Se hva du kan gjøre og oppleve i Guilin

If Guilin is a living entity, the Li River is the absolute soul. Originated from Mao’er Mountain, Li River starts its journey from Guilin down to Yangshuo, just like a jade ribbon winding among the green hills to form a most poetic beauty spot. The reflection of the fantastic karst peaks in the water, the cowboys, the fishermen at leisure and the simple households along its banks are mesmerizing. The section from Xingping Town to Yangdi is the highlight of this magnificent picture scroll.

The landmark of the city, also known as Elephant Hill, looks like a giant elephant drinking water from the river with its long trunk. Other famous spots here include Shuiyue Cave (水月洞), Puxian Tower (普贤塔), Xiangyan Rock (象眼岩), Dagoba Tower (舍利塔), Yunfeng Temple (云峰寺) and three amusement islands by the lake. The park is great for spending an idyllic afternoon.

This is not just a park, but a representative scenic area covers more than 120 hectares. The park contains rivers, mountains, Chinese gardens, traditional architectures and an underground cave. The Seven Star Cave in the park is a fantastic karst cave with a large number of stalagmites and stalactites, which transform the cave into a surreal place. If you can only visit one place in Guilin, this should be it.

The Longji terrace fields date from the Ming Dynasty, about 500 years ago. Winding from the base up to the top, it divides the mountain into layers. Sights alter here as the season changes: water glittering in the sun in spring, green rice shoots in summer, golden rice in fall and silvery frost in winter. It is advised to stay overnight so that you can see the sunrise and sunset, which should not be missed.

The Yulong River is a big tributary of the Lijiang River, flowing along scenic hills, plains and villages down to Gongnong Bridge. Hiking and riding around the river are also good ways to enjoy the view. Drifting on a bamboo raft is especially recommended for views that you cannot see from the banks. There are usually two seats on the raft and space is large enough to have bikes onboard as well. With many docking places on the route, it is possible to choose to tour the river for the whole length or in sections.

Guilin is one of the cities in China that posse the most ethnic variety, which provides the area with an extremely rich and unique customs and cultures. The folk song culture, among others, is the most well-known and representative example. The impression of Guilin is a large-scale performance that creatively combines the classical folk songs, ethnic culture and the fishing lights, reflecting a harmonious atmosphere between the people and nature here.

Relatively newly discovered by native villagers, the cave is extensive and unaltered, full of narrow, maze-like passages, and countless stalagmites. It is not advised to go without a guide, a crash helmet and a flashlight. The entrance is accessible only by boat and the whole trip would take approximately 2 hours. Near the exit of the cave, there is a mud bath onsen. However, given that the cave is not fully explored, the absence of certain security measurement exists. Thus going in alone is not recommended especially after 16h.

Contrary to Longmen Cave, Guanyan is one of the best-equipped cave in Guilin. The cave contains 3 floors. The first floor is an underground river that's accessible only by boat, followed by an elevator that goes through a waterfall and leads to the second and the third floor. And then, a single-seat railcar will take you out of the cave and continue a little odyssey for 3 kilometres, and you can see the breath-taking landscape alongside the river coming towards you.

The natural beauty of this tremendous forest area is breathtaking. Tiny mountains pop up out of the flat landscape and forests of unusual trees and plants cover the mountains like fur. Among all the mountains, the Moon Mountain is the most distinguishable with its giant and perfect round hole in the middle. Changing with the seasons, the landscape in this lush nature park is the ideal place to relax a tired body and mind while listening to the melody of nature.

The night cruise on the rivers and the four lakes Banyan Lake, Wooden Dragon Lake, Gui Lake and Shahu Lake in Guilin is spectacular. Due to the innovative use of lighting in the gardens and buildings along the lakes, the bridges, buildings and pagodas are beautifully illuminated. Singers and dancers along the shoreline complement this fantastic experience.

Considering that Guilin is a touristic city, this village remains relatively little commercialized and well-preserved. The part of Lijiang River that flows through the village is the most beautiful section, so beautiful that the image on the banknote of 20RMB depicts this exact location. Be weary of scammers in the village who have been known to trick tourists into buying worthless things at hiked up prices.

This village is located inside the Longji Rice Terrace scenic area, constructed on top of a mountain, separated from the outside world and only accessible by an hour's walk. It is a village of Yao people, a minority branch, made up of hundreds of stilt houses. If you want to watch the sunset or sunrise, this would the perfect spot. There are hotels in the village where you can stay for the night, and spend some time enjoying the tranquility of nature.

