city center. If the train you take can stop at both railway stations in Guilin, it's better to get off at South Station where handy transportation to the surrounding places is available as well as trains connecting to China's major cities.
3. By Coach / Long-distance Bus
There are three bus stations: the Chief Bus Station, the Chengnan Bus Station and the Beimen Bus Station. The Chief Bus Station is at No.427 Zhongshan Road (South), just a 10 minutes' walk from the Guilin Railway Station (South Station). Most buses set off from this station for surrounding cities in Guangxi, Guangdong and Hunan provinces.
There are many coaches available from Guilin to Yangshuo which is a popular tourist destination located about 65 kilometers (about 40 miles) south of Guilin city center. Tourists who reach Guilin either by air, by train or by long-distance bus can also get to Yangshuo easily.
From Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, tourists can take the airport bus to reach the Chief Bus Station, and then go to Yangshuo by coach bus.
From Guilin Railway Station (South Station), there are medium-sized buses that make local stops leaving for Yangshuo every 15-20 minutes between 06:00 and 22:00. The whole journey takes about 70 minutes and the bus fare is around CNY12 per person. Tourists can buy the tickets after getting on the medium bus.
From Chief Bus Station, there are the coach buses that travel express leaving for Yangshuo every 15-20 minutes between 07:00-18:00. The whole journey takes more about 70 minutes and the bus fare is about CNY14 per person. Tourists should buy their tickets before getting on the coach bus.
4. By Water
In Guilin there are two main docks for passenger transport service. One is Mopanshan Passenger Transport Dock which is near Mopanshan Mountain, 28 kilometers (about 17 miles) from Guilin's downtown area. Covering an area of 233,350 square meters (about 0.09 square miles), this dock is designed to look like a beautiful garden and has well-equipped establishments including five waiting halls. In the city center there is no public bus to the dock, so tourists have to spend approximately CNY60 for a taxi to reach this dock. Another dock is Zhujiang Dock which is 32 kilometers (about 20 miles) southeast of the Guilin city center and two-kilometers (about 1.2 miles) by waterway from Mopanshan Dock. Covering an area of 48,200 square meters (0.0186 square miles), Zhujiang Dock is 400 meters (about 0.25 miles) long and has nine berths, a big waiting building, and a parking lot. This dock is mainly designed for foreign tourists and is the must-use dock for high officials from both China and foreign countries.
Every year more than 300,000 tourists take the cruise ship from Zhujiang Dock to travel along the Li River. Traveling the Li River to Yangshuo is a journey of about 54 kilometers (about 34 miles). The cruise ships from the berths downtown to Yangshuo usually set off at 09:30, 10:00, and 14:00 and will take about 4 hours to complete the journey. A gentle breeze will caress your face and picture postcard riverside scenery will please your eyes as the beauty unfolds around you. However, remember that in winter the water level is rather low, so the cruise is limited to just 10 kilometers (about 6.2miles) instead of the normal 82 kilometers (about 51 miles)
5. Taxi or Bike
Taxis are relatively inexpensive compared to other cities. Bicycles can be rented by the day at hotels throughout Guilin (RMB15-20) and at many cafes and hostels in Yangshuo (RMB10)
1. Airport Code: KWL
2. Location:
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is located in the Liangjiang Town of Guilin City, about 28 kilometers (about 17.4 miles) southwest from the city center.
3. Brief Intro:
Opened to the public in 1996, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport now has a 4D flight area, a 2,800 meters (about 3062 yards) runway, 150 thousand square meters (about 37 acre) parking apron, 20 gate positions, and a two-storied 50 thousand square meters (about 12.4 acre) terminal building. It has a flow volume of about 4 millions passengers per year and serves 48 domestic and international air routes from Guilin to more than 30 domestic cities, 8 international cities and regions.
4. Facilities:
Business Center: between the exits of domestic arrival and international arrival, the center offers the service of fax, print and internet.
Medical Center: on the west side of the departure hall on the second floor of the terminal building.
Police Station: on the right side of the security inspection passageway of the departure hall on the second floor of the terminal building.
Restaurants: passengers can find restaurants at the international departure hall and near the security inspection passageway of the domestic lounge, and also the cafes near the check-in counter of the domestic departure hall. The opening hours of these restaurants and cafes are from 07:00 to the last flight.
