Moving around in Guilin

I am going on a 4 day trip with kids to Guilin during Easter. Would like details about what to see and how to get around. Any good and not very expensive tour operators ?

I am going to Yangshou which is not too far from Guilin. I have being using this website for my references - www.yangers.com

Thank you very much. That will be very useful. But do the taxi drivers speak any English? I dont speak Mandarin.


Seema

There is a park in Guilin that has a rock shaped like a camel hump, sorry I can't remember the name of the park. Thought it's a pretty park, it's mostly unremarkable, except there was one quite memorable about it. Inside the otherwise less-than-ordinary zoo, they have the hugest tiger I've ever seen, and it was very old and tame, so tame that they just used a regular wire fence and you could touch its fur as it laid there. I've never seen a Siberian tiger, so I don't know if that's what this was, but it had long fur and was simply massive and I really enjoyed being able to see it so close up. They also have a panda, but he only comes out for an hour early in the morning and he never appeared. The wild monkeys will aim s**t at you if you don't give them food, so beware. I really enjoyed the Reed Flute Cave in Guilin. Some people hate the colored lights as too artificial but I thought they were very beautiful on the rock formations, the cave itself is huge and spectacular. After leaving time for only these two things, I wished I had allotted a bit more tme for Guilin, I found Yangshuo terribly touristy and passe'. Don't know the ages of your children, but the standard bicycle loop in Yangshuo is a bit long (and muddy) for the younger ones pedaling on their own, I think. But it was very beautiful. Just be aware of the distance before you set out, wear hats, take plenty of water, maybe a snack, and definitely use sunscreen. Also take mosquito repellent in general, cause it's a misty moisty area.

A taxi driver who don't speak English will not help if you are with your children. Pay a bit more and get a car and English-speaking guide.

We did the above plus the river cruise, the cave was fantastic, really we did'nt mind the lights, actually it added to the atmosphere.

We went up the mountain as well and viewed proper rice terraces.

Then took the water, the spa was fantastic although a bit of a distance.