Cities > Guilin City
Overview
Chinese Name: 桂林市English Name: Guilin City
Climate Conditions: Subtropical monsoon climate
Airport: Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
Train Stations: Guilin Station, Guilin North Station, Guilin West Station, Wutong Station, Yongfu South Station, Xing'an North Station, Quanzhou South Station, Yangshuo Station, Gongcheng Station
Background
Guilin City, was historically known as Guizhou, Jingjiang, and Shian. It is a prefecture-level city governed by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and serves as a sub-central city within the province. It is located in southern China at the southern end of the Xiang-Gui Corridor in the southwestern part of the Nanling Mountain range, in the middle of the northern end of the Guilin-Yangshuo karst basin. The city lies within the "Xiang-Gui Corridor" and has a subtropical monsoon climate, with a total area of 27,800 square kilometers.The name "Guilin" originated in the Qin Dynasty when Emperor Qin Shi Huang established the three commanderies of Guilin, Xiang, and Nanhai. Guilin commandery became famous due to the local abundance of cinnamon, marking the earliest origin of the name "Guilin." Guilin is a world-renowned scenic tourist city, celebrated for its exceptional mountains and waters, rich cultural history, and ecological beauty, thus being known as an international tourist city, a national historical and cultural city, and an ecological city renowned for its mountains and waters. The "Three Treasures of Guilin Culture" are world-class cultural treasures of the city.
Climate
Guilin City is located in the southwestern part of the Nanling Mountain range and the northern end of the Guilin-Yangshuo karst basin, lying in the "Xiang-Gui Corridor." The topography is characterized by high western, northern, and southeastern regions with a lower central area. It features predominantly mid-mountain or low mid-mountain terrain, with mountain peaks generally reaching elevations of around 1,000 meters. The highest peak of the Yueliang Ridge is Ma'ershan, which stands at an elevation of 2,141.5 meters, known as the highest peak in South China. Pingluo County has an elevation as low as 97 meters. The relative height difference between the peaks and the basins ranges from 600 to 1,600 meters, with slopes of 20° to 45°. The terrain on the east and west sides of the city consists of low hills with elevations of 300 to 600 meters, and a relative height difference of 200 to 300 meters. The southern and northern ends feature gentle hills, while the Gao Long Hill terrain has elevations of 160 to 200 meters and a relative height difference of 10 to 20 meters. The central region showcases typical karst landforms with beautiful peaks and waters, presenting a karst peak forest and expansive flat peaks, with a ground elevation of 150 to 160 meters and peak elevations of 200 to 300 meters.Folk Customs
Guilin is a world-famous scenic tourist city and a historical cultural city located between the Xiang River and the Zhu River basins. Guilin's culture is generally more closely related to that of the Yangtze River basin. Not only does Guilin boast attractive natural landscapes and cultural sites, but its rich ethnic customs are also captivating. The Guilin dialect belongs to the Southwestern Mandarin dialect group of northern dialects and has pronunciation similarities with regions such as Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou.Guilin is a multi-ethnic city, with 28 ethnic minorities, including Zhuang, Hui, Miao, Yao, and Dong, accounting for about 8.5‰ of the city's total population. The Zhuang, Miao, Yao, and Dong peoples in Guilin retain rustic, unique, and colorful folk customs, such as the Zhuang’s March 3 Song Festival, Yao’s Pan Wang Festival and Da Nu Festival, Miao's Lusheng Festival and Drum Festival, and Dong's Flower Fire Festival and Winter Festival, which are hugely attractive to domestic and foreign tourists. Over ten minority groups live together in a cultural atmosphere dominated by the Han Chinese, yet each maintains its customs, including clothing, food, festivals, religious beliefs, and even language and script.
