Guilin is located in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on the west bank of the Lijiang River. It is named after the many osmanthus trees with fragrant blossoms in the city. It is both a famous scenic-tourist and historical city.
There is a popular Chinese saying that Guilin is “second to none in scenery under the sky”. The landscapes of Guilin are typical Karst. According to geologists, the region around Guilin was part of the sea about 300 million years ago. Crustal movements thrust the limestone sediments out of the bottom of the sea. After many years of wind and rain erosion, they were shaped into strange hills and rocks, deep, quiet and magnificent karst caves and mysterious underground rivers. The distinctive landscapes, the beautiful Lijiang River, and the charming rural sights combine to make the Guilin landscape renowned for its magical green pinnacles, clear water, fantastic caves and spectacular rocks. Elegant and tranquil hills and bamboo groves along the crystal-clear water contrast beautifully with each other. We can say no language can truly describe its beauty.
Talking of the Guilin landscape, one naturally will talk about Third Sister Liu. Legend has it that she was born into a Zhuang farming family in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). When she was 12 years old, her tongue was like the pen of a prolific writer. She could sing songs just like other people speak words and she was famed as the fairy of songs. People near and far visited her to enjoy her singing. However, a cruel despot envied her talent and had her killed. It is said that she rode a magic carp to Heaven and became a fairy. There are many versions of Third Sister Liu’s story among the Zhuang people. Although there are slight differences between each version, all clearly communicate that the one purpose of the Zhuang people is to respect and worship her. Nowadays, there are many statues and temples of Third Sister Liu. The third day of the third lunar month is a folk festival which commemorates Third Sister Liu. In 1961, the legend was turned into a movie named Third Sister Liu. The beautiful Guilin landscapes, and the magical tale of Third Sister Liu and her sweet-sounding folk songs soon gained widespread popularity in China and even spread to Southeast Asia. Many people go sightseeing in Guilin, searching for traces of Third Sister Liu as they listen to the wonderful folk songs of the Zhuang ethnic group.
