The One-Of-A-Kind Chinese City Reputed As One Of The Most Beautiful Places On Earth

When people imagine traveling in China, they often think of mist-shrouded mountains or bustling cities. Regarding the former, this is no accident: Chinese artists have painted ink-wash landscapes for centuries, and towering mountain ranges have long been a favorite subject. Whether you've spotted them on a screen saver or on the wall of your local Chinese restaurant, these images are familiar to people around the world. Aside from their haunting beauty, many high peaks are sacred to traditional Taoists, and devotees will hike up to ear-popping elevations to pray at remote temples.

The most famous scenery can be found in the limestone hills of Guilin. This city lies along the Li River and is comparatively small, with about 5 million residents in its metropolitan area. Yet since the Tang Dynasty, legions of tourists have poured into Guilin to take in its otherworldly terrain: Conical mountains rising abruptly out of the flatlands, coated in lush greenery. Some hills look like shark fins, others like sails, spires, or peaking waves. On humid days, rays of sunlight cut through the haze and alpine silhouettes, giving the land a heavenly luster.

Guilin is located in the Autonomous Region of Guangxi, far in the south of China, and the subtropical climate is more similar to that of nearby Vietnam than Beijing. Warmer weather,  sophisticated regional cuisine, and the province's famous rice terraces have made this region a favorite among tourists. If you've never visited China before, here are a few things to know before you travel there.

To get the most out of your Guilin sojourn, consider booking one (or several) tours with Viator. There are so many things to see and do in this photogenic city, from shopping in villages to cruising the river to zip lining between mountains, and each Viator experience will equip you with bilingual guides and well-planned itineraries. Learn about the millennia-old history of the region, the geologic forces that sculpted this miraculous topography, and the 12 major ethnic groups that coexist in this preternatural river valley.

If you're accustomed to independent travel and feel a little uneasy about organized tours, remember this: native Chinese almost always travel in groups, and tours are a great way to support the local economy — and break the ice with residents. Tours often grant access to sights and activities that foreigners would have trouble finding, and you can use the tour as a springboard for solo expeditions later on. You may also avoid some critical missteps, such as these things tourists should never do while visiting China.

For most visitors, the main bucket-list item is a bamboo boat ride down the Li River, which might just rival hiking the Great Wall as the most iconic Chinese experience. This wending waterway is well trafficked with ferries and fishermen and extends about 270 miles through the karst mountain ranges of Guanxi. A sunrise or sunset ride on the Li River is beautiful beyond description, and you wouldn't be the first to become one with your inner Tao.