My favorite city in China
2014-08-01
Guilin is my favorite city in China because of its beauty, its water ways, its cafes, and most of all because I met my wife there.
It is her hometown and we will both retire there in a few years.
Not only is Guilin a fascinating city, there are many interesting places to visit within a short drive from there.
The Ling (sometimes called Lingqu) canal is the oldest canal in the world. It was built about 2200 years ago and connects
two major river systems, the Yangtze (to the east) and the Pearl River.
The Longsheng Rice Terraces is another manmade wonder that was built around 650 years ago. I have some photos of
both of these places in my CD homepage Albums.
The Gudong Waterfall Park is another attraction that is worth visiting. The hike to the top of all these waterfalls isn’t very
difficult and if you want, you can take a ride to the bottom on a personal rail car that you control the speed of with a brake.
If you want you can also climb up some of the waterfalls with the help of chains that are placed for the convenience of
amateur climbers.
I have only been in Guilin during the winter and spring but my wife tells me it gets pretty hot in the summertime.
That’s OK because I grew up in the Midwest of the U.S. where it gets very hot and humid during the summer months.
It rarely freezes in the winter and the spring and autumn are pleasant. Guilin receives a lot of rain, especially in late spring and early summer. Because of this there is lush plant life and many large trees in the area.
Being from the California I’m used to having a car to get around. In fact, it’s practically a necessity in California.
But in Guilin most everything is within walking distance and if you need to go further the busescome by every 5 minutes on the busy streets and every 10-15 minutes just about everywhere else. There are plenty of taxis too and most trips are
only 6 yuan.
It’s a perfect place to retire.
My wife greeting me on my first visit to Guilin, 2009
One of many pagodas in the waterways of Guilin.
No photo spread of Guilin would be complete without a shot of The Elephant Rock.
A fisherman and his cormorant on the Li River.
Another pagoda on a Guilin waterway.
A fisherman and his cormorants fishing during the night on a Guilin waterway.
Two pagodas at night on a Guilin waterway.
A beautiful glass structure illuminated with colorful lights on a Guilin waterway.
One of the many charming bridges on the waterways through the middle of Guilin.
We're taking a night time tour boat through the center of Guilin.
Musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments on a stage by a Guilin waterway.
It was December when we took this water tour at night. They are dressed warmly.
The Jiefang Bridge over the Li River in central Guilin.
Having tea in a restaurant overlooking the above bridge.
I took the picture of the bridge from this booth.
Shops along a pleasant walking street in central Guilin.
A river gauge by the Li River. My wife says during bad floods it nears the top of this gauge.
An Iron bell in a small park my wife used to visit as a little girl.. Fuboshan Park.
It's in her old neighborhood in central Guilin.
A boat resting on calm water in the center of Guilin.
Another pretty bridge on a Guilin waterway giving boats passage.
A train is approaching and pedestrians hardly notice. I love trains.
In the U.S. train right-of-ways are almost always restricted or fenced off.
I love the way trains can be viewed up close in Guilin.
People gathering to board tour boats on the Li River in Guilin.
Horse statues along the Li River near the Jiefang Bridge.
This is on the way to Seven Star Park.
A pagoda on a hillside overlooking a Guilin waterway just outside Seven Star Park.
Camel Rock in Seven Star Park. It's easy to see how this rock got its name.
A pond in Seven Star Park.
A waterfall in Seven Star Park.
A bridge over a Guilin waterway in Yushan Park.
I water wheel in Yushan Park.
As you can see, Guilin is a very beautiful city.
Too bad you have to postpone your planned October visit.
I haven't been in Guilin in October but my wife tells me September and October are the best months as far as weather.
You'll love it there.
Guizhou and Guangxi are next on my list. My wife and I were planning on October, but are postponing until Spring Festival. Your pictures are gorgeous. Can't wait!
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