You can find Cantonese dim sum here as well as local dishes of Guilin. The dishes are carefully made to look like artwork. It is recommended to book a table in advance.

Guilin Conjee is an old favourite which serves fine and dedicated rice porridges as well as other dishes. There is always a satisfying and healthy meal worth sampling here.

Chunji serves hands-down the best roast goose in Guilin and it is one of the most prestigious and historical restaurants in the city. In this restaurant, goose comes in all kinds of shapes you can imagine and combined with rice, fried noddles or noddles soup.

McFound is a restaurant chain with various locations in Guilin. Their modern menu includes western delights and local recipes like sauteed meat shreds with soybean paste or shredded potatoes rolled in the pancake. However, their desserts now are more outstanding than other dishes. Dousha Xueyi is must try: fried sticky rice bun filled with red bean paste, you cannot find it elsewhere.

Rice noodles are synonymous with Guilin. It is definitely one of the Chinese people's favourite foods, and you can find Guilin rice noodle restaurants in every city. Here in Guilin, rice noodles are served without soup, topped with sliced meat and fermented vegetables. The sourness is absolutely refreshing. The best rice noodles sometimes hide under a shabby facade. Shiji is one of the oldest rice noodles there is, but if you ask a local, they'll probably say that the best one is always the one that's closest to their house. So just walk into the one nearby that seems to be popular with patrons – you can hardly go wrong.

Agan specializes in Guangxi cuisine. It is popular among both tourists and locals. They have all kinds of Guilin's specialities with high quality and reasonable price. The beer fish is a must try.

This is a local restaurant that serves authentic dishes of Guilin. Scorched rice with beef, sticky rice with pork rib and steamed buns with yolk filling are the dishes you simply cannot miss.

You cannot miss the red tents of Guilin Night Market lining in long rows. Locals sell all kind of handicrafts like embroidery balls, brocades, flutes, snacks and local specialities, porcelain and ceramics products like smoking pipes, Chinese seals, paintings as well as calligraphy.

Xiaohongmao definitely holds a place in the hearts of locals. It has become a daily routine for students and workers from nearby areas to have a hot sticky rice ball for breakfast. One can get a nice start to the day at only 3-10 RMB.

YUMI is more of a bakery than a café. It is located in the central area, ideal for a break when walking around the city. Their red velvet cake, mille-feuille and bubble tea are must-try.

The café is hidden inside a traditional Chinese yard on the Xi Jie, Yangshuo. The ambiance of the place makes it appear as if time stands still within its walls. The passion fruit cheesecake is a must-try.

This small café is surrounded by flowers and is famous for its fruit and flower tea. They even took it a step further and created their signature cup - the osmanthus latte, which is made with osmanthus flower water and thus has a refreshing scent. This is a combination that one simply cannot find anywhere else.

T Cafe is currently a hit on Chinese social media. The minimalist style of its decor has attracted a lot of visitors. The desserts and drinks in the café are also beautiful and full of colour, such as the famous rainbow cake.

Bubble milk tea is undoubtedly the most popular drink in China and you can normally find a milk tea store on nearly every corner. Seven years provides customized milk tea. You can take a pic from various kinds of ingredients of your preference for tea, milk and toppings (boba, tapioca, coconut, oats and more), the taro balls being the most ordered.

KAYA is a Jamaican and reggae style rooftop bar. This is a good place to linger over a few drinks while listening to live performances and maybe visit one of the art exhibitions held here occasionally.

This cool hang out is well worth a visit. Mojo Rooftop Bar is a great place to have something nice to drink and enjoy the view of the old street from the rooftop. You can also come and see the weekly competitions held around the beer pong table.

The Guilin Sheraton is located in central Guilin with a large outdoor terrace overlooking the Li River and nearby mountains. At the restaurant and Luo Tuo Bar, they serve both Chinese and western style cuisine. During dinnertime, you can enjoy piano and violin performances as well as Chinese style musical performances in the restaurant. The bar is a good spot to unwind with a cigar and drink to live performances by singers.

Already a fascinating place during daytime, the thousand-year-old street is even more charming at night, Take a night stroll and roam from the east end to the west end with the archaic city wall of Jingjiang Palace. The street is full bars and street food stands that closed at midnight. If you don't know where to go at night, this would be a great place to start with.

This Irish Pub offers Guinness on draft, German beer and some interesting beer choices on tap. Catering to Western tastes, it has always been popular with foreigners, both expats and tourists alike. Every night live folk music is played from 9 pm.

