The oldest bridge and smallest hill in Guilin are both in this classic park

Beautiful Little East River

To Guilin's Seven Star Scenic Area, must-see Flower Bridge, Hibiscus Stone, Little East River. Text and photos: Liu Guoxiong.

I have been to Guilin many times, but I have rarely actually entered the parks in Guilin, because those parks are basically all paid, and even as a journalist I didn't get a discount. So usually when I come to Guilin, I just go to the pedestrian street, Dongxi Alley, and the banks of the Li River to have fun, unless I join an event and can follow into the park.

This time I entered the Seven Star Scenic Area to tour – it's my first time back here after many years. The Seven Star Scenic Area is located on the east bank of the Li River in downtown Guilin, and it's a classic old park in Guilin. As soon as you enter, you see the Little East River, a tributary of the Li River. The water is very clear and very calm. Ahead is Flower Bridge. Flower Bridge is the oldest bridge in Guilin, originally built during the Jiaxi period of the Song Dynasty. Its original name was Jiaxi Bridge, a four-arch bridge. Later it was destroyed by floods and rebuilt. The current Flower Bridge was rebuilt in 1965 following the original design, and a dry bridge was added for flood discharge – that is, seven arches were built on the shore side for flood drainage.

On Flower Bridge there is a covered corridor, like a long pavilion, providing shelter from wind and rain while enjoying the view. From Flower Bridge, the scenery of mountains and waters is elegant and gorgeous. The tour guide said that the pavilion halfway up the hill by the Little East River was the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." But at that time I didn't expect that I would go up to that pavilion, called Xiao Guanghan and Jinjiang Pavilion, at noon, because my friend Boss Zhou's studio is right there.

Beside Flower Bridge, there is the smallest hill in Guilin. This hill is also called Hibiscus Stone – it is just a huge rock, about 10 meters high, standing tall and upright like a pillar, so it also has the name "Heavenly Pillar." On the side facing Flower Bridge, the seven characters "Long live Mao Zedong Thought" are carved. On top of the rock there are trees, and the roots almost wrap around the entire hill. Because it is under renovation, I couldn't get close to see some of the stone carvings in detail.

Guilin Seven Star Scenic Area

This is a national key scenic spot.

Under the bridge is Little East River.

The water of Little East River is very clear.

Flower Bridge is paved with bluestone slabs, with a covered corridor on top.

This place is really beautiful.

The pavilion halfway up the hill is the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie."

Beside Flower Bridge there is a "Heavenly Pillar."

This is the smallest hill in Guilin, also called Hibiscus Stone.

Several banyan trees grow on Hibiscus Stone.

It is under renovation here, so you cannot get close.

There is a pavilion below the rock, but because I was following the guide, I had no time to go down and play.

Beautiful Little East River

To Guilin's Seven Star Scenic Area, must-see Flower Bridge, Hibiscus Stone, Little East River. Text and photos: Liu Guoxiong.

I have been to Guilin many times, but I have rarely actually entered the parks in Guilin, because those parks are basically all paid, and even as a journalist I didn't get a discount. So usually when I come to Guilin, I just go to the pedestrian street, Dongxi Alley, and the banks of the Li River to have fun, unless I join an event and can follow into the park.

This time I entered the Seven Star Scenic Area to tour – it's my first time back here after many years. The Seven Star Scenic Area is located on the east bank of the Li River in downtown Guilin, and it's a classic old park in Guilin. As soon as you enter, you see the Little East River, a tributary of the Li River. The water is very clear and very calm. Ahead is Flower Bridge. Flower Bridge is the oldest bridge in Guilin, originally built during the Jiaxi period of the Song Dynasty. Its original name was Jiaxi Bridge, a four-arch bridge. Later it was destroyed by floods and rebuilt. The current Flower Bridge was rebuilt in 1965 following the original design, and a dry bridge was added for flood discharge – that is, seven arches were built on the shore side for flood drainage.

On Flower Bridge there is a covered corridor, like a long pavilion, providing shelter from wind and rain while enjoying the view. From Flower Bridge, the scenery of mountains and waters is elegant and gorgeous. The tour guide said that the pavilion halfway up the hill by the Little East River was the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." But at that time I didn't expect that I would go up to that pavilion, called Xiao Guanghan and Jinjiang Pavilion, at noon, because my friend Boss Zhou's studio is right there.

Beside Flower Bridge, there is the smallest hill in Guilin. This hill is also called Hibiscus Stone – it is just a huge rock, about 10 meters high, standing tall and upright like a pillar, so it also has the name "Heavenly Pillar." On the side facing Flower Bridge, the seven characters "Long live Mao Zedong Thought" are carved. On top of the rock there are trees, and the roots almost wrap around the entire hill. Because it is under renovation, I couldn't get close to see some of the stone carvings in detail.

Guilin Seven Star Scenic Area

This is a national key scenic spot.

Under the bridge is Little East River.

The water of Little East River is very clear.

Flower Bridge is paved with bluestone slabs, with a covered corridor on top.

This place is really beautiful.

The pavilion halfway up the hill is the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie."

Beside Flower Bridge there is a "Heavenly Pillar."

This is the smallest hill in Guilin, also called Hibiscus Stone.

Several banyan trees grow on Hibiscus Stone.

It is under renovation here, so you cannot get close.

There is a pavilion below the rock, but because I was following the guide, I had no time to go down and play.