Guilin Ethnic Customs
Zhuang: Recognized by their Zhuang brocade, they enjoy singing. Historically, they celebrate with "Liu Sanjie," the legendary singer, and "Guniang Muye," a popular folk song dance. The March 3 Song Festival is celebrated, and the Zhuang singing assembly has many enchanting legends, among them the tale of "Singing Competitions to Choose a Husband." According to legend, a beautiful daughter of an old Zhuang singer was talented in mountain songs, and her father hoped to choose an outstanding singing husband for her. Young singers gathered from different places to compete in singing for her hand, leading to the establishment of regular singing contests. Their embroidery and wax-dyeing techniques are unique, and they celebrate with traditional "Lusheng" songs and joyous evenings.Miao: The Miao New Year is similar to the Han Chinese Spring Festival, occurring in late December, where families prepare sticky rice and buy festive goods. Recently married women return to their natal homes until the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. Miao religious beliefs primarily center around ancestor worship, with offerings of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) on the second day of the second lunar month and the sixth day of the sixth lunar month. Nature worship plays a significant role as well.
Hui: The Hui people place great importance on education for their children, incorporating both Islamic and Han cultural education. Hui communities typically gather around mosques, as their adherence to Islam necessitates this structure, which naturally becomes the center for their social activities, serving as both a place of worship and a venue for discussing significant matters and nurturing relationships.
Yao: The Yao people live in high mountainous areas and are known for their large medicinal baths that cure ailments. Celebrations include the Flag-Raising Festival (occurring on the 14th day of the fifth lunar month) and offerings of zongzi for ancestors, praying for abundant harvests. The Yao groups in Longsheng are divided into Pan Yao, Flower Yao, and Red Yao. The name "Pan" reflects their worship of "Panjing," also known as the Mountain Yao. Flower Yao women are recognized for their colorful clothing, while Red Yao women wear three types of attire: the decorative shirt, floral dress, and everyday attire, with their headpieces indicating marital status.
Dong: Known for their exquisite architectural skills, symbolic structures include wind and rain bridges and drum towers. The Dong custom includes the "Roadside Wine" and heartfelt songs. The Dong people from Longsheng excel in architecture, with their majestic drum towers and wind and rain bridges becoming vital identifiers of Dong villages. Their entire structure is timber and is assembled without nails or bolts, reflecting simplicity. Dong customs like "Yueye" and "Roadside Song" are traditional social interaction activities that occur in the first and eighth lunar months.
Guilin Specialty Cuisine
Guilin Rice Noodles: Guilin Rice Noodles are an age-old traditional delicacy of Guangxi, known for their meticulous preparation. High-quality early indica rice is ground into a slurry, bagged, drained, made into rice dough, cooked, and pressed into either round or flat forms. The round form is called rice noodles, while the flat form is called cut noodles, collectively referred to as rice noodles, characterized by their white, tender, soft, and smooth texture with a variety of ways to enjoy them. A significant aspect is the making of the marinated broth, which differs by family but generally involves boiling pork or beef bones and various seasonings for a rich scent. The varied ingredients used generate different flavors, such as lettuce rice noodles, beef brisket rice noodles, three-delicacy rice noodles, original soup rice noodles, marinated vegetables rice noodles, hot and sour rice noodles, horse meat rice noodles, and burden rice noodles.Lipu Kourou (Braised Pork): Lipu Kourou is a local dish renowned for its flavor, color, and aroma. With a golden hue, the dish features soft and tender taro and pork slices that are rich yet not greasy. It offers benefits such as clearing heat, dispelling fire, and moisturizing the skin. This famous Guilin dish is made with authentic Lipu taro, pork belly with skin, and Guilin fermented bean curd, primarily cooked through steaming, resulting in a sweet and savory taste. This traditional banquet dish uses authentic Lipu taro, pork belly with skin, Guilin fermented bean curd, and various seasonings; the pork belly is deep-fried until golden before being layered with taro chunks, steamed, and served.
Yangshuo Beer Fish: The "Beer Fish" from Yangshuo is a famous local specialty, featuring fish that is fresh and spicy without any fishy taste. The aromas of beer and fish can greatly stimulate one’s appetite. The fish used for Yangshuo Beer Fish is a live carp from the Li River, first fried in raw tea oil from the northern Guangxi mountainous area, and then braised in high-quality beer produced in Guilin, resulting in a unique aromatic and tender flavor. In May 2002, Yangshuo Beer Fish won a gold medal at the “Qishan Cup National Cuisine Exchange Competition,” gaining recognition in Beijing.
Guilin Snail Stuffing: Guilin snails are particularly special. They are large, almost the size of table tennis balls, and their flavor is entirely different from that of common snail meat. The meat inside is not solely snail meat—first, the scooter meat is removed and chopped with pork, cilantro, and other seasonings, then stuffed back into the empty shell and simmered with broth.
