Guilin is located in one of China's autonomous regions, similar to Tibet. The ethnicity of 95% of the residents of this magnificently beautiful region are the Drung people. We came to see the Karst limestone formations that dot this lush man-made farmland that just 300 million years ago was ocean bed. I found it surprisingly easy to imagine myself as a long-extinct sea creature floating serenely among a maze of limestone peaks.
We spent 24 hours in Guilin which included four hours of scenic bus travel and another four hours of scenic cruising on a three-deck ferry boat on the Li River. It was hot and sunny but the breeze on the observation deck was lovely, and the sights lovelier so our first several hours consisted of drinking in the sublime vistas. Once Karst formations gave way to sloping farmland we retired to the dining cabin for a buffet lunch that had been prepared in the open galley at the ship's stern.
Along the river we passed a few areas that are popular tourist areas for Chinese nationals. Favorite pastimes include riding on a bamboo raft or cave exploration. Our boat disembarked in Yongshou, a classic mountain getaway, and a recommended destination if you find yourself wandering your way through southern China.
No comments:
Post a Comment