Attraction & Sightseeing In Guilin

Banyan Lake and Fir Lake -- Elephant Trunk Hill
Folded Brocade Hill -- Fuli Village -- Green Lotus Peak

Banyan Lake (Rong Hu) and Fir Lake (Shan Hu)

Banyan Lake (Rong Hu) and Fir Lake (Shan Hu) are two beautiful lake parks conveniently located in the center of Guilin! Banyan Lake is on the west side of Zhongshan Road and is named after the surrounding banyan trees, including an ancient banyan tree (800 years old) on its northern shore. Fir Lake is to the east, south of Shanhu Bei Road.

These two lakes were originally the southern section of the moat that protected the ancient city of Guilin. An ancient south gate to the city is on the northern shore of Banyan Lake.

How to get there: Located on both sides of Zhongshan Bei Road at Ronghu Bei Road and Shanhu Bei Road, the lakes are accessible by taxi or on foot from most points in the city.

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Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan) is one of the Lijiang River's most famous sights. The hill is situated on the western bank of the Lijiang River, to the southeast of Guilin. 

It looks like an elephant, dipping its snout into the Lijiang River, hence the name "Elephant Trunk Hill". This sight is very representative of the landscape around Guilin and is a symbol of Guilin itself. A park and a Ming Dynasty pagoda are found on and around the Elephant Trunk Hill.

How to get there: A boat can be hired to take you to Elephant Trunk Hill for to RMB20-RMB40. This area can also be reached by bike from Guilin.

Folded Brocade Hill (Diecai Shan) is one of Guilin's most climbable peaks situated very close to the city center in the northeast of Guilin, near the Lijiang River. The thin shape of the hill and lush greenery around make it resemble brocaded fabric.

Countless Chinese character inscriptions decorate the stone sides of the hill and the area around the path leading to the top. Some other sights here include Wind Cave, with its Buddhist carvings and inscriptions, and "Cloud-catching Pavilion" on Moon Peak, where you can get a clear view of the city.

Solitary Beauty Peak and Wave-subduing Hill can be seen from Folded Brocade Hill.

The Hill is not very high and can be climbed in a half an hour to an hour.

Open: 8:00am-6:00pm daily.
How to get there: Bus No. 1 to Folded Brocade Hill.

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Just across the Li Jiang River from Yangshuo is the town of Fuli, a small, quaint village with stone houses and cobbled streets.

The village is famous for its litchi fruit which is available throughout the year, but most plentiful in early summer around June.

How to get there: River trips can be organized from Yangshuo for around RMB40 (bargain!) or you can rent inner tubes from cafes in town for a few RMB a day. Cyclists can take the bridge south of the Green Lotus Peak across to Fuli.

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Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Feng)

Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Feng) is Yangshuo's most prominent peak and stands near the the Li Jiang River in the southeast area of the town.

The north face of the peak is said to be relatively flat, resembling a Chinese bronze mirror (a geomantic tool for redirecting misfortune and bad feng shui) and therefore the peak is also known as Bronze Mirror Peak (Tongjing Feng).

There is a train leading up the mountain on the northwest side.

How to get there: The peak is reachable by bike or on foot from most areas of the village.

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Sightseeing Index

	Seven Star Park		Moon Hill		Reed Flute Cave
	Yangdi Village		Solitary Beauty Peak		Wave Subduing Hill
	Lijiang River Tours