From Mountains to River Banks

Zhangjiajie in Hunan is mostly mountains with sheer sides while Guilin is located in Guangxi province through which the River Li flows.

My first trip to Guilin was more than 20 years ago when China was just opening up and this second trip saw many changes. Many buildings and multi-storey apartments are sprouting everywhere.

There is a “People’s Walking Street” ( pedestrian mall ) with trendy boutiques and bars to cater to tourists both local and foreign.

 Beneath the large central square lies hundreds of shops known to the locals as “Little Hong Kong”. They sell clothing, shoes and bags. Two glass pyramids are the entrances to this underground mall.

 We saw senior citizens waving pink fans, marching, rehearsing to the clash of cymbals and drums in this wide open square.

 Another photo stop was a man-made lake, home to twin copper pagodas, the Sun and Moon Pagodas standing serene in their water bed.

Another scenic spot showcased the Zig Zag bridge or bridge with nine turns.

 Close by was another bridge which is a favorite spot for bridal couples.

 A short boat ride along the River Li took us past the Elephant Trunk Hill.

 This ride was very different from the one my siblings and I took together with my late father. We had boarded the boat from Guilin to go down the River Li to Yangshuo, a small town two hours away. Along the way, small boats came alongside to sell us their wares and my father bought big red Chinese paper fans for us as souvenirs. This time, no such boats were in evidence.

 The river did not seem to be as pristine as it used to be although in some parts, the water was still clear. However the scenery along the river banks is still lovely, with reflections of the karst hills.

It was quite a change from Zhangjiajie.