Guangxi Province  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  22.7357, 108.3252 Map Page Views:  20,283. Good page?    Submitted By:  Ryan Kelly on May 14, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Guilin City

Description 

The Guangxi Province is an autonomous region in the southeast of the People’s Republic of China, on the border with Vietnam. The region is blessed with an abundance of limestone and subtropical weather, allowing climbing almost year-round. The center of attention still lies in YangShuo, which has grown into a world-class sport climbing destination. However, climbing fever has caught on in China and is spreading quickly throughout the well-endowed province, and country at large. In addition to YangShuo there is well established climbing in FengShan and the capital city of Nanning. No doubt there’s plenty more hidden around and new stuff coming up daily.

Getting There 

I don’t know all the airports, but there is one in Guilin (see YangShuo section). It’s a small airport and tickets can be pricey, but if you’re in southeast Asia you might be able to catch a deal. It’s by far the easiest way if you have a visa and are going to YangShuo. Alternately you can come in through Hong Kong (easiest place to get a visa) and take the night train in. You should also be able to come up from Vietnam via ground transport.

Visa Information 

Those who have traveled a lot are familiar with Visa tables – a matrix showing the rates, lengths, and restrictions on a Visa for people from various countries. The Chinese Visa matrix looks something like this:

Visa: $30*

• - plus $100 service charge for travelers from the United States

Communication 

Outside of the major cities and tourist traps China can be challenging for the foreigner, even those well-traveled. Don’t expect the usual tourist signs in English, and multilingual assistance that you get in the rest of Asia. It’s next to impossible to ‘wing it’ with an attempt at Cantonese or Mandarin if you’re not familiar with tonal languages. Even writing things down can be difficult at times. Your best bet is to practice up on charades before heading over.

If you’re heading for YangShuo then you can relax a bit. The heavy tourism has created a bubble of western culture much like the rest of southeast Asia. Signs are often doubled in English and the language is widely spoken. Getting around is simple so long as you stay in the bubble.

The Classics

Featured Route For Guangxi Province

The Phoenix 5.12b/c  International : Asia : ... : White Mountain Cliff

A great route with a fun variety of moves: tricky, thin crux down low, sustained climbing above to a powerful bouldery crux higher up. Graded at 12c in the guidebook, this route may be a bit easier...?...[more]   Browse More Classics in International

Photos of Guangxi Province Slideshow

Add Photo

BETA PHOTO: Karst covered Guilin County