Guilin

As of 2024, Guilin, a prefecture-level city in the northeast of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has around 4.9 million people. This charming city, which lies on the west bank of the Li River, is well-known for its great natural beauty and rich cultural legacy. Translating as “forest of sweet osmanthus,” Guilin’s name speaks to the profusion of fragrant sweet osmanthus trees dotting the area. Given its breathtaking karst geology and gorgeous scenery, the city is rightfully among China’s most famous tourist attractions.

Guilin’s unique karst formations—which have been formed over millions of years— define its landscape. Triassic era limestone and dolomite rocks make up these natural beauties, which have enthralled tourists for millennia. Running through the center of the city, the Li River accentuates the natural beauty of the region even more by cutting its path through the karst mountains and producing a panorama that has inspired many painters and writers throughout ages.

Guilin has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate with clearly seasonal fluctuations. Generally speaking, winters are moderate and brief; summers are lengthy, hot, and humid. With an annual average of just under 1,890 mm, the city gets a lot of rain. Often resulting in a higher danger of floods, the plum rain season—April through June—accounts for about half of the yearly precipitation. Guilin nonetheless gets a significant amount of sunlight despite the heavy rain; on average, 1,487 hours of brilliant sunshine are experienced there.

Since the middle of the 20th century, the city’s economy has seen notable change. Guilin’s industrial scene consisted only of a thermal power plant, a cement factory, and a few little textile mills until 1949. Still, the city’s economic sectors have seen amazing diversity and expansion in the next decades. Guilin now has a varied spectrum of businesses, including electronics, engineering, manufacturing of agricultural tools, medical, rubber production, bus building, and textile manufacture. The city has also welcomed high-tech businesses and witnessed significant expansion in its tertiary sector—especially in tourism and associated services.

Guilin’s agriculture industry produces a range of distinctive and sought-after goods, therefore supporting the local economy. Famous in the area are Shatian Pomelo, summer oranges, Fructus Momordicae, ginkgo, moon persimmons, and Lipu Taro. Among other noteworthy agricultural goods are Sanhua Alcohol, pepper sauce, fermented bean curd, and the globally known Guilin Rice Noodle. Using the plenty of premium agricultural goods from the nearby farms, the city’s food processing sector continues to be a major source of income for the local economy.

Unquestionably, Guilin’s economy is based on tourism; the city’s natural beauty and cultural value draw millions of people annually. Guilin’s significance has been acknowledged by the Chinese government via classifying it as a National Famous Historical and Cultural City, therefore reinforcing its must-visit reputation. With nationals of ASEAN nations enjoying visa-free entry for trips spanning up to 144 hours, the city’s dedication to boosting tourism is clear from its visa laws.

Guilin has substantially upgraded its transportation system to accommodate the rising number of local and foreign visitors. The primary entrance to the city, the Guilin Liangjiang International Airport links it to various foreign locations as well as major Chinese cities. Among the many airlines serving the airport are China Eastern, China Southern, Air China, foreign carriers like Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, and Air Asia. Guilin’s tourist sector has been much enhanced by this vast aviation network, which also helps business travel to the area.

Guilin’s economic growth is seen in its consistently rising GDP per capita, which in 2020 reached to ¥41,891 (about US$6,569). Although this number comes in 134th among 659 Chinese cities, it shows notable advancement and emphasizes the city’s future for further development. Policies meant to draw money, encourage creativity, and support sustainable economic development are still being carried out by the local government.

Condoms, pharmaceutical products, tires, equipment, fertilizers, silk, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon, and herbal medicine are among the industrial commodities the city now produces. Apart from boosting the local economy, this varied industrial base helps Guilin to establish itself as a significant manufacturing center in the area. The city’s focus on building a balanced economy including tourism, high-tech sectors, and historic businesses as well as modern ones has produced a strong economic framework able to withstand many obstacles.