Finding urban jungles, charming towns in 3 China stops

China has a bit of everything that travelers of all types might be looking for. Its cities are sprawling urban jungles with malls, commercial centers, extensive public transportation networks, pedestrian streets, international and local cuisine, cultural and historic attractions.

It’s all a mix of old and new — towering skyscrapers mingle with traditional buildings and centuries old temples. Then in just a few hours, or in some cases, an overnight train ride can take you to the countryside with Chinese painting-like landscapes. 

A trip to Guangzhou, Guilin, and Yangshuo can provide a mix of the kinetic energy of the city and beautiful vistas of towering rock formations and mountains.

It’s easy to combine these three places because of the rail and networks connecting them. You can book a direct flight to Guangzhou from Manila, then take the bullet train to Guilin.

Exploring Guangzhou’s urban landscape

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province in Southern China. It’s a commercial and transportation hub that connects locals and visitors to different parts of the country. I’ve seen firsthand the city’s extensive transport network; one of its major train stations is just as big as an airport. 

Thriving cities almost always have an iconic structure that makes one remember the city immediately like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. 

Guangzhou’s most recognizable landmark is the Canton Tower. It looms large over the cityscape. It’s a TV tower that rises to around 600m high, making it one of the tallest TV towers in the world. It has a distinctive twisting shape with a “slim waist” in the middle. Visitors can go up to the viewing deck for a bird’s-eye view.

The Canton Tower is an iconic structure in Guangzhou. All photos by Joshua Berida

Guangzhou has remnants of Western colonization which you’ll see and experience with a visit to Shamian Island. During the Song and Qing Dynasties, the island was a hub for foreign trade. Then in the mid-19th century, the British and French divided the island into two concessions between them. 

Over the decades, the colonizers left and Shamian’s buildings were left in disarray but were subsequently restored to their former glory. 

Explore the island to get a glimpse of the city’s Western influence and momentarily get away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle. 

Check out Shamian Island while in Guangzhou.

The Sacred Heart Cathedral is another vestige of European influence in the city. It’s more than a hundred years old. It is a stark contrast to the primarily Buddhist country. It took more than two decades from the 1860s to the 1880s to finish construction. It is often referred to as the “Notre Dame of East Asia.” 

The revolutionary Sun Yat-sen left his mark in Chinese politics and history when he led the toppling of the Qing Dynasty. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall commemorates his exploits. When you explore the complex, you’ll see a bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen and exhibits telling the story of his life and the history of China during his time. 

Guangzhou is a bustling metropolis, but you’ll still see vestiges of its ancient history through protected centuries old streets and renovated ancient temples. 

The Grand Buddha Temple may not appear “ancient” but its history dates to the 10th century. Renovations and reconstructions over the centuries (through the rise and fall of dynasties and rebellions) have preserved its majestic appearance. Today, devotees and visitors alike say their prayers and ask for good fortune. 

Say your prayers at the Grand Buddha Temple.

The Temple of the Six Banyan Trees is more than a thousand years old. It is one of the most popular attractions in the city because of its cultural and historical heritage. 

Notable spots to visit in the complex include the Hua Pagoda, Hall of Mahavira, and the Tianwang Hall. 

Beijing Road is a busy pedestrian street lined with shops and restaurants, you’ll also get a glimpse of the area’s ancient and preserved roads covered in glass. 

This is a nice touch to remind locals and visitors alike of the city’s storied past. You can get something to eat and drink here and shop for souvenirs.

Guangzhou’s history and culture make it more than just any modern city you include in your China itinerary. You can also use it as a transport hub to visit other places in the country like Guilin and Yangshuo.

Enthralled with Guilin and Yangshuo

A popular Chinese quote states that 桂林山水甲天下. It means “Guilin’s scenery is best among all under heaven.” 

Despite its development as a tourist destination, I would still agree with that quote about Guilin. I expected a more rural atmosphere when I initially arrived at Guilin by bullet train. 

I saw kitschy souvenir shops, plenty of restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and other establishments. I expected a bit much from an already popular place to visit. However, I didn’t let this dampen my excitement.

Many visitors would ride a bamboo raft along the Li River. This is one of the most popular things to do because who wouldn’t want to go on a traditional cruise with the towering limestone formations surrounding them? 

I settled for climbing different hills around the city to get a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful landscape. This decision wasn’t too bad. The expanding concrete sprawl mixing with the limestone formations was quite a sight to behold (whether that’s a good or bad thing it’s up to you).

Climb the different hills surrounding Guilin for beautiful overlooking views.

 It’s emblematic of China as a whole wherein they conquer mountains and valleys with feats of engineering and architecture; a rail network for a bullet train here, an elevator up the mountain there, and a McDonald’s at a peak viewpoint just because.

You can include the Longji Rice Terraces or Dragon Backbone Rice Terraces to your itinerary. It’s a day trip you can do from Guilin, if you have a few days to spare. 

Locals began building the terraces some time during the Ming Dynasty and completed it during the Qing Dynasty. It has a history that spans more than six centuries. 

The Reed Flute Cave‘s stone pillars, stalactites, and stalagmites that take on various shapes and formations when you use your imagination. These can be images from myths or nature. 

Like Guilin’s landscape, it took millions and millions of years to evolve and take shape. Some of the notable formations include the Crystal Palace, Sky-Scraping Twin, Lion Rock and Sunrise, and Pines in the Snow.

Let your imagination run free when you visit Reed Flute Cave.

Yangshuo is often the next stop after Guilin. Visitors can spend a day or multiple days during their visit. It’s also a developed destination that caters to all types of travelers. 

You can find a quiet spot to enjoy the views (on foot or by bicycle) or join the throng of tourists riding bamboo rafts along the Yulong River. The mist-wrapped mountains add to the mystique and mythical appearance of the limestone formations. 

The mist wrapped mountains in Yangshuo.

The three China stops have plenty of accommodation, dining, and tour options — you can shop in Guangzhou while going at a relaxed pace in Guilin and Yangshuo — making the trio an ideal combination of city and nature destinations. – Rappler.com