City Introduction

Travelling to Guilin, you will have a feeling that “it is just like reading history when you travel in the mountains and appreciating paintings when you look at mountains”. As a famous scenic city in China, Guilin’s unique karst landform makes it win the reputation of the pearl of the international tourism. It has enjoyed a worldwide fame of “East or west, Guilin’s landscape is the best” since the ancient time. It is a famous tourism city in China and even in the world, and has been crowned by the State Council with the titles of national key scenic city, and the famous historic and cultural city.

Guilin’s landscape is beautiful. Its landscapes represented by the Landscape Scenery along the Lijiand River and karst landform are famous for its “four unique features”, i.e., green mountains, clear water, picturesque holes, and grotesque rocks; it is a typical example and classical brand among the natural sceneries of China. “Thousands of mountains stand all around and a river runs around the city.” Sceneries blending with the city is the characteristics of Guilin.

Guilin is located in the northeast part of the the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the south part of “Xiangxi Corridor”. It has a total area of 27,809 square kilometers. It consists of 5 districts and 12 counties, with the total population of 4.9511 million. It is complex in terrain and diverse in landform, and surrounded by mountains; the elevation gradually reduces from west to east; the Lijiang River and the Yijiang River flow through this area from north to south. Guilin boasts vast verdant primeval forests, steep peaks and secluded valleys, rushing rivers and falls, rare mountain terraces; it accommodates over ten minorities, such as Zhuang, Yao, Miao, and Dong.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

Guillin has a long history. According to the remains discovered in the urban Baojiyan and Zengpiyan Caves, Zenpiyan people had entered into the stage of matriarchal clan society, about ten thousand years ago. During the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Baiyue nationality lived here. The First Emperor of Qin set up Guilin, Xiang and Nanhai Prefectures, which was the earliest origin of “Guilin”, but that prefecture is not located in today’s Guilin. In the sixth year of Yuanding of the Han Dynasty, Han Dynasty set up Shian Country here, which was subordinate to Lingling Prefecture of Jingzhou. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was changed into Shianhou State. It firstly belonged to Shu State and then Wu State. In the first year of Ganlu (AD 265), Shian Prefecture and Shian County were set up, the capitals of which are all in today’s Guilin. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Guilin belonged to Zongguanfu of South Guizhou. In the fourth year of Wude of the Tang Dynasty (AD 621), Li Jing built a city in the north of the Peak of Unique Beauty. In the eighth year of Zhenguan (AD 634), Guilin was rename Lingui County, belonging to Shian Prefecture. From the third year of Guanghua (AD 900), Guilin belonged to Jingjiang Jiedu. During the period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, it firstly belonged to Chu State and then Guizhong of the Southern Han. During the Song Dynasty, it firstly belonged to Guangnan Xilu Guizhou, and later belonged to Jingjiang Prefecture. During the Yuan Dynasty, it belonged to Jingjianglu of Guangxi Executive Secretariat. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it belonged to Guilin Prefecture of Guangxi Province.

During the Republic of China, it belonged to Guangxi Province. In 1914, it was renamed Guilin County and in 1940, it was set as Guilin City. From November 1944 to July 28, 1945, it was occupied by Japanese Army. After being recovered, it was still a city under Guangxi Province. In history, it had been a capital of Guangxi Province for a long time. In November 22, 1949, Guilin was liberated, and became a city under Guangxi Province; In 1958, it was renamed Guilin City of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

City Positioning

Guilin is a world famous tourist city, one of the first batch of famous historic and cultural cities in China, and an excellent China’s tourist city; its landscape sceneries are world famous and have enjoyed the reputation of “East or west, Guilin’s landscape is the best” for thousands of years.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Guilin is located in the southwest of the Nanling Mountain System, dominated by medium and low mountain relief and having karst mountain area, hills and platforms. Guilin belongs to typical karst landform, high in both sides and low in middle, and it is just located in the karst basin which extends from northwest to southeast.

 

 

 

 

Climate

As Guilin is located in low latitude area, it has a subtropical monsoon climate. It has a long summer and short winter, with mild temperature, abundant rainfall, long frost-free season, abundant sunshine, rich heat; it is distinctive in four seasons and the rain and heat are basically over the same seasons, all of which make it have a very good climate condition. Its annual average temperature is 19.3℃. It is hottest in July, with the average monthly temperature of 28℃, and coldest in January, with the average monthly temperature of 7.9℃. Its wind direction in the whole year is dominated by northerly wind.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Best travel time

The best time to travel to Guilin starts from April to October.

Safety issues

Guilin is a very safe city, but since there are lots of people engaged in tourism, you should be careful when someone so passionately introduce various attractions to you, so as to try to avoid unhappy journey. Take care of your own belongings when you are at the railway station or motor station in Guilin, because there are pickpockets. Some tourism information searched on the internet may not be reliable, and beware of “tourism gunners”.

Tips for boat sightseeing on the Lijiang River

1. According to rules, inbound tourists cannot travel by ordinary cruise.

2. Tickets can be bought in the Water Transportation Center (cross the Nanmen Bridge, turn right, and walk for about 20m, turn left, and you will get it after entering the lane), Binjiang Road of Guilin one day in advance.

3. Guilin’s cruise directly travels to Yangshuo (Section Yangdi - Xingping is available during the low water period) without stop in between; there is no round-trip cruise between Guilin and Yangshuo.

4. For the motorboat, you can require the boatman not to use the motor in advance, or the atmosphere will be disturbed by its noise; what’s more, you can ask the boatman to introduce the sceneries, and his introduction is as better as a tour guide.

