Guilin
Diecai Hill (Folded Brocade Hill) Located north of Guilin by the Li River, Diecai Hill rises abruptly with an elevation of 73 meters. The grotesque-looking rocks, with patterns suggesting a great pile of folded brocade, gave the hill its present name Folded Brocade Hill. Covering an area of 2 sq km, the hill consists of Yuyue Hill, Siwang Hill (Look-on-All-Direction Hill), Crane Peak and Bright Moon Peak. Many charming buildings and natural scenes such as Diecai Pavilion, Diecai Archway, Windy Cave and Cloud-catching Pavilion are scattered on the hill.

Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan) Situated majestically at the southeast of Guilin city and west bank of Li River, Elephant Trunk Hill is regarded as the symbol of Guilin landscape. Resembling an elephant leisurely sucking water from the river with its long trunk, this hill has been known as Elephant Trunk Hill for hundreds of years. On top of the hill stands a pagoda named Puxian Pagoda. Built in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), it looks like the handle of a sword. One of the caves in the area has many carvings and inscriptions, the most well-known of which is a poem by Lu You (1125-1210), one of the four great poets of the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). Another gives one wonderful view of surrounding Xian...don't forget your camera!

Li River Scenery Originating in the Mao'er Mountain in Xin'an county northeast of Guilin, Li River winds its way southeast for about 437 km, passing through Guilin, Yangshuo, Pingle, Zhaoping and finally meets Xi River in Wulin. It boasts the largest and most beautiful scenic area in China and attracts thousands of visitors yearly. The 83-km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is the masterpiece of Li River, decorated with rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves is an explorers paradise and well worth discovering if you are in the area.

Reed Flute Cave Located 5 km northwest of Guilin city, the Reed Flute Cave is in fact a cave on the southern shoulder of the Guangming Hill (Bright Hill). It got its name by the reeds used for making flutes and pipes growing at its entrance, the cave is regarded as the largest and most impressive cave in Guilin city.

Seven Star Cave The cave got its for the seven peaks supposed to resemble the star pattern of the Big Dipper constellation nearby - four peaks in the north are called Putuo Hill, three in the south are called Lunar Hill. The famous Seven Star cave is just located at the halfway the Putuo Hill.

Solitary Beauty Peak Duxiu Peak stands in solitary grace in the center of the ancient Jingjiang Princely Mansion. Towering abruptly from the ground with an elevation of 216 meters, it is reputed as Sky-Supporting Pillar in the South. During the Southern dynasty (420-589), some 1500 years ago, Yan Yanzhi, governor of Guilin, wrote the line: "none can surpass this solitary peak in beauty." Hence the name Solitary Beauty Peak. On the east side of the hill there are many inscriptions from the Qing Dynasty.

Steep Gates of the Ling Canal Two thousand years ago, the Ling canal constructors not only changed the river course to make the river longer and reduce the speed of the river but also constructed an important project, now known as Steep Gates, to collect rainfall and raise water level.

Mausoleum of Prince Jingjiang located at the foot of Mt. Yao, 7km east of Guilin, is the mausoleum of a royal family, where eleven princes of Jingjiang Family in the Ming dynasty were buried. Besides this there are more than 300 tombs covering an area over 100 sq. km scatter nearby, forming the biggest ancient tomb group in south China. In front of each tomb stands a pair of Huabiao as well as two lines of stone statues of horses, human and other figures.

Wave-Subduing Hill (Fubo Hill) Located on the western bank of the Li River, visitors can enjoy a fine view of Guilin from the peak of Wave Subduing Hill. On the hill is a temple supposedly founded by Tang dynasty general Fubo Jingjun. He was known as the wave subduing general and the hill is believed to be named after him. Others believe that the name of the hill is derived from the location of the hill, as it falls straight into the river blocking all waves. On the way up the hill you can still find remnants of the old temple including a ton bell and a huge cooking pot.