Guilin
Encyclopedia
Guilin is a prefecture-level city
in the northeast of the Guangxi
Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China
, sitting on the west bank of the Li River
. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus
", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus
trees located in the city. The city has long been renowned for its unique scenery.
.
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. Canal
s 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.
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, Guilin 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.
, and has a total area of 27809 square kilometres (10,737.1 sq mi). The topography of the area is marked by karst formations
. The Li River flows through the city.
-influenced humid subtropical climate
(Koppen
Cfa), with mild winters and long, hot, and humid summers. The monsoon is long, lasting from March to August, and a pronounced dry season occurs in fall and winter; the total annual rainfall is 1920 millimetres (76 in). Mean temperatures range from 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) in January to 28.7 °C (83.7 °F) in July. Snowfall is rare but possible in winter.
Train: Guilin Train Station
Budget airlines also operate from the Guilin Liangjiang International Airport - Spring Airlines provides connections to local destinations within China while AirAsia connects passengers to Kuala Lumpur
, Malaysia.
Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.
, or liquor distilled from rice; and Guilin pickled tofu
(桂林豆腐乳).
Guilin rice noodles
(桂林米粉) have been the local breakfast staple since the Qin dynasty and are renowned for their delicate taste. Legend has it that when Qin troops suffering from diarrhoea entered this region, a cook created the Guilin rice noodles for the army because they had trouble eating the local food. Specifically, the local specialty is noodles with horse meat
, but this dish can also be ordered without the horse meat. Zongzi
(粽子; pinyin: zòngzi), a dumpling made from glutinous rice
and mung bean paste wrapped in a bamboo or banana leaf) is another popular delicacy in Guilin.
with:
- Nishikatsura, Yamanashi, Japan - Kumamoto City, Japan - Hastings, New Zealand
- Orlando
, United States
The Guilin relationship with the New Zealand city Hastings started in 1977, after a research scientist, Dr Stuart Falconer identified a number of common areas of interest between the two cities, including horticulture and their rural-urban mix.
Prefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
in the northeast of the Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China
South Central China
South Central China is a region of the People's Republic of China defined by governmental bureaus that includes the provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, and Hunan, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, however excluding the 2 special administrative regions : Hong Kong and...
, sitting on the west bank of the Li River
Li River
Li River can refer to:*Lishui River , a river in Hunan province of China, one of the Yangtze River's four largest tributaries in the province....
. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus
Sweet Osmanthus
Osmanthus fragrans is a species of Osmanthus native to Asia, from the Himalaya east through southern China and to Taiwan and to southern Japan...
", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus
Osmanthus
Osmanthus is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae, mostly native to warm temperate Asia but one species occurring in North America . It is sometimes included in Nestegis.They range in size from shrubs to small trees, 2-12 m tall...
trees located in the city. The city has long been renowned for its unique scenery.
History
In 314 BC, a small settlement was established along the banks of the Li RiverLi River
Li River can refer to:*Lishui River , a river in Hunan province of China, one of the Yangtze River's four largest tributaries in the province....
.
In 111 BC, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, 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
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and Song
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
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. Canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s were built through the city so that food supplies could be directly transported from the food-productive Yangtze
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire.
In 1921, Guilin became one of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
.
In 1940, the city acquired its present name.
In 1981, Guilin was listed by the State Council
State Council of the People's Republic of China
The State Council of the People's Republic of China , which is largely synonymous with the Central People's Government after 1954, is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the Premier and includes the heads of each governmental department and agency...
as one of the four cities (the other three being Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
and Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
) where the protection of historical and cultural heritage, as well as natural scenery, should be treated as a priority project.
Administrative divisions
Guilin administers 17 county-level divisions:- Five districtsDistrict (PRC)The term district, in the context of the People's Republic of China refers to several unrelated political divisions in both ancient and modern China....
: Xiufeng DistrictXiufeng DistrictXiufeng District is a district of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(秀峰区), Xiangshan DistrictXiangshan District, GuilinXiangshan District is a district of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(象山区), Diecai DistrictDiecai DistrictDiecai District is a district of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(叠彩区), Qixing DistrictQixing DistrictQixing District is a district of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(七星区), Yanshan DistrictYanshan DistrictYanshan District...
(雁山区). - Ten counties: Lingui CountyLingui CountyLingui County is a county administered by Guilin, Guangxi, China, and located midway between Guilin and Yangshuo. The county is mostly rural and hilly, marked by the same dramatic karst topography for which Guilin is famous.-History:...
(临桂), Yangshuo County (阳朔), Lingchuan CountyLingchuan County, GuangxiLingchuan County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(灵川), Xing'an CountyXing'an CountyXing'an County is a county in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, under the administration of Guilin City. Its area is , with a population of 370000. The postal code is 541300.-External links:* at Xinhuanet...