West Street is most popular among tourists and expats and usually full of backpackers. English is the most heard language here so please don't be surprised if an old Chinses lady starts speaking English with you. This is actually the place where the first contact with western culture took place and has since become the most international neighbourhood in Guilin.

Karaoke is an important part of Chinese nightlife culture. You can find dozens of KTVs in Guilin. Hold the mic and choose your favourite songs, it is time to headline a concert of your own.

Already a fascinating place during daytime, the thousand-year-old street is even more charming at night, Take a night stroll and roam from the east end to the west end with the archaic city wall of Jingjiang Palace. The street is full bars and street food stands that closed at midnight. If you don't know where to go at night, this would be a great place to start with.

You cannot miss the red tents of Guilin Night Market lining in long rows. Locals sell all kind of handicrafts like embroidery balls, brocades, flutes, snacks and local specialities, porcelain and ceramics products like smoking pipes, Chinese seals, paintings as well as calligraphy.

West Street is most popular among tourists and expats and usually full of backpackers. English is the most heard language here so please don't be surprised if an old Chinses lady starts speaking English with you. This is actually the place where the first contact with western culture took place and has since become the most international neighbourhood in Guilin.

Fuli Town is home to the 100-meter long street full of fans in all shapes and colours made by skilful craftsmen. The poetic fans are decorated with poems paintings and calligraphy and their materials are locally grown like bamboo from the riverside, native paper and the pictures depict Guilin landscapes.

Guilinxiu is a place where you can find all kinds of Guilin's specialty handcraft objects and souvenirs. Brocade of Zhuang, among others, is particularly worth buying, for this is a Zhuang craftwork, marked by a vivid usage of colours.

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) is located 26.5 kilometres away from Guilin’s city centre. The airport bus to the city centre runs all day long. There are also taxis available. Some hotels can arrange transfer back to the airport. Bus to Guilin Centre available from 6h30 - 21h50.

Due to the Internet policy of China, certain websites and applications are not accessible from the mainland, which includes those very commonly used in the west (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google, Skype and more). Some travellers have been able to gain access to those via a VPN service (installed prior to arrival in China). Make sure you comply with local laws and regulations when deciding on whether or not to employ a VPN, and which one to choose (if you do, only use those explicitly allowed by the Chinese government, and only use them for authorised purposes to avoid any trouble). There have been reports of foreigners in China getting their cell service cut off in response to unauthorised use of VPN being detected; restoring cell service required a trip to the local police station where contents of the device were investigated and certain apps removed. Giving that Google is banned in China, Google Maps might not be the most accurate and reliable source of information. Some local apps such as Baidu Maps and AutoNavi tend to work better than Google Maps.

For citizens of the following countries, the visa is not requested for short term stays : - 90 days: Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino - 60 days: Mauritius - 30 days: Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Ecuador, Fiji, Grenada, Qatar, Serbia, Seychelles, Tonga, United Arab Emirates. - 15 days: Brunei, Japan, Singapore. Holders of passports issued by the following 49 countries do not require a visa for a 144-hour stay if they are transiting through Qingdao Airport. However, passengers need to provide ticket showing their first destination, which should be outside China, nor could it be in the same country as the inbound flight. - All European Union citizens, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Iceland, Japan, Macedonia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States. - Passengers who enter China by Guilin Airport cannot leave Guilin City during the transiting period.

The best time to visit Guilin would be summer and autumn, which means from July to October. In Guilin, the temperature will not get too high during summertime and it is also the best time to enjoy the greenery and the clear rivers. Try to avoid Chinese public holidays such as between October 1st and 7th, during which the city could be flooded by local tourists.

Guilin is well served by its public bus system, though Chinese scripts indicating the desired destinations are recommended for non-Mandarin speakers. All route numbers that start with 5 are free. It is advised to take care of belongings on these buses.

It is convenient and simple to travel by taxi. Taxis are generally inexpensive and you can find them throughout the whole city. It is advisable to show the destination in Chinese to the driver. If you want to you can also get a driver for a day to see Guilin and surroundings. You can also use the taxi cab hailing service with WeChat or Alipay (like the Chinese version of Uber).

In Guilin, you can find post offices along Zhongshan Lu. Post offices, as well as post boxes in China, are colored in green. General opening hours are from 8 am-6 pm.

You can find a lot of pharmacies throughout Guilin. LBX Pharmacy

Country code: +86 Area code: 0773

220 V/50 Hz Adapter needed