Guilin

Already a fascinating place during daytime, the thousand-year-old street is even more charming at night, Take a night stroll and roam from the east end to the west end with the archaic city wall of Jingjiang Palace. The street is full bars and street food stands that closed at midnight. If you don't know where to go at night, this would be a great place to start with.

You cannot miss the red tents of Guilin Night Market lining in long rows. Locals sell all kind of handicrafts like embroidery balls, brocades, flutes, snacks and local specialities, porcelain and ceramics products like smoking pipes, Chinese seals, paintings as well as calligraphy.

West Street is most popular among tourists and expats and usually full of backpackers. English is the most heard language here so please don't be surprised if an old Chinses lady starts speaking English with you. This is actually the place where the first contact with western culture took place and has since become the most international neighbourhood in Guilin.

Fuli Town is home to the 100-meter long street full of fans in all shapes and colours made by skilful craftsmen. The poetic fans are decorated with poems paintings and calligraphy and their materials are locally grown like bamboo from the riverside, native paper and the pictures depict Guilin landscapes.

Guilinxiu is a place where you can find all kinds of Guilin's specialty handcraft objects and souvenirs. Brocade of Zhuang, among others, is particularly worth buying, for this is a Zhuang craftwork, marked by a vivid usage of colours.