"桂林山水甲天下" — "Guilin's scenery is the finest under heaven." The 1,000-year-old Chinese saying turns out to be accurate. The limestone karst peaks rising from flat rice paddies and the meandering Li River create one of the most distinctive landscapes on earth — immediately recognisable, impossible to photograph badly, and even more beautiful in reality.
The Li River Cruise
The 83 km cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is among the world's great river journeys. The peaks are named: Nine Horses Fresco Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal (the reflection appears on the back of the 20 RMB note), Xingping Ancient Fishing Village. Book a tourist boat rather than the large cruise ships — they go slower and dock at better spots.
Yangshuo by Bicycle
Yangshuo is where you stay after the cruise and the best part of the trip. Rent a bicycle for 30 RMB a day and ride out through the countryside — Moon Hill arch, Dragon Bridge, the Yulong River bamboo rafting point. The karst peaks are closer here, the paths quieter, and the villages more authentic.
Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces
Two hours by bus from Guilin are the Longji (Dragon's Backbone) rice terraces — carved into hillsides by the Zhuang and Yao minority peoples over 700 years. At sunrise in early autumn (September–October) the stepped terraces filled with water reflect the light like mirrors. The early morning walk up through Ping'an village is worth every step.
Best Time to Visit
April–June for green paddies and river mist; September–November for harvest gold terraces and clearer skies. July–August brings rain and crowds.
Comments
Sign in or create an account to leave a comment.