Why I Unexpectedly Fell in Love with China
I’ve been looking for new destinations for quite a while now, and honestly… China was never at the top of my list. Why? The language barrier, barely any practical travel info (in English anyway), and the stereotypical image of massive tourist buses unloading hordes of tourists pushing each other to snap a photo of “the” sightseeing spot.
But post-COVID, flight prices everywhere skyrocketed… except for China. So, there we go. I booked a flight to China with very low expectations — at least my wallet wouldn’t suffer.
And guess what? It turned out to be one of my best travel decisions ever!
Why Visit Guangxi Region?
- Cultural Heritage – A completely different culture that will challenge your perceptions and surprise you (in all the best ways).
- Stunning Landscapes – Karst mountains, rice terraces, winding rivers… like stepping into a traditional ink painting.
- Budget-Friendly – It’s surprisingly affordable compared to most other destinations — even food, transport, and hotels are reasonably priced.
- Accessible – Traveling around is easier than you think (yes, even with the language barrier).
My Favorite Places to Explore
Guilin: The Gateway to Scenic Wonders
Nestled in Guangxi Province, Guilin is renowned for its surreal limestone peaks (more than 70,000 of them!), serene rivers, and lush greenery. The city itself is a charming mix of modern life and traditional culture, making it the perfect starting point for adventures in the region.
📍 Must-Do
- Sun & Moon Twin Pagodas – Visit during daylight and at night; the reflection in Ronghu Lake is magical.
- Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Walk – A stroll along the city’s interconnected waterways, passing charming bridges, small pagodas, and parks with stunning karst mountain backdrops.
- Xiangbishan scenic area – Home to Elephant Trunk Hill and the Reed Flute Cave (think colorful limestone formations straight out of a fantasy movie).
- Binshui Square – A great spot for photography with views of the river and city lights. 💡Tip: Head to the top floor of the adjacent building for the best view!
🏡 Where to stay: You have plenty of choice but I strongly recommend to stay close to the main touristic areas. 💡Tip: book in advance as this is quite touristic area.
🍜 Where/What to eat
- Zhengyang Pedestrian Street – Bustling with food stalls and shopping.
- Guilin Rice Noodles – A must-try local dish, best enjoyed at a street-side eatery.
🚶♂️ Guided tour: Private Full–Day Tour of Guilin
🗺️ Recommended Itinerary: We did it all in one (very long) day of walking—my tracker app said 20km, but all I remember is sore feet! I’d recommend splitting it over 1.5–2 days.
✈️ How to Get There & Around
- By Train – High-speed rail connects Guilin to major cities.
- By Air – Guilin International Airport. 💡 Budget Hack: Instead of flying to Guilin, we flew to Nanning and took a 2-hour high-speed train (train ticket 2nd class was135 CNY ~25$). Saved us a ton!
- In the city you can easily walk around or book a cab (💡 use AliPay App, easy interface in English to book and not relying on your mandarin pronunciation 😉 )
LongJi: The Dragon’s Backbone Terraces
About two hours from Guilin, the Longji Rice Terraces (龙脊梯田) are a masterpiece of agricultural engineering. Built over 650 years ago by the Zhuang and Yao ethnic minorities, these terraces resemble a dragon’s scales cascading down the mountains.
📍 Must-Do
- Explore the Ping’an Village, nested among the fields with its maze of little alley across the wooden chalet.
- Hike around the rice terrace. Don’t miss the best view points :
- “Seven Stars with Moon” viewpoint
- “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers” viewpoint
- Enjoy the Sunrise or Sunset over the terraces
- Dazhai Village, if you have more time and want more off-the-beaten-path vibe
🏡 Where to stay
🍜 What to eat
- Taste Bamboo Rice – Sticky rice cooked inside bamboo with local ingredients—a delicious specialty.
- Passion fruit while exploring the terraced fields.
🚶♂️ Guided tour: Longji Rice Terraces: Full-Day Private Tour
✈️ How to Get There & Around
- From Guilin – A 2.5 hour drive via cab or shuttle bus (between 150 to 250 CNY ~30 to 40$).
