Karst Mountains in China

Location and History

The Karst Mountains located in the Guilin area of South China provides a spectacular backdrop for a leisurely boating trip down the Li River. The tranquil beauty of the Li River has made this famous mountain area a part of the Chinese 20-Yuan note. Karst Mountains are reflected in the quiet waters of the rivers that run through the landscape and this scenic escape is a pleasant change from the bustle and noise of busy cities. The region is known for its archeological importance as tools and teeth of prehistoric man were also discovered in caves here. Archeological findings also included ancient pottery from as far back as 7 BC.

Description

The Karst Mountains closely resemble massive teeth of limestone and dolomite rock that have been eroded over millions of years. The Karst Mountains took roughly 70 million years in the making.
The Karst Mountains of China are known for their unique caves and natural underground structures that grew out of extensive bedrock erosion.
The spectacular Karst topography of Guilin is characterized by two distinct types: The ‘Fengcong’ (peak clusters) as well as what is called ‘Fenglin’ (peak forests)
The enchanting maze of interlinked rivers and caves makes Karst Mountains in China an appealing destination for visitors. The caves here have ancient inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty from as far back as 729 AD.

Visiting the Karst Mountains in China

Guilin is roughly one hour away from Shanghai. Visitors normally transfer to Yangshuo from Guilin and can opt to explore the Karst Mountains from Yangshuo.
Many tourists love renting bikes to ride upto the point where you need a boat. Bamboo boats or kayaks take visitors down the Li River for a panoramic view of the Karst Mountains.

Highlights

Elephant Trunk Hill

Standing at a height of 55 meters above the water, the Elephant Trunk River straddles the junction between the Taohuajiang and the Li Rivers. Its fanciful title comes from its unique shape that resembles a thirsty, massive elephant dipping its trunk right into the Li River. Elephant Trunk Hill dates back to 3.6 hundred million years. Atop the Elephant Trunk Hill is the well-known, 14-meter tall Puxian Pagoda. The pagoda appears to resemble the hilt of a sword arising out of the elephant’s back. The Puxian Pagoda was built by the rulers of the Ming Dynasty during the 14th century. The top of Elephant Trunk Hill commands a beautiful view of Guilin as well as the gently flowing Li River.



Other attractions on Elephant Trunk Hill include:

Moon Water Cave

The Moon water Cave is 3 kilometers long and stretches across three hills in the Karst Mountains. The cave is known for its dark maze of passages and tunnels. The cave was used during the world war by locals as a refuge from attacking Japanese troops. The cave is known for its sweet, clean drinking water as well as its beautiful waterfall pool that visitors love to take a dip in. There are also ancient Chinese inscriptions and fossilized bats and fish on the walls of the cave.

Fubo Hill

Fubo Hill stands alone in its regal glory and stands tall at 213 meters high on the West bank of the Li River. Waves from the Li River return after hitting Fubo Hill which is why it gets its local name of ‘Wave-Subduing’ hill. Fubo Hill lies about 1.4 miles away from Elephant Hill Trunk and is also famous for the Pearl-Returning Cave, the Sword-testing Cave and the Thousand-Buddha Cave.

Pear Returning Cave

This cave is situated on Fubo Hill and travelers sail into the cave on boats from the Fubo River. The caves are known for their valuable Buddhist statues dating back to the Tang rulers as well as spectacular stalactites in the cave. The enigmatic name of the cave originates from a legend that General Fubo poured all his pearls into this cave.

Sword-Testing Rock

This is a peculiar rock with a broad base and tapering end that appears to slice through the water. It hangs just about 1.5 inches above the water level but appears as though it’s slicing the water from a distance.

The Thousand Buddha Cave

The enchanting cave of the Thousand Buddha’s is hidden deep within Fubo Hill and covers an area of nearly 154 square yards. The cave is made of three levels that contain about 239 ancient paintings of the Buddha which all date back to the period of the Tang Dynasty. The artwork is also well-known for the intricate carvings of the Tang era.

Interesting Activities

Tours to the Karst area begin from Yangshuo and include exciting options such as kayaking, biking, canoeing and ballooning. Bamboo rafting along the Li River is another enjoyable way to view the unique Karst topography. The rafts and kayaks take visitors through the panoramic mountain views and rice paddy fields to view the multiple attractions in the Karst Mountains. It is advisable to take long rainproof wear as the trip to Karst Mountains and the surrounding areas takes about 2 to 3 days to explore.

What to buy

Local Chinese scarves and wraps are a great buy in Yangshuo town.

