Walk Through a Painting, Walk Through Guilin (桂林)

Guilin may be a city you have never heard of. However, if you ask a Chinese person, they not only will know the city and they will tell you it is the most pictureque city in China. During a visit to China former U.S. President Bill Clinton said "No place in China is more evocative of the beauty of your country than Guilin."

Two crystal-clear rivers flow through the city, encircled by mountains with unusual and bizarre rock formations and caves.

Here are 10 Reasons to Visit Guilin:

1. An absolutely legendary scenic Mecca, Guilin has the most typical karst topography in the world, with verdant hills, limpid waters, mysterious caves and grotesque rocks.
2. Take the Li River (漓江) Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (阳朔) and enjoy the fresh feeling of walking in a Chinese landscape painting
3. Pedal lazily through the rice paddies, fruit orchards, tranquil villages and extraordinary karst peaks of Yangshuo
4. Simply relax yourself in one of the bars or cafes at the nationally renowned Yangshuo West Street to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere
5. Watch the stunning "Impression, Liu Sanjie" (印象刘三姐) — China's largest outdoor performance on a natural stage setting formed by the Li River and 12 peaks
6. Enjoy a casual stroll through the city area, taste the famous Guilin rice noodles, and take the 'Two Rivers and Four Lakes' water tour around the city at night
7. Explore the peak-dotted riverine parks and marvel at Mother Nature’s masterpieces, such as the Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山), the Camel Hill (骆驼山)
   
8. Go through spectacular karst caves, such as the Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩) and the Seven Star Cave (七星岩) and learn how the fantastic stalactites were formed
9. Take an excursion to the spectacular Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces (梯田) in Longsheng County (龙胜) and sleep in the Zhuang village (壮族) of Ping’ an
10. Hike around the mountain areas dotted with colourful ethnic minority tribes such as Zhuang, Miao, Yao and Dong