Guilin---Travel In China

Guilin (桂林 pinyin: Guìlín; Postal Pinyin: Gweilin) is one of China's most picturesque cities, situated northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China on the west bank of the Li River.

History
190,000,000 years ago, the area around present-day Guilin was water, part of an ancient sea. Due to the movement of the Earth's crust, the sea floor eventually rose and became dry land.

In 314 BC, a small settlement was established along the banks of the Li River.

In 111 BC, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Shi An County was established, which could be regarded as the beginning of the city.

In 507 AD, the town was renamed Guizhou.

Guilin prospered in the Tang and Song Dynasties but remained a county. The city was also a nexus between the central government and the southwest border, and it was where regular armies were placed to guard that border. Canals were built through the city so that food supplies could be directly transported from the food-productive Yangzi plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire.

During the Ming Dynasty, Guilin became the capital of Guangxi, due to its immense role in the province.

In 1914, Nanning, another center of the province and a heroic city with more than 1,600 years of history, replaced Guilin as the provincial capital.

In 1921, Guilin became one of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

In 1940, the city acquired its present name.

In 1981, this ancient city was listed by the State Council as one of the four cities (the other three being Beijing, Hangzhou and Suzhou) where the protection of historical and cultural heritage, as well as natural scenery, should be treated as a priority project.

Neighboring Provinces
Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan and Guangdong

Physical Setting
Area: 27,809 sq km
Subtropical region
Typical karst formation
Mountains: Diecai Hill, Elephant Trunk Hill, Seven-Star Cave, Wave-Subduing Hill, Lipu Mountain and Yaoshan Mountain
Rivers: Li River

People
Population: 1.34 million
Urban population: 600,000
Ethnic groups: Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao, Han and Dong

Climate
Damp monsoon climate
Warm and rainy
Plenty of sunshine and clear division of the four seasons
Average temperature: 19°C annually

Economy
The GDP per capita was ¥15775 (ca. US$1910) in 2003, ranked no. 125 among 659 Chinese cities.

Local industry: pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, fertilizer, silk, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon, herbal medicine

Local produces: Shatian Pomelo, summer orange, fructus momordicae, gingko, moon persimmon, Lipu Tara, Sanhua Alcohol, pepper sauce, fermented bean curd, Guilin Rice Noodle, water chestnut, grain, fish and dried bean milk cream in tight rolls

Attractions
There are more than 30 noted scenic spots within the boundaries of Guilin Peak.

Seven-Star Cave and Ludi (Reed-Flute) Cave
Camel Mountain and Elephant Trunk Hill
Piled Festoon Hill
Crescent Hill
Fubo Hill
Nanxi Hill
Erlang Gorge
Huangbu (Yellow Cloth) Beach
Moon Hill
See also: The most famous 24 Guilin scenic spots

Quotes

"I often sent pictures of the hills of Guilin which I painted to friends back home, but few believed what they saw."

- Fan Chengda (Chinese Song Dynasty scholar)

"Guilin’s scenery bests all others in the world." - popular Chinese saying

'East or west, Guilin landscape is best!' Located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China, Guilin is considered to be the pearl of China's thriving tourist industry on account of the natural beauty and historic treasures. Covering an area of about 27,800 square kilometers (10,734 square miles), the city is rather compact when compared with other major tourist cities in the country. The stunning landscape in which the city is situated has a kind of magic that is all its own. The strangely shaped hills or karsts, with the verdant vegetation ranging from bamboos to conifers together with crystal clear waters and wonderful caves make Guilin such an appealing destination. Guilin is also an important cultural city with a history of more than 2,000 years. The city has been the political, economic and cultural center of Guangxi since the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). You can refer to Guilin History to know more about the vicissitudes of the city.