芦笛岩 Reed Flute Cave Guilin (Ludi Yan)

The Reed Flute Cave (Chinese: 芦笛岩; pinyin: Lúdí Yán) is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China.^[1] It is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting and has been one of Guilin’s most interesting attractions for over 1200 years. It is over 180 million years old. The cave got its name from the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into melodious flutes. Reed Flute Cave is filled with a large number of stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations in weird and wonderful shapes. Inside, there are more than 70 inscriptions written in ink, which can be dated back as far as 792 AD in the Tang Dynasty. These aged inscriptions tell us that it has been an attraction in Guilin since ancient times.It was rediscovered in the 1940s by a group of refugees fleeing the Japanese troops. Nowadays, multicolored lightning artificially illuminates the cave.

(from Wikipedia)

Kim Fong, our taxi driver drove us to Reed Flute Cave

Entrance to the Reed Flute Cave

"The cave got its name from the verdant reeds growing outside, which can be made into melodious flutes."

Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩)
Location	Guilin, China
Length	240m
Discovery	792 AD
Entrances	3

The Reed Flute Cave is a natural cave carved out of the karst limestone mountains over millions of years, and has been one of Guilin’s most famous attractions for over 1200 years.  Inside this water-eroded cave is a spectacular world of various stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars and rock formations created by carbonate deposition and illuminated by multi-colored lighting to create a surreal experience.

240-meter-long cave is lined with interesting rock shapes and formations resembling all kinds of strange things. Many of the formations have taken on recognizable shapes of mythological creatures, or natural images. There are formations that look like vegetables and one even looks like the Statue of Liberty.

from http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/06/reed-flute-cave-in-guilin-china.html

This website has the best images I have seen for the Reed Flute Cave. They are so clear and are located at the best spots in the cave......(.comment from a reader.)

Now to join the queue to go in...

only 40 or more pax are allowed in at any one time

to avoid jostling and maybe getting lost?

Suddenly a guide appeared and started talking like a robot in Mandarin.

She is to bring us in the cave and give a commentary on all the cave formations

IN A DEAD PAN EXPRESSIONLESS FACE!!!!!

Lake inside the cave, with artificial lighting

The guide flicks on a switch which illuminates the cave and 

bathes it in multi hues as she explains the origins

and will swtich off when she walks off!

Then we have to troop and follow after her!

Cave without the coloured lights, but illuminated by the camera flash!

Spectacular rocks up to the ceiling!

Lots of formation: snowman, Kwan Yin, Mother and Baby 

etc, etc...even mythological figures like Monkey God ....

everyone ooh-ing and aah-ing over the cave formations

This will give you a perspective of how gigantic 

and cavernous the interior is

Finally, please look at the awesome stalactites and 

stalagmites and that is the Goddess of Mercy perched on a 

side rock.

Summary of Guilin Tour

We did not plan to go to Guilin per se, we had wanted to try for

the Free Seats advertised, but the flight is to be performed in 2015

which was not feasible to us

But we found some cheap flights to China like Kunming and Guilin, for RM99 so we chose Guilin

The airfare for 2 plus hotel stay came up to RM 1,500  for 2, return tickets!!

So, we found ourselves on board Air Asia bound for Guilin

the ride itself to our hotel was scenic...

this is our hotel, it is included in the air ticket, by AirAsiaGo

our friendly taxi driver Kim Fong

from the airport who became our tour guide for the day

We could also contact her if we needed transport to the airport.

I will feature her and provide her details so you can look for her when you go to Guilin!!

She waited for us to check in at the hotel, shower, change, 

(when we came out refreshed, we found her sweating and standing outside the hotel!!)

and drove us to Reed Flute Cave!

It was a scorchingly hot day, but she waited patiently

 for us to finish our tour of the cave to take us to our next destination!!!

