Guilin January 26-27, 2007
January 26th, 2007
On the afternoon of January 26th, 2007 we arrived in Guilin. Guilin possesses spectacular cavers, exotic rock formations, fragrant osmanthus, green hills, and clear waters. Guilin was our final stop before arriving in the city where we will meet Addison for the first time. Guilin is in the same province that Addison was born in, so, to say that we are all a little bit distracted is an understatement. Our goal was to keep ourselves busy, see the sites, and get ready for the next stage of our trip.
Upon arriving in Guilin, we took an airport bus into the city... for a little extra money, they agreed to drop us directly at our hotel. What an experience this trip in from the airport was. We climbed on to an already crowded bus, had our luggage stuffed onto the front seat next to the driver, and off we went... at the speed of light. Now, if anyone has driven in Asia before, it is an experience all in itself. However, this driver was unbelievable... there was not one second during our 40 minute drive in that he was not honking his horn. Our limited experience over the last few days is that drivers will merge in front of any vehicle, as long as their bumper is in front. Also, they will honk their horn when they are annoyed, passing, or just because. Pedestrians, cyclists, and Vespas will drive wherever and whenever they feel like it... which means, they will weave in and out of the larger vehicles trying to drive. On this particular trip, we must have driven at around 120 Km/hr for the entire freeway trip into the city... then, he drove wherever he felt like it, three cars to a lane, no problem. Suffice it to say, we were glad to make it to the hotel.
Upon arrival to the hotel, we squeezed a quick tour of the city. Our first stop was the Reed Flute Cave... this cave was used as a hideout by Guilin's residents during the Japanese invasion in the 1940's. The quarter-mile-long passageway is wet, cool, twisting, and narrow. The stalactites and stalagmites are ornate... it is possible to see different animals and flowers in the rock formations if you use your imagination. Visiting the Reed Flute Cave allowed us to experience "underground" Guilin. For us, this tour was history making in and of itself. The reason this tour was history making is that Mom climbed the 150 stairs to the entrance to the cave, battling past the various vendors trying to sell postcards and books, and finally went inside... despite feelings of claustrophobia. She made it through the entire cave tour. We have photos to prove that she was there.
We then proceeded to the Ming Prince's Palace, complete with its own encircling wall and four gates, it resembles a miniature Forbidden City. It was originally built for a Ming Prince in 1372. The palace housed 14 successive Ming Princes and later served as Dr. Sun Yat Sen's headquarters during the 1920's. Today, it houses the Guangxi Teacher Training College... where our guide, Zoe, attended. In downtown Guilin, a several limestone pillars sprout up... the most remarkable one is the Solitary Beauty Peak, located next to the Ming Prince's Palace.
January 27th, 2007
Guilin's very top attraction is the Li River, which has posed for more painters and photographers than any other place in China. The Li River is some of the best scenery. It is a clear river surrounded by green bamboo, and sheer twisting limestone mountains.
We awoke early for our day trip down the Li River. Our entire cruise appeared to be lifted from a Chinese painting. The craggy limestone peaks and pillars were the models for the traditional landscapes painted on silk scrolls. All of the mountains reminded us of the picture that Mom and Dad have hanging in their kitchen. The shallow river weaves amongst the karst peaks, which are weathered into interesting shapes that are interspersed with villages. While cruising down the river, local people push up to the river boats and attach their bamboo rafts to the boats and try to sell their wares. The scenery is breathtaking and we all want to come back to Guilin and travel around the different cities that make up the area.
We were fortunate to be able to visit the city of Yangshuo. Famous for Mama Moon who speaks 8 languages that she has learned from the various tourists who have traveled there. It shares the same peaks. Yangshuo is a traveler's town. The main street is an anomaly in China... it is a cobble stoned pedestrian street. The street is filled with small shops and cafes that cater to the independent traveler. We also saw the most hostels that we had seen so far in China. We look forward to traveling to this city to explore the countryside around it.
We returned to our hotel to see a lobby full of Chinese babies and their new families... picking up their passports as they are ready to move on. It was a difficult moment for us as we just wanted to get to Nanning and meet Addison. So, the next morning, we were finally on our way to the city where we will meet Addison for the first time.
Please send us an email at daleandheather@shaw.ca