Scheduled Flights Inquiries: 0773 - 2845359 0773 - 2845321
Luggage Carts: at the domestic and international departure hall and the luggage pick-up center, you can find free luggage carts. If you need luggage moving service, it will cost you about CNY2 per article.
Bank of China: usually opened from 08:30 to 20:30.
Lost and Found: 0773 - 2845338
Luggage Inquiring: 0773 - 2845299
5. Airport Transportation:
Taxi: the flat rate fare of taxis in Guilin is about CNY7 for the first 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles), then the distance surcharge is about 1.6 Yuan to CNY2 per km. After 23:00, the flat rate fare will increased to CNY7.8 and the distance surcharge is about CNY1.8 to CNY2.4 per kilometers.
Airport Bus: after every flight arrival at the airport, there will be an airport bus waiting at the exit of the arrival hall leaving for the downtown area. Also passengers can take the bus at Civil Aviation Mansion from 06:30 to 20:00 from the downtown area to the airport. The buses will depart every 30 minutes and the cost is about CNY20 per person.
1. Attractions in Guilin City
Lijiang River
Lijiang River is the soul of Guilin scenery. It is the river of poems and paintings. The transparent River twists in and out among the grotesque pinnacles and hillocks like a jade ribbon. From Guilin to Yangshuo, the 83-km-long waterway forms a gallery of landscape painting. The scenery often changes with the changing days and seasons. Take a boat and enjoy yourself with the wonderful scenery of peeks, rivers, sunshine and reflections on the water. Guilin is a fairyland in the world with "Fascinating Views of Three Hills", "Nine Horses in Picture Hill", "Places of Interest in Xingping" and "Green-Lotus World" etc.
Travelling on Li River is indeed a wonderful experience, enjoyment and exploration, because it is always like an endless beautiful sonata of hills and waters.
Elephant-trunk Hill
Elephant-trunk Hill is also called Elephant Hill, which stands majestically at the confluence of the Li River and Taohua River. The green water of Li River in front of it and the clear spring at the foot made the Elephant Hill one of the most famous hills in Guilin City. It is deemed as the symbol of Guilin. The Elephant Hill has Shuiyue Cave, Elephant's Eye Stone, Pagoda for Samantabhadra, Yunfeng Temple ant Taiping Tian Guo Revolutionary Relics Exhibition Hall. The reflection of the space between the elephant’s trunk and body resembles a bright moon in the water. With a fabulous scenic view, the Elephant-trunk Hill is another tourist attraction worth a visit.
Banyan Lake and Fir Lake
Banyan Lake and Fir Lake are located in the centre of Guilin city - Banyan Lake is west and Fir Lake is east with the Yang Bridge as the boundary. The Banyan Lake surface is so smooth that it looks like a mirror. It charms visitors with its calm character in the noisy environment of the downtown. To the north of the lake is ancient banyans and Banyan Shadow pavilion.
On the other side of Banyan Lake is Fir Lake. It faces Li River in the east and the Elephant Hill in the south. There is a group of mushrooming pavilions with clear water reflection. Nowadays, both lakes are surrounded by hotels, stores, theatres and a library.
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.
Folded Brocade Hill
Towering over Li River 's west bank, Folded Brocade Hill lies in the northern part of Guilin city. The name is derived from its queer-looking rocks which are broken horizontally. Folded Brocade Hill consists of Yueshan Hill, Look-on-All-Direction Hill, Crane Peak and Bright Moon Peak.
Halfway up a cave named Wind Cave running through the hill. The cave was calabash shaped, with two wider mouths and narrow passage which only allow one person to pass through each time. A cool breeze blows inside all year around which gave it's the name Wind Cave. Inside the cave are 90 Buddha sculptures of the Tang and Song dynasty, as well as dozens of ancient stone inscriptions.
Along the narrow stone path up you will then find the Face-the-Cloud Pavilion and Over-the-River Pavilion, which provide well stops for the arduous journey up to the top of the Bright Moon Peak. The Bright Moon Peak is the summit of the hill, where the Catch-the-Cloud Pavilion stands. Standing on the pavilion, visitors can get a finest views of Guilin.
