Guilin

History

Before the Qin dynasty, the Guilin region was settled by the Baiyue people. In 314 BC, a small settlement was established along the banks of the Li River.

During the Qin dynasty's (221–206 BC) campaigns against the state of Nanyue, the first administration was set up in the area around Guilin. The modern city was located within the Guilin Commandery, which is the origin of the modern name "Guilin".

In 111 BC, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty, Shi'an County () was established, which could be regarded as the beginning of the city.

In AD 507, the town was renamed Guizhou (Gui Prefecture, ).

In 634, Lingui County was established at the modern site of Guilin, under Gui Prefecture. In 868, Pang Xun rebelled against the Tang from Gui Prefecture.

Guilin prospered in the Tang and Song dynasties but remained a county. The city was also a nexus between the central government and the southwest border, and it was where regular armies were placed to guard that border. Canals were built through the city so that food supplies could be directly transported from the food-productive Yangtze plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire.

In 997, the Guangnan West Circuit, the predecessor of modern Guangxi, was established, with Guizhou as the capital. In 1133, Guizhou was renamed Jingjiang Prefecture (). In 1367, the name was changed to Guilin Prefecture ().

In 1921, Guilin became one of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army led by Sun Yat-sen. In 1940, Guilin City was established. Guilin was the provincial capital of Guangxi before 1912 and from 1936 to 1949.

Guilin became one of the most important military, transport, and cultural centers of China during World War II. The city drastically expanded as refugees from all over China poured in, and by 1944 its population had grown from 70,000 pre-war to more than 500,000. It hosted intellectuals and artists including Guo Moruo, Mao Dun, Ba Jin, Tian Han, Xu Beihong, Feng Zikai and many others.

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

In 1981, Guilin was listed by the State Council as one of the four cities (the other three being Beijing, Hangzhou, and Suzhou) where the protection of historical and cultural heritage, as well as natural scenery, should be treated as a priority project.

Administrative divisions

Guilin administers seventeen county-level divisions, including 6 districts, 8 counties, 2 autonomous counties, and 1 county-level city.

• District:
  • Xiufeng District (秀峰区)
  • Xiangshan District (象山区)
  • Diecai District (叠彩区)
  • Qixing District (七星区)
  • Yanshan District (雁山区)
  • Lingui District (临桂区)
• County-level city:
  • Lipu city (荔浦市)
• County:
  • Yangshuo County (阳朔县)
  • Lingchuan County (灵川县)
  • Xing'an County (兴安县)
  • Quanzhou County (全州县)
  • Yongfu County (永福县)
  • Ziyuan County (资源县)
  • Guanyang County (灌阳县)
  • Pingle County (平乐县)
• Autonomous county:
  • Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County (恭城瑶族自治县)
  • Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County (龙胜各族自治县)

Geography

| Guilin | 5.4 | 11.5 | 64 | 7.0 | 12.7 | 97 | 10.4 | 16.5 | 137 | 15.9 | 22.7 | 247 | 20.1 | 27.1 | 352 | 23.4 | 30.4 | 347 | 24.8 | 32.6 | 231 | 24.5 | 32.8 | 173 | 21.9 | 30.3 | 82 | 17.3 | 25.6 | 66 | 12.1 | 20.2 | 64 | 7.3 | 15.2 | 43

Guilin is located in northern Guangxi, bordering Liuzhou to the west, Laibin to the southwest, Wuzhou to the south, Hezhou to the southeast, and within neighbouring Hunan, Huaihua to the northwest, Shaoyang to the north, and Yongzhou to the east. It has a total area of 27809 km2. The topography of the area is marked by karst formations. The karsts surrounding Guilin are made of Triassic period limestone and dolomite rocks. The Li River , running 83 km from Guilin to Yangshuo, is one of the city’s most celebrated natural features. Known for its emerald water and limestone peaks, the river section is a highly concentrated example of karst terrain.

• Hills and mountains: Diecai Hill (叠彩山), Elephant Trunk Hill, Wave-Subduing Hill (伏波山), Lipu Mountains, Kitten Mountain, the highest peak of Guangxi, and Yao Hill (尧山)
• Caves: Reed Flute Cave, Seven-star Cave

Climate

Guilin has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa, bordering on Cwa), with short, mild winters, and long, hot, humid summers. Winter begins dry but becomes progressively wetter and cloudier. Spring is generally overcast and often rainy, while summer continues to be rainy, though it is the sunniest time of year. Autumn is sunny and dry. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 8.1 °C in January to 28.2 °C in July, and the annual mean is 19.12 °C. The annual rainfall is just under 1890 mm and is delivered in bulk (~50%) from April to June, when the plum rains occur and often create the risk of flooding. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 14% in March to 53% in September, the city receives 1,487 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from −4.9 °C (though an unofficial record low of −5.0 °C was recorded on 25 January 1940) to 40.3 °C.

