The town of Guilin, in the north east of the autonomous region of Guangxi Zhuang, was founded more than 2000 years ago under the Qin dynasty. Even in those times, the countryside of this region through which the Lijiang river flows was famed for its beauty and was an inspiration to the most highly-renowned artists of the era. Han Yu (768-824), the great poet of the Tang dynasty, likened it to a green ribbon unfurling alongside jasper hairpins.

Centuries have passed and the region becomes only lovelier still. Over the ages the monumental “karst” rocks which border the limpid waters between Lijiang and Guilin have taken on increasingly mysterious shapes. And their grottos and underground passages have offered up their unique treasures. Meanwhile the lush countryside has flourished, framing the beauty of the site and providing the finishing touches to what is a magnificent spectacle.