We hopped on a train and made the trek down to this beautiful city down in the southern area of the country. You know, somehow I thought all those roofs that curled up was just an exaggerated stereotype for Asian cultures. Nope! Almost every building actually looked like that! Scaffolding is made with bamboo and each eave is decorated with elaborately carved little statues standing guard. It really brings out the charm of the place. Guilin is a beautiful city with impressive waterways winding around the drastic mountains jutting out of the rice fields.
Tip: The train is a great way to travel in China if you don’t mind the long ride. Pay the few extra dollars for a sleeper car.
Tip: If you choose to visit Guilin, spend less time there and budget more time in the smaller town of Yangshuo. It’s more rural and boasts more dramatic scenery.
Visiting Guilin with Kids
Tip: Flights in China are super cheap. If you want to avoid the long train ride, just catch a flight down there.
Tip: Elephant Rock has some awesome little trails that aren’t very hard, but you feel super accomplished at the top. It’s a great spot to explore and let the kids loose a bit.
Walkabout 