When I was broke, I wanted to go to Guilin too

People who have heard the song "I Want to Go to Guilin" must be getting on in years. Strictly speaking, I heard this song on a variety show later on. I can't remember the lyrics, but I remember it was about a young person who had no time or money but was obsessed with going to Guilin. "Guilin's scenery is the best in the world" is a line from a textbook, and going to Guilin must be an obsession for every Chinese person from a young age! Speaking of Guilin, I later discovered that the iconic Elephant Trunk Hill and the scene on the 20 yuan banknote (Yangshuo) are not together, so a trip to Guilin is usually divided into 2–3 days, and at least one day should be spent in Guilin City. One-day Guilin itinerary: Elephant Trunk Hill Park → Sun and Moon Twin Towers → Binjiang Road → Zhengyang Pedestrian Street → Dongxi Lane → Xiaoyao Tower → Jingjiang Princes' Palace → Fubo Hill → Guihai Forest of Steles → Chuanshan Park → Sun and Moon Twin Towers for night view Travel tips: 1. Go straight to Elephant Trunk Hill (free, scan the code at the entrance to make a reservation and enter directly). Enter through Gate 3 or 1 before 8 am (later and there will be more people), and exit through Gate 2 after about 20 minutes. Walk a short distance to Zhiyin Wharf at the Sun and Moon Twin Towers. 2. Walk along Binjiang Road from the Sun and Moon Twin Towers (about 15 minutes) to Zhengyang Pedestrian Street. The pedestrian street and Dongxi Lane are separated by a road, where you can taste local delicacies (fried stinky tofu, roasted pig's trotters, Wangcheng fresh horse meat, corn syrup, pine flower sugar, osmanthus cake, water chestnut cake). 3. Dongxi Lane is more than 200 meters from Jingjiang Princes' Palace, a three- to four-minute walk. Tickets are CNY 100 per person. Although it was rebuilt in the Republic of China, it basically retains the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty palace (the stone steps and foundation are from the Ming Dynasty). You can choose to listen to the tour guide's explanation. The most worthwhile place to visit is the Duxiu Peak cliff inscriptions, the Southern Song Dynasty Wang Zhenggong's "Deer Call Banquet Persuasion Poem Stele", and the origin of "Guilin's scenery is the best in the world". 4. Fubo Hill Park (tickets CNY 22) next to Jingjiang Princes' Palace is also worth a visit. I originally went for the "Mi Fu Self-Portrait" and stone carvings, but the view from the mountain was unexpectedly good, with a solitary peak and an unobstructed view. 5. From Fubo Hill, take a taxi for about half an hour to Guihai Forest of Steles. Tickets are CNY 25 per person. The large lawn and rolling hills are very healing. 6. It is only half an hour from Guihai Forest of Steles to Chuanshan Park. The sunset is beautiful, and you can enjoy the scenery of Guilin City. The difference between the two is that the former is more modern and is an outdoor leisure destination, while the latter is one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Guilin" and is more like a landscape painting. In the afterglow of the sunset, it is like a fairyland. Notes: 1. The electric bamboo raft at Elephant Trunk Hill is CNY 50 per person for 10 minutes. You can take a photo with the hole in Elephant Trunk Hill. It is CNY 10 to take a photo with a cormorant on the bamboo raft, and CNY 20 to rent clothes. 2. A tour guide is assigned at the entrance of Jingjiang Princes' Palace, with 20 people in a group. There are souvenir shops and experience projects on the route. The experience is free, but there are many hidden charges. It is CNY 10 to take a rubbing away, and framing is extra. The photographer at the Gongyuan Examination takes photos for CNY 20 each. If you pass the exam, you will be asked to "go with the flow" on the official hat, and you can choose the amount. You will then be asked to buy a bottle of Zhuangyuan wine for CNY 99. 3. Sun and Moon Twin Towers/Xiaoyao Tower are landmark buildings. You can just look around and take photos without climbing the tower. 4. The attractions in Guilin City are relatively concentrated. Except for the Guihai Forest of Steles and Chuanshan Park, which are far apart and require a taxi (about 30 minutes), you can walk to most places. 5. There are many scalpers in Guilin. Be sure to use official channels for tickets, transportation, and shopping.