About Guilin
Guilin has gained the saying “the scenery of Guilin is the finest under heaven” since the ancient times. Characteristic with green mountains, crystal clear waters, unique caves, and beautiful stones, Guilin is located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is considered as the pearl of China’s thriving tourist industry in terms of natural wonder. Every year, it attracts millions of visitors home and abroad.
The name of the city means “the forest of sweet osmanthus trees”. It is true. Visitors can always smell the fragrant osmanthus flowers all over Guilin, especially in August when the flowers bloom. With a population of about 5 million, it covers an area of approximately 27,800 square kilometers. The many ethnic minorities present here include the Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao, Mulao, Maonan and Dong; all enrich the cultural fabric of the city.
Guilin is also an important cultural city with a history encompassing more than 2000 years. The city has been the political, economic, and cultural center of Guangxi since the Northern Song Dynasty which is from A.D. 960 to 1127. In this cultural city, there are many things for you to explore.
There are a lot of tourist attractions in Guilin City. Many parks downtown feature Li River, mountains, and caves. The towns near the city center also boast many natural wonders. The most famous are Yangshuo, Xing’an, Xingping, Longsheng, and Ziyuan.
Li River that flows through Guilin and even the city center is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. The crystal water of Li River, together with the gorgeous scenery on both sides, forms a perfect landscape picture. The karst hills with various shapes erect along the river are reflected in the water, one of them being the Elephant Trunk Hill-the symbol of Guilin. Countless artists, photographers, poets, and tourists have been attracted to come here again and again.
Besides the splendid scenery, the Zhengyang Walking Street of Zhongshan Road in Guilin is the main walking street where visitors can experience the leisure life style of Guilin and enjoy local delicacies. At South Zhongshan Road in the city center, there is a night market after 7:30 p.m. every night before which time it’s still a big road for transportation. One can find almost anything there for souvenirs in low prices, such as antiques, scrolls, paintings, perfumes, toys, fans, Guilin specialties, and so on.
Among the local delicacies of Guilin, the Guilin Rice Noodles is not to be missed. There many shops of Guilin Rice Noodles in downtown Guilin because this is what local people eat as breakfast. You can choose one of the restaurants to taste Guilin Rice Noodles like you are a local person and enjoy the flavor that you have never had before.