MY TRAVEL INFO: THE NIGHT TOUR OF GUILIN, CHINA

In 2017, the Night Tour of Guilin (specifically the "Two Rivers and Four Lakes" cruise) remained the crown jewel of Guilin's urban tourism. This water system, which traces back to the Tang Dynasty, was extensively restored and illuminated to create a "Venice of the East" experience.

The most iconic landmarks you likely saw or captured in my photo are:

1. The Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Fir Lake)

These are the most famous landmarks of the night tour.

• The Sun Pagoda: Standing at 41 meters (9 stories), it is the world's tallest copper pagoda. It glows with a brilliant golden light at night.
• The Moon Pagoda: Reaching 35 meters (7 stories), it is finished with glazed tiles and emits a soft silver/white light.
• Did you know? The two are connected by an 18-meter-long underwater glass tunnel, allowing visitors to walk between them while seeing fish swim overhead.

2. The "Two Rivers and Four Lakes" System

The tour circumnavigates the city center via:

• Two Rivers: The Li River and the Peach Blossom River.
• Four Lakes: Shahu (Fir), Ronghu (Banyan), Guihu (Osmanthus), and Mulong (Wooden Dragon) Lakes.

3. Iconic Bridges and Statues

As you cruised through the lakes, you would have passed under several uniquely designed bridges, many modeled after famous world bridges (like the Golden Gate Bridge or the Pont Neuf):

• Rongxi Bridge: A beautiful stone arch bridge modeled after the Zhaozhou Bridge.
• The Glass Bridge: A crystal-like structure that changes colors.
• Historical Statues: Near the lakes, there is a prominent bronze statue of Wang Zhenggong, the Song Dynasty official who coined the famous phrase: "Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven."

4.Historical Statues and Architecture

My photos also highlight the cultural side of the "Two Rivers and Four Lakes" scenic area:

• Scholarly Statues: The stone carvings feature historical figures from Guilin’s past, including the scholar Long Qirui (indicated by the text on the base). These statues represent the city's rich history of academic achievement.
• Ancient City Gate: The bottom image shows an illuminated gatehouse atop a stone wall, likely the Ancient South Gate (Gunanmen), which dates back over 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty.

The photo gathering of my groups enjoying the night tour, capturing a moment of community during our 2017 visit to this scenic city. 

21/12/2025: 4.30 p.m