Reed Flute Cave is thousands of years old,

 has fantastic stalactite and stalagmite formations,

 is awesomely huge and puts Batu Caves or Perak Cave to shame!

 even outside the cave there is a lake with fantastic Guillin style scenery

so hot, we were blinded by the sun and my eyes were blinded by my sweat trickling from my brow!!!

she drove us to a nice restaurant for a very late lunch

(imagine how long she waited for us!)

before going to FuPo Mountain

I had yummy spicy Guilin signature noodles

He had fried rice...Guilin style: ONLY RICE STIRRED WITH EGG AND  sprinkled with spring onions..but he enjoyed it!

 We did not enter FuPo Mountain because of the expensive entrance fee, but we went to Seven Star Park and saw this rock that looked like a camel with a single hump

President Clinton gave a speech here!!!

He came with Chelsea and Hilary Clinton in 1998!

Next we walked to Elephant Park, but it was closed! Anyway, the entrance fee was too steep for us!!!

Walking back to the hotel, we found the locals chilling out at the lake promenade...so nice!!!

What is Guilin if you don't try the Guilin Gao (black herbal jelly drink) and sit on the buggy!

It took us back to the Elephant trunk park and out hotel for only 15 yen!!!

Next morning was a whole day trip to Li River and we bought the tour from the hotel at 450 yuan each...expensive?

Li River has beautiful mountains for miles on end, but brownish water today because it had rained for 3 days.

At the end of the 4 hour pleasant boat ride, we reached Yangshuo, an ancient village where some tourists checked into the hotel because, it is a must for them to spend the night in Yangshuo to experience village life.

 We did not expect to find ourselves on a bamboo raft!!!! We were not dressed the part!!! You are supposed to dip your feet into the water!!!

You can also buy water pistols and shoot off water!

We were treated to more breathtaking views of the mountains and there were even little hurdles to cross to get your feet wet, and to be sprayed by mild splashes of water.....

dinner was by the roadside at some shops near the hotel

my food: scary looking spicy beef Guilin noodle

Splutter, cough, cough!!!! It was spicily hot!!!

He had......FRIED RICE again!!!

No meat, only egg and spring onions, hahaha!!!

Next day we went up Longji farms and had authentic

village food of rice and chicken cooked in bamboo...yummylicious!!!

and the view was spectacular!!

we had to trek miles and miles of these steps

but we could take photos as much as we like

it was a walk in your own time,

no tour guide or other members to hassle and jostle you

then we reached PING AN, an ancient mountain village

where sedans are still  a mode of transport!

I became a mountain maiden for a day, nay, a few minutes...

 that night, after we went down the mountains, he had his treat: K F C!!!!

I found red bean pie!!! no apple pie!

It was time to go to the airport, and this driver, provided by Kim Fong, charges only 80 yuan as opposed to the 150 to 200 yuan charged by the hotel!

this is..the toll gate leading to the airport!!!

and this is Guilin airport!!!

My boarding pass.....so sad to leave Guilin

but I leave a piece of my heart......

Guilin Panoramic Pictures by Fuji Finepix T

Hi!!!

I have just got back from my fantastic holiday in Guilin, China.

I am so tired so I present to you some panoramic pictures that I have 

been taking while toying with my Fujifilm Finepix T camera that I won 2 years ago..

 Li River bamboo rafting

 rolling hills, tranquil lake, serene waters, time as old as the hills

 relaxing. lanquid and lazy, very very nice....

pictures are beautiful because it was scorchingly hot!!!!

 The Longji terrace rice farms with mountains in the backdrop

 steeped in history and untouched by civilisation

 trekking up the terraces is a breeze compared to the backbreaking tasks planting padi performed by the farmers

 can you the speck that is my husband and the rest house that is a bridge perched across a little stream?

Log farmer carrying a log that is a mile long up the winding paths dodging me (posing) and husband (taking photos)
CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENJOY THE VIEW!!!

New Straits Times have done an article on Guilin here:
http://www.nst.com.my/node/34453

Back in time in Guilin

BY DURATUL AIN DUHAMID - 18 SEPTEMBER 2014 @ 8:03 AM

A group of photographers is transported back in time when they go off the beaten track in Guilin, writes Duratul Ain Duhamid

GUILIN’S mountain and water scenery is the best under heaven, or so goes a Chinese saying. Perhaps this is why 15 photographers made their way there for a six-day photography camp.

Organised by Saiful Nang Academy of Photocamp 7 led by academy founder Saiful Nang, Syibli Fakih and myself are taking the shutterbugs to non-mainstream tourist spots.

DAY 1-2

The first stop is Longji Paddy Terrace, southeast of Longsheng County, said to be one of the most spectacular sights in Guilin.

To get to the terrace, we board a bus and ride 1km to where we hop into a cable car to go across the terrace to the Golden Buddha Peak.

From the peak, we have a magnificent birds-eye view of the surrounding landscape.

At the entrance to Longji, a group of villagers, mostly old women, offer to carry our luggage to the hilltop hotel for RM30. Unsure of what’s ahead, we accept the service and are glad as the route to our hotel requires us to climb the slopes skirting the rice valley for some two hours!

Nevertheless, the ascend means we have stunning view of the valleys. It feels like we have been transported back to Imperial China.

The 3D/2N stay at Tian Tou Village not only allows us to capture the simple but unique village lifestyle but also to experience the way of life. The farmers are mostly Yao people and their women are known for having the longest hair in the world. They coil their hair into a bun which is covered by a turban.

Most of the houses are made of wood and usually three to four storeys high. Interestingly, under the houses are pig pens. The villagers feed the pigs through a hole in the floor of the house.

DAY 3

Next is Yangshuo, a city surrounded by karst stone mountains and beautiful rivers — a vista made famous in traditional Chinese paintings. Our photographic journey continues around West Street, the oldest street in Yangshuo, which is over 1,400 years old.

A night market offers a wide variety of items for sale and, just like at our pasar malam, customers need to do a little “bargaining” to get a good price.

DAY 4

In the morning, we cycle around the village and cross the Yulong River, stopping only to photograph the remnants of the old village, pomelo orchards and lakes filled with lotus flowers. Biking is one of the more popular ways to go sightseeing in Yangshuo and bikes can be rented for as little as RM20.

In the afternoon, we move to a small village near Li River, in the town of Xingping, 27km north of Yangshuo. Li River is famous for its traditional fishing method using cormorants. The fishermen and their cormorants are iconic to Guilin and can only be found at that river.

Take a look at the back of a RMB20 note and you will see the image of a traditional fisherman with the Yangshuo karst mountain scenery in the background. This is the same view you will see at Xingping.

We stay till dusk, awaiting the golden and blue hour that undeniably add dramatic effect to our photos.

DAY 5

We continue our adventure on Yulong River, on board bamboo rafts. During the ride, passengers are allowed to take their own pictures of the views or they can buy pictures of their ride from photography services.

Along the way, passengers who are hungry can request to stop at any of the stalls set up along the river bank. Try the grilled freshly-caught fish that comes with baked corn on the side.

In the evening, we head back to Xingping where we are divided into two groups. The more fit members hike to the top of Mount Lao Shan Zhai while the rest roam around the old village of Xingping.

Though only 220m high, the peak is quite a challenge and a strenuous climb. Halfway, it starts to rain but we press on to the peak.

Most of us are already breathless by now but the view overlooking Xingping makes the climb worth every minute. The sun has just started to shower Guilin with a golden light, and that’s the cue for us to snap away. What a beautiful finale!

Saiful Nang Academy

Tel: 03-5621 0605

Website: www.snap.my

Email: inquiry@snap.my

 The photo session with the Li River Fishermen

 An Icon of Guilin :  the fisherman and his cormorant birds

 A girl playing in the compound of Longshen school

 Rugged karst mountain range lends a dramatic effect to the lotus covered pond

 West Street Night market

 Tian Tou Village at Dusk

 Local woman and her grandchild

 Yao woman knitting a shawl

 Portrait of Yao man in Tian Tou Village

All the pictures above are from New Straits Times/ Life and Times September 18 2014

All the panorama pictures are mine.
Thank you!