(兴安), Quanzhou CountyQuanzhou CountyQuanzhou County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(全州), Yongfu CountyYongfu CountyYongfu County is a county in Guilin, Guangxi, China, located 55 km to the southwest of Guilin. The county is mostly rural and hilly, marked by the same dramatic karst topography for which Guilin is famous....
(永福), Ziyuan CountyZiyuan CountyZiyuan County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city.-References:*...
(资源), Guanyang CountyGuanyang CountyGuanyang County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(灌阳), Pingle CountyPingle CountyPingle County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(平乐), Lipu CountyLipu CountyLipu County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is 100 km south of Guilin city and under its administration.Fengyu Cave the largest cave in Asia is found in this county....
(荔浦). - Two autonomous counties: Gongcheng Yao Autonomous CountyGongcheng Yao Autonomous CountyGongcheng Yao Autonomous County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(恭城瑶族自治县), Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous CountyLongsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous CountyLongsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city....
(龙胜各族自治县).
Geography
Guilin lies in the northern portion of GuangxiGuangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
, and has a total area of 27809 square kilometres (10,737.1 sq mi). The topography of the area is marked by karst formations
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
. The Li River flows through the city.
- Hills and Mountains: Diecai Hill (叠彩山), Elephant Trunk HillElephant Trunk HillThe Elephant Trunk Hill is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China.Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of the city of Guilin. It got its name because it looks like an elephant drinking water...
, Wave-Subduing Hill (伏波山), Lipu Mountains, The Cat Mountains (猫儿山) and Yao Mountains (尧山) - Cave: Reed Flute CaveReed Flute CaveThe Reed Flute Cave is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China. It is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting and has been one of Guilin’s most interesting attractions for over 1200 years. It is over 180 million years old. The cave got its name from the type of...
, Seven Star Cave (七星岩)
Climate
Guilin has a monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
-influenced humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Koppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa), with mild winters and long, hot, and humid summers. The monsoon is long, lasting from March to August, and a pronounced dry season occurs in fall and winter; the total annual rainfall is 1920 millimetres (76 in). Mean temperatures range from 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) in January to 28.7 °C (83.7 °F) in July. Snowfall is rare but possible in winter.
People
- Population: 1.34 million
- Urban population: 620,000
- Ethnic groups: Zhuang, YaoYao peopleThe Yao nationality is a government classification for various minorities in China. They form one of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China, where they reside in the mountainous terrain of the southwest and south...
, HuiHui peopleThe Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
, MiaoMiao peopleThe Miao or ม้ง ; ) is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China as one of the 55 official minority groups. Miao is a Chinese term and does not reflect the self-designations of the component nations of people, which include Hmong, Hmu, A Hmao, and Kho Xiong...
, HanHan ChineseHan Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
and DongDong peopleThe Dong , a Kam–Sui people of southern China, are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. They are famed for their native-bred Kam Sweet Rice , carpentry skills, and unique architecture, in particular a form of covered bridge known as the "wind and rain...
Economy
- The GDP per capita was ¥19435 (ca. US$2858) in 2009, ranked no. 125 among 659 Chinese cities.
- Local industry: pharmaceutical goods, tireTireA tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
s, machinery, fertilizerFertilizerFertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
, silkSilkSilk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamonCinnamonCinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
, herbal medicine - Local agricultural products: Shatian Pomelo, summer orange, Fructus Momordicae, ginkgo, moon persimmon, Lipu Taro, Sanhua Alcohol, pepper sauce, fermented bean curd, Guilin Rice Noodle, water chestnutEleocharis dulcisThe Chinese water chestnut , more often called simply the water chestnut, is a grass-like sedge grown for its edible corms. The water chestnut is actually not a nut at all, but an aquatic vegetable that grows in marshes, underwater in the mud...
, grainCerealCereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
, fish and dried bean milk cream in tight rolls
Transportation
Airport: Guilin Liangjiang International AirportGuilin Liangjiang International Airport
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport , is the airport serving the city of Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. It is located in Liangjiang, about southwest of the city center....
Train: Guilin Train Station
Budget airlines also operate from the Guilin Liangjiang International Airport - Spring Airlines provides connections to local destinations within China while AirAsia connects passengers to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Malaysia.
Public
- Guilin University of TechnologyGuilin University of Technology-Departments:*College of Earth Sciences*College of Environment Sciences and Engineering*College of Chemistry and Bio-engineering*College of Civil Engineering and Architecture*College of Mechanical and Control Engineering...
(桂林理工大学) - Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin Medical UniversityGuilin Medical University is a public university, located in Guilin, Guangxi, China. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in medicine.- History :...
