Current Time in Guilin, China

Guilin is a prefecture-level city located in the northeastern part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, situated on the Li River amid a landscape of extraordinary karst limestone mountains. With a population of approximately 5.4 million people, Guilin is one of China's most famous tourist destinations, drawing millions of visitors each year with scenery that has been celebrated in Chinese poetry and painting for over a thousand years. The city's dramatic landscape of sugary green peaks reflected in the serpentine Li River is among the most iconic natural vistas in all of China.

Guilin has a history of over two thousand years. The city was established as an administrative center during the Qin Dynasty when the Ling Canal, one of the world's oldest still-functioning canals, was built to connect the Pearl and Yangtze river systems and facilitate the southward expansion of the Chinese empire. Through subsequent dynasties, Guilin served as the political center of the Guangxi region. During the Ming Dynasty, massive stone inscriptions were carved into the limestone peaks around the city. The city's strategic importance continued through modern Chinese history, including during the Second Sino-Japanese War in the twentieth century.

The Li River cruise from Guilin to the town of Yangshuo, passing through some 83 kilometers of breathtaking karst scenery, is considered one of China's most spectacular natural experiences and is depicted on the Chinese 20 yuan banknote. Reed Flute Cave is a magnificent limestone cavern filled with extraordinary stalagmite and stalactite formations illuminated in colorful lights. Seven Star Park and Elephant Trunk Hill, a rock formation resembling an elephant drinking from the river, are beloved landmarks within the city. The surrounding countryside, dotted with rice paddies, traditional villages, and towering karst peaks, is equally enchanting.

Guilin's cultural life reflects the traditions of both the Han Chinese majority and the Zhuang ethnic minority, which is the largest ethnic minority group in China. The Zhuang people have maintained distinct cultural traditions including their own language, music, embroidery, and festivals. The Liu Sanjie Show, a spectacular outdoor performance on the Li River by Chinese-French director Zhang Yimou, is one of the most celebrated cultural performances in China. Local cuisine features rice noodle dishes, river fish, bamboo rice, and various dishes incorporating the fragrant cassia flowers for which the city is named — Guilin means "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus."

Transportation in Guilin includes the Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, with extensive domestic and international connections. High-speed rail links Guilin to Guangzhou and other major cities, and local transport includes buses and boats on the Li River.

Guilin Normal University and several other institutions of higher education serve the city's educational needs.

Tourism is the dominant industry in Guilin's economy, complemented by manufacturing, agriculture, and services. The timeless beauty of Guilin's karst landscape, celebrated since ancient times and protected by national park designations, ensures that the city will remain one of China's most treasured and visited destinations for generations to come.