Comprising the Guilin City and other 11 counties, such as Yangshuo (阳朔), Longsheng (龙胜), Ziyuan (资源), Lingchuan (灵川), Xing’an (兴安) and much more, the Guilin Area is home to more than 20 nationalities, including Zhuang, Hui, Miao, Yao, Dong ethnic minorities, covering around 8.5‰ of the total population around the Guilin Area.
The counties popular with visitors around the Guilin Area are as follows:
Yangshuo
Located 65 kilometers the south of the Guilin City, Yangshuo features tens of sightseeing spots, including the Li River Scenic Area, and the Show of Impression Third Sister Liu(印象•刘三姐). There are shuttle buses between Yangshuo and the Guilin City. Yangshuo offers 2 bus station – Yangshuo North Bus Station(阳朔汽车北站) and Yangshuo South Bus Station(阳朔汽车南站) – and 1 railway station.
Across the Guilin Area, the number of the sightseeing spots in Yangshuo is the biggest. Yangshuo offers the Li River cruises, the old towns, rock climbing, bamboo rafting, hiking and cycling in the Yangshuo countryside and much more.
Longsheng
Situated 87 kilometers the northwest of the Guilin City, Longsheng is home to more than 20 ethnic minorities. There are shuttle buses between Longsheng and the Guilin City. The Longji Rice Terraces enjoys great reputation around the world, attracting countless tourists from all over the world.
If you are interested to know more about Yao Minority, the Huangluo Yao Minority Village is a great choice for you. The Long Hair Show is on regularly there. If you’d like to discover Zhuang Minority, you can stay overnight in the Longji Zhuang Village… The ideal way to explore the minority villages in Longsheng is hiking for most of the minority villages are situated in the Longji Rice Terraces.
Lingchuan
Surrounding the Guilin City from the east, the south and the west, Lingchuan features fewer tourism resources compared to Yangshuo and Longsheng. Though, it offers two old towns to you to discover. They are the Daxu Old Town(大圩古镇) and the Jiuwu Old Town(九屋古镇). Originally built in 200 AD and located 18 kilometers the southeast from the Guilin City, the Daxu Old Town is among “the four old towns in Guangxi” with well-preserved old house and stone roads.
Located approximately 35km northwest of the Guilin City, the Jiuwu Old Town features the special ecotourism, popular for cultural & historical visits. Within the Jiuwu Old Town, there is a village named the Jiangtou Village, also referred to as “Qingguan (honest and upright official) Village”. The Jiangtou Village(江头村) is over 800 years old with ancient buildings originally built in the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1644 – 1911) Dynasties.
Xing’an
Located approximately 70 kilometers the northeast of the Guilin City, Xing’an features the tallest mountain in Guangxi – the Cat Mountain(猫儿山). Standing 80 kilometers from the Guilin City, the Cat Mountain offers the amazing sunrise, sunset and the clouds on the top.
If you are interested to study the Qin Dynasty (221 – 207 BC), you can discover the Qin Imperial Palace(秦皇宫) to appreciate its grandeur. The palace was originally built during the Qin Dynasty and rebuilt in 2005.