Guilin is one of China's most attractive cities and is situated in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the south of China. It lies on the west bank of the Li River and its name means ‘forest of Sweet Osmanthus’, owing to the large number of fragrant Osmanthus trees that grow in the city. The city is set in a basin surrounded by the Yuecheng Mountain Range and there are fantastic views all round. These are dominated by rocky limestone outcrops that have moved many writers and artists to extol the city’s beauty. Guilin cuisine is known for its snacks and the use of spices, especially chili. The famous Guilin chili sauce, used widely in cooking by locals, is made of fresh chili, garlic and fermented soya beans.

Taking a boat trip on the river is a lovely way to see the city as is heading out and climbing some of the rock formations such as Crescent Hill for dramatic views of the city. A great boat trip takes you through fantastic limestone canyons to the village of Yangshuo. This whole area is renowned throughout China for its Karst landscape where there are hundreds of limestone hills dotting the countryside. The beautiful scenery here is a common subject of Chinese paintings as well as the inspiration for poetry.