Guilin Muslim Day Tour: Li River Cruise, Yangshuo West Street & Reed Flute Cave

Li River

The Li River flows in the general southern direction through Guilin and Yangshuo, finally falls into the Xijiang River which is the western tributary of the Pearl River. The upper course of the Li River is connected by the ancient Lingqu Canal with the Xiangjiang River, which flows north into the Yangtze River; this in the past made the Li River part of a highly important waterway connecting the Yangtze River Valley with the Pearl River Delta. The 83km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is like an artist's masterpiece. The landscape is decorated with startling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves and farming villages, and is lined with bamboo.Cruising on the Li River is enjoyable no matter what the weather is like. During sunny days, you can see the inverted reflection of the hills on both sides clearly in the water. During cloudy days, the hills are surrounded by mist and you may feel that you are cruising in a mystical paradise.

West Street

Yangshuo West Street is renowned for the ancient and local architectures, Chinese and western style restaurants and coffee bars, various and memorable tourist souvenirs, special and tasty snacks and beautiful night scene with exotic styles. The present West Street is very modern and fashionable, nearly every store has bilingual shop signs, and more than 20 stores are opened by foreigners who have settled here. Typical western style restaurants and coffee bars line on the typical Chinese stone streets hidden in the prosperous trees and surrounded by mountains. At every corner of this street, people of different colors and races are drinking beer, tasting coffee, or chatting leisurely. It is no wonder that the West Street is considered to be a Global Village.

Guilin Chongshan Road Mosque was built in 1735 during the 13th year of Emperor Yongzheng’s rein, expanded in 1849 during the 14th year of Emperor Jiaqing’s rein, and experienced renovation during the rein of Emperor Daoguang (1821-1850) and during the Republic of China (1912-1949). At present, Guilin Chongshan Road mosque covers an area of 2000 square meters, as the best preserved mosque with the largest scale in Guilin. Guilin Chongshan transept Mosque is considered an important historic and cultural site under protection. In 1982, President of Pakistan came to this mosque to perform Jumah prayer, and presented a full set of Koran cassette and recorders to the mosque. He even planted four Tasong trees in front of the gate himself, to pray for the ever lasting friendship of Muslims and people of the whole nation between China and Pakistan.