i'm in Guangzhou china, planning to travel to guilin, and surrounding... any tips?

usually love to stay in exclusive accommodation- unlisted. such as the kasbah du toubkal in morocco? Is there anything as beautiful in China close to Guilin?

No much is available for that kind of accomodation here. Rooms are clean but very basic. While Guilin is ok, a better trip would have been to Zhanjiejia in Hunan Province...go to Yangshou...the tours here are pretty whirlwind the souvenirs are cheaper elsewhere. Reed Flute cave is interesting and the classical place is Elephant Rock. A walk along the Li River is nice, eith early morning when people practise martial arts or in the evening when they are dancing. I forgot which but the blue or yellow bus is free...and you can visit some of the sights that way. The Gold and Silver Towers are downtown too. Try to visit Camel Mountain....and make sure you see the old canal, built about 2000 years ago to link up with the Li River.

Train will be the best choice - cheaper and more interesting

Guilin is in Guangxi Province - just near Guangdong
i recommend Yangshuo - very nice also in Guangxi.

have a nice trip!

The only place I could think of is the 5-star Hotel of Modern Art, which I really could not afford but it was a nice treat to walk around the property. It is dedicated to the promotion of the contemporary arts and environment in China, with an international arts center, exhibition center and a huge atelier within 1,500 acres of land that showcases sculptures by artists from all over the world.

The train from Guangzhou is the best way to get there. I can't remember with certainty if the HK-Hanoi train stops in Guangzhou, I think it does. You will go through Nanning, and there is a stop in Guilin.

I personally stay in the cheapest guesthouses and many times with local people (globalfreeloaders.com) wherever I travel, rather than at exclusive retreats. While the level of comfort is not always the best, I always feel privileged to be able to see a country through the eyes of normal folks.

i would suggest staying in yangshuo just outside of guilin. it's absolutely beautiful and you will find a ton to do. yangshuo is by far my favorite place in china.

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