Gongcheng Oil Tea: Gongcheng residents have a daily breakfast tradition called "making oil tea," and some families even rely on it for every meal. It is called "making" rather than boiling, as per common terminology across regions, but each area’s version has its unique flavor. The fundamental production method for oil tea involves using old leaves of black tea, which are stir-fried until fragrant and lightly charred, then boiled with salt and water, often adding fresh ginger, resulting in a rich and slightly bitter but spicy flavor. In Gongcheng, ground peanuts may also be added to enhance the richness and reduce the bitterness. The precise boiling time makes Gongcheng oil tea renowned as the best among regional oil teas, celebrated across northern Guangxi. Drinking oil tea has no seasonal restrictions and can be enjoyed throughout the year and any time of day. Guests are always offered freshly made tea, which can be quite sumptuous. Gongcheng is recognized as a hometown of longevity, and the secret to longevity is closely related to oil tea.
Quanzhou Vinegar Duck: Quanzhou vinegar duck is a local specialty of Quanzhou in Guilin, made from young ducks harvested in summer. After killing the duck, blood is retained, and vinegar is injected, with young ginger or bitter melon as side ingredients, usually braised in a low flame. The dish is served with a vinegar sauce. Upon serving, it has a refreshing scent that is delightful and unforgettable. There’s a saying that contrasts the blood duck of Yongzhou in Xiangnan with the vinegar blood duck of Quanzhou in northern Guangxi. Though the dish may appear surprising, it tastes remarkably free of any bloodiness with a strong vinegar aroma, and the duck meat is tender and flavorful, providing a delicious and appetizing experience.
Lingui Liangjiang Songhua Candy: Songhua candy originated from a private kitchen within the former residence of Li Zongren, President of the Republic of China, located in Liushan Town, Lingui District, Guilin City. Having evolved and innovated for nearly a century, its flavor has become increasingly enticing, sweet but not cloying, and melts in the mouth without sticking to the teeth. It is popular in the northern Guangxi region. The name “Songhua” has various potential origins; one explanation is that the golden grains resemble pine flowers, while another interpretation comes from the description of its “crispy sweetness that melts in one’s mouth,” likely originating from a phonetic error in “crispy sugar.” There’s also a belief that it symbolizes the New Year wish for "spending money easily" as a traditional New Year item from Liushan Town in Guilin.
Quanzhou Hehua Fish: Quanzhou Hehua Fish is a selectively bred species that has been cultivated in rice paddies for an extended period, named after the rice drop flowers they consume. Its history dates back to the Han Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, Liu Xun documented it in detail in "Records of the Ling Biao." It became a tribute to the court during the Qianlong era and gained fame in the capital. Hehua Fish is typically produced twice a year, weighing around 1 to 2 taels, and to a length of 2 to 3 inches, with over ten cooking methods available, including steaming, boiling, braising, frying, sautéing, roasting, and smoking.
Famous Attractions
Guilin Lijiang Scenic Area: The Lijiang River is located in the eastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, belonging to the Pearl River system. It originates from the “First Peak of South China,” Yueliang Ridge in northern Guilin, with Cat Mountain nearby. It is an area blessed with abundant foliage, fresh air, and an excellent ecological environment. The upper reaches of the Lijiang River are known as the Liuzhong River. Flowing southwards to Simenqian near Xing'an County, it receives the Huangba River from the east and the Chuan River from the west, merging to form the Rong River. The river travels through Lingchuan, Guilin, and Yangshuo, ultimately flowing into the West River, with a total length of 437 kilometers. The water journey from Guilin to Yangshuo is approximately 83 kilometers along the Lijiang River.Guilin Elephant Trunk Hill Scenic Area: Originally named Li Mountain, Elephant Trunk Hill is located at the confluence of the Taohua River and the Lijiang River in Guilin City. The mountain resembles a giant elephant standing by the river, drinking the sweet spring water of the Lijiang, and is regarded as a symbol of Guilin's landscape. Elephant Hill is famed for its wonders. Its most notable feature is that between the elephant's trunk and leg, a moonlit scene is created, forming the exquisite "Elephant Hill Water Moon" vista. Consequently, Elephant Trunk Hill is the emblematic mountain of Guilin, and a major tourist attraction, situated at the confluence of the Lijiang and Taohua Rivers at the center of Guilin City. It resembles a giant elephant, with a circular hole of about 150 square meters between its trunk and leg through which the river flows, resembling a bright moon floating on the water.
