Guilin: Karst Mountains, Elephant Trunk Hill, Li River, Reed Flute Cave
We leave Hong Kong by rail, traveling first to Guangzhou by coach car; then overnight to Guilin by "soft sleeper" car.
Guilin is surrounded by its famous karst peaks, some of which come right into town.
Two lakes (Shan Hu and Rong Hu) are at town center, surrounded by parks and paths. The twin pagodas of Riming Shuang Ta overlook Shan Hu.
Panoramic view of Shan Hu, the larger of the two lakes. Use the slider to pan around the lake.
In town we pass by a truckload of exuberant soldiers, and a man with caged bunnies for sale.
Everything is about elephants as we enter Elephant Trunk Park.
The rock formations of Elephant Trunk Hill at the edge of the Li River resemble an elephant taking a drink.
We pass by an old pagoda by the trail as we climb Elephant Trunk Hill.
From above we can see the traditional bamboo rafts being assembled and launched on the river, and a fisherman using one as he nets his catch.
A trailside Buddhist shrine ...
... and the entrance to a cave used for aging wine.
Back down at the Li River we admire peacocks and pose with animals.
Dr. Ray poses with a disrespectful monkey, but Bob K. gets the monkey to perform a better trick. Meanwhile Eric poses with cormorants on a bamboo raft.
We visit the Karst Research Institute for a lesson in the geologic formation of karst peaks, and then admire some of them at a spot on the Li River.
The same process of dissolving limestone that forms karst peaks occurs underground too, forming caves with fantastic stalagmites and stalactites. We visit Reed Flute Cave near Guilin, where these formations are illuminated by colored lights. Below, an underground lake within the cave.