| Jan record high C = 27.6 | Jan record low C = −4.9 | Feb record high C = 32.8 | Feb record low C = −3.6 | Mar record high C = 33.7 | Mar record low C = 0.0 | Apr record high C = 35.6 | Apr record low C = 4.0 | May record high C = 36.6 | May record low C = 10.7 | Jun record high C = 37.4 | Jun record low C = 13.0 | Jul record high C = 40.3 | Jul record low C = 18.2 | Aug record high C = 39.4 | Aug record low C = 18.3 | Sep record high C = 38.5 | Sep record low C = 12.9 | Oct record high C = 35.6 | Oct record low C = 6.1 | Nov record high C = 32.6 | Nov record low C = 0.7 | Dec record high C = 27.6 | Dec record low C = −3.3 |access-date= 2024-09-09

Demographics

According to the 2020 Chinese census, its population was 4,931,137 inhabitants, and 2,148,641 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of 6 urban Districts plus Lingchuan County now being conurbated. According to the 2010 Chinese census, the largest ethnic group in the prefecture-level city was Han Chinese, accounting for 84.53% of the total population. This was followed by Yao at 7.79% and Zhuang at 4.81%. Citizens of Guilin's urban area speak a dialect of Mandarin, while Pinghua is predominantly spoken in suburbs and surrounding areas. By the end of 2024, the city's resident population will be 4,950,700.

Economy

• The GDP per capita was ¥41891 (ca. US$6569) in 2020, ranked no. 134 among 659 Chinese cities.
• Local industries: condoms, pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, fertilizer, silk, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon, herbal medicine
• Local agricultural products: Shatian Pomelo, summer orange, Fructus Momordicae, ginkgo, moon persimmon, Lipu Taro, Sanhua Alcohol, pepper sauce, fermented bean curd, Guilin Rice Noodle, water chestnut, grain, fish and dried bean milk cream in tight rolls

Until 1949, only a thermal power plant, a cement works, and some small textile mills existed as signs of industrialization in Guilin. However, since the 1950s Guilin has added electronics, engineering, and agricultural equipment, medicine, rubber, buses, textile, and cotton yarn factories. Food processing, including the processing of local agricultural produce, remains the most important industry. More recent and modern industry features high technology, and the tertiary industry is characterized by tourism, trading, and service.

Citizens of ASEAN states do not need a visa to visit Guilin if part of a tour lasting a maximum of 144 hours (not including the day of arrival).

Transportation

Air

The airport is Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (ICAO:ZGKL, IATA:KWL). Airlines that fly to the airport are:

• 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 has several high-speed rail stations, , , Guilin, and a new station in the Lingui District. Guilin station and Guilin North station are on the Hunan–Guangxi railway, Hengyang–Liuzhou intercity railway, and Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed railway, the main railways connecting Guangxi with central and southern China. Arriving at North Station, high-speed trains between Guilin and Changsha and Beijing came into operation in December 2013. In December 2014, high-speed operations began connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guiyang, and Shanghai. This made it more convenient for people to come to Guilin. It takes only about 2 or 3 hours from Guangzhou to Guilin, 9 hours from Shanghai to Guilin, and 13 hours from Beijing to Guilin. "High-speed Trains Available in Guilin" ChinaTour.Net Accessed 2014-12-29 Trains traveling between Kunming South and West Kowloon stations (for example) stop at Guilin West railway station.

Urban

The city's public transportation includes bus routes and taxis. Guilin is the leading city in Mainland China operating double-decker buses regularly on major routes; on its main street, the double-deckers run one by one almost every minute. Sightseeing boats also run on the city's canals and lakes.

A Guilin Metro is planned for 7 lines by 2040 with 117 stations and a total length of 273.2 kilometres. Line 1 is planned to be opened by 2025, and it will be 29.23 km with 13 stations.

Public colleges and universities

• Guilin University of Technology
• Guilin Medical University
• Guilin University of Electronic Technology
• Guangxi Normal University
• Guilin University of Aerospace Technology (桂林航天工业学院)
• Guilin University Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.

