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Guilin

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Beyond the karsts: Guilin’s riverine rhythm

While most visitors focus on the iconic limestone silhouettes, the Li River’s pulse offers a subtler narrative. Early‑morning sampan trips, before the tourist crowds swell, reveal how local fishermen still navigate the same currents that have fed rice paddies for centuries. The rhythm of the water shapes daily life: tea houses line the banks, serving oolong brewed with river‑grown herbs, and the scent of fresh, smoked pork hangs in the air as vendors set up for the day’s market. Timing a stroll to coincide with the river’s mid‑day lull lets you observe residents loading bamboo baskets and hear the distant call of temple bells, a perspective rarely captured in guidebooks.

Seasonal colour swaps in the Longsheng terraces

The terraced fields north of Guilin are a living calendar. In late spring, the paddies fill with a verdant sheen, reflecting the sky like a sheet of glass; by July, the water recedes, exposing the layered steps of rice seedlings, a mosaic of muted greens. Autumn brings a dramatic turn as the terraces dry, turning golden and ochre, while the surrounding forests ignite with maple fire. Photographers who linger through these transitions find that the interplay of light and shadow on the stone walls tells a story of agricultural resilience that static snapshots miss. Visiting at the cusp of these shifts rewards patience with a deeper sense of place.

City‑side comfort: Guilin’s lesser‑known tea culture

Beyond the famous tea plantations lies a network of neighbourhood tea houses that double as communal living rooms. Here, locals play mahjong, discuss municipal issues, and share freshly rolled jasmine rolls. The tea itself is often sourced from nearby mountains, steeped just long enough to release a bright, slightly mineral flavour unique to the region’s water. Ordering a ‘plain tea’ invites the proprietor to recommend a local snack that complements the brew, such as pickled taro or fried tofu skin. By immersing yourself in these low‑key venues, you glimpse a side of Guilin that operates beyond the tourist‑centric restaurants and offers a genuine taste of daily rhythm.

Introduction

Prefecture-level city in Guangxi This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Guilin" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Prefecture-level city in Guangxi, People's Republic of ChinaGuilin 桂林市· Gveilinz SiPrefecture-level cityView of GuilinElephant Trunk HillSun and Moon PagodasLongsheng Rice TerracesJingjiang Princes' PalaceReed Flute CaveYangshuo sceneryLocation of Guilin City jurisdiction in GuangxiGuilinLocation in ChinaCoordinates (Guilin Central Square (桂林中心广场)): 25°16′30″N 110°17′46″E / 25.275°N 110.296°E / 25.275; 110.296CountryPeople's Republic of ChinaAutonomous regionGuangxiMunicipal seatLingui DistrictArea • Prefecture-level city27,797 km2 (10,732 sq mi) • Urban2,753 km2 (1,063 sq mi) • Metro5,041 km2 (1,946 sq mi)Elevation153 m (502 ft)Population (2020 census) • Prefecture-level city4,931,137 • Density177.40/km2 (459.46/sq mi) • Urban1,725,865 • Urban density626.9/km2 (1,624/sq mi) • Metro2,148,641 • Metro density426.2/km2 (1,104/sq mi)GDP • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 231.1 billionUS$ 35.8 billion • Per capitaCN¥ 46,767US$ 7,249Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)Postal code541XXXArea code0773ISO 3166 codeCN-GX-03License plate prefixes桂C for Guilin's city proper, Yangshuo, and Lingui; all others 桂HWebsitewww.guilin.gov.cn Guilin"Guìlín" in Chinese charactersChinese nameChinese桂林Hanyu PinyinGuìlín PostalKweilinLiteral meaning"Sweet Osmanthus Forest"TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinGuìlínBopomofoㄍㄨㄟˋ   ㄌㄧㄣˊGwoyeu RomatzyhGueylinWade–GilesKuei4-lin2Yale RomanizationGwèilínIPA[kwêɪ.lǐn]HakkaRomanizationKui-lìmYue: CantoneseYale RomanizationGwailàhmJyutpingGwai3lam4IPA[kʷɐj˧.lɐm˩]Zhuang nameZhuangGveilinz1957 orthographyGveilinƨ Guilin (Chinese: 桂林 Standard Zhuang: Gveilinz), formerly romanized as Kweilin, is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. 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 region. The city has long been renowned for its scenery of karst topography. Guilin is one of China's most popular tourist destinations. A famous Chinese saying about the landscape of Guilin is "Guilin's scenery is the best in the world." (Chinese: 桂林山水甲天下) The State Council of China has designated Guilin a National Famous Historical and Cultural City, doing so in the first edition of the list.

