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Guilin (Chinese: 桂林; pinyin: Guìlín; Wade-Giles: Kuei-lin, Postal System Pinyin: Kweilin; Zhuang: Gveilinz) is one of China's most picturesque cities, with a population of 670,000, situated in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China on the west bank of the Lijiang River (also called the Li River). Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city.

History

In 314 BC, a small settlement was established along the banks of the Li River.

In 111 BC, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Shi An County was established, which could be regarded as the beginning of the city.

In 507 AD, the town was renamed Guizhou.

Guilin prospered in the Tang and Song dynasties but remained a county. The city was also a nexus between the central government and the southwest border, and it was where regular armies were placed to guard that border. Canals were built through the city so that food supplies could be directly transported from the food-productive Yangtze plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire.

During the Ming Dynasty, Guilin became the capital of Guangxi, due to its immense role in the province.

In 1914, Nanning, another center of the province and a heroic city with more than 1,600 years of history, replaced Guilin as the provincial capital.

In 1921, Guilin became one of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

In 1940, the city acquired its present name. In 1981, this ancient city was listed by the State Council as one of the four cities (the other three being Beijing, Hangzhou and Suzhou) where the protection of historical and cultural heritage, as well as natural scenery, should be treated as a priority project.

Physical Setting

• Area: 27,809 km²
• Subtropical region
• Typical karst formation
• Mountains: Diecai Hill (叠彩山), Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山), Seven-Star Cave (七星岩), Wave-Subduing Hill (伏波山), Lipu Mountains and Yaoshan Mountains
• Rivers: Li Jiang (漓江 )

Administrative divisions

• 5 city regions: Xiufeng Qu (秀峰区), Xiangshan Qu (象山区), Diecai Qu (叠彩区), Qixing Qu (七星区), Yanshan Qu (雁山区).
• 10 counties: Lingui (临桂), Yangshuo (阳朔), Lingchuan (灵川), Xing'an (兴安), Quanzhou (全州), Yongfu (永福), Ziyuan (资源), Guanyang (灌阳), Pingle (平乐), Lipu (荔浦).
• 2 autonomous counties: Gongcheng (恭城), Longsheng (龙胜).

People

• Population: 1.34 million
• Urban population: 600,000
• Ethnic groups: Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao, Han and Dong

Climate

• Damp monsoon climate
• Warm and rainy
• Plenty of sunshine and clear division of the four seasons
• Average temperature: 19°C annually

Economy

• The GDP per capita was ¥15775 (ca. US$1910) in 2003, ranked no. 125 among 659 Chinese cities.

• Local industry: pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, fertilizer, silk, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon, herbal medicine

• Local agricultural products: Shatian Pomelo, summer orange, fructus momordicae, ginkgo, moon persimmon, Lipu Tara, Sanhua Alcohol, pepper sauce, fermented bean curd, Guilin Rice Noodle, water chestnut, grain, fish and dried bean milk cream in tight rolls

Colleges and universities

Public

• Guangxi Normal University （广西师范大学）
• Guilin Medical College (桂林医学院)
• Guilin Institute of Technology (桂林工学院)
• Guilin University of Electronic Technology (桂林电子科技大学)

Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.

Attractions

The Jingjiang Princes City is a royal complex dating from the Ming Dynasty that lies near the center of modern Guilin.

Other scenic spots around Guilin include:

• Seven Star Park
• Seven-Star Cave and Ludi (Reed-Flute) Cave
• Camel Mountain and Elephant Trunk Hill
• Piled Festoon Hill
• Crescent Hill
• Fubo Hill
• Nanxi Hill
• Erlang Gorge
• Huangbu (Yellow Cloth) Beach
• Moon Hill

Cuisine

Guilin cuisine is known for its snacks and the use of spices especially chili. The famous Guilin chili sauce, Guìlín làjiāojiàng (桂林辣椒酱; used widely in cooking by locals) , is made of fresh chili, garlic and fermented soya beans. Guilin rice nodle (Guìlín mĭfĕn 桂林米粉) has been the local breakfast staple for around 300 years and is renowned for its delicate taste. Zongzi (zòngzi 粽子, glutinous rice and mung bean paste wrapped by bamboo or banana leaves) is another popular delicatessen in Guilin. Other local specialties include turtle soup and bamboo rat.

Quotes

"I often sent pictures of the hills of Guilin which I painted to friends back home, but few believed what they saw."

- Fan Chengda (Chinese Song Dynasty scholar)

桂林山水甲天下 "Guilin’s scenery bests all others in the world."

- popular Chinese saying

Additional Images

• Guilin landscapes
• Pagodas in Guilin
• Songs and Performances in Guilin
• Seven Star Park
• Pagodas in Fir Lake in downtown Guilin Pagodas in Fir Lake in downtown Guilin
• Distant view of Guilin

External links

• Guilin Map
• Guilin Tourism Guide
• The relative location of Guilin in China
• China Planner (a very informative site for those interested in visiting China)
• The Clintons in Guilin
• Guilin Travel Guide
• Guilin cuisine is typified by its sweetness and delicate use of spice and chili.
• Template:Wikitravel
• Pictures from a backpacker's trip to Guilin

See also

• Shenmue
• Chinese wine
• Li Tsung-jen
• Transportation in Macau
• Pai Chung-hsi

• Guilin