Third Time in Guilin: Our Deep Travel Selected These "Attractions"

Third time in Guilin, we loosened our schedule and designed a more humanistic deep travel route. We revisited Jingjiang Prince City, and also designed many new routes, such as Guilin One Institute Two Museums, Osmanthus Commune Scenic Area, Guilin's independent bookstores, and Guilin cafés.

We stayed near Dongxi Alley. I've always felt that staying near Jingjiang Prince City gives the hotel a sense of history. Walking along the city wall of Jingjiang Prince City every evening has a unique charm.

On the first day, I returned to Jingjiang Prince City. This was my second time there, and I think it's the most immersive scenic spot in Guilin. The guide's profound knowledge and diverse interactive activities let me gain a lot without even realizing it.

Everyone is familiar with the saying "Guilin's landscape is the best under heaven," but few know where it originated. It comes from the Duxiu Peak Reading Rock within Jingjiang Prince City. Besides that, the Reading Rock also bears authentic works by many famous calligraphers and poets from past dynasties.

I was also very interested in the Prince City's secret rubbings. They carry historical and cultural heritage, and I could personally make a rubbing of good fortune, experiencing the profoundness of intangible cultural heritage.

Returning to Jingjiang Prince City and taking the "college entrance exam" again at Guangxi Gongyuan was still full of fun.

This time in Guilin, the city wall of the Prince City was opened to the public. Climbing up the wall and looking around, I could take in the entire view of central Guilin. The gentle breeze allowed me to feel the freedom of the wind and the leisure of the heart.

Leaving the Prince City, I spent half an afternoon at a café (Jianguo Coffee) at the foot of the Prince City. The owner told me that this building used to be the faculty building of the Prince City (since it also houses Guangxi Normal University). Sitting under the story-filled city wall, drinking coffee, watching locals pass by speaking Guilin dialect, it felt like time travel.

In the evening, I strolled from the city wall to Dongxi Alley. I listened to folk songs in a quiet bar and wrote postcards to friends. That story-filled day quietly passed.

The second day was for visiting Guilin's independent bookstores. I went to Blade Bookstore on Binjiang Road, discovered Zhongmu Bookstore by Guihu Lake, visited Duxiu Study Room under Guangxi Normal University Press, and Paper Times Lianda Store, a national chain bookstore. Each bookstore had its own slogan. My favorites were Paper Times' "Complete reading, deep thinking" and Zhongmu Bookstore's "Ordinary and warm Zhongmu." The slogans reveal the owners' attitudes toward knowledge and life.

On the third day, we went to Lingui District in Guilin. At the One Institute Two Museums, we visited Guilin Museum and Guilin Library. The Guilin Museum has different exhibition halls: the first hall displays historical artifacts of Guilin, the second hall exhibits folk customs of Guangxi's ethnic minorities (Zhuang, Yao, Miao, Dong, etc.) covering daily life, production, and culture, the third hall displays gifts from international friends, and the fourth hall features Ming and Qing porcelain with over 200 pieces.

In every city, I enjoy visiting its library because a good library design can make reading feel joyful. Here, I found that feeling.

On the last day in Guilin, we spent time at the Osmanthus Commune Scenic Area.

It is often said that "After touring the Prince City, you know Guilin," but this scenic area's motto "Taste osmanthus and know the flowers to understand Guilin" deeply touched me too. Everyone knows that Guilin's city flower is the osmanthus, and everyone has heard "Guilin, Guilin, osmanthus trees form a forest," but few truly understand osmanthus culture. Moreover, here, while learning about osmanthus culture, we also learned about Guilin's urban development—truly enlightening. The Osmanthus Commune Scenic Area is not large, mainly featuring the Osmanthus Culture Experience Hall, which combines science education and entertainment. It allows you to learn while taking beautiful photos.

Here, I saw nearly ten-thousand-year-old carbonized osmanthus seeds, and in the naked-eye 5D film, I left my silhouette against the backdrop of flying osmanthus blossoms. I also learned the story of the relationship between Guilin, osmanthus flowers, and osmanthus trees, and heard about the Zhuangyuan (top scholar) culture. All this enriched me greatly.

Although it was my third visit to Guilin, what we know about Guilin is only the tip of the iceberg. If I have the chance, I would come again. At different stages, there are different ways to play and different insights to gain.