History

[edit] Before the Qin dynasty, the Guilin region was settled by the Baiyue people. In 314 BC, a small settlement was established along the banks of the Li River. During the Qin dynasty's (221–206 BC) campaigns against the state of Nanyue, the first administration was set up in the area around Guilin. The modern city was located within the Guilin Commandery, which is the origin of the modern name "Guilin". In 111 BC, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty, Shi'an County (simplified Chinese: 始安县; traditional Chinese: 始安縣) was established, which could be regarded as the beginning of the city. In AD 507, the town was renamed Guizhou (Gui Prefecture, 桂州). In 634, Lingui County was established at the modern site of Guilin, under Gui Prefecture. In 868, Pang Xun rebelled against the Tang from Gui Prefecture. 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 Yangtze plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire. In 997, the Guangnan West Circuit, the predecessor of modern Guangxi, was established, with Guizhou as the capital. In 1133, Guizhou was renamed Jingjiang Prefecture (simplified Chinese: 静江路; traditional Chinese: 靜江路). In 1367, the name was changed to Guilin Prefecture (桂林府). In 1921, Guilin became one of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army led by Sun Yat-sen. In 1940, Guilin City was established. Guilin was the provincial capital of Guangxi before 1912 and from 1936 to 1949. Guilin became one of the most important military, transport, and cultural centers of China during World War II. The city drastically expanded as refugees from all over China poured in, and by 1944 its population had grown from 70,000 pre-war to more than 500,000. It hosted intellectuals and artists including Guo Moruo, Mao Dun, Ba Jin, Tian Han, Xu Beihong, Feng Zikai and many others. In 1950, the provincial capital of Guangxi was moved from Guilin to Nanning. In 1981, Guilin 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.

Administrative divisions

[edit] Statue of Ma Yuan at Fuboshan, Guilin. Streets of Guilin during World War II Guilin administers seventeen county-level divisions, including 6 districts, 8 counties, 2 autonomous counties, and 1 county-level city. District: Xiufeng District (秀峰区) Xiangshan District (象山区) Diecai District (叠彩区) Qixing District (七星区) Yanshan District (雁山区) Lingui District (临桂区) County-level city: Lipu city (荔浦市) County: Yangshuo County (阳朔县) Lingchuan County (灵川县) Xing'an County (兴安县) Quanzhou County (全州县) Yongfu County (永福县) Ziyuan County (资源县) Guanyang County (灌阳县) Pingle County (平乐县) Autonomous county: Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County (恭城瑶族自治县) Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County (龙胜各族自治县) Map Xiufeng Diecai Xiangshan Qixing Yanshan Lingui YangshuoCounty LingchuanCounty QuanzhouCounty Xing'anCounty YongfuCounty GuanyangCounty LongshengCounty ZiyuanCounty PingleCounty GongchengCounty Lipu(city)

