Ink-washed Landscapes, a Four-Day Lyrical Journey: A Guilin Landscape Tour

🌿 Guilin Travelogue: Ink-washed Landscapes, a Four-Day Lyrical Journey 🧳 Pre-trip Essentials: Lazy Guide to the City of Landscapes Best season: April-October (avoid May-June rainy season). Golden terraced fields in autumn and misty Li River in spring offer the most photogenic scenes. Transport tips: ✈️ Fly to Guilin Liangjiang Airport, take the airport shuttle (¥20) directly to downtown; for high-speed rail, choose "Guilin Station" for closer proximity to the city center. 🛵 Rent an e-bike in Yangshuo (¥50/day) for effortless countryside exploration; downtown attractions are accessible by taxi at minimum fare. Accommodation picks: Guilin Central Square: Stay at "Vienna Hotel" (¥200/night), a 10-minute walk to Zhengyang Road Night Market; Yangshuo West Street: Choose deep-alley homestays (e.g., "Shiguangshe") for tranquility with convenience, waking up to karst peaks outside your window. 🚴‍♀️ Four-Day Itinerary: From Ink-washed Li River to Cloud-Kissed Terraces 📍Day1: City Emblem & Old Street Charms Elephant Trunk Hill Park (¥55): Arrive at 7am and head straight to Zizhou Island viewpoint! The elephant trunk drinking water silhouette in morning mist resembles ink painting—but after 9am, tour groups swarm. Pro tip: Avoid the "free photo" scam at the gate (small photo free, enlarged version costs ¥30). Prince Jingjiang Mansion (¥100): Touch the 600-year-old imperial examination stele at Solitary Beauty Peak, then climb for panoramic city views where modern buildings sprout from traditional rooftops—surreal! Guide reveals: The original "Guilin's scenery tops all under heaven" inscription hides on the cliff. Zhengyang Road Night Stroll: Queue 15 mins for "Chongshan Rice Noodles"—6 yuan gets you two-liang noodles with pickled beans and bone broth buffet! Locals teach: Eat half dry, then add soup for double the flavor. 📍Day2: Li River Cruise & Xingping's Slow Motion Li River Cruise (Mopanshan→Yangshuo, 4-star boat ¥450): Choose upper deck right side! When passing Nine-Horse Fresco Hill, boatmen suddenly shout: "Spot all nine horses to become top scholar!" Hilarity ensues as passengers crane necks. Secret moment: Capture "Yellow Cloth Reflection" (20 yuan bill scene) with backlighting turning water into golden silk. Xingping Ancient Town (free): Avoid main streets for alleys where grannies paint fans—20 yuan buys a Li River mist fan. Climb 40-min up Laozhai Mountain (no guardrails!) for breathtaking S-curve river view—worth the sweat. Yangshuo West Street Feast: "Master Fish Beer" set meal (¥148) with catfish and Lipu taro—fish soaked in spicy sauce is divine, but avoid à la carte wild veggies priced like meat! 📍Day3: Bamboo Rafting & Underground Galaxy Yulong River Rafting (Jinlongqiao-Jiuxian section, ¥255/2-person): Race for 7am first raft! Water splashes soak you at dams—rafter laughs: "Only wet bodies meet the dragon!" Magic moment: At Shui'edi section, bamboo curtains dip into jade water as egrets skim silently past. Ten-Mile Gallery Cycling: Instagrammable trail (Jima→Chaoyang docks) through endless rice fields. Rent Zhuang costumes (¥30/hour) for ethnic photos. Grand Banyan Tree grannies tie red ribbons: "For love blessings!" Silver Cave (¥65): "Snow Mountain Waterfall" stalactites resemble cascading galaxy—but beware peak season crowds (bring mask against body odors!). Cheesy but honest: Long queue at exit's "Never Lack Money" sign. 📍Day4: Dragon's Back Terraces & Farewell Feast Longji Terraces (¥80): Private car to Jinkeng Terraces (¥300/round). May flooded fields mirror skies; September golden waves dance. Bloody lesson: Don't wear white shoes! Red Yao grandma's oil tea almost made me tumble into paddies. Final Rice Noodle Fiesta: "Chunji Roast Goose" near Guilin Station (¥70/person)—crispy-skinned goose with juicy meat, mango "eggs" burst with lava filling! Vacuum-packed noodles (¥15/box) recreate the journey at home. 🍜 Food Hall of Fame (Local-Approved) Do Try Avoid ✅ Oil tea (bitter-sweet with rice) ❌ Scenic bamboo rice (hard/overpriced) ✅ Suanye (green mango + chili) ❌ West Street bubble tea (artificial) ✅ Li River beer + shrimp skewers ❌ Guide-pushed souvenirs (300% markup) Ticket Hacks: Book Li River cruise 1 day early for 10% off; Xianggong Mountain sunrise tickets (¥60)—buy onsite to avoid online failures! Transport Traps: Yangshuo Station→West Street: Take official bus (¥20), not ¥80 scam taxis; Yulong rafters forbid tips—pretend not to understand hints. Hidden Gems: Fuli Bridge: Ming Dynasty arch with moon-like reflection—serene and crowd-free; Osmanthus Park: Make fragrant cakes and steal-century-old honey recipes. 🌄 Epilogue: When Landscapes Breathe Drifting through Yulong River's dawn mist, watching Red Yao grannies tie red strings with wrinkled hands—I finally understood Guilin's soul. Karst peaks are earth's frozen waves, while fishing lights, cloud seas, and West Street's buzz... are humanity's vibrant pulse. My oil tea tin is empty now, but its bitter-sweet aftertaste still evokes Guilin mornings: mist curling through windows, birdsong piercing silence, as the city forever awaits in steaming bowls of rice noodles.