Guilin facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Guilin 桂林市 • Gveilinz Si Kweilin
Prefecture-level city
From left to right, top to bottom: View of Guilin city; Elephant Trunk Hill, Sun and Moon Pagodas; Longsheng Rice Terraces, Jingjiang Princes' Palace, Reed Flute Cave; Yangshuo scenery
Location of Guilin City jurisdiction in Guangxi
Guilin Location in China
Country	People's Republic of China
Autonomous region	Guangxi
Area
• Prefecture-level city	27,797 km² (10,732 sq mi)
• Urban	2,753 km² (1,063 sq mi)
• Metro	5,041 km² (1,946 sq mi)
Elevation	153 m (502 ft)
Population (2020 census)
• Prefecture-level city	4,931,137
• Density	177.398/km² (459.459/sq mi)
• Urban	1,725,865
• Urban density	626.90/km² (1,623.67/sq mi)
• Metro	2,148,641
• Metro density	426.23/km² (1,103.94/sq mi)
GDP
• Prefecture-level city	CN¥ 231.1 billion US$ 35.8 billion
• Per capita	CN¥ 46,767 US$ 7,249
Time zone	UTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code	541XXX
Area code(s)	0773
ISO 3166 code	CN-GX-03
License plate prefixes	桂C for Guilin's city proper, Yangshuo, and Lingui; all others 桂H

Guilin

"Guìlín" in Chinese characters

Chinese name

Guìlín

Kweilin

Literal meaning

"Sweet Osmanthus Forest"

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Guìlín
Bopomofo	ㄍㄨㄟˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ
Gwoyeu Romatzyh	Gueylin
Wade–Giles	Kuei⁴-lin²
Yale Romanization	Gwèilín
IPA	[ku̯êi̯.lǐn]
Hakka
Romanization	Kui-lìm
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Gwailàhm
IPA	[kʷɐ̄i.lɐ̏m]
Jyutping	Gwai3lam4

Zhuang name

Zhuang

Gveilinz

1957 orthography

Gveilinƨ

Guilin is a famous city in the northeast of China's Guangxi region. It sits on the west bank of the Li River. The city's name means "forest of sweet osmanthus" because many sweet-smelling osmanthus trees grow there. Guilin is known worldwide for its amazing scenery of karst mountains. These are unique hills shaped by water over millions of years.

Guilin is one of China's most popular places for tourists. People often say, "By water, by mountains, most lovely, Guilin." This means its natural beauty is the best. The Chinese government has even named Guilin a "National Famous Historical and Cultural City." This shows how important it is for its history and beautiful nature.

A Look at Guilin's History
Guilin's Government Areas
Guilin's Geography
Guilin's Climate
People of Guilin
Guilin's Economy
Getting Around Guilin
Colleges and Universities
Amazing Scenic Spots
Guilin's Delicious Food
Famous Quotes About Guilin
Guilin's International Friends
Notable People from Guilin
Images for kids
See also

A Look at Guilin's History

Before the Qin dynasty (around 221–206 BC), the Guilin area was home to the Baiyue people. A small town was started along the Li River in 314 BC.

During the Qin dynasty, the first local government was set up in the Guilin area. The city got its name from the "Guilin Commandery" (an old administrative area).

Later, in 111 BC, during the Han dynasty, a place called Shi'an County was created. This was the real start of the city we know today.

Over time, the city changed names. In AD 507, it became Guizhou. In 1133, it was called Jingjiang Prefecture. Finally, in 1367, it was named Guilin Prefecture.

Guilin grew a lot during the Tang dynasty and Song dynasty. It became an important link between the central government and the southwest border. Canals were built through the city. These canals helped transport food from the Yangtze River plain to far-off parts of the empire.

In 1921, Guilin was a main base for Sun Yat-sen's army. In 1940, Guilin officially became a city. It was the capital of Guangxi province for many years, both before 1912 and from 1936 to 1949.