Scenic spots

Main article: Guilin Scenic Area

1 li jiang guilin yangshuo 2011.jpg|The Li River connects Guilin and Yangshuo County 87340-Li-River (29881879337).jpg|Ship tour on Li River 1 ping an longji terrace 2011.jpg|Longsheng Rice Terrace (Ping An) 1 pano cuiping yangshuo 2016.jpg|Cuiping Village 1 pano xinping yangshupo.jpg|Xingping Village 1 aerial yangshuo panorama 2017.jpg|Rafts sailing down the Yulong River in Yangshuo, a county of Guilin Sun and Moon Pagodas Guilin November 2017 HDR panorama.jpg|Sun and Moon Pagodas in Shan Lake Reed flute cave.jpg|Reed Flute Cave Guilin scenic.jpg|Scenic view of the town from Seven-star Park Longji rice terraces - 2023 10 11 Kaur Virunurm.jpg|Longji rice terraces Scenic spots around Guilin include:

• Jingjiang Princes City, a royal complex dating from the Ming dynasty that lies near the center of modern Guilin
• Reed Flute Cave
• Silver Cave
• Li River
• Yangshuo
• Seven-Star Cave and Seven Star Park (七星公园)
• Camel Mountain (骆驼山) and Elephant Trunk Hill
• Piled Festoon Hill (堆花彩山)
• Crescent Hill (月牙山)
• Fubo Hill (伏波山)
• Nanxi Hill (南溪山)
• Erlang Gorge (二郎山峡谷)
• Huangbu (Yellow Cloth) Beach (黄埔滩)
• Moon Hill
• Longsheng Rice Terrace
• Daxu Ancient Town (大圩古市镇)
• Xingping Ancient Town (兴坪古镇)
• Duxiu, Solitary Beauty Peak (独秀峰)
• Liusanjie Landscape Garden (刘三姐景观园)
• Yao Hill (尧山)
• Sun and Moon Pagodas (日月双塔) In Guilin city, the Sun and Moon Pagodas (日月双塔) on Shanhu Lake and the iconic Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山) are major landmarks.

Cuisine

Main article: Guangxi cuisine

Guilin cuisine is a mixture of Cantonese cuisine and Zhuang cuisine. It is known for its snacks and the use of spices, especially chili. Guilin chili sauce (桂林辣椒酱), used widely in cooking by locals, is made of fresh chili, garlic, and fermented soybeans, and is considered one of the city's Three Treasures (桂林三宝). The other two of the Three Treasures are Guilin Sanhua Jiu (桂林三花酒), a variety of rice baijiu, or liquor distilled from rice; and Guilin pickled tofu.

Guilin rice noodles have been the local breakfast staple since the Qin dynasty and are renowned for their delicate taste. Legend has it that when Qin troops suffering from diarrhea entered this region, a cook created the Guilin rice noodles for the army because they had trouble eating the local food. Specifically, the local specialty is noodles with horse meat, but this dish can also be ordered without the horse meat. Zongzi, a dumpling made from glutinous rice and mung bean paste wrapped in a bamboo or banana leaf, is another popular delicacy in Guilin.

Quotes

:"I often sent pictures of the hills of Guilin, which I painted to friends back home, but few believed what they saw." ::- Fan Chengda (Chinese Song dynasty scholar) :"Guilin's scenery is best among all under heaven." () ::- Popular Chinese quote

International relations

Twin towns—Sister cities

Guilin is twinned with:

• JPN – Nishikatsura, Yamanashi, Japan – Lingchuan County
• JPN – Kumamoto City, Japan – Guilin
• JPN – Toride City, Japan – Guilin
• JPN – Miho, Ibaraki, Japan – Lingui
• ROK – Jeju, South Korea
• NZL – Hastings, New Zealand
• POL – Toruń, Poland
• US – Orlando, United States
• MEX – Tlaxcoapan, Hidalgo, Mexico
• MYS – Langkawi, Malaysia

The Guilin relationship with the New Zealand city Hastings started in 1977, after a research scientist, Stuart Falconer, identified several common areas of interest between the two cities, including horticulture and their rural-urban mix. In 1997 Guilin commenced an exchange relationship with Ōta, Gunma, Japan.

In popular culture

Guilin was used as a second unit filming location for the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, serving as the basis for the exterior landscape shots of the planet Kashyyyk, alongside the shots used in Phuket, Thailand.

Notable people

• Bai Chongxi, general and politician
• Jiang Zhenbang, badminton player
• Li Zongren, general and warlord, vice-president and acting president of the Republic of China
• Ma Junwu, scientist, educator, and politician
• Ou Hongyi, climate activist
• Ouyang Xiadan, news anchor for China Central Television
• Pai Hsien-yung, writer
• Qiao Zhenyu, actor and dancer
• Shi Zhiyong, weightlifter
• Tang Jingsong, general and politician, first president of the Republic of Formosa
• Daniel Weihs, Israeli professor of aeronautical engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

References

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