Astonishing Trip in Guilin, China

         If there's a place I want to visit again,  it's nowhere else but Guilin China.  It  is the capital of the Guangxi Province and is named after the lovely fragrance of the Osmanthus tree. First established as a city during the first century BC, and once a prominent trading post under the Ming Dynasty, Guilin is situated on the western banks of the River Kuei. Culture and history are extremely important aspects during Guilin tours. The history of Guilin dates back more than 2,000 years making it an economic, cultural, and political cornerstone of Guangxi province. With twelve ethnic groups making up a city of more than one million people, culture is one of the most fascinating aspects of the historic city.

         There are many landmarks here in Guilin China which are truly amazing and breathtaking  Only a few hours away from the exciting city of Beijing, Guilin China is one of the most picturesque cities in the area. Renowned for its limestone karst hills, beautiful mountains, and scenic winding rivers that add special definition to Guilin tours. These wonderful geographic elements present plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventure. One of the best times to visit is during autumn when the changing colors along throughout the hillsides and valleys create a brilliant panorama.  Those beautiful views make me feel like visiting the place again.

Twin Pagodas on Shanhu Lake

Camel Hill

Li  River Cruise

How to reach Guilin?

Several popular airlines fly from Manila into Guilin Airport, including

• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Air China

      The easiest way is to ask a Travel agency to arrange the trip and accommodations. When you are already there,  there are lots of transportation ways to go around the place, like train, bus, taxi, coach and even bicycles for rent.

For accommodations, there are many good hotels in the city like Shangri-la Hotel, Grand Link Hotel, Grand Bravo Hotel, Guilin Golden Oriole Hotel, Elephant Trunk Hill Hotel and many other hotels of your choice depending on your budget.  I recommend that you choose Grand Link Hotel because I personally experienced the good service and beautiful ambiance of this hotel.

Guilin still have many more out of the way attractions, 

they also have the famous rice terraces like our very own in Benguet.  They also have an amazing National Park.

Longsheng(Longji) Rice Terraces

Guilin National Park

Guilin's Culture:

       With history of 2,000 years, Guilin is one of famous historical and cultural cities in China. Guilin had been the center of politics, economy and culture since Song Dynasty (960AD-1279). Landscape of Guilin not only attracts tourists but also the writers and poets. In ancient China, many famous poets visited Guilin for its unique mountains amidst verdant river and they also wrote the famous poems and articles to eulogize the beauty of Guilin. Some poets and articles were carved on the mountain or steles, which now become the famous historical sites in Guilin. Guilin inhabits more than ten ethnic groups like Zhuang, Yao, Miao, etc. These minorities have its own customs which include costumes, food, festivals, and religious belief.

       More than 10 ethnic groups are scattered in Guanxi so there are many traditional ethnic festivals in Guilin. Zhuang Nationality Song Festival on March 3rd of Chinese lunar year is also known as Gepo Festival and Gewei Festival. During the festival, young women and men wear their best clothes, and men hold their precious gifts and women take Xiuqiu, a ball made of silk. Then they begin to sing in antiphonal style. If one girl is satisfied with a boy's song, she throw her ball to the boy and the boy ties his gift on the ball. In this way, young men and women choose their mates.

Gepo Festival

Do's and Don'ts

• Don’t disrespect homes or temples. It is important to remove your shoes before entering many homes or temples. But it is an individual thing. Chinese follows different household customs.
•  Don’t pint at people or beckon with one finger when you are communicating with them. Instead, motion with the palm of your hand.
•  Don’t touch people. Chinese are less affectionately touchy freely, and hug and kiss much less than people from other cultures.  When you meet a stranger, it might be best simply to greet verbally instead of trying to shake hands.  IN many areas, due to tradition and religion, the head is considered more sacred. A touch could be considered respectful, so be aware of this, and don’t pat people on the head or play with their hair unless you are sure of your standing with them.
• Don’t offend with your gifts.  Certain types of flowers and fruits are considered unlucky or inappropriate in China. It is best to avoid these altogether or learn special meanings of flowers and fruits to know what to give accurately. Avoid giving clocks also since they connote death to Chinese. Don’t give anything in fours since Chinese word for four sounds like the word for death
• Don’t give tip. Tipping is a practice that is not observed in China. Cab drivers, restaurant staff, and bellmen do not expect to be tipped and could be offended if offered extra money. The sole exception to this is a tour that is catered for foreign visitors. The individuals on these tours often depend upon tips for their income.
• Don’t forget table manners. Don’t ignore chopstick etiquette. Chinese have a lot of ideas about this. Chopsticks are for eating only. They are not used for gesturing to items or individuals. They are also not to be used as drumsticks ro as playthings at someone’s table.  Don’t place chopsticks inside the bowl when finished  or stick them in your hair. Instead, place the chopstick on top of the bowl.  
•  Don’t get upset. If something unexpected happens, which is likely to happen when you are travelling, don’t get upset and make a scene, as this leads to people you are dealing with losing face, leaving the situation even less likely to be resolved.  The best way is to remain calm and patient and ask help from your guide in solving the issue at hand.

                Years ago, I had this impression that China was not a good place to go to because of many negative comments I heard about it and its people... but after my trip to Guilin, China,  such impression was reversed.  I've realized instead that  it is an amazing place to visit.  How can I forget the warm accommodation by its people, the delicious foods, the amazing views, great shows, and the great experience of meeting new friends.  They are all worth remembering.

      I was so grateful to be a member of the Philippine Team to compete in International Math Contest because it opened the door for me to see the beautiful Guilin. 
     I truly enjoyed the trip!

       -Ivaniel B. Salen