Ziyuan

Ziyuan County is located about 100 kilometres north east of Guilin. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty, much of which is protected by National Park status.

Getting there

Most visitors to Ziyuan arrive on a day trip as part of a group excursion or tour from Guilin. These tend to include set sites and offer little flexibility for the join-in tourist.

You can travel to Ziyuan County by public transport. Take the direct bus from Guilin bus station and then look for special local buses that will take you around the scenic areas.

It would be possible to hire a taxi from Guilin and to make your own program up on the day but this would require some proficiency with putonghua (Mandarin).

A private tour is the most convenient option for two or more people.

Things to see and do

Anyone with an eye can appreciate the scenery, even just as the tour bus drives around. However, it is preferable to get out and to get active to really get the best feel for the landscape.

Climb Bajiaozhai

This scenic area is renowned for its Danxia Landforms. These steep-sided mountains cover an area of some 800 square kilometres and are therefore impressive in terms of scope as well as scale. One of the most impressive is Bajiaozhai - and there is a route up for the adveturous.

The first section, known affectionately as the Dragon Ridge, is steep and awkward. Wear proper footwear and take good care, especially on descent when you are will be more tired and more likely to lose your balance. Once up this it is relatively easy to continue to the summit which is at 818m above sea level. This vantage point goes by the name 'Cloud Terrace' and offers wonderful panoramic views more than justifying the effort.

Hike in the Mao'Er (Little Cat) Mountains

The Mao'Er Mountains are the source of three important rivers - the Zijiang, Xunjiang and Lijiang. The latter is better known as the Li River, the one that flows through Guilin and on down to Yangshuo.

Hiking in the area is restricted for foreigners. We are seeking clarification before publishing routes.

Should you get to Mao'Er Mountain, look out for the memorial to a US Air Force bomber crew that crashed and died here back in 1944 but were only located by herb gatherers in 1996. You can read the full account in the words of a grandson of one of the crew here. Those who are particularly interested in the Flying Tigers and other US involvement in China during World War II may be interested in the museum in Xing'an mentioned in this account.

Take a Boat trip on the Zijiang

Float down the Zi River under the control of an experienced boatman. The river flows between magnificent cliffs, many of which have imaginative names, and dense bamboo groves. The 22 kilometre ride is full of interest, including a stop at 'Celestial Villa' where you can ascend a plank-path to get a bird's eye view of one of the prettiest sections of river.

Go Rafting on the Wu Pai River

Not to be confused with the above, this is a self-propelled rafting experience. The 30 kilometre route is not for the faint hearted. Be prepared to get wet. A great half day experience for thrill-seekers.

Visit Baoding Waterfall

This waterfall on the side of Zhenbao Mountain drops some 700m in stages. You may count differently but there are said to be 9, giving rise to the more poetic name 'Nine Heavens Coloured Waterfall'.

The scenic area includes Baoding Lake and Baiyun (White-cloud) Temple and lots of primitive forest making for limited but interesting walks.

A note on Danxia Landforms

The term Danxia Landform was coined by Professor Chen Guoda, a Chinese geologist. The basic shape is that of a mountain with a flat top, steep sides but a base that returns to the horizontal gently.

For a full scholarly account go to the Globalgeopark site.

You can read more about the status of Danxia Landforms on the UNESCO World Heritage List here.