Geography

[edit] Map including Guilin (labeled as 桂林 KUEI-LIN (KWEILIN) (Walled)) (AMS, 1954) Guilin is located in northern Guangxi, bordering Liuzhou to the west, Laibin to the southwest, Wuzhou to the south, Hezhou to the southeast, and within neighbouring Hunan, Huaihua to the northwest, Shaoyang to the north, and Yongzhou to the east. It has a total area of 27,809 square kilometres (10,737 sq mi). The topography of the area is marked by karst formations. The karsts surrounding Guilin are made of Triassic period limestone and dolomite rocks. The Li River , running 83 km from Guilin to Yangshuo, is one of the city’s most celebrated natural features. Known for its emerald water and limestone peaks, the river section is a highly concentrated example of karst terrain. Hills and mountains: Diecai Hill (叠彩山), Elephant Trunk Hill, Wave-Subduing Hill (伏波山), Lipu Mountains, Kitten Mountain, the highest peak of Guangxi, and Yao Hill (尧山) Caves: Reed Flute Cave, Seven-star Cave Climate[edit] Fog on the Li River Guilin has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa, bordering on Cwa), with short, mild winters, and long, hot, humid summers. Winter begins dry but becomes progressively wetter and cloudier. Spring is generally overcast and often rainy, while summer continues to be rainy, though it is the sunniest time of year. Autumn is sunny and dry. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) in January to 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) in July, and the annual mean is 19.12 °C (66.4 °F). The annual rainfall is just under 1,890 mm (74 in) and is delivered in bulk (~50%) from April to June, when the plum rains occur and often create the risk of flooding. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 14% in March to 53% in September, the city receives 1,487 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from −4.9 °C (23 °F) (though an unofficial record low of −5.0 °C (23 °F) was recorded on 25 January 1940) to 40.3 °C (105 °F). Climate data for Guilin, elevation 164 m (538 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 27.6(81.7) 32.8(91.0) 33.7(92.7) 35.6(96.1) 36.6(97.9) 37.4(99.3) 40.3(104.5) 39.4(102.9) 38.5(101.3) 35.6(96.1) 32.6(90.7) 27.6(81.7) 40.3(104.5) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 11.7(53.1) 14.2(57.6) 17.5(63.5) 23.7(74.7) 27.9(82.2) 30.5(86.9) 32.8(91.0) 33.2(91.8) 30.8(87.4) 26.3(79.3) 20.8(69.4) 14.9(58.8) 23.7(74.6) Daily mean °C (°F) 8.4(47.1) 10.6(51.1) 13.9(57.0) 19.6(67.3) 23.7(74.7) 26.6(79.9) 28.4(83.1) 28.4(83.1) 26.0(78.8) 21.5(70.7) 16.2(61.2) 10.8(51.4) 19.5(67.1) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 6.1(43.0) 8.3(46.9) 11.4(52.5) 16.6(61.9) 20.7(69.3) 23.8(74.8) 25.2(77.4) 25.0(77.0) 22.6(72.7) 18.3(64.9) 13.1(55.6) 8.0(46.4) 16.6(61.9) Record low °C (°F) −4.9(23.2) −3.6(25.5) 0.0(32.0) 4.0(39.2) 10.7(51.3) 13.0(55.4) 18.2(64.8) 18.3(64.9) 12.9(55.2) 6.1(43.0) 0.7(33.3) −3.3(26.1) −4.9(23.2) Average precipitation mm (inches) 68.9(2.71) 83.9(3.30) 153.0(6.02) 226.7(8.93) 321.1(12.64) 448.7(17.67) 266.3(10.48) 147.6(5.81) 80.9(3.19) 54.9(2.16) 81.9(3.22) 54.1(2.13) 1,988(78.26) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 13.5 13.6 19.3 18.5 18.2 18.5 16.1 12.5 7.9 7.1 9.2 10.1 164.5 Average snowy days 1.1 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 2 Average relative humidity (%) 71 73 78 78 78 81 77 75 70 66 67 65 73 Mean monthly sunshine hours 58.4 52.2 55.0 78.7 113.1 113.3 180.6 197.2 180.3 157.1 122.9 102.1 1,410.9 Percentage possible sunshine 18 16 15 21 27 28 43 49 49 44 38 31 32 Source: China Meteorological Administration all-time extreme temperature

Economy

[edit] Guilin Museum and Library The GDP per capita was ¥41891 (ca. US$6569) in 2020, ranked no. 134 among 659 Chinese cities.[citation needed] Local industries: condoms, pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, fertilizer, silk, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon, herbal medicine Local agricultural products: Shatian Pomelo, summer orange, Fructus Momordicae, ginkgo, moon persimmon, Lipu Taro, Sanhua Alcohol, pepper sauce, fermented bean curd, Guilin Rice Noodle, water chestnut, grain, fish and dried bean milk cream in tight rolls Until 1949, only a thermal power plant, a cement works, and some small textile mills existed as signs of industrialization in Guilin. However, since the 1950s Guilin has added electronics, engineering, and agricultural equipment, medicine, rubber, buses, textile, and cotton yarn factories. Food processing, including the processing of local agricultural produce, remains the most important industry. More recent and modern industry features high technology, and the tertiary industry is characterized by tourism, trading, and service. Citizens of ASEAN states do not need a visa to visit Guilin if part of a tour lasting a maximum of 144 hours (not including the day of arrival).

Transportation

[edit] Air[edit] Guilin Liangjiang International Airport The airport is Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (ICAO:ZGKL, IATA:KWL). Airlines that fly to the airport are: China Eastern Asiana Airlines China Southern Air China Hainan Airlines Shanghai Airlines Shandong Airlines Xiamen Airlines Tianjin Airlines EVA Air Air Asia Beijing Capital Airlines Hebei Airlines Rail[edit] Guilin North railway station Guilin has several high-speed rail stations, Guilin North, Guilin West, Guilin, and a new station in the Lingui District. Guilin station and Guilin North station are on the Hunan–Guangxi railway, Hengyang–Liuzhou intercity railway, and Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed railway, the main railways connecting Guangxi with central and southern China. Arriving at North Station, high-speed trains between Guilin and Changsha and Beijing came into operation in December 2013. In December 2014, high-speed operations began connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guiyang, and Shanghai. This made it more convenient for people to come to Guilin. It takes only about 2 or 3 hours from Guangzhou to Guilin, 9 hours from Shanghai to Guilin, and 13 hours from Beijing to Guilin. Trains traveling between Kunming South and West Kowloon stations (for example) stop at Guilin West railway station. Urban[edit] A BYD K8S double decker bus operating in Guilin The city's public transportation includes bus routes and taxis. Guilin is the leading city in Mainland China operating double-decker buses regularly on major routes; on its main street, the double-deckers run one by one almost every minute. Sightseeing boats also run on the city's canals and lakes. A Guilin Metro is planned for 7 lines by 2040 with 117 stations and a total length of 273.2 kilometres. Line 1 is planned to be opened by 2025, and it will be 29.23 km with 13 stations.

