This fascinating karst upthrust reminds some people of a towering wave, poised to crash down into the river below; others believe the name comes from the rock formation's interruption of the flow of the Li River. Either way, it's an impressive piece of geology, surrounded by rolling green hills and more karst peaks, water, caves, picturesque rocks, and gardens. You can clamber up stairs leading to Fubo Shan's summit for an excellent view of the city.

Of particular note is the stalactite known as the Sword-Testing Stone, which nearly hangs to the ground and bears deep gouges which do indeed make it look as if a vigorous young martial artist or two had gone after the stone with a vengeance. 

One of Guilin's most enchanting sights, Fubu Shan's caves contain well-preserved Buddhist paintings, drawings and calligraphy dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The Returned Pearl Cave (Huanzhu Dong) and Thousand Buddha Cave (Qianfo Yan) are two of the best for ancient artwork, though the number of images falls far short of a thousand.