I recently had the wonderful opportunity to visit Guilin, China, thanks to a friend's invitation. I must say, this destination surpassed all my expectations with its stunning beauty. Allow me to share a bit about my experiences in Guilin and offer some useful tips for anyone planning a trip to China.
Guilin's landscape is truly captivating. The karst mountains rising above the misty Li River create a scene reminiscent of a classic Chinese painting. I was in awe of the natural splendor during our cruise on the Li River, which I highly recommend to anyone in the area.
A significant highlight of my journey was discovering the quaint town of Yangshuo. Renting a bike and cycling through the countryside was an unforgettable experience. The sight of farmers tending to rice fields against the backdrop of those famous limestone peaks is something I will always remember.
For those considering a trip to China, here are some practical tips I picked up:
- Learn some basic Mandarin phrases. While many young people in tourist regions speak a bit of English, knowing a few essential phrases can be very helpful.
- Download WeChat before you arrive. It is crucial for communication and is widely used for payments.
- If you wish to access Western social media or Google services, consider getting a VPN.
- Be prepared for squat toilets in certain places, and always carry tissue paper with you.
- Sample the local cuisine. The Guilin rice noodles and beer fish in Yangshuo were delicious!
- Respect local customs and dress modestly when visiting temples or rural areas.
- Think about hiring a local guide for at least part of your journey. Our guide in Guilin offered invaluable insights into the culture and history.
Overall, my trip to Guilin was an enlightening experience that I will treasure forever. If you are contemplating a visit to China, I wholeheartedly encourage you to include Guilin in your plans. The breathtaking natural beauty, rich culture, and the warm hospitality of the locals make it a truly remarkable destination.
One thing that surprised me about Chengdu was how similar it felt to Beijing and other major Chinese cities we had explored. While we experienced some interesting nightlife spots, the city overall seemed quite generic. I initially thought this might be due to my limited Western viewpoint, but Mei Ling concurred that Chengdu didn't truly embody Sichuanese culture. We resolved to venture beyond the city borders during our remaining days in Chengdu.
This month, I've been extremely lazy due to my knee not feeling completely right and the inconvenient location I reside in. Traveling to the south end of the city requires me to take two light rail trains, which takes at least 1.5 hours. I live in Gaochun, south of the airport, so I first take the local rail to the airport, then switch to the airport train to finally reach the south end of the city. My tourist card now only has destinations on the north end of the city left, and I lack the motivation to visit more than one each weekend. Without further delay, here are the photos I took during the weekends in December.
I'm still trying out my knee, so I visited Zhou "garden" (which isn't really a garden) and Wenfeng pagoda. It was impressive but tough for me to climb.
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A highly soggy mountain and an extremely busy panda sanctuary.
It was excessively warm.
No Permanent Residence
I recently had the amazing chance to visit Guilin, China, thanks to an invitation from a friend. I have to say, this destination surpassed all my expectations with its stunning scenery. I'd like to share some details about my experience in Guilin and provide some useful tips for anyone considering a trip to China.