GLIMPSE OF CHINA - GUILIN TRAVELOGUE 2017

14th Apr to 17th Apr 2017 (Reed flute cave, Yao Mountain, Longji rice terrace, Yangshuo)

China is full of marvelous surprises, they say East or West – Guilin is the best! Located in north east of Guanxi Zhuang regionin South china, Guilin is considered the pearl of China given its natural limestone Karsts. 

 

Guilin, is a picture perfect prefecture city in the north east of China. It is situated on the west bank of the Li River and borders Hunan to the north. Its name means "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant sweet osmanthus trees located in the city. The city has long been renowned for its scenery of karst topography and is one of China's most popular tourist destinations.

Historically, Guilin was not brought into the official prefecture until 214 B.C. when the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-206 B.C.) set up the Guilin Shire in this region. At the same time, due to the construction of the Ling Canal, this place became one of the gateways between the Central Plains and the Lingnan Region (current Guangdong, Guangxi and part Hunan, Jiangxi). Later, in 111 of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), the Shian County was founded in Guilin.

From then on, Shian (Guilin) was considered to be an important strategic spot for many ambitious schemers. During the tumultuous Three Kingdom Period (220-280), Shian was governed by the Shu State and the Wu State successively. Of course, Shian was developed to be a political center gradually. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Shian was renamed Lingui County and built to be an impressive southern prefecture. Turn to the Song Dynasty (960-1127), the territory of this region was extended to the current Hainan Island. As for the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the important position of the Guilin region both in economy and politics was unshakable.

Guilin was once the center of the noted Lingnan Culture which is a typical regional culture. Fortunately, there are a number of historic sites left in that place for travelers to appreciate its past splendid culture. For example, the ancient Mansion of Prince Jingjiang is the best preserved mansion of the Prince in the Ming Dynasty. Because of its rich resources and advantageous geographical position, Guilin was a well-known base both for the just revolutionists and the warlords in the modern era of China. Especially during the period of the War of Resistance against Japan, it was the resistance cultural center with a great number of active intellectuals. Therefore, Guilin's history and culture are balanced with its natural wonder.

GUILIN ITINERARY

 

13 Apr 2017 –The Journey begins, though towards end of the day!

Leave HK by 9 PM, reach Shenzhen and check in hotel for overnight stay.

We stayed overnight in SOTEL IN Hotel just 5 mins walking away from Shenzhen North Railway station, it was barely HK$150 for a night and was decent big hotel with comfortable beds that served perfect purpose of being near station.

14 Apr 2017 – We were on roller coaster today!

Take a train from Shenzhen North to Guilin North G2905 (7.21 AM – 10.27 AM) 

Tip: We booked train through travelchina guide, which was extremely painful and we had to change our whole itinerary due to mess it created. One can book train one month in advance on china railway website. It will take 30 mins to clear check in and enter the outbound station so don’t keep things for last minute,

Take a car from Guilin North to Hotel in Guilin: Lijiang waterfall (2.5 Miles – 10 mins)

Tip: Just out of the station, there is a travel agency on which its written on bold that English speaking guide available. Just spend 15 minutes to book your car for whole day. They bargain hard so we could get luxurious car for 300 RMB for whole day. Good Bargain J We checked in Lijiang Waterfall Hotel by 12.30 PM and were on ride out by 1 PM.

Excitement to explore begins…

Yao Mountain, Reed Flute Cave, Riyue Shuangta cultural park

Yao Mountain with Round-trip Cable Cars (8 miles 20 mins from Lijiang Waterfall Hotel)

Yao Mountain is the highest mountain in Guilin city. The open cable cars will take you to the mountain top and send you down. It is a cool experience offering beautiful view of the whole Guilin. In spring, the azaleas cover the whole mountain, which is really awesome. The sunset view and sunrise view are very famous, especially after a summer rain. Recommended tie of visit is 2-3 hours.

Slide down while coming down from Yao Mountain (170 RMB dual package)

Open Cable Car, Yao Mountain

Yao Mountain View from Cable Car

Visit Reed Flute Cave (5 miles 18 mins from hotel): The cave is regarded as the largest and most impressive cave in Guilin. It is 240 meters long, and the length of the tour is about 550 meters offering a magic land of stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, stone curtains, birds, plants and animals in fantastic shapes and colors.  Recommended time of visit is 2 Hours. There is a small lake just below this park and one can enjoy bamboo raft ride here for 100 CNY. We were not very keen and hence skipped it. Also, there are beautiful shops here selling lot of interesting stuff, if one likes it pick it up… Trust me they bargain and are cheapest deals. You may not want to regret later :p

Breathtaking water shadow created through lights

Some of the exclusive sights at Reed Flute Cave

Tip: Your driver may want to take you to Elephant trunk hill, Do not waste your time visiting Elephant trunk hill, its utter waste of time and money. However you can view it whilst Guilin is approaching in train. The 4D show is stopped between 12.30 to 1.30 PM.

Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park- Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park is one massive leisure park in the heart of the city of Guilin, Guangxi Province, southern China, built upon the Riyue Shuangta, which literally meaning Sun Moon Double towers in Chinese.

Sun & Moon Pagoda

Its another beautiful sight near hotel to behold in eyes!

15 Apr 2017 –O Good Lord, these mountains just keep calling me!

Longji rice terrace and Ping’an village

Lonsheng/ Longji Rice Terraces (70 miles 2.5 hours from Hotel): It is Ping’an Village for Longsheng Rice Terraces, about 2-hour drive to the north from Guilin. It is a must-see for people visiting Guilin and its neighbors as the first shot in Wild China filmed by BBC. Hiking is the most popular way to visit the area with beautiful scenery alongside. It takes only about 2 hours or so from the entrance to the hilltop for a complete hike in Ping’an Village thanks to the well sign-posted walk. Viewpoint 1 is called Nine Dragons and Five Tigers and Viewpoint 2 is Seven Stars with Moon. Both offer a perfect view of the village and surrounding terraces. Along the way you will also see locals dressing Zhuang clothes and accessories. Just say hi back to their lovely smiles. If lucky, you can see local women wash their long hair which has kept from their childhood.

Ping'an village

This view was breathtaking

Rice terrace of Longsheng

Another view of Longsheng rice terrace

Myself and Mine!!!

Proposed Itinerary

8:00–8:45am: Our driver guide picks up from your hotel.

8:45–11:00am: The journey to Longsheng is about 2 hours. You can see fruit plantations and rice paddies on the way. Note that it might get a little bumpy on the winding mountain roads. 

11:00am–12:00pm: At Huangluo Yao Village you can see women in rose-red dresses. Watch how they wash, brush, braid, and coil their hair up in a uniquely beautiful style.

12:00–1:30pm: Dine with the locals at a minority village; try the local bamboo-tube rice.

1:30–3:00pm: Take it easy and enjoy the short journey by road and 30-minute walk up to Ping'an Village. Our car will park close to the village, so it requires as little walking as possible.

3:00–4:30pm: Trekking around the Longji Rice Terraces, enjoy the beautiful scenery. Your guide will tell you where the best spots to take panoramic photos are.

4:30–7:30pm: Return to your hotel in Guilin. Descend from Ping'an, and you will be transferred back to your hotel in Guilin.

It’s a good tiring day and is enough to relax back in hotel, and enjoy some good swim :) 

Tip: If you are vegetarian please carry your own food. One can book this with the CTS travel agency right across the street near Lijinag Waterfall Hotel or even your car driver will offer you the bookings if sounds safe one can go ahead with him. It costs around 500 RMB. There are couple of different itinerary there is one that include cable car but we opted for the cheaper one without cable car :p

16 Apr 2017 – Guilin to Yangshuo (Li River Cruise), west street, Impression Sanjie Liu, Cycling

Experience the incredible scenery of the Li River on a 4-hour sightseeing cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. This private full-day tour from Guilin takes you into the dramatic Li River region on a cruise with informative onboard commentary. Eat lunch on board your vessel before disembarking in Yangshuo for a guided tour of the countryside and West Street. Transfer back to your hotel in Guilin at the designated time to wrap up your day on the Li River.

The scenic areas along Li River are considered the highlights of Guilin and it would be a pity if you miss those areas when visiting Guilin. Taking a cruise is also the best and the most relaxing way to experience it.

The excursion begins after your guide picks you up at your hotel lobby in the morning. Enjoy the drive to Zhujiang dock to board one of the best cruises on the Li River. As the ship departs from Guilin at about 9am, your fantastic cruise journey starts. Your guide will escort you on board and give you an introduction on the different sites along the way. Once you are there, you would find out what it means by "picturesque"!

Tip: There are two types of excursion options 1) 4 hour cruise which is in luxury cruise, though vegetarians suffer again here. So better to keep good stock of your own food. 2) You will be taken by road uptil one dock from where they will have bamboo rafts and take you across some portion of Li river for half an hour and from there again the road journey till yangshuo. This route is faster and takes 2.5 hours to reach.