Fubo Hill
Fubo (wave-subduing) Hill to the northeast of downtown Guilin by the Li River has the Xinxi Marquis Temple built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The title of Xinxi Marquis was given to Fubo General Ma Yuan, so the name of the mountain. Half of the graceful lone peak of the hill is in the river and the other half is on land. During flood season turbulent currents explode against the hill rocks. On top of the hill one sees an exquisite scenery like a traditional Chinese painting. Inside the "Return the Pearl" Cave, also known as Fubo Cave in the mountain side, there are the "Try the Sword" Rock, the 1,000-Buddha Crag (Buddha images carved on stone), and many carvings on the cave walls. Among the best carvings is a self-portrait of Mi Fu, a famous painter, and a poem by Fan Dacheng, a famous poet, both from the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
The Reed Flute Cave
The Reed Flute Cave is absolutely a must-see attraction. It is situated in the highway of the Guangming Hill, in the northwestern suburbs of the city. The cave got its name from a kind of flutes growing outside which can be made into melodious flutes. The cave is filled with a large number of stalactites, stalagmites, rocks in all strange shapes.
The cave is about 240 meters long and a trip last about one hour. Along the u-shaped route, visitors can see those oddly shaped rocks, stone pillars and your guide will give you interesting story about them. Illuminated by the colored lights, the cave looks like a dazzling palace that’s why the cave is otherwise known as the "Art Palace of the Nature".
Inside the cave there are more than 70 inscription written in ink, which can dating back to 792 AD during the Tang Dynasty, over one thousand years ago. These aged marks tell that it have been an attraction in ancient time.
Since the cave opened to the public in 1962, millions of tourists have visited it. Now the cave is one of the main tourist draws in the area, just under the famous Li River.
2. Attractions in Yangshuo
Xingping Village
Located 27 km from Yangshuo, on the eastern bank of the Li River, Xingping is an ancient town with a history of more than 1300 years. Apart from the well-preserved Ming Dynasty architecture which dominates the town, and the fine woodwork dating back more than five hundred years, Xingping also boasts some of the best natural scenery in the area, somewhat better than that of Yangshuo. The seven mountains surrounding the village keep the place a spiritual sanctuary from the modern world. These towering and rugged hills are an iconic image of the heart of China.
This area includes such enchanting scenes as "Pretty Woman Looking in the Mirror", "General Drawing His Sword" and "Carp Drinking from the River".
West Street
West Street is the oldest street in Yangshuo with a history of more than 1,400 years. Situated at the center of Yangshuo County, West Street has become, since the 1980's, a window of eastern and western culture and the biggest 'foreign language center' in China. West Street is the most prosperous district in Yangshuo, and, each year, approximately 100,000 foreigners come here on their travels or to attend advanced studies. Visitors are attracted to West Street by its unique mix of cultures.
West Street is 517 meters (1,696 feet) long and 8 meters (26 feet) wide, meandering in an 'S' along its length. Being completely paved with marble it is a typical example of a southern China street. It is greatly admired by foreigners for its simple style and courtyard-like setting. There is a saying about West Street that 'half is village while the other half is stores'.
Because, at times, foreigners outnumber Chinese, West Street is also called 'foreigners' street'. Don't be surprised if you hear English words spoken by elderly Chinese women, for West Street is called 'the global village'. Besides the local accent of Yangshuo, English has become the language for daily use. West Street is modern and fashionable, nearly every store has bilingual shop signs, and more than 20 stores have been opened by foreigners who have settled here.
Yulong River
Yulong River, also called Little Li River, rises in Lingui County inYangshuo. The river is about 43 kilometers (26 miles) long, with a drainage area of approximately 158 square kilometers (39,043 acres). The Yulong River Scenic Area has many tourist attractions interspersed with cultural and historical ones. The languid river is surrounded by a primitive, but pure, natural landscape, combined with green bamboo forests and rolling hills. Visitors to the area will delight in the picturesque scenes of simple rural life: bamboo waterwheels irrigating the paddy fields; village girls hand washing clothes outside of their cottages with smoke curling upward from the chimneys; old men fishing in the river; flocks of ducks swimming in the pond.
There are two ways to appreciate the scenery. The first is by river, with the renting of a bamboo raft. The route starts at Fuli Bridge and ends at Gongnong Bridge and takes about 6 hours. Please do not rent those rafts without first ensuring a life preserver is present. The second is to appreciate the beauty of the natural and rural scenery along the river on foot. This option takes about 4.5 hours.
