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Off the Beaten Path in Guilin
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Guilin Off the Beaten Path

Guilin - China -Banu's photo - Guilin
Guilin - China -Banu's photo
by solopes
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Guilin attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
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Guilin Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 10 of 22  
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Limestone Cliffs on the Li River
  • Tip Rating:
    • easyoar
  • By easyoar on March 12, 2005
  • Guilin Page by easyoar
    • 'Guilin' Scenery? - Guilin
    'Guilin' Scenery?
    by easyoar
    If you came to this Guilin page looking for Limestone Cliff pictures on the Lijiang (Li River), you came to the wrong place. These are close to Guilin, but are actually in and around Yangshuo, so you can find these on my Yangshuo page).

    These views are famous in China and indeed internationally, and are supposed to represent some of the most Chinese areas in China. Whether this is actually true is impossible for me to say, but nevertheless, this area is the part of China I remember the most fondly and is the bit I would most like to return to! Yangshuo as a little town is well worth staying at for a few days whilst you explore the area (it's great by push bike!). The River Cruise is also well worth seeing.

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    Black Market on the Bridge
  • Tip Rating:
    • herzog63
  • By herzog63 on October 7, 2003
  • Guilin Page by herzog63
    • Black Market area - Guilin
    Black Market area
    by herzog63
    In 1987 the Black Market for exchanging US$'s And FEC's was alive and well in Guilin. I'm not sure if this is still goes on or not but it was a tip that all China travelers from that era needed to learn in order to save money. Here is the reason that I had heard of why the locals wanted the FEC's and US$. For the FEC's which were the Foreign Exchange Certificates. They needed these inorder to purchase luxury items such as TV's, Washing Machines, and other big household items from the Friendship store. As the Friendship store didn't accept the local currency. Seemed weird to me but I was able get 30% more for my FEC's by exchanging them on the Black Market for Renmimbi. Officicially at the time foreigners were supposed to pay for all lodging and bus/train tickets but it wasn't enforced.
    This bridge was the spot where all of the Black Marketers hung out and they would sort of approach you and ask under their breath if you wanted to change money....I'd ask the rate and compare to make sure I was getting the best rate that I could. In the evening the area around this bridge would transform into an open air market.

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    Local market in Yangshuo
  • Tip Rating:
    • magor65
  • By magor65 on February 24, 2005
  • Guilin Page by magor65
    • Local market - Guilin
    Local market
    by magor65
    Before we went to China my niece had asked me to bring her some rice seeds. She wanted to have rice growing in pots on her window sill. I was trying to get some for her, but in vain. Even when I had the name written in Chinese, everybody was looking at me in surprise. Here - looking for rice seeds in Yangshuo.

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    Gudong National Park - Six Different Waterfalls
  • Tip Rating:
    • yipsufen
  • Updated By yipsufen on June 12, 2005
  • Guilin Page by yipsufen
    • Curtain waterfall at Gudong National Park - Guilin
    Curtain waterfall at Gudong
    National Park
    by yipsufen
    There are a total of six waterfalls in Gudong National Park and every one is unique. The most imposing is the Curtain Waterfall. Water sliding down gently to form a wide curtain. The waterfalls not only provide a recreation area but also offers some water activities like climbing up the waterfall.

    Climbing up the steps in National Park is a bit exhausting with many steep steps but there are some stops at every waterfall for you to take a rest. Don't worry the park guide will always go slow and allow time for rest. The guide wiill normally ask for consensus whether to continue climbing as high up the steps are more steep. At the end of the tour, the guide will ask tourist to fill up a Customer's Feedback Form.

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    Gudong National Park - Canopy Walk
  • Tip Rating:
    • yipsufen
  • Updated By yipsufen on June 12, 2005
  • Guilin Page by yipsufen
    • A suspension bridge connecting to canopy walk - Guilin
    A suspension bridge connecting
    to canopy walk
    by yipsufen
    At the peak of Gudong National Park is the canopy walk with tall trees and a suspension bridge. The bridge is strong and sturdy, shaking is very minimal. Walking on the suspension bridge you can see green foliage all around you.

