10 minute read
GO GUILIN
The Gift of Green
Guilin’s landscape outshines anywhere else in the world.”
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This proclamation has spread throughout the Middle Kingdom for over 1,000 years, and, in many ways, it still rings true today. This picturesque area, whose arresting karst peaks and winding Li River are featured on the back of the RMB20 bill, is an unmissable destination for travelers visiting China.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guilin Karst is considered a natural wonder and is composed of tower, pinnacle and cone karst formations and large cave systems, among other special characteristics. Viewed during a misty sunrise, with the waters of the Li River serving as a natural mirror, the striking karst scenery drops countless jaws on the daily.
Another unique and spellbinding site located to the north of Guilin is the Longji Rice Terraces, which began construction over 600 years ago. The long, snaking terraces are said to resemble a dragon’s scales, and every June, they are filled with water for rice production.
Lying in the northeastern portion of Guangxi Autonomous Region, the city of Guilin is home to the largest number of individuals from the Zhuang ethnic minority, as well as members of the Yao and Miao ethnic groups, among others. As such, the region is steeped in rich cultural customs and diverse, succulent cuisines.
On Xi Jie (West Street) in Yangshuo county (a must-go destination in Guilin), eateries and shops are visited day in and day out by tourists from around the globe looking to try the area’s esteemed (and often overpriced) Li River ‘beer fish.’ Sampling Guilin rice noodles and sweet Osmanthus wine should also be a priority.
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Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
Arrive by air at Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, which is 28 kilometers southwest of the city center. This airport has two terminals and is commonly referred to simply as Liangjiang Airport. The bulk of routes served are domestic, with flights to cities all over China. International flights are limited and mainly serve other neighboring Asian destinations. A direct airport shuttle bus to Yangshuo is available daily, and the journey takes about 80 minutes, bringing you to Yangshuo North Bus Station.
> Liangjiang, Lingui District 临桂区两江 (773 284 5114, www. gl.airport.gx.cn)
Guilin Railway Station (South)
Located in south Guilin, this station is the closest to the city center and the oldest. High-speed trains do not pass through this station, but almost all passenger trains (green trains) passing Guilin will stop here. If you’re looking to go directly to Yangshuo from the station, just turn left when exiting.
> Zhongshan Nan Lu, Xiangshan District 象山区中山南路
Guilin North Railway Station
You can spot this station by its English, Chinese and Zhuang sign (Gvei-linz Bwz Can). For the unaware, Zhuang is a language spoken by the Zhuang people of southern China. This station operates bullet trains to and from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanning and Yangshuo – making it the ideal station for fast and convenient travel in the region. There are plenty of Chinese restaurants and small shops at the far end of the station outside, plus a food court inside the station.
> Beichen Lu, Diecai District 叠彩区北辰路
Guilin South Bus Station
The old, centrally located Guilin General Bus Station was closed in 2018 and replaced with the Guilin South Bus Station. There are eight ticket windows to serve passengers, with five routes stopping at this station. Destinations include cities in Guangxi, Guangdong and Hunan provinces.
Guilin Qintan Bus Station
Qintan Bus station is also known as Guilin Tourist Hub. This station mainly serves short distances. You can travel to the following: Fenghuang Ancient Town, Longsheng Longji Rice Terraces, Rong’an County, Yongfu, Luzhai, Sanjiang, Luocheng, Yizhou, Jinchengjiang, Suqiao and Tongdao Dong Autonomous County in Hunan Province.
> No. 31 Cuizhu Lu, Xiufeng District 秀峰区翠竹路31号 (0773 383 2703)
Boat
The Li River cruise is one of the most popular activities for visitors. The relaxing one-way boat ride is four hours long and will take you south to Yangshuo. Be warned, however, as this excursion is quite crowded, another option is to go bamboo rafting from Yangdi Pier to Xingping Village, which takes around an hour and a half to two hours and you’ll be in a better position to snap sweet photos of the surrounding scenery.
Taxi
There are around 2,000 taxis in the city, so hailing one or ordering a DiDi is quite convenient. Although many public signs are in English, taxi drivers typically only speak Chinese.
Bike
Renting bikes or e-bikes are an excellent option to explore the Guilin’s lush landscape. There are dedicated scenic routes for bike riding, and you can even ride along the Li River if you want to get up close with nature. E-bikes will run you about RMB50 a day, while bikes are around RMB15. Most hotels or rental places will have
cute colorful rental bikes available.
> Xiangshan District 象山区(0773 382 2666)
Guilin Night Market
This is considered Guilin’s biggest night market. Look out for the red tents, which sell all sorts of handicrafts from flutes to porcelain, in addition to a variety of local traditional snacks. > Xicheng Lu Pedestrian Street, Xiufeng District 秀 峰区西城路步行街
Zhengyang Walking Street
Buildings along this street feature a blend of Chinese, Japanese and European styles. Stalls sell an assortment of cultural knickknacks such as embroidered balls, silk clothes dyed with Guilin landmarks (the Li River, Elephant Trunk Hill, cormorant fishing, etc.) Chinese oil paintings, painted fans and much more. > Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, Xiufeng District 秀 峰区正阳步行街
West Street
Head over to neighboring Yangshuo county, where you can experience West Street (also known as ‘Foreigner Street’), which has a history of more than 1,400 years. West Street attracts visitors from all over the world for its selection of shops and local eats against a beautiful mountainous backdrop. You can buy all types of souvenirs here like watercolor paintings, T-shirts, jade trinkets and more. > West Street, Yangshuo County 阳朔县西街
Li River Boat Tour
Winding its way between Guilin’s karst mountains, the beguiling Li River has frequently appeared in Chinese paintings and poetry, stretching across the ages of the country’s cultural imagery. The scenic views along the waterway vary according to the season, weather and area. Under a clear blue sky, it shines and shimmers in the wake of lively boatmen; on a foggy or drizzly day, however, the Li River and the mountains stretching out along its banks are cloaked in bewitching mystery.