During World War II, Guilin became a very important center for military, transport, and culture. Many people moved there for safety, and the city's population grew from 70,000 to over 500,000 by 1944. Many famous writers and artists lived there during this time.

In 1950, the capital of Guangxi moved from Guilin to Nanning.

In 1981, the Chinese government listed Guilin as one of four cities where protecting history, culture, and natural beauty is a top priority. The other cities were Beijing, Hangzhou, and Suzhou.

Guilin's Government Areas

Statue of Ma Yuan at Fuboshan, Guilin.

Streets of Guilin during World War II

Guilin is divided into 17 different areas for local government. These include 6 districts, 8 counties, 2 special autonomous counties, and 1 county-level city. Each of these areas helps manage the city and its surrounding regions.

Districts:
- Xiufeng District
- Xiangshan District
- Diecai District
- Qixing District
- Yanshan District
- Lingui District

County-level city:
- Lipu

Counties:
- Yangshuo County
- Lingchuan County
- Xing'an County
- Quanzhou County
- Yongfu County
- Ziyuan County
- Guanyang County
- Pingle County

Autonomous counties: These are special areas for different ethnic groups.
- Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County
- Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County

Guilin's Geography

Map showing Guilin (labeled as KWEILIN) in 1954.

Guilin is in northern Guangxi. It shares borders with other cities like Liuzhou and Wuzhou. It also borders Hunan province to the north. The total area of Guilin is about 27,809 square kilometers.

The land in Guilin is famous for its karst formations. These are unique rock shapes made from limestone and dolomite rocks. The beautiful Li River flows right through the city.

Hills and Mountains:
- Diecai Hill
- Elephant Trunk Hill
- Wave-Subduing Hill
- Kitten Mountain (the highest peak in Guangxi)
- Yao Hill

Caves:
- Reed Flute Cave
- Seven-star Cave

Guilin's Climate

Fog on the Li River

Guilin has a warm, wet climate, like a humid subtropical zone. Winters are short and mild, while summers are long, hot, and humid.

Winter starts dry but gets wetter and cloudier. Spring is often cloudy and rainy. Summer is still rainy but also the sunniest time of year. Autumn is usually sunny and dry.

The average temperature in January is about 8.1°C (46.6°F). In July, it's around 28.2°C (82.8°F). The average temperature for the whole year is about 19.12°C (66.4°F).

Guilin gets a lot of rain, almost 1,890 millimeters (74 inches) each year. About half of this rain falls from April to June. This is when the "plum rains" happen, which can sometimes cause floods. The city gets about 1,487 hours of sunshine each year.

People of Guilin

In 2020, Guilin had a population of about 4.9 million people. Over 2.1 million of these people lived in the main city area.

Most people in Guilin are Han Chinese, making up about 84.5% of the population. Other large groups include the Yao (7.79%) and the Zhuang (4.81%). People in the city speak a type of Mandarin Chinese. In the areas outside the city, people mostly speak Pinghua.

Guilin's Economy

Guilin Museum and Library

Guilin's economy is growing. In 2020, the average income per person was about ¥41,891 (around US$6,569).

Local Industries:
- Medicine
- Tires
- Machinery
- Fertilizer
- Silk
- Perfume
- Wine
- Tea

Before 1949, Guilin didn't have much industry. But since the 1950s, it has added factories for electronics, engineering, and rubber. Food processing is still a very important industry. More recently, Guilin has focused on high-tech industries and tourism.

People from countries in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) can visit Guilin without a visa for up to 144 hours if they are part of a tour group.

Getting Around Guilin

Airport

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport

Guilin has an international airport called Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL). Many airlines fly to this airport, connecting Guilin with other cities in China and beyond. Some of the airlines include:

China Eastern
Asiana Airlines
China Southern
Air China
Hainan Airlines
Shanghai Airlines
Shandong Airlines
Xiamen Airlines
Tianjin Airlines
EVA Air
Air Asia
Beijing Capital Airlines
Hebei Airlines

Rail

Guilin North railway station

Guilin has several high-speed train stations. These include Guilin North, Guilin West, and Guilin Station. There is also a new station in the Lingui District.