Guilin Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area: This area is composed of the Lijiang River, Taohua River, and four lakes: Shanshan Lake, Rong Lake, Guilin Lake, and Mulong Lake, forming an urban water system around Guilin City. The picturesque rivers and lakes blend with lush willows along the banks, and the stunning scenery evokes deep reflection. At night, the lights sparkle, creating a beauty that is beyond words. Walking through it, visitors can enjoy various beautiful bridges (about 28 in total) and around 100 classic scenic spots. The Two Rivers and Four Lakes water system is the soul of Guilin. The satin-like river and emerald-like lakes provide a feeling for domestic and international visitors of drifting along in a painting.
China State Guest Cave (Reed Flute Cave): Reed Flute Cave, located in the northwestern outskirts of Guilin, approximately 5 kilometers from the city center, is a scenic area mainly known for touring its cave and enjoying picturesque mountain and rural views. Reed Flute Cave is 240 meters deep and 500 meters long. Inside the cave, there are many beautifully shaped, translucent stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns, stone curtains, and stone flowers, creating various attractions such as Lion Peak Morning Glow, Red Rapture, and Dragon Cave Pagoda. Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been records of tourists visiting here, with 77 ancient wall paintings remaining today. Since its discovery and development in 1959, facilities like restaurants, tea houses, lakes, and bridges have been established, with the area landscaped, making it a must-visit tourist hotspot for both domestic and international travelers.
Guilin Qixing Scenic Area: Located on the eastern bank of the Lijiang River in Guilin City, the Qixing Scenic Area lies approximately 1.5 kilometers from the city center along the banks of the Xiaodong River, covering an area of about 134.7 hectares with a green coverage rate of 84%. It stands as the largest, oldest, and most scenic comprehensive area in Guilin, where the profound history and culture converge. The perfect blend of nature and culture is exposed brilliantly at Qixing, embodying a microcosm of Guilin's mountains, water, caves, rocks, gardens, architecture, and artifacts—it is a quintessential representation of Guilin's scenic beauty.
Guilin Dongxi Alley: Dongxi Alley is the only remaining historical street from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a pleasant spatial scale. It serves as a viewing area showcasing Guilin's ancient historic style and includes traditional streets like Zhengyang East Alley, Jiangnan Alley, and Lanjing Alley, reflecting Guilin's historical context.
Guilin Huixian Wetlands: Huixian Wetlands are known as the "Kidney of the Lijiang," being the largest primordial karst wetland in the Lijiang area. They play significant ecological roles in maintaining water sources, purifying water quality, flooding, drought resistance, and maintaining biodiversity. The wetlands are dotted with countless islands, skillfully meshing mountains and waters, accumulating elements of "mountains, waters, fields, gardens, forests, marshes, and transportation." With their typical karst wetland characteristics, beautiful landscapes, and deeply profound historical culture, these wetlands are not only unique in Guangxi but also rare among karst topographies nationally and globally, making them a wetland of great research value.
Ancient Guilin-Liu Canal: The Ancient Guilin-Liu Canal, also known as the Guilin-Liu Canal, is a historic canal dug in 692 AD during the Tang Dynasty, with over 1,300 years of history, and along with Ling Canal, is one of the two largest ancient canals in Guangxi. The Ancient Guilin-Liu Canal crosses the Huixian Wetlands, originating from Lion Rock in Huixian Town of Guilin City and flows eastward to Xiangsi River, merging into the Lijiang; to the west, it continues to the Laying River and flows into the Li River. For thousands of years, the Ancient Guilin-Liu Canal has served important roles in both transportation and irrigation.