A typical boat tour within the city limits (around RMB65) can be accomplished in less than an hour, while the ‘essential’ tour (RMB240-450), which ends at Yangshuo, takes roughly two hours. Tickets can be purchased via tour agencies or hotels
Elephant Trunk Hill
Located in the heart of Guilin, Elephant Trunk Hill is the city’s emblem and the most renowned tourist attraction. As its name implies, the limestone hill, resting by the Li River, resembles a water-drinking elephant. Inside a cave formed between the ‘elephant’s’ legs and trunk, poems and inscriptions left by prominent writers and poets more than 1,000 years ago can still be found today. In the surrounding park, there are also two ancient Buddhist temples and a small museum to be explored.
Jingjiang Princes’ Palace
Built roughly 700 years ago during the early Ming Dynasty, Guilin’s own Jingjiang Princes’ Palace was a royal residence with an even longer history than Beijing’s famous Forbidden City. Arrayed dramatically against the backdrop of the region’s unique karst landscape, this complex of opulent 14th-century residences, temples, caves and fortifications housed more than 14 Ming princes – representatives of imperial power in this then-farflung region. Many of the structures visible today are complete or partial restorations, since the complex was put to the flame during the tumultuous Taiping Rebellion. Regardless, Jingjiang Palace is still considered one of the best-preserved royal residences in China. Today it also serves as a campus for the Guangxi Normal University.
Jasmine Sun On 20 Years Working in the Ascott Family
How did you come to work for Ascott? After graduating from university, my first formal job was with Ascott. Although 20 years have passed, the job interview is still vivid in my mind. I felt a completely different experience to a hotel – that is, I felt the warmth of a family. From the HR Manager to the General Manager, I had a great feeling about the corporate culture of the company.
I have spent 90% of my career at Ascott, and I can only see this percentage going up. The working environment and group philosophy is the most important thing; we have a simple working environment and don’t have to worry about the complications of office politics.
There is a smooth communication mechanism between the upper and lower levels; we all want to do our best, keep improving and strive for perfection. I have always had direct bosses who are very supportive of me, allowing me to give full play to my strengths and contribute my own strength in the big Ascott family.
Does that feeling extend to the guests? Ascott has always been committed to creating a homely comfortable living experience for guests. Twenty years of working experience in the service industry has made me appreciate this philosophy more and more. At the same time, Ascott not only provides guests with a ‘home,’ but employees also use it as a home. Employees and guests, employees and employees, and guests and guests are all like family. Everyone lives together in a community, provides or enjoys high-quality services, and feels joy and warmth from the heart. Who doesn't like being with family? Tell us more about this ‘family’ relationship with your guests? Our guests are mainly long-term residents, so we get to know each other well and become close. For example, when I was close to giving birth, our long-term residents’ wives spontaneously organized a baby shower party for me, prepared a wealth of food and a wide range of gifts. That is what I mean when I talk about the feeling the warmth of family.
What makes a good serviced apartment complex? I think it’s a matter of hardware and software. In terms of hardware, Ascott has comprehensive standard requirements, which are constantly updated, in order to meet the needs of different customers.
From the software perspective, the satisfaction of the guests, the sense of belonging among the employees, and the layer-by-layer management ability, from the headquarters to the property, are particularly important.
What part of your job gives you most satisfaction? Having a stable and willing team working together, with reasonable and supportive superiors, and a warm family-like group culture.
And what are the main challenges you face? To do things well, you cannot simply doing them mechanically; you need to think about whether there is a better way. There is a saying: Do one thing well for a long time, that is how you become an expert. I agree with this sentiment.
In the service industry, the employee – or service provider – is a person, and humans are complex animals. To continuously improve our ‘ecological’ environment, we must do our work well. To satisfy customers, our most important thing is to improve their sense of belonging, happiness and accomplishment.
There is joy from the inside out, and employees who are ready to help feel completely different. This sentiment will also infect everyone they come into contact with. It is not easy to form such a team for hundreds of people in a property, and it is even more difficult to replicate it to hundreds of Ascott. To maintain Ascott’s continuous progress, we need to continuously expand our team.
What is your personal philosophy? The core values of CapitaLand Group are "Mutual trust and mutual respect, integrity and honesty, creativity and innovation, high quality and excellence." For me that means be the best yourself, build the best team, and serve the best company; Be as fully familiar with all aspects of knowledge required by the hotel apartments as possible, and continue to learn to enrich yourself; Unreservedly share what you know with colleagues, be willing to listen to the voices of colleagues, pursue perfection in every small matter, and make progress together with the team. In the big family of Ascott, we lead every member of the team to contribute their own strength to our home.
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