Liu Sanjie Light Show
A delightful show, directed by Zhang Yi Mou (famous for movies such as 'Hero' and 'The House Of Flying Daggers'). The show is set on the Li River and the lighting of the mountains in the background is truly amazing. The performance was premiered on March 20th, 2004 at the Sanjie Liu Sing Fair, one mile from West Street (Xi Jie). This is the world largest natural theater which utilizes the waters of the Li River as its stage, with twelve mist shrouded hills and the heavens as its backdrop. Mist, rain, moonlight, the hills and their inverted reflections in the river all become the ever-changing natural background. Its auditorium is housed on the natural islands of the river with the audience standing on the designed terraces, surrounded by green plants. The sound equipment here cannot be seen because it is in harmony with the natural environment. The valleys, the hills, the cool breeze and the gurgling streams are all elements contributing to the three-dimensional sound effect. Day by day, different weather offers different sceneries with the four seasons refreshing the performance as well, so you will have unique experience every time you watch it. This is really a new concept opera using nature as an integral part of its performers; hence its name - 'Human's Masterpiece Cooperated with the God'..
Show time: 8 PM
Duration: 1 hour
Location: The show has its own site by the river bank
Cost: 188RMB/person
3. Attractions in Lingchuan
Daxu Ancient Town
Located to the southwest of Guilin, on shore of the tourist-beaten Li River. Daxu is a time-honored town with well preserved traditional Chinese architecture and shiny stone-paved streets. First built in the Qin Dynasty, over 2,000 years ago, Daxu Town began to flourish during the Ming Dynasty when it became the commercial center of the area.
Main sights here include stone-paved streets, Wanshou Bridge (Longevity Bridge), many ancient buildings and the century-old dock. A main street measuring 2.5 kilometers in length and 2 meters in width stretches through the town. This narrow street, with its stones worn smooth by time and footsteps, is full of character. Wanshou Bridge is a single-arched bridge built in the Ming Dynasty. Along the river stands many well-preserved buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. These wooden structures, with colorfully decorated eaves and elegantly carved doors and window frames, are still homes for many locals. A stroll around will afford a leisurely glimpse into the traditional courtyard where grandmothers are sometimes seen telling stories to a huddle of small kids. Thirteen docks remain from the Ming Dynasty, among which five well-preserved ones still function.
The Crown Cave
The Crown Cave is a giant subterranean river cavern by the Li River. Taking the shape of an gold crown of ancient emperor, the cave is 12 km long and consists of three parts. Views inside were fantastic, stalactites and stalagmites in all strangle shape illuminated by lights glittering a golden glow. An underground stream passes through the cave and then joins the Li River. The cave has been set with modern sightseeing facilities, including an elevator, small train, yachts and sightseeing roller coaster.
4. Attractions in Xing'An
Merryland World
Guilin Merryland World is about one hour from Guilin and covers an area of more than 70 square kilometers. Merry Land includes a high-tech amusement park, 5-star Hotel and Golf Course Complex .
The Ling Canal
The Canal is a wonderful example of the engineering and architectural skill that existed in Chinese society more that 2000 years ago. The Canal was built in the year 214BC by Qinshihuang, first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty. The canal system connects two rivers, Guilin's Li River and the Xiang River but as these rivers are tributaries of the Pearl and Yangtze Rivers the connection linked two of the largest river systems in China thereby opening a huge area to allow travel and commerce to flourish. It was also an important political move as it unified north and south and allowed the Emperor to consolidate his power.
5. Attractions in Longsheng
Longji Terraced Field
Many of China's 55 ethnic minorities retain their centuries old traditions and customs and live in the traditional homelands. Meet these fascinating people and experience their daily life with China Highlights Travel. Find out more minority discovery tour hereThe Longji Terraces are located in Longsheng County about 2 hours from Guilin. The rice terraces are built into the hillsides. The terraces look like great chains or ribbons as they wind from the foot to the top of the hill. This ingenious construction makes best use of the scarce arable land and water resources in the mountainous area. There are about 66 square kilometers terraced fields in southeast Longsheng,
The Terraces were first built in the Yuan dynasty and completed in the Qing dynasty by the Zhuang people.