    Beside climbing the waterfall, you can participate in many kinds of sports activities. Eg: archery, ball throwing, flying fox, obstacles course, shooting, etc. However, you have to pay a nominal fee in order to play these games. The recommeded one is the flying fox. You can reach the foothill much faster in this way without having to follow the normal route of stone steps.

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    Gudong National Park - Liu Sanjie's Village
  • Tip Rating:
    • yipsufen
  • Updated By yipsufen on June 12, 2005
  • Guilin Page by yipsufen
    • Liu Sanjie singing at her village - Guilin
    Liu Sanjie singing at her
    village
    by yipsufen
    Gudong National Park is kind of like forest reserves for the mainland China. In addition, this national park has many sites and attractions which try to carry "Save Our Planet" message. Target audience are mostly the young school children and university students. Along the way up you will notice many sculptures, art formation or plants with special messages erected. There's even some environmental poems carved on the steps or plagues. Many of the plants here are clearly labeled.

    As soon as you board a bamboo raft at a wharf, you will see some minority girls catching fish, singing by the riverside or even the famous Liu Sanjie coming out from her house, waving and singing at you. The singing is melodious through loud-speaker. Her house is so genuine with some clothes hanging for drying and some dried crops.

    Don't be surprised to see some school boys splashing water in their bamboo raft. This is part of their custom. Other than taking the bamboo raft, you can also take a horse ride.

    Entrance fee: RMB60

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    Street kitchen
  • Tip Rating:
    • magor65
  • By magor65 on February 23, 2005
  • Guilin Page by magor65
    • street kitchen - Guilin
    street kitchen
    by magor65
    It is always interesting to find the non-touristic places. Because Yangshuo is small it was easy to walk around and get to the places not frequently attended by tourists. Here's a street kitchen. It looks O.K. but we didn't join in.

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    Education in Guilin
  • Tip Rating:
    • maysue
  • By maysue on August 14, 2006
  • Guilin Page by maysue
    • Are you ready for outdoor studies? - Guilin
    Are you ready for outdoor
    studies?
    by maysue
    The education in Guilin is so developed during the Ming and Qing dynasty that it is called the Zhuangyuan City. 'Zhuangyuan" refers to the scholar who obtained the highest score in the national examination, set by the emperor, during the late Qing dynasty period.

    This Zhuangyuan will later serve as the government official and would have an opportunity to marry one of the king's daughters. Interestingly, I learned that during that time, the examination is categorised into 3 levels: village, province, and national.

    Anyone who cheats or steals the examination papers would be sentenced to death. Hence, exams at that time are taken very seriously.

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    Dragon Ridge Terrace
  • Tip Rating:
    • pkfops
  • Updated By pkfops on May 4, 2005
  • Guilin Page by pkfops
    • More Great Views - Guilin
    More Great Views
    by pkfops
    Don't forget to visit Dragon Ridge Terrace.

    It is a full day tour with lunch.

    The locals are interesting.

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    Yushan Park
  • Tip Rating:
    • yipsufen
  • Updated By yipsufen on June 12, 2005
  • Guilin Page by yipsufen
    • A sight at Yushan Park - Guilin
    A sight at Yushan Park
    by yipsufen
    Don't know much about this historical site but according to the tour guide here, this place is related closely to Feng Shui. It is located at the north of Guilin city. The park is beautiful, temple is believed to be answering people's prayers, mountain is unique and cave is peaceful. The park has mountains, rivers and caves.

    Upon coming out from the cave, a shop selling auspiciuos jade figurines and pendants is connected strategically there.

    Chinese people are very brilliant in using tourism shopping to generate additional revenue.

    Entrance Ticket: RMB32

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    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 49 - Photos: 52
    Things To Do
    Tips: 238 - Photos: 391    		Nightlife
    Tips: 14 - Photos: 14
    Transportation
    Tips: 32 - Photos: 41    		Restaurants
    Tips: 37 - Photos: 49
    Shopping
    Tips: 26 - Photos: 29    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 22 - Photos: 20
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 15 - Photos: 23    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 18 - Photos: 21
    Local Customs
    Tips: 25 - Photos: 25    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 5 - Photos: 2
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 4 - Photos: 4    		General Tips
    Tips: 35 - Photos: 58
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