Hangzhou

Location and History

Hangzhou is a popular Chinese city situated on the Yangtze River delta region roughly about 125 miles Southwest of Shanghai. The city of Hangzhou is contained between the West Lake and the Qiantang River. Hangzhou is the fourth largest city in China and currently has a population of 3.6 million people living there and is famous for its scenic attractions and natural beauty. Hangzhou came into existence about seven thousand years back when areas surrounding it were used for rice cultivation by the Liangzhou culture. Hangzhou was built by the Qin rulers back in the 6th century. Hangzhou was one of the seven ancient capitals of China and had enchanted Marco Polo with its beautiful west lake and he described Hangzhou as a paradise on earth. Hangzhou is known for its rich, vibrant culture and economic prosperity that makes it a competitor to other well-known Chinese cities like Shanghai. Hangzhou attracted scholars, kings and hermits with its unique temple architecture and arts. Hangzhou is visited by more than 20 million tourists annually.

Attractions of Hangzhou

There are several exciting attractions for visitors to enjoy at Hangzhou.

West Lake

The well-known West Lake of Hangzhou began as a lagoon several thousands of years ago but its access to the sea was finally cut off by a deposit of silt, turning into a lake. The West Lake has always been a retreat for China’s royalty as well as an attraction for local people over many centuries. In 2011, West Lake in Hangzhou was established as a World Heritage Site. Its spectacular natural environs as well as architectural splendors make West Lake one of the most attractive destinations of Hangzhou. West Lake is only 5 feet deep and is split up into five different parts.

The Island of Little Oceans

This is a manmade island consisting of four small lakes that are known for their reflections of ‘three moons’’. At night, small lamps are lit in traditional stone lanterns and the lakes appear to reflect the light of three moons; a truly enchanting sight.

Solitary Hill

This natural island is located 125 feet above sea level and stands in its own lonely space on West Lake. Solitary Hill is a wonderful spot to enjoy a panoramic view of West Lake and is also known for interesting architectural attractions. Temple of Soul’s Retreat This is another unique attraction that is located northwest of the West Lake in Hangzhou. According to legend, an Indian Monk by the name of Huili visited there several hundreds of years ago and was entranced by the beautiful region and thought the place was fit for immortal life. The temple is famous for its ‘Hall of the heavenly Kings’ whose walls stretch up a massive 60 feet in height. The ceiling is covered by exquisite paintings of dragons as well as phoenixes. The Hall of the Great Hero has a massive statue of camphor wood of ‘Sakyamuni’ along with 20 saints and 12 guards which makes a spectacular sight.

Running Tiger Spring

This spring in Hangzhou is also called Hupao Spring and lies at the bottom of Daci Mountains. The spring was said to have been dug there by two tigers and hence the spring got its name as ‘’Running Tiger Spring’. Recently, the attractive surrounding of Running Tiger Spring has developed into Running River National Park. The site also houses a striking memorial to Li Shatong, a well-known musician, dramatist and calligrapher.

Six Harmonies Pagoda

The Six Harmonies Pagoda was built over the Qiantang River to quiet its rolling waters. The statuesque pagoda stands on the Yuelun Hill and directly overlooks the waters of the Qiantang River. An imposing 196 feet in height and octagonal in shape, the Six Harmonies Pagoda has seven uniquely painted ceilings to view. The paintings include images of flowers, animals and birds. Other unique features of the Six Harmonies Pagoda include a zigzag corridor and a dual appearance of light and shade; the upper layers appear to be bright while lower layers appear to be darker. The overall effect is that of perfect harmony between light and dark.

Chinese National Silk Museum

The huge exhibition hall located in Hangzhou houses the interesting 5500 year history of Chinese silk manufacture and trade. Silk specimens from every part of China and from every Chinese Dynasty are on display here. Entrance is free and there are wheelchairs available for disabled visitors. You can also opt for an audio guide to explain the various exhibits on display.

Shopping in Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the perfect place to pick up local Chinese goods such as silk and tea. Hangzhou silk comes in 14 different types and is known for its unique texture and quality.

Silk umbrellas (Xihu silk)

Xihu umbrellas are made of bamboo and silk and can double as a parasol as well as a decorative ornament for your home.

Wangxingji paper fans

These are exquisitely decorated hand fans that Hangzhou is particularly famous for. In the past, these fans used to be exclusively made for the members of the royal household.

Longjing tea

Longjing green tea is known for its excellent taste, energizing properties and delicate texture.