These stations are on major railway lines that connect Guilin to central and southern China. High-speed trains to cities like Changsha and Beijing started in 2013. In 2014, high-speed trains began connecting Guilin to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guiyang, and Shanghai. This has made it much easier and faster for people to visit Guilin. For example, it takes only about 2 or 3 hours to travel from Guangzhou to Guilin.

Urban Transportation

The city has public buses and taxis to help people get around. Guilin is special because it uses double-decker buses on its main roads. You can see them almost every minute! You can also take sightseeing boats on the city's canals and lakes.

There are plans for a Guilin Metro system with 7 lines and 117 stations by 2040. The first line is expected to open by 2025.

Colleges and Universities

Guilin is home to several public colleges and universities. These schools offer many different study programs for students.

Guilin University of Technology
Guilin Medical University
Guilin University of Electronic Technology
Guangxi Normal University
Guilin University of Aerospace Technology
Guilin University

Amazing Scenic Spots

The Li River connects Guilin and Yangshuo County
Ship tour on Li River
Longsheng Rice Terrace (Ping An)
1 pano cuiping yangshuo 2011.jpg

Cuiping Village
Xingping Village
Rafts sailing down the Yulong River in Yangshuo, a county of Guilin
Sun and Moon Pagodas in Shan Lake
Reed flute cave
Scenic view of the town from Seven-star Park
Longji rice terraces

Guilin is famous for its incredible natural beauty and historical sites. Here are some of the top places to visit:

Jingjiang Princes City: A royal palace complex from the Ming dynasty in the city center.
Reed Flute Cave: A colorful cave with amazing rock formations.
Silver Cave: Another beautiful cave to explore.
Li River: Take a boat trip to see the stunning karst mountains.
Yangshuo: A nearby county known for its beautiful countryside.
Seven-star Cave and Seven Star Park: A large park with a famous cave.
Camel Mountain and Elephant Trunk Hill: Two iconic hills, with Elephant Trunk Hill looking like an elephant drinking water.
Fubo Hill: A hill with a temple and caves.
Moon Hill: A hill with a natural arch that looks like the moon.
Longsheng Rice Terrace: Beautiful terraced rice fields carved into the mountains.
Daxu Ancient Town and Xingping Ancient Town: Old towns with traditional Chinese architecture.
Sun and Moon Pagodas: Two beautiful pagodas in Shan Lake that light up at night.

Guilin's Delicious Food

Guilin pickled tofu

Guilin's food is a mix of Cantonese and Zhuang styles. It's known for its tasty snacks and its use of spices, especially chili.

Guilin chili sauce is very popular. It's made from fresh chili, garlic, and fermented soybeans. This sauce is one of the city's "Three Treasures."

The other two "Three Treasures" are:

Guilin Sanhua Jiu: A strong liquor made from rice.
Guilin pickled tofu: A special kind of fermented tofu.

Guilin rice noodles

Guilin rice noodles have been a popular breakfast food since the Qin dynasty. They are famous for their delicate taste. A local favorite is noodles with horse meat, but you can also order them without it.

Zongzi is another popular food. It's a dumpling made from sticky rice and mung bean paste, wrapped in a bamboo or banana leaf.

Famous Quotes About Guilin

People have admired Guilin's beauty for a long time.

"I often sent pictures of the hills of Guilin which I painted to friends back home, but few believed what they saw."

- Fan Chengda (a Chinese scholar from the Song dynasty)

"Guilin's scenery is best among all under heaven."

- A very popular Chinese saying

Guilin's International Friends

Guilin has special relationships with cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They work together on cultural exchanges and other projects.

Guilin is twinned with: