3 Days in Guilin
Gone Fishin’ on the Li River in Guilin
Photo Essay With Black and White Photography From Hong Kong to Guilin Train Journey
Hong Kong to Guangzhou
We said our goodbyes to Sharon in Hong Kong. We missed Leighton's return from Canada by about an hour. Catch you on the flip side, Mr. Duley.
The train leaves the Hung Hom station at a slow pace. There is barely a sound as it moves through the concrete jungle. Are we in China yet? Country number 22 on our adventure to visit 50 countries in 50 months after turning 50. Looking out the window, the infrastructure is impressive, to put it mildly.
Highways are under construction, and apartment buildings, giant billboards, and concrete blocks are being assembled.
The Hong Kong to Guangzhou Train. High speeds but the person who cleans the windows must have had the day off.
Tall electrical masts, metal structures containing who knows what, communication towers, banks, monster-size malls, hotels, and more high rises. It goes on and on.
We are on the first leg of our train journey from Hong Kong to Guilin. The first stop is in Guangzhou—a two-hour trip. I studied the map before we left, and it met expectations. It is almost an endless city. Guangzhou, the third-largest city in China, is a massive city, and I believe its population is approximately 11 million.
The person who cleans the train's windows must have had the day off. A thick layer of dust makes for a murky view. The landscape opens up, and urban gardens jump out of nowhere, turning into larger fields.
Guangzhou South Train Station
Hundreds of apartment buildings again, each with about fifty floors. The construction cranes signal booming urban sprawl.
We arrive in Guangzhou East and do not have much time to spare. We line up for metro tickets and end up buying a day pass to avoid another long lineup.
It was a small investment that bought us a bit of time. Man, this place is busy. People everywhere. We find our way with no problem as we take the metro to Guangzhou South, where the high-speed train awaits us.
Friends play chess near the river in Guilin
On the Train From Guangzhou to Guilin
Another huge train station. I think the largest we’ve ever seen, and with excellent efficiency, the place is like an anthill. We grab lunch and a coffee, and we’re on our way again.
The cruising speed is 242 km/h, and the scenery changes from fields to rolling hills and mountains. Di won the Scrabble game. Again.
On our first evening in Guilin, we strolled along the Li River and took in the evening atmosphere. The trees along the river are strung with thousands of lights, creating a magical experience. We were off to a good start.
A pagoda in Guilin
Li River Cruise
For the first day in Guilin, we booked a cruise on the Li River. Please check the link to a separate blog post:
Guilin Central Hostel
We have been staying at the wonderful Guilin Central Hostel. The staff here have been amazing and eager to go the extra mile and provide excellent customer service. We paid $30.00 per night.
We relaxed in the morning atmosphere at the hostel with yogurt, muesli, and coffee. Everyone speaks English, and the Western music playlist in the lobby is carefully selected and much appreciated. The hostel owner has an eye for detail, and we feel at ease.
A quiet part of Guilin
Exploring in Guilin
We have one more day in Guilin and head out on foot to explore. The center is very touristy. Guilin is a popular destination, especially for the Chinese. At the night market and throughout the commercial districts, every trick in the book is used to lure customers in.
To avoid the lineup, when we head to Nanning on Thursday, we decided to go to the main train station to pick up our tickets. We only felt slightly guilty about taking our extended late-afternoon break at Starbucks. It was time for some blogging, a good coffee, and a dose of familiarity.
The warmth of the afternoon heat is invigorating as we detour through a modern market that resembles the original town buildings. We walk back to the hostel along the Li River.
The evening was spent at the hostel, relaxing, planning, and working on the blog. WiFi is not impossible, but more so a challenge here in China. It's incredible how we've come to rely on it for our every move.
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The photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R (links to my camera and lens reviews). The images are converted to black and white in Lightroom using the Acros film simulation from Fujifilm.