Scenic spots

[edit] Main article: Guilin Scenic Area The Li River connects Guilin and Yangshuo County Ship tour on Li River Longsheng Rice Terrace (Ping An) Cuiping Village Xingping Village Rafts sailing down the Yulong River in Yangshuo, a county of Guilin Sun and Moon Pagodas in Shan Lake Reed Flute Cave Scenic view of the town from Seven-star Park Longji rice terraces Wikimedia Commons has media related to Guilin. Scenic spots around Guilin include: Jingjiang Princes City, a royal complex dating from the Ming dynasty that lies near the center of modern Guilin Reed Flute Cave Silver Cave Li River Yangshuo Seven-Star Cave and Seven Star Park (七星公园) Camel Mountain (骆驼山) and Elephant Trunk Hill Piled Festoon Hill (堆花彩山) Crescent Hill (月牙山) Fubo Hill (伏波山) Nanxi Hill (南溪山) Erlang Gorge (二郎山峡谷) Huangbu (Yellow Cloth) Beach (黄埔滩) Moon Hill Longsheng Rice Terrace Daxu Ancient Town (大圩古市镇) Xingping Ancient Town (兴坪古镇) Duxiu, Solitary Beauty Peak (独秀峰) Liusanjie Landscape Garden (刘三姐景观园) Yao Hill (尧山) Sun and Moon Pagodas (日月双塔) In Guilin city, the Sun and Moon Pagodas (日月双塔) on Shanhu Lake and the iconic Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山) are major landmarks.

Cuisine

[edit] Main article: Guangxi cuisine Guilin pickled tofu Guilin cuisine is a mixture of Cantonese cuisine and Zhuang cuisine. It is known for its snacks and the use of spices, especially chili. Guilin chili sauce (桂林辣椒酱), used widely in cooking by locals, is made of fresh chili, garlic, and fermented soybeans, and is considered one of the city's Three Treasures (桂林三宝). The other two of the Three Treasures are Guilin Sanhua Jiu (桂林三花酒), a variety of rice baijiu, or liquor distilled from rice; and Guilin pickled tofu. Guilin rice noodles Guilin rice noodles have been the local breakfast staple since the Qin dynasty and are renowned for their delicate taste. Legend has it that when Qin troops suffering from diarrhea entered this region, a cook created the Guilin rice noodles for the army because they had trouble eating the local food. Specifically, the local specialty is noodles with horse meat, but this dish can also be ordered without the horse meat. Zongzi, a dumpling made from glutinous rice and mung bean paste wrapped in a bamboo or banana leaf, is another popular delicacy in Guilin.

Quotes

[edit] "Guilin's scenery is the best in the world"[edit] The popular Chinese epithet "Guilin's scenery is the best in the world" (Chinese: 桂林山水甲天下; pinyin: Guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎ tiānxià) originates from the Song Dynasty poet Fan Chengda. It is a reference to its beautiful and unique karst topography. Some common alternate translations include, "East or west, Guilin landscape is best", "By water, by mountains, most lovely, Guilin", and "The scenery of Guilin is world-renowned."[better source needed] Other[edit] "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)

International relations

[edit] See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in China Twin towns—Sister cities[edit] Guilin is twinned with: – Nishikatsura, Yamanashi, Japan – Lingchuan County – Kumamoto City, Japan – Guilin – Toride City, Japan – Guilin – Miho, Ibaraki, Japan – Lingui – Jeju, South Korea – Hastings, New Zealand – Toruń, Poland – Orlando, United States – Tlaxcoapan, Hidalgo, Mexico – Langkawi, Malaysia The Guilin relationship with the New Zealand city Hastings started in 1977, after a research scientist, Stuart Falconer, identified several common areas of interest between the two cities, including horticulture and their rural-urban mix. In 1997 Guilin commenced an exchange relationship with Ōta, Gunma, Japan.