Guilin Longsheng Rice Terraces: Located at an elevation of 1,916 meters in deep mountain ranges, the Longji Rice Terraces range from an elevation of 380 meters at their lowest to 1,180 meters at their highest, with a vertical drop of 800 meters covering an area of 71.6 square kilometers. The terraced fields are divided into scenic areas of Jinkeng and Dazhai Yao Terraces and Ping'an Zhuang Terraces, with numerous sight-worthy attractions. They are renowned for their grandeur, flowing lines, ever-changing charm, and unique folk customs, unforgettable to all—and are often called "the world's best" and "a one-of-a-kind display in the world." They are an essential part of Guilin tourism and currently offer over 3,000 tourist accommodations, making it one of the golden tourist routes in Guilin.
Guilin Daxu Ancient Town: Daxu Ancient Town is one of Guangxi's four ancient market towns. Established in 200 AD, the old street of Daxu extends 2,000 meters along the Lijiang River, with narrow stone-paved streets lined with preserved old houses. Located on the eastern bank of the Lijiang River, southeast of Father-Son Rock and north of Mopan Mountain, it is 23 kilometers from Guilin by water. Historically, the town was established in the early Northern Song Dynasty, flourished during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, reached its peak during the Republic of China period, and has a history of over a thousand years. Recorded more than 600 years ago, Daxu earned the title of the largest among Guangxi's four ancient towns due to its significance. Once known as Chang'an City and Lutan City, it is commonly referred to as Daxu. A small settlement formed during the Han Dynasty, it became a bustling commercial center by the Northern Song Dynasty, recognized as one of Guangxi's four ancient towns, which began its commercial rise during the Song Dynasty when tax officials were appointed.
Guilin Yangshuo West Street: Yangshuo West Street is a pedestrian street located in the center of Yangshuo County in Guilin City. Approximately 8 meters wide and nearly 800 meters long, it runs slightly east-west, with its eastern end at Riverside Road and the western end at Pantao Road, intersecting with Qian Street and Chengzhong Road in the middle. It boasts a history of over 1,400 years and is the oldest and most bustling street in Yangshuo, being one of Yangshuo's significant tourist attractions. The preserved ancient buildings include the Ming City Wall, stone inscriptions, ancient temples, pavilions, former residences of famous figures, and memorial halls. West Street was a venue for lectures by Mr. Sun Yat-sen and was once home to the renowned artist Xu Beihong, hosting leaders from over 150 countries.
Guilin Ling Canal: Ling Canal, known historically as Qin’s Du Channel, Ling Canal, Dou River, Xing’an Canal, and Xiang-Gui Canal, is a grand engineering marvel created by the laboring people of ancient China. Located in Xing'an County of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it was constructed for navigation in 214 BC. The canal runs east to west, linking the Haohua River (the source of the Xiang River) on the eastern side of Xing'an County with the Longjiang River (the source of the Li River) on the western side of Xing'an County. It is one of the world's oldest canals and is acclaimed as a "pearl of ancient water conservancy architecture."
Guilin Quanzhou Tianhu Lake: Tianhu Lake is located on the eastern side of Zhenbaoding, the second highest peak in South China, with 13 reservoirs resembling mirrors sprinkled among the lofty mountains, interconnected and complementary. The picturesque beauty of Tianhu Lake is marked by its unique high-altitude climate, providing coolness in summer and snow in winter. It is surrounded by large areas of primitive forests, numerous rare flowers, and wildlife. It features beautiful lake scenery akin to Hangzhou's West Lake, blending delicate and luxuriant landscapes while also offering the famed beauty of Dongting Lake’s "boundless snow-covered regions." It’s an ideal spot for hunting, summer retreat, sunbathing, and flower appreciation—uniquely found in Guangxi. On sunny days, the sky appears exceptionally clear, the water glimmers, and the misty sea merges with the clouds, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Yinzi Cave: Yinzi Cave is a typical karst cave that connects twelve mountain peaks and is classified as a multi-level cave. Inside, it accumulates various stalactites from different geological eras, shimmering and pure, resembling the Milky Way gracefully flowing in the night sky, sparkling like silver and diamonds, hence the name "Yinzi Cave." The cave features many highlights, the most famous of which include three marvels: the Snow Mountain Waterfall, Music Stone Screen, and Fairy Pool; and three treasures: Buddha Lecture, Hunyuan Pearl Umbrella, and the Pillar Sky. Nature’s handiwork is vividly displayed here, earning it a reputation as a "wonder of the world’s caves."
