China Tour – Things to do in and around Guilin
Do you dream of visiting Guilin? Guilin must be the city you should never miss while touring China. Many tourists would like to use Chinese watercolor painting to describe Guilin scenery after visiting Guilin. If true.
Take an exciting cruise on the Li River, the oldest river in China.
In the morning, you will drive about 40 minutes to Zhujiang Pier to start the Li River Cruise. Along the river, you will be inspired by the picturesque mountains, peaceful green fields, crystal clear water, lush bamboo and water buffalo villages. At the picturesque Li River, you find yourself completely immersed in a scroll of Chinese watercolor painting.
Admire the dramatic shaped limestone hills and caves in Guilin
A typical city tour including the landmark of this picturesque city – Elephant Trunk Hill, “the natural art gallery” – Reed Flute Cave and Fubo Hill. In the afternoon, you can go to the highest mountain in the region with a height of 700 meters, Yao Mountain, go up and down by cable car to see a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains.
Walk through the impressive Lonji Rice Terraces to explore Chinese minorities
Depart from your hotel in Guilin for the 2.5-hour scenic drive to the magnificent Longji Rice Terraces, praised as the wonder of agricultural art in China. The Longji trekking tour starts from Pingan village to Jinkeng village, where you can see the Yao ethnic minority and the breathtaking scenery: high mountains piercing the clouds, streams, minority wooden buildings, fresh air , beautiful terraced fields… ..
Recommended the best time of the year to photograph the Rice Terraces:
From May 25 to June 10, shoot Rice Terraces with water.
From July 15 to August 1, roll the green rice terraces.
From September 25 to October 7, trigger the harvest of the golden rice terraces.
Explore Daxu Old Town to see real China
With a history of more than 1,000 years, Daxu Old Town is known as one of the Four Great Ancient Towns in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Located on the banks of the Li River, 23 km (14.3 miles) southeast of Guilin, Daxu Old Town offers visitors an enchanting bucolic landscape. The old residences, the cobbled street, the worn Longevity Bridge and the centuries-old wharf are registered in the legend of the old town.
Many local residents still maintain their old businesses in old Guilin, such as home rice wine workshops, noodle making, bamboo basket making, woodworking, and Chinese pharmacy. Visiting the house of a local resident, you will appreciate the wooden architecture with colorfully decorated eaves, elegantly carved doors and windows.
Discover Guilin’s hidden gem: the Ling Canal, one of the oldest canals in the world
The Ling Canal is located in Xingan county, 66 kilometers north of Guilin city. There was a Chinese saying: “In the north there was a Great Wall, in the south there was a Ling Canal.”
The highlight of the canal is its elegantly designed ploughshare, also called Hua Zui, in the shape of a ploughshare. The plowshare divides the water of the Hai Yang River into two parts, with 30 percent flowing into the Li River through the South Channel and 70 percent flowing into the Xiang Jiang through the North Channel.
Touring the Ling Canal, you will be amazed to see a scientifically designed canal in such complicated terrain more than 2000 years ago.
Take an evening cruise on the Four Inner Lakes to get a taste of the idyllic life of the local people
The four inland lakes refer to Mulong Lake, Gui Lake, Rong Lake and Shan Lake, which are located in the center of the city. There are several bridges over lakes, all kinds of plants and pavilions on the shores. At night, under the colorful neon lights, the natural beauty of the landscape becomes a galaxy of ecological harmony between man and nature. The 1-hour Inner Four Lakes Cruise is a romantic and idyllic journey through the most spectacular night views of the city of Guilin. Along the way, you can enjoy Chinese music and have a chance to see cormorant fishing, a traditional Chinese way of fishing.