China's storied landscape is well populated by fantastically shaped natural features named for various mythological figures, especially animals. In fact, there are no doubt more famous rocks named after tigers, monkeys and elephants than there are actual tigers, monkeys and elephants remaining in what's left of the country's wilderness. One of the most famous is Guilin's Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiàng Bí Shān, 象鼻山), a striking natural arch that juts out into the Li River, bearing a clear resemblance to an elephant dipping its trunk into the water. Although you can view the thirsty pachyderm from many different vantage points in Guilin, the best way is by boat. You can easily find a boat rental shop or a tour boat along the river; once you've secured river transportation, head south and cruise by the city's signature stone el... more >>

Rising dramatically above the center of Guilin, Solitary Beauty Peak (Dú Xiùfēng, 独秀峰) offers spectacular views of the city and surrounding countryside. As with so many peaks and rocky upthrusts in and around Guilin, centuries of visits have led to the creation of a carved stairway leading  to the summit. The pathway starts at Wang Cheng (Wáng Chéng, 王城), the Ming Dynasty palace located in the center of town, now home to the campus of Guangxi Normal University and also the site of nightly performances by local ethnic minorities.   Book Solitary Beauty Peak tours Guangxi guide | Guilin guide | Guilin attractions Guilin flights | Guilin hotels | Guilin tours & activities Guilin on the ChinaTravel Blog more >>

Historically a portion of Guilin's town moat,  Banyan Lake and Fir Lake (Róng Hú Shān Hú, 榕湖杉湖) once protected the city and its people from hostile intruders. Today, it's simply a beautiful place to relax and enjoy some of Guilin's most beautiful views. Situated alongside one another, Banyan Lake and Fir Lake are named, unsurprisingly, for the trees that have long surrounded them (one banyan is reputed to be nearly 800 years old). It's not all banyan and fir, however: the landscape surrounding the lakes is also home to bamboo groves and peach and cassia trees. Bridges zigzag over both lakes, leading to small islands that dot the water, and, along with two sizable pagodas, it all makes for a lovely classical scene. At night, the pagodas light up like Christmas trees, making the lakes a popular spot for evening strolls. Guangxi gu... more >>

A great place for a relaxing stroll, ancient Seven Star Park (Qīxīng Gōngyuán, 七星公园) takes its name from seven karst peaks that correspond to the seven stars in the Big Dipper constellation. Covering 1.2 km sq (0.5 sq mi), the park's rocky landscape is riddled with a number of natural grottos and caves. Seven Star Cave (Qīxīng Jí Dòng 七星级洞) and Dark Dragon Cave (àn lóngdòng 暗龙洞)are two of the most popular, known for their impressive stalactites and stalagmites.  The peaks are attractions in their own right, their fantastic shapes rising above the trees; the aptly named Camel Hill (Luòtuo Shān,  骆驼山) is a particularly enchanting karst formation. You'll also come across numerous inscriptions and paintings on the rock walls, many of which date back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In addition to its nat... more >>

Guilin and the surrounding cities, towns and villages—with the possible exception of Liuzhou (Liǔzhōu, 柳州)—all have their share of fantastic scenery to attract tourists and nature lovers from around China and the world. This abundance of choice can make it difficult for travelers with limited time to decide which to see, but a trip to Longji Rice Terraces (Lóngji Tītián, 龙脊梯田) should not be overlooked. In fact, it's recommended to spend at least one night there. Located 100 km (62 mi) from Guilin, the Longji Rice Terraces are said to be the best in China. Carving up mile after mile of steep hillside into miniature fields used for cultivating rice, it's an incredible feat of human engineering that began back in the Ming Dynasty, 500 years ago. The name "Longji" translates to "Dragon's Ridge", a title derived from the glistening rice fie... more >>

Guilin's celebrated Reed Flute Cave (Lúdí Yán, 芦笛岩) is just a 15 to 20 minute drive northwest of the downtown area. The cave's serpentine depths wind about within Guangming Mountain (Guāngmíng Shān, 光明山) and feature some remarkable rock formations. Each of these rock formations is named, rather extravagantly in some cases, for the thing it resembles—mushrooms, roses, lions, old men, etc. The cave itself is named for the green reeds growing inside, the same ones you might notice being used to make the slide whistles sold outside the cave. Seeing the potential as a tourist attraction, the powers that be added illumination in the form of multi-colored neons to highlight the various rocky analogues. Unfortunately, this brings with it a certain tackiness and many are left wondering if the formations would so resemble their namesakes if t... more >>

The Ling Canal (Ling Qu) runs adjacent to the small town of Xing'an, about two hour's drive to Guilin's northeast. Construction of the canal began during the reign of China's first emperor Qin Shihuang (221 - 210 BC) with the aim of supplying  troops and uniting the empire. The canal is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese irrigation and is one of the oldest canals in the world. The benefits of building the Ling Canal were many. By linking the Xiang River (Xiāngjiāng, 湘江) and the Li River (the same that passes through Guilin) with a canal, Emperor Qin was able to keep his troops supplied with food and money, as well as providing a means of irrigation for surrounding farm lands. This development led to increasing prosperity in the area. The canal spans a distance of 34 km (21 mi) in total.  Guangxi guide | Guilin guide | Guilin attractions Guilin flights | Guilin hote... more >>

There's no better way to experience the incredible karst mountain vistas of Guilin than a boat trip to Yangshuo. A Li River Cruise (Lí Jiāng Yóuchuán, 漓江游船) takes between three and five hours and offers a chance to take in Guilin, Xingping and Yangshuo's spectacular scenery in a relaxed setting. Guests are free to walk about the boat and admire the scenery from any angle they desire. Most boats have a restaurant floor at water level and a sightseeing deck above that. About halfway along the cruise you'll come upon Nine Horse Hill (Jiǔ Mǎ Shān, 九马山), a hill with a sheer cliff face, where if you look closely and engage a hefty portion of your imagination, the likenesses of nine different horses can be seen. The cruise boat staff are happy to report that former U.S. President Clinton, during his visit to the area in July of 1998, was able to see all nine. A ... more >>

Guilin Merryland, contrary to what the name would suggest, is not in Guilin but Xing'an, a small township 70km (44 mi) to Guilin's northwest. The Amusement park's sprawling grounds are comparable in size to Disneyland's, and comes complete with its own unique, Saturday-morning-cartoon-unaffiliated mascot characters. As an amusement park, it has a good selection of the rides and sideshow games that you'd expect—the octopus, pay-per-throw ring toss games, the pirate ship and other old chestnuts. There is also a rollercoaster, but it is a good deal more tame than what many will have come to expect, with the total ride time clocking in well under the minute mark—all without a single moment spent upside down. The park covers an area of 90 hectares and is divided into five sections, namely Merrytown, American Western Area, Dreamworld, Pirate Village ... more >>

Situated in the heart of the famous Longji Rice Terraces, Ping'an (Píng'ān, 平安) is a charming Zhuang minority village that serves as a traveler hub for the incredible scenery that surrounds it at every turn. A hodge-podge of traditional wooden stilt structures nestled in the steep cleft of the valley's end, Ping'an has managed to retain much of its character despite every other building being a restaurant, shop or hotel. Narrow cobbled paths wind their way between buildings in a seemingly impossible fashion, roosters and chickens peck in the dirt while dogs loll lazily in the sun and while the tourism boom is evidenced in the onslaught of signage and souvenirs, the goodnatured locals and mind-boggling scenery more than make up for it. On arrival at the entrance to the scenic area, you'll be beset by a gaggle of guides, hotel touts and porters, all jostling for your busines... more >>