5. The prices and time of bamboo raft and motorboat needed to be negotiated with the boatman in advance.

 

 

 

 

Visa Information

Foreigners have to apply for a Chinese visa before their visit to China.

Unless the exemption of visa provided in related treaties or provisions thereof, foreigners need to obtain a Chinese visa before entering China.

Prior to their visit to China, foreigners should check whether the visa is valid. If the visa expires or there is the insufficient number of entry, they should re-apply for a new visa.

(I) Validation of Visa (EnterBefore): It means the period of validity of the visa itself, from the date of issuance of the visa to the date of its holder allowed to enter China (subject to Beijing time). If the number of entry is still not used before the expiry date (including the day), the holder may enter the country. (II) "Entries": It means how many times the visa holder may be allowed to enter the Chinese borders during the valid period.

If entries run out or entries don’t run out but go beyond the valid period, then the visa still becomes invalid. Prior to their visit to China, they shall re-apply for a new visa. If the holder enters China with an invalid visa, he or she will be refused to enter the country. (III) Duration of Each Stay: It means the maximum number of days for which the holder is allowed to stay in China during each entry, which is the longest duration calculated from the date of entry, to allow the holder to stay in China.

Foreigners staying in China if exceeds the permitted period of stay without handling the visa extension formalities, will be fined or punished in a violation of "The Exit and Entry Administration Law for Foreigners of People's Republic of China" and "Implementing Rules on the Exit and Entry Administration Law for Foreigners of People's Republic of China" and other relevant laws and regulations. Therefore, in case the holder stays in China beyond the permitted period of stay in the visa, he or she must apply for an extension by going to a local public security organ at county level or above prior to the expiry date of the visa (for the specific requirements, please refer to the local public security organ website) (but is not necessarily approved). Chinese embassies and consulates abroad are responsible to handle no visa extension.

 

 

 

 

Currency Exchange

Use the currency of Renmingbi. In case of currency exchange, please check real-time daily RMB foreign exchange rates.

 

 

 

 

Religion

None

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

Complaints hotline of Guilin Tourist Complaint Center: 0773-2800315 Guilin Tourist Service Center: 0773-2800318

Guilin People’s Hospital Tel.: 0773-2828712

 

 

 

 

Notes

Notes for hiking

Compared with other forms of travel, hiking is affected by nature most, with most physical output, which should be specially noted. Before departure, you should know various information of the areas you will pass, your own physical condition, and the climate condition. Preferably hike in company with at least two persons, and in this way, you can help and take care of each other in the journey. Minimize the luggage, but remember to take some common medicines such as the medicine for sunstroke.

Control your walking speed, generally slowly at the beginning and the end and a bit fast in the middle; walk slowly at the beginning and then speed up after several days. Take a good rest every day, generally in the noon. The place for rest should be prevented from burning sun directly overhead, and should not be low-lying and moist places. Ensure adequate sleep time and nutrition supplementary; Do not only eat solid food, and try to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Use warm water to wash your feet after one’s journey to relieve fatigue. Use a needle (wipe it firstly with alcohol wipes or burn it on a fire) to stab the blister on feet (if any) to make the fluid flow out, and apply mercurochrome to avoid infection. the hottest time from 11:00 a.m. to 15:00 p.m. should be avoided for the hiking in summer; what’s more, wear a straw hat and fill your water bottle to avoid the sunstroke.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

Date of Double Third Day (Song Festival of the Zhuang nationality): The 3rd day of the third lunar month Place: Zhuang nationality region

Introduction: A traditional song festival of the Zhuang nationality, also called “Geyu Festival” or “Gepo Festival”. Before Geyu Festival, people will prepare five-color food and colorful eggs, and girls will rush out embroidered balls. On the day of Geyu Festival, boys and girls will be dressed up, boys taking gifts and girls taking embroidered balls, and come in crowds. Some girls will set up colorful tents, waiting for boys, to examine their quality and talent over singing in antiphonal style. Or boys and girls respectively stand in two parallel rows, and the girls can toss her embroidered ball to her favorite boy, and the boy can bind his gift to the ball and toss it back if the girl is also his favorite. There are many forms.

Date of Longsheng Red Clothes Festival of the Yao nationality: 15th day of the third lunar month or 8th day of the fourth lunar month Place: villages and counties of the Zhuang nationality, Longsheng areas of Guiling

Introduction: Red Clothes Festival is a unique ethnic festival of the Yao nationality in Longsheng, which is held every year in Zhaina (Sishui Town) or at the bottom of Longji Mountain. On the 13rd day of the third lunar month calendar, men and women, old and young, will be dressed up and shoulder their homemade native products to come to Leishui Street in crowds to hold the festival. Young people unmarried will sing folk songs and blow leaf, to find the person of their heart with nice love songs. Traditional activities such as long-drum dance, long hair competition, evaluation of beauties, and sports competitions (including carrying bamboo bar on head, Tug of War, Beat Flag Guard, etc.) will also be held.

Date of Gongcheng Peach Flower Festival: At the beginning of March Place: Gongcheng County, Guilin

Introduction: Peach Flower Festival is the first activity at the beginning of spring among the annual tourism activities of Guilin. Each year at the beginning of March, it is held in Gongcheng County of Guilin when the peach blossoms. Tourists can appreciate the blooming peach flowers all over the mountains and plains, and can also personally experience Ping’an Bridge crossing, bamboo raft race and barbecue, and watch chicken and bird game, and folk song and dance. What’s more, tourists can also live in modern houses, pick safety stones, make sweet potato kiln, roll dustpan, beat bar, and participate in other activities played before the seventies of last century.