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With its location five kilometers northwest
of the downtown of Guilin, the Reed Flute Cave is a brilliant cave marked
on almost all travel itineraries. The cave got its name from the verdant
reeds growing outside it, with which people make flutes. Inside this water-eroded
cave is a spectacular world of various stalactites, stone pillars and
rock formations created by carbonate deposition. Illuminated by colored
lighting, the fantastic spectacle is found in many variations along this
240-meter-long cave. Walking through the serried stone pillars, tourists
feast their eyes on changing spots, feeling they are in a paradise where
the Gods live.
Tourists enter the cave and then take a U-shaped sight-seeing route to
see different spots, whereupon they exit it from another cave quite near
the entrance one. One trip lasts about one hour. It is a Chinese habit
to give each formation a legendary or poetic name such as Crystal Palace,
Dragon Pagoda, Virgin Forest, Flower and Fruit Mountain and other interesting
names. For some of these names, you need to use your imagination, but
the story behind each is quite fun. It's a pleasure to listen to romantic
or fairy tales whilst appreciating the fantastic stone formations. Both
the stories and the lighting add mystery to the scene. Although there
are different kinds of lighting inside, you are not supposed to take photos
unless you are a professional photographer, because the light inside is
not sufficient for exposure. At some spots, such as the Crystal Palace
or Flower and Fruit Mountain, special photography is offered at 20 yuan
for one picture. (They use special equipment to provide enough illumination.)
Some 70 inscriptions on the cave wall are said to be travelogues and poems
derived from the Tang Dynasty, which made the cave a popular tourist site
at that time.
A park is built for the cave with zigzag path, elegant pavilions, ponds,
bridges, plants and other garden structures.
Travel Care: Get some reed flutes for friends and remember to bargain
with the vendor for a better price.
Admission Fee: RMB 45
Opening Hours: 08:00 to 16:40
Recommended Time for a Visit: Three hours
Bus Route: 1,15
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