(桂林医学院) - Guilin University of Electronic TechnologyGuilin University of Electronic TechnologyThe Guilin University of Electronic Technology is a state university, located in Guilin, Guangxi, China.-Campus:The university is divided into three campuses:*East Campus*West Campus*Yaoshan Campus- History :...
(桂林电子科技大学) - Guangxi Normal UniversityGuangxi Normal University-External links:* * *...
(广西师范大学)
Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.
Scenic spots
Scenic spots around Guilin include:- Jingjiang Princes CityJingjiang Princes CityJingjiang Princes'City is a famous historical site in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.It now functions as both Guangxi Normal University and as a tourist attraction.-History:...
, a royal complex dating from the Ming DynastyMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
that lies near the center of modern Guilin - Reed Flute CaveReed Flute CaveThe Reed Flute Cave is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China. It is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting and has been one of Guilin’s most interesting attractions for over 1200 years. It is over 180 million years old. The cave got its name from the type of...
- Seven Star Park
- Seven-Star CaveSeven-Star CaveSeven-Star Cave is an extensive limestone cave complex in Seven-Star Park, both of which are popular tourist attractions in the city of Guilin in Guangxi province in China. The park and cave's name derive from the fact the main karst limestone peaks roughly resemble the stars of the Big Dipper...
and Ludi (Reed-Flute) Cave - Camel Mountain and Elephant Trunk HillElephant Trunk HillThe Elephant Trunk Hill is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China.Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of the city of Guilin. It got its name because it looks like an elephant drinking water...
- Piled Festoon Hill
- Crescent Hill
- Fubo Hill
- Nanxi Hill
- Erlang Gorge
- Huangbu (Yellow Cloth) Beach
- Moon HillMoon HillMoon Hill 月亮山 or Moon Mountain is a hill with a natural arch through it a few kilometers outside Yangshuo in southern China's Guangxi autonomous region. It is so named for a wide, semicircular hole through the hill, all that remains of what was once a limestone cave formed in the phreatic zone....
- Longsheng Rice TerraceLongsheng Rice TerraceThe Longsheng Rice Terraces are located in Longsheng County, about 100 km from Guilin, Guangxi, China. The most popular are Ping An Rice Terrace and Jinkeng Rice Terrace....
- Daxu Ancient Town
- Duxiu (Solitary Beauty) Peak
- Liusanjie landscape Garden
Cuisine
Guilin cuisine is known for its snacks and the use of spices, especially chili. Guilin chili sauce (桂林辣椒酱), used widely in cooking by locals, is made of fresh chili, garlic, and fermented soybeans, and is considered one of the city's Three Treasures (桂林三宝). The other two of the Three Treasures are Guilin Sanhua Jiu (桂林三花酒), a variety of rice baijiuRice baijiu
Rice baijiu , also known as rice fragrance baijiu , is a variety of distilled beverage popular in China. Unlike other kinds of baijiu, it is distilled mainly from rice rather than from sorghum or other grains...
, or liquor distilled from rice; and Guilin pickled tofu
Pickled tofu
Fermented bean curd also called sufu, fermented tofu, tofu cheese, or preserved tofu is a form of processed, preserved tofu used in East Asian cuisine as a condiment made from soybeans...
(桂林豆腐乳).
Guilin rice noodles
Rice vermicelli
Rice vermicelli are thin noodles made from rice and are a form of rice noodles. They are sometimes referred to as rice noodles or rice sticks, but they should not be confused with cellophane noodles, which is another type of vermicelli....
(桂林米粉) have been the local breakfast staple since the Qin dynasty and are renowned for their delicate taste. Legend has it that when Qin troops suffering from diarrhoea entered this region, a cook created the Guilin rice noodles for the army because they had trouble eating the local food. Specifically, the local specialty is noodles with horse meat
Horse meat
Horse meat is the culinary name for meat cut from a horse. It is a major meat in only a few countries, notably in Central Asia, but it forms a significant part of the culinary traditions of many others, from Europe to South America to Asia. The top eight countries consume about 4.7 million horses...
, but this dish can also be ordered without the horse meat. Zongzi
Zongzi
Zongzi is a traditional Chinese food, made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They are cooked by steaming or boiling. Laotians, Thais, and Cambodians also have similar traditional dishes. In the Western world, they are also known as rice...
(粽子; pinyin: zòngzi), a dumpling made from glutinous rice
Glutinous rice
Glutinous rice is a type of short-grained Asian rice that is especially sticky when cooked. It is called glutinous Glutinous rice (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa or Oryza glutinosa; also called sticky rice, sweet rice, waxy rice, botan rice, biroin chal, mochi rice, and pearl rice, and pulut) is a...
and mung bean paste wrapped in a bamboo or banana leaf) is another popular delicacy in Guilin.
