The Long Way Round Asia 20262 views
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Step 2/60: China - Guilin

Guilin photo by Jantine De jong

About Guilin

There is not much to say about Guilin. To me it was more the starting point to Yangshuo. I found it to be quite a gray city even though it's right on the border of the Karst Mountains. The streets are busy, people selling food everywhere. It's different if you've just come from Hong Kong. You do feel that you're in real China now.
Bus/Coach icon
How I got here ?

Price: 39 €

Traveling time: 10 hours

A nighttime sleeper bus.

Tips & Tricks

  • Eat at the little shops on the streets. It's actually better than street food.
  • Always carry tissues... they don't provide toilet paper at public restrooms.

Things to see

Seven Star Park 6 /10
7 €
Seven Star Park photo by Jantine De jong

User's opinion
It's a nice park. You can see some caves and climb a Karst Mountain for some really nice views of the city. But the downside is that they also have a zoo inside. Bears living in small quarters, walking in circles... There are also Panda Bears that got new enclosures in 2009 (because they're iconic?). It's a run down zoo, but because tourists keep coming, they keep torturing these animals with small cages.
Sun & Moon Pagodas 7 /10
0 €
Sun & Moon Pagodas photo by Jantine De jong

User's opinion
These twin pagodas have become the symbols of Guilin. During the day they don't look that spectacular, but at nighttime they light them up; one yellow like the sun and the other white like the moon. The Sun Pagoda is 9 stories high and made out of solid bronze. The Moon Pagoda is 7 stories high and made out of wood and glazed tiles.
Li River Cruise 8 /10
35 €
Li River Cruise photo by Jantine De jong

User's opinion
Takes you to Yangshuo in about 4 hours (downstream). Beautiful views of the Karst Mountains. Good food on board, included in the price. On the way you see the view of the 20 Yuan bill, which sounds pretty cool. But since al the sites are explained in Chinese first, by the time they explain it in English, you've past it already...

Practical

Guilin flowers youth h... 8/10
Price 3 €
Address

Block #2, 6 Shangzhi Lane, South Zhongshan Rd
Guilin

User's opinion:

I got in around 6 am, while I made a reservation for that night. They just let me have my bed already without having to pay another night. They're now called 'How Flowers Hostel' on hostelworld.com.


Luggage Room Available Breakfast Included Air Conditioning Available No Curfew Lockers Available Internet Available 24h Reception Hot Shower Available Washing Machine Available