Guilin

On a recent trip to China, I was fortunate to stop over in Guilin; home of massive cultural extremes and a true reflection of China as a whole. Guilin is probably one of the most written - about, painted and photographed city in China. Apparently many years ago Guilin was at the bottom of the ocean on a volcanic ridge. As a result several volcanic hills developed under the sea. The effects of waves on the rock converted the hills into mammary-like structures that have since been raised above sea level. In a very misty area these hills benefit from heavy greenery and therfore look like mounds of spinach on some giant schoolboy's plate. Serious ...  Read the complete review

Guilin is considered by the Chinese people to be the most beautiful place in the world. Not only will they tell you this, but they'll prove it by all going there, in their hundreds of thousands, on holiday. In fact, because of the Communist system in China, they all end up taking their holidays at the same time, with the inevitable result that the place is absolutely packed for about two or three weeks per year. Fortunately, I wasn't there during a Chinese national holiday – if I'd been there just two weeks later, it would have been heaving. As it was, the place was just gearing itself up for the influx of tourists. The centre of the city ...  Read the complete review