In popular culture
- Photos of Guilin were used as backdrops for the planet KashyyykKashyyykKashyyyk , also known as Wookiee Planet C, is a planet in the Star Wars universe. It is the tropical, forested home world of the Wookiees...
in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the SithStar Wars Episode III: Revenge of the SithStar Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the sixth and final film released in the Star Wars saga and the third in terms of the series' internal chronology....
. - Many scenes from the film The Painted VeilThe Painted Veil (2006 film)The Painted Veil is a 2006 Chinese-American drama film directed by John Curran. The screenplay by Ron Nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by W. Somerset Maugham...
, adapted from the 19251925 in literatureThe year 1925 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* April: F Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway meet in the Dingo Bar on rue Delambre, in the Montparnasse Quarter of Paris, France shortly after the publication of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and shortly before...
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset MaughamWilliam Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
novel The Painted VeilThe Painted Veil (novel)The Painted Veil is a 1925 novel by British author W. Somerset Maugham. The title is taken from Percy Bysshe Shelley's sonnet which begins "Lift not the painted veil which those who live / Call Life"....
were filmed in Guilin and the surrounding area. - The scenery from the twenty Yuan bill is that of the Li River.
- Guilin is the final area of the video game Shenmue IIShenmue IIis a adventure game for the Dreamcast and Xbox. It is the sequel to Shenmue, and was produced and directed by Yu Suzuki of Sega AM2.Due to exclusivity rights obtained by Microsoft, the North American Dreamcast version was cancelled. Because of this, no English dub was recorded for the Dreamcast...
and the home of Shenhua. - Guilin was mentioned in the novel The Joy Luck ClubThe Joy Luck ClubThe Joy Luck Club is a best-selling novel written by Amy Tan. It focuses on four Chinese American immigrant families in San Francisco, California who start a club known as "the Joy Luck Club," playing the Chinese game of mahjong for money while feasting on a variety of foods...
as the original home of Suyuan Woo, the mother of the primary narrator of the story, Jing-mei Woo. - This city was featured in Leg 9 of The Amazing Race Season 14.
Quotes
- "I often sent pictures of the hills of Guilin which I painted to friends back home, but few believed what they saw."
- - Fan ChengdaFan ChengdaFan Chengda , courtesy name Zhineng , was one of the best-known Chinese poets of the Song Dynasty , a government official, and an academic authority in geography , especially the southern provinces of China...
(Chinese Song DynastySong DynastyThe Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
scholar)
- - Fan Chengda
- 桂林山水甲天下 - "Guilin's scenery is best among all under heavenAll under heavenTianxia is a phrase in the Chinese language and an ancient Chinese cultural concept that denoted either the entire geographical world or the metaphysical realm of mortals, and later became associated with political sovereignty.In ancient China, tianxia denoted the lands, space, and area divinely...
."- - popular Chinese saying
Twin towns — Sister cities
Guilin is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
- Nishikatsura, Yamanashi, Japan - Kumamoto City, Japan - Hastings, New Zealand
Hastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
- Orlando
Orlando
Orlando is a major city in the U.S. state of Florida.Orlando may also refer to-Places:* in Florida** Orlando, a major city** Greater Orlando, the 27th-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, United States
The Guilin relationship with the New Zealand city Hastings started in 1977, after a research scientist, Dr Stuart Falconer identified a number of common areas of interest between the two cities, including horticulture and their rural-urban mix.
See also
- Shenmue IIShenmue IIis a adventure game for the Dreamcast and Xbox. It is the sequel to Shenmue, and was produced and directed by Yu Suzuki of Sega AM2.Due to exclusivity rights obtained by Microsoft, the North American Dreamcast version was cancelled. Because of this, no English dub was recorded for the Dreamcast...
- Chinese alcoholic beverage
- Li ZongrenLi ZongrenLi Zongren or Li Tsung-jen , courtesy name Delin , was a prominent Guangxi warlord and Kuomintang military commander during the Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War...
- Transportation in MacauTransportation in MacauTransport in Macau includes road, sea and air transport. Road transport is the primary mode of transport within Macau itself, as there are no railways at present. The main forms of public transport are buses and taxis...
- Bai ChongxiBai ChongxiBai Chongxi , , also spelled Pai Chung-hsi, was a Chinese general in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and a prominent Chinese Nationalist Muslim leader. He was of Hui ethnicity and of the Muslim faith...
External links
- Guilin Tourism Organization
- Guilin Government Official website
- Guilin Tourism Bureau
- Guilin Tourism Network - China Travel ServiceChina Travel ServiceThe China Travel Service is the tourism and travel agency of the government of the People's Republic of China. It was established on November 19, 1949 tasked with marketing China to the rest of the world and to promote and develop its tourism economy. It is a subordinate agency to the National...
- Li River description, photo gallery and maps