River Cruise

Interior of river cruise

View from river cruise

View from river cruise

 

River passing through bamboo rafts

Some more scenic views!

Guilin view makes place in 20 Yuan Chinese currency note 

Check in Hotel in Yangshuo Hidden dragon villa (Approx 5 miles from dock) – it is quite far from the dock so if one has less time in hand to be around Yangshuo it is advisable to stay near west street (West street is a happening city centre where there is all food and fun : )

Impression Sanjie Liu: At night we enjoy Impressions light show in Yangshuo(it is a famous outdoor culture show "deep impression Liu shanjie" which has 12 peaks as stage setting,600 performers, displayed on the 2 KM Li river, directed by chinese famous director Mr Zhangyimo who was the general director of the opening ceremony Olympic Games in 2008.

This is the world largest natural theater which utilizes the waters of the Li River as its stage, with twelve mist shrouded hills and the heavens as its backdrop. Mist, rain, moonlight, the hills and their inverted reflections in the river all become the ever-changing natural background. Its auditorium is housed on the natural islands of the river with the audience standing on the designed terraces, surrounded by green plants. The sound equipment here cannot be seen because it is in harmony with the natural environment.

West Street, Yangshuo

Hot Air Baloon in Yangshuo

Experiencing it first time, short ride but fun ride

Mesmerizing surrounding near Hot air baloon

Closer look, just couldn't stop being obsessed about these colorful hot air baloons

One more interesting activity

During Easter, whole Yangshuo were springing with beautiful colorful flowers

Bamboo rafts near in Li river at Yangshuo end

And this view!

Only cycle that I could ride with confidence because it wasnt ordinary cycle.

Brathtaking view from Imression of  Sanjie Liu

Story being depicted with pictorial beauty

Captivating view

 

Tip: We could stay here for hardly 1 day but if time permits one should definitely plan to be here for 2-3 days. There are lot activities like Mud bath, cycling long patches, Bamboo River rafting, seeing the west street and the area around. It is worth spending 2 days or more, definitely 3 days atleast :)

OPTIONAL (IF TIME PERMITS)

Visit Big Banyan Tree Park- the banyan tree was planted in the Jin Dynasty, and has a history of over 1,300 years. the old tree is 17 meters high and covers an area of over 1000 square meters. It continues to grow strongly to this day. People in ancient times believed the tree to be as powerful as a god. Poor people look upon the tree as a doctor, capable of curing all illness.

Visit Moon Hill- The fantastic views have made this hill the symbol of Yangshuo. Moon Hill has a natural round cave at the peak. The cave resembles the moon when looked from a distance. That is how it got its name. 

17 Apr 2017  -  Drive back to Guilin early morning 6.00 AM, 52 miles 1.5 hrs.

Hotels in Guilin/ Yangshuo to consider:

One can either select Lijiang Waterfall or Sheraton Guilin (We were not very impressed with Lijang since its very old redundant property)

As mentioned earlier, Hidden dragon villa is good country side hotel without lifts but full of tranquility, it serves decent food and couple of vegetarian food as well. However if one less time in Yangshuo, should prefer staying close to west street.

Travel, Stay and food option  

Travel:

From Shenzhen North Railway station there are super bullet trains which uns at average 230 Kms per hour. It’s a super experience.

Bullet train experience was no less than feel of miracle. 

Hotels:

Our superb stay at Lijiang Waterfall Hotel

Every at 8PM there is waterfall show at Lijiang Waterfall Hotel, Do not miss it

Hidden Dragon Villa Hotel at Yangshuo

View from Verandah of Hidden dragon villa

Food:

Its not pure vegetarian restaurant but they managed to make basic Jain food pretty well. We had to rely on just few options, but imagine there were atleast options :)

KALI MIRCH INDIAN CUISINE RESTAURANT AVAILABLE BOTH IN GUILIN (Close to Lijang waterfall) AND YANGSHUO (Near West street market). They can be contacted at:

Mob - +86 137 3739 6451

No words are enough to conclude this beautiful and vibrant trip, let alone this picture do all the justice to how breathtaking this Guanxi province situated Guilin is!!!

Picture courtesy: Try Ratcliffe

 "The mountains are yearning and I must go" - John Muir. 

These mountains don't ever stop calling me, and i would keep exploring more. So wait for more of different mountain views from none other than Riddhi Kothari Mehta :)

John Muir

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/content/518992/mountains-calling-must-go.html

John Muir

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/content/518992/mountains-calling-must-go.html