This section introduces the general situation, itinerary and road conditions of Yangshuo and Guilin, relevant attractions and wonderful moments.

1. Introduction to Guilin and Yangshuo

Guilin is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Guangxi. It is located in northeastern Guangxi. In terms of topography, the northwest and southeast are high, and the middle is low. The middle is a typical karst landform with strange peaks and beautiful waters, presenting karst peak forests and isolated peak plains and river valley terraces with open and flat terrain. The limestone throughout the city has been weathered and eroded for hundreds of millions of years, forming a unique landscape with thousands of peaks standing around it, a water embracing the city, and beautiful caves and rocks.

Yangshuo County belongs to Guilin City and is located in the south of Guilin City and in the lower reaches of the Li River. The coast of the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo is a typical landscape in karst areas. Mountains stand on both sides, surrounded by river peaks, reflection of pastoral green mountains, flowers of flowers and birds singing, and people are busy, giving a southern scenery.

2. Itinaries and road conditions in Yangshuo and Guilin

1. Trip

On the afternoon of November 15, 2018, after we left Huangyao Ancient Town and came to Yangshuo, we first visited Yangshuo Lijiang River, Yangshuo West Street and other places.

Starting from Yangshuo on November 16, we first visited Xingping Ancient Town, then went to Guilin and visited the Elephant Trunk Mountain Scenic Area. Drive 96 kilometers that day.

On November 17, we visited Jingjiang Palace, Reed Flute Rock and other scenic spots in downtown Guilin, and visited the Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area in the evening.

2. Road conditions

Yangshuo to Xingping Ancient Town: Traveling mainly along Provincial Highway S305. S305 is a third-class highway with asphalt pavement. The road conditions are good, but there is a mountainous road with sharp turns and steep slopes, so you must drive carefully.

Xingping Ancient Town to Guilin: It mainly travels along Provincial Highway S202 and He County Road X068. This section of Provincial Highway and County Road should be a Class III highway and asphalt pavement, but it is an ordinary highway after all, with many pedestrians and other vehicles.

3. Main attractions and wonderful moments in Yangshuo and Guilin

1. Yangshuo Lijiang River

The Li River is the Xijiang River system in the Pearl River Basin. It originates near Maoer Mountain in Yuecheng Ling, Rongjiang Town, Xing 'an County. The Li River has a total length of 164 kilometers. The river beds along the river are mostly water-quality pebbles, with small sediment and clear water quality. There are typical karst peak forest landforms on both sides of the Yangshuo section of the Li River, making it the most beautiful section of Guangxi.

Because we drove ourselves, we did not take a boat to rafting the Li River and missed the beautiful scenery of the Li River. We had to come to the Li River on Yangshuo West Street, walk along the river embankment, and feel the beauty of the Li River.

2. Yangshuo West Street

Yangshuo West Street is a pedestrian street in Yangshuo County. It is the oldest and most prosperous street in Yangshuo. It is said to have a history of more than 1400 years. Near the street, there are ancient buildings such as Ming City Wall, stele carvings, ancient temples, ancient pavilions, former residences of celebrities, memorial halls, etc., of course, more shops, restaurants, bars, etc. for tourists.

3. Xingping Ancient Town

Xingping Ancient Town is located between Yangshuo and Guilin, 25 kilometers northeast of Yangshuo County. The Li River flows through the town. It is said that Xingping Old Street has a history of more than 1700 years, and the current layout and alleys are still the same as before.

The fifth set of scenes on the back of RMB 20 is also taken on the edge of the Li River near Xingping Ancient Town.

4. Elephant Trunk Mountain in Guilin

On the bank of the Li River near Binjiang Road in Guilin City, there is a hill lying on the riverside. Its shape resembles an elephant stopping by the river to drink water, hence the name Elephant Trunk Mountain. In ancient times, there was a saying that "the elephant draws a long wave, and the cave grows a bright moon." On the stone wall next to the "Shuiyue Cave" between the elephant's trunk and the elephant, there are more than 50 stone carvings left by literati and literati from past dynasties.

5. Guilin Jingjiang Palace

Jingjiang Palace is located in Guilin City and on the west bank of the Li River. It was the royal palace of Zhu Shouqian, the vassal king of Jingjiang in the Ming Dynasty. It was built in the fifth year of Hongwu (AD 1372). Jingjiang Palace is large in scale, strict in layout, deep in door and strong in city, majestic in momentum, towering halls and majestic pavilions. There is also the best-preserved Ming Dynasty city wall in the country around Wangfu City.

6. Guilin Reed Flute Rock

Reed Flute Rock is located in the northwest suburb of Guilin City. It is the earliest scenic spot in China to visit karst caves. There are many beautiful and exquisitely carved stalagmites, stalactites, stone pillars, stone curtains, and stone flowers in the cave. The many landscapes formed from this have opened up ideas for similar scenic spots in the future. The reed flute grotto is 240 meters deep and runs 500 meters long. Compared with other similar attractions, the scale is slightly smaller.

7. Guilin has two rivers and four lakes

Guilin's "Two Rivers and Four Lakes" refer to the Li River, Taohua River, Mulong Lake, Gui Lake, Rong Lake and Shanhu Lake. The entire ring-city water system has a total length of 7.33 kilometers and a water surface area of 385,900 square meters. By restoring and communicating the water systems inside and outside Guilin, we will connect important cultural relics and historic sites such as the surrounding stupas (Tang Dynasty), the Song City Wall, Li Jishen's former residence, and General Ye Ting's imprisonment, and build a large number of bridges, pavilions and pavilions in various forms. With trees and green spaces, the natural landscape and cultural environment of the entire Guilin City have been greatly improved.

Today's "Two Rivers and Four Lakes" scenic spots are mainly to enjoy the night scenery of the two rivers and four lakes by boat in the evening. Through the transformation of lights on the buildings on both sides of the strait (including the island in the middle of the lake) and the rippling water waves on the lake, a colorful and unpredictable mysterious atmosphere and novel feeling are created.

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