Guilin

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Image:Guilin in Guangxi.png Image:GuilinOfGuangXi2.png

Guilin (Template:Zh-cp; Wade-Giles: Kuei-lin, Postal System Pinyin: Kweilin; Zhuang: Gveilinz) is one of China's most picturesque cities, with a population of 670,000, situated in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China on the west bank of the Lijiang River (also called the Li River). Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city.

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History

In 314 BC, a small settlement was established along the banks of the Li River.

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 507 AD, the town was renamed Guizhou. Image:Guilin lijiang.jpg 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.

During the Ming Dynasty, Guilin became the capital of Guangxi, due to its immense role in the province.

In 1914, Nanning, another center of the province and a heroic city with more than 1,600 years of history, replaced Guilin as the provincial capital.

In 1921, Guilin became one of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

In 1940, the city acquired its present name. In 1981, this ancient city 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.

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Physical Setting

Image:Elephant trunk hill.JPG

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Administrative divisions

Image:MapOfGuilin2.png

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People

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Climate

  • Damp monsoon climate
  • Warm and rainy
  • Plenty of sunshine and clear division of the four seasons
  • Average temperature: 19°C annually
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Economy

  • The GDP per capita was ¥15775 (ca. US$1910) in 2003, ranked no. 125 among 659 Chinese cities.
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Colleges and universities

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Public

Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.

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Attractions

Image:ReedFluteCave.jpg The Jingjiang Princes City is a royal complex dating from the Ming Dynasty that lies near the center of modern Guilin.

Other scenic spots around Guilin include:

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Cuisine

Guilin cuisine is known for its snacks and the use of spices especially chili. The famous Guilin chili sauce, Guìlín làjiāojiàng (桂林辣椒酱; used widely in cooking by locals) [2], is made of fresh chili, garlic and fermented soya beans. Guilin rice nodle (Guìlín mĭfĕn 桂林米粉) [3] has been the local breakfast staple for around 300 years and is reknowned for its delicate taste. Zongzi (zòngzi 粽子, glutinous rice and mung bean paste wrapped by bamboo or banana leaves) [4] is another popular delicatessen in Guilin. Other local specialties include turtle soup and bamboo rat.

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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)
桂林山水甲天下 "Guilin’s scenery bests all others in the world."
- popular Chinese saying
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Additional Images

Guilin landscapes

Pagodas in Guilin

Songs and Performances in Guilin

Seven Star Park

Pagodas in Fir Lake in downtown Guilin

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External links

Template:Guangxi

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See also

es:Guilin fr:Guilin lb:Guilin nl:Guilin ja:桂林 no:Guilin pl:Guilin pt:Guilin zh:桂林

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