- Village Access – Cars stop at the bottom of Ping’an, so expect a steep uphill walk—in our case, at the hottest time of day (40°C, yay!).
💡 Tips
- Pack light! Rolling suitcases are a nightmare here.
- Print your hotel address written in Chinese and ask locals for directions—Google Maps won’t help in these narrow village streets!
🗺️ Recommended Itinerary: 1–2 days is perfect to soak in the views and catch that sunrise moment.
Yangshuo : Adventure and Relaxation in Paradise
Downstream from Guilin, Yangshuo is a traveler’s dream, offering outdoor adventures amid stunning landscapes. The town itself is lively, with cafes, bars, and markets, while the countryside remains peaceful and picturesque.
📍 Must-Do
- Li River Cruise or Bamboo Rafting – Those karst mountains? Even better from the water. 💡Tip: Book in advance—queues are insane!
- West Street (Xi Jie) – Bustling pedestrian street with souvenirs, cafes, and street food.
- Xingping Sunrise Hike – Woke up at 4:30 AM, hiked for 2 hours… and saw nothing but fog. The reality of travel! But I swear it must be stunning.
- Cuiping Hill: The best-kept secret for panoramic valley views—large tourist buses can’t reach it!
- Ruyi Peak Scenic Area – You access via a gondola then walk around red painted bridge, stairs and platform to give you a 360C view of the karst pic. You can even try the “glass bridge”. (Ticket was 211 CNY/pax ~38$)
- Fuli Bridge Ancient Town – small, charming old town with a very cute bridge. When I think traditional China, it was the perfect representation of my imagination.
🏡 Where to stay
🍜 What to eat
- Try Beer Fish (啤酒鱼) – A famous Yangshuo dish cooked with local fresh river fish and beer.
🚶♂️ Guided tour: Iconic Sunrise Photography Tour
✈️ How to get there & around
- Cab or shuttle bus from Guilin (2h drive for 120 CNY ~22$)
- Book a cab driver for the day (half-day was around 550 CNY ~100$)
- Electric scooter (you can’t go too far)
🗺️ Recommended itinerary: 3 days to have the time to explore Yangshuo and all the surrounding.
Practical Tips
📆 Best Time to Visit: Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November) for pleasant weather. I went in August and it was hot !
💰 Money:
- 20 to 50$ for simple hotel.
- 5 to 20$ for 2 for a meal.
- No need cash you can pay via Alipay or WeChat ( just download the app and register your credit card). And thanks god for technology, we didn’t bring any cash and were hoping to get some at the airport … Chinese ATM didn’t like our credit card.
👗 What to Pack: Depending the season, adapt from light clothes to warmer outfit. Always bring a mask. A comfortable pair of shoes for walking around (no need for hiking shoes).
Reality Check
- Dead fish in the rice paddies. Part of the ecosystem. Just… don’t ask.
- People aren’t yelling at you. They’re just loud!
- Super helpful locals —even without a common language. A mix of Google Translate, hand gestures, and patience works wonders.
- The smells — prepare yourself! But hey, it’s part of the adventure.
- Rice fields? Also passion fruit fields. And wow, they are delicious.
- No cash needed. Our cards didn’t work at ATMs, but thankfully Alipay saved the day.
This was my first trip to mainland China, and wow… I did not expect to fall so in love.
China isn’t yet a “hot” destination for non-Chinese tourists — beyond Beijing or Shanghai — but it should be. It’s safe, easy (if you plan a bit), stunningly beautiful, and refreshingly real.
Sure, you’ll have to let go of some Western bias and adjust your expectations. But do that, and you’ll discover an enormous playground of mountains, rivers, rice fields, and surprises around every corner. Guilin and its surroundings are a feast for the eyes and the soul. Whether you’re seeking adventure, culture, or relaxation, this region delivers unforgettable memories.
And the best part? It’s super affordable! I’ll be back!
Share your experience or ask me any questions!
Happy Travels!
Travel is Adventures.com 
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