Guilin Is to See More Tourists after the Visa-free Transit Policy Jul 15

The popular tourist city of Guilin in Southwest China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has long taken credit for having the most dramatic Karst scenery in the world, and has confirmed to be the ninth city in China (following Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian and Shenyang) to offer a visa-free transit policy since June, 2014, Therefore, transit passengers with passport of the 51 countries are allowed to stay for up to 72 hours without visa on direct transit via Guilin Liangjiang International Airport.

Guilin is expected to see more international tourists! Check the following list for the most famous scenic spots in Guilin.

Li River

Li River traverses through Guilin from north to south, and connects Guilin and Yangshuo by waterway. A cruise down the river all the way to Yangshuo is one of the highlights of a holiday in China. During this 83-km (52 miles) cruise, visitors are going to pass by beautiful countryside, bamboo groves lining along the riverbank, leisurely water buffalo and numerous extraordinary Karst peaks, which have just been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list on June 23.2014 (as part of South China Karst).

Yangshuo

65 km southeast of downtown Guilin, Yangshuo is world-famous for the picturesque countryside, enchanted villages and spectacular scenery of hills and rivers. It is an idea destination and great laidback base for those looking for fun and leisure, by enjoying cycling, rock climbing, hiking, bamboo rafting in the Yulong River and free time in the bars on the West Street.

Rice Terraces

Many visitors prefer an extension Guilin tour to Longji or Dazhai for the rice terraces. Dragon Backbone’s Rice Terraces is 87 km (55 miles) northwest of Guilin, and offers amazing view of terraced fields. In Dazhai and Longji, travelers can also have an visit to the ethnic minority villages of Yao and Zhuang people to experience the unique culture and custom.

Reed Flute Cave

The Reed Flute Cave is one of spectacular Karst caves in Guilin and a must for all travelers to the city. Inside the cave is a wonder world of stalactites, stone pillars and rock formations of various shapes created by carbonate deposition, and Illuminated by colored lighting.

Yao Mountain

At an elevation of 909m, Mount Yao is the highest mountain in Guilin. It’s highly recommended to take a chairlift journey to the top and a speedy toboggan slide-down. Another major attraction around Yao Mountain is a fantastic tea farm about 2 km away, with hundreds of hectares of tea trees. Make sure to watch a traditional tea ceremony for free!

Top China Countryside to Enjoy Rapeseed Flowers in March

After another severe winter, the spring finally comes, and sees a traditional revival in all unions: the weather goes up, the frozen rivers melt, the trees turn green, all kinds of flowers com out… Why not kick back in the great nature, camera in hand while watching all these amazing life moments occurring! There’s something far more rewarding about heaving yourself from bed in the wide in this March. And being lazy in a sea of golden rapeseed flowers, having your cameras capture all stunning scenes will be one of your finest pleasures in China’s spring time. Listed here are three best places to enjoy golden rapeseed flowers in China.

Other recommended China destinations in March 

1. Luoping in eastern Yunnan province

Luoping finds itself about 228 kilometers northeast of Kunming, and locates near where Yunnan meets Guizhou and Guangxi. Here the rapeseed (also named canola) flowers are in full blossom in spring (usually begin in February), surrounding the scattered houses, twisting roads and pretty mountains. This area of rolling hillside landscape thus takes on a “golden ocean” and becomes a photographers’ heaven. Despite its relatively remote location, the small country with its visual spectacle attracts numerous visitors and photographers each spring. The rapeseed farms (with an area of over 13,000 hectares) in Luoping are among the largest scale in China. The best time for it will be February and March.

2. Wuyuan in Northeastern Jiangxi province 

China’s most beautiful countryside Wuyuan is best seen as the rapeseed flowers are blooming in a dazzling golden color in Spring. Wuyuan is home to dozens of quaint and fancy villages, all of which look almost the same with ancient Huizhou architectural style – of white walls, black roofs, elegant eaves, and dark-green footstones. Wuyuan sees its canola flower blooming peak from March until early May, when you can leisurely stroll on the sprawling farmlands through old villages, immerse yourself in the quite old days of luxuriant camphor trees, wood bridges creeks or rapids…

Top China attractions near Wuyuan include Yellow Mountain, Mt. Lushan, and Jingdezhen.

3. Yangshuo in southern Guilin, Guangxi province

Yangshuo is not all about Karst landscape and Li River Cruise, there are also cozy country life and blooming rape flowers in Spring. The farmlands of rapeseed flowers are not as big as those in Luoping or Wuyuan, but still breathtaking, as they perfectly melt into the idyllic countryside, picturesque karst peaks, flowing rivers and streams. You can rent a bicycle for a delightful Yangshuo countryside tour. Early March is the best time to see rape flowers in Yangshuo, with average temperature being about 15 °C (57 °F). Just bring with an umbrella In case of some rainy days.

Discover the Idyllic Huangyao Ancient Town nearby Yangshuo, Guilin

Huangyao ancient town is situated in the northest of Zhaoping County, Guangxi, some 200 km away from Guilin and 90 km from Yangshuo. The town is just like a shy maiden, standing quietly by the low reaches of Li River. It has been relatively unknown until Hollywood filmed The Painted Veil a few years ago.

The idyllic Huangyao presents a typical Chinese scene - "small bridge over the flowing stream".

The history of Huangyao town can be traced back to Song Dynasty (960-1279). It was constructed again during the Wanli Period (1573-1620) of the Ming Dynasty, and boomed during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) of the Qing Dynasty. The family names of the townspeople were mainly Huang and Yao, hence the town got the name “Huangyao”.

Huangyao, with an area of 3.6 sq km, has long been known as a mini-Guilin for its typical karst landform. A river named Yaojiang passes through it, and the whole town is embraced by flows of winding water. So, according to Chinese fengshui, Huangyao is an ideal place for people to live. There are over 300 houses of Ming and Qing style, built in an array of Nine-Palaces and Eight-Diagrams. All the eight streets in Huangyao are paved with flagstone, and it is said that there are 99,999 flagstones altogether. Those houses along the streets have a functional design combining business and living into one unit. They are more than 20 small temples to visit, a number of pavilions and an old stage.

Ancient residences, with wooden doorways and tiled rooftops, along street in Huangyao

This gorgeous 900-year-old Huangyao, with its laid back lifestyle, can’t fail to wow visitors with its bucolic rhythms. Two 500-year-old banyan trees wind their way up from the river’s edge to the side of the town. Mountains go with water, water goes with bridge, bridge goes without pavilion, pavilion goes without couplet, and couplet can not go without stele, which forms a unique scene of the ancient town. Impressively, the local live as they did in old times –the old people sit gossiping on their doorsteps; young women wash vegetables or clothes by the riverside; children play games…

The locals wash vegetables or clothes by the ancient Well.

Home-made wines are sold along the street, and free for tasting.

Owing to its isolated location – surrounded by mountains and the inconvenient transportation, Huangyao always keep its half-closed condition. Thus, it makes the ancient house and cultural relics are well-preserved. With tourism development, more and more people from home and abroad visit Huangyao. And, the town, along with West Street in Yangshuo, famed as one of most valuable 50 places for foreign tourists in China.