Diecai Hill

Situated in the northeast of Guilin by the Li River, the Diecai Hill (叠彩山) is one of the most popular attractions in Guilin, a place known for its amazing scenery and stone carvings. Because of the resemblance of its rock formations, piled up layer upon layer on each other, to folded brocade, it is now also known as Folded Brocade Hill. Many other special names have been given to this picturesque spot: the name “Gui Hill” (桂山), deriving from the laurels that have spread across the slopes since ancient times, and the name of “Wind Cave Hill” (风洞山), due to the remarkable the Wind Cave (风洞) on the hill. Four small hills, the Yuyue Hill (于越山), the Siwang Hill (四望山, All-Direction-Looking Hill), the Crane Peak (仙鹤峰) and the Bright Moon Peak (明月峰) surround the Diecai Hill.

A visual feast of magnificent scenes such as the Diecai Pavilion(叠彩亭), the Wind Cave and the Cloud-Catching Pavilion(拿云亭), along with countless stones with inscriptions created by famous Chinese scribes, awaits your eyes.

Through the gate of the Diecai Garden, within a few steps of the southern foot of the hill, you will first reach the distinctive Diecai Pavilion, occupying an area of about 64 square kilometers (15,815 acres) on the hillside of the Bright Moon Peak. 5 meters (16 feet) high, 7.5 meters (25.6 feet) long and 8.5 meters (27.9 feet) wide, it is surrounded by the Bright Moon Peak to the north, the Siwang Hill to the west and the Yuyue Hill to the east. Although only a single storey high, it is well designed and elaborately built with red poles, green tiles, and four unique angles. Your fantastic journey will start from here.

After the Diecai Pavilion, you will see a stele commemorating the two loyalists Qu Shisi(曲式耜) and Zhang Tongchang(张同敞) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Wind Cave, which the wind blows through in all seasons, waits for you a little further along. This cave penetrates the Bright Moon Peak, with a wide mouth protruding from either side of the slope and a narrow part in the middle. What makes it famous is the changing temperature of its winds.

Whatever the weather is outside, a cool breeze is always blowing in the Wind Cave. For this reason it is known as the ‘Cool World’ among many people. The cave is worth a visit not only for its winds but for its rock carvings, both inside and outside of the cave. Nearly 100 Buddha images of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, as well as 210 stone carvings, can be found here. If you are interested in Chinese calligraphy and want to experience the peculiar nature of this remarkable cave, now is your chance!

Wind Cave

After some more steps, and a journey through more marvelous landscapes, you can congratulate yourself as you reach the top of the Bright Moon Peak. This is where the Cloud-Catching Pavilion, a building with a round shape, single eave and a pinnacle, is located. No other place offers you a better vantage position to admire the picturesque Li River, as well as the magnificent city of Guilin in its entirety. A journey to the summit will also offer you the opportunity to admire the Solitary Beauty Peak (独秀峰) and the Fubo Hill (伏波山, Wave-Subduing Hill), the other two notable hills in Guilin.

Of course, the other three ranges of the Diecai Hill connected to the Bright Moon Peak are all very attractive, and notable for their unique pavilions, eminent stones and cliff carvings, Buddhist sculptures and abundance of evergreen trees. Places such as the Yuyue Pavilion (于越亭), the Huanbi Garden (环碧园, Trees’ Garden) and the Wood Dragon Cave (木龙洞) are all well worth a visit.

The highest peak of the Diecai Hill, the Bright Moon Peak is only 223 meters (732 feet) tall and comparatively easy to climb. So in choosing to make a journey up Diecai Hill, you choose an enjoyable and not too difficult hill-climb.