The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2019 - Issue 26

bite travel For entertainment, one of the city’s most popular shows is the ERA Acrobat Show, a magnificent combination of impressive technolo- gy and acrobatic mastery. Performing on stage for six years, you’ll be totally in awe of the spellbinding performances, which use the wonders of modern technology through mesmerising projections and the skill of expert acrobats. This mind-blowing combination of multimedia and mirage incorporates music from the region, snip- pets of Chinese history and authentic imagery. Outside of Shanghai, there are a few other places in China that are absolutely intriguing. Guilin in southern China is known for its dramatic landscape of limestone karst hills. Here you will find two lakes at its centre, Shanhu (Cedar) and Ronghu (Banyan), remnants of a medieval-era moat that once surrounded the city. Amazedly, the twin pagodas on Shanhu Lake’s shore are called the Sun and Moon and light up the sky at night which looks absolutely beautiful and surreal. Adventurous souls would love the Reed Flute Cave which takes its name from the number of reeds growing at the entrance and are used to making flutes. You will be intrigued by the various stalac- tites, stone pillars and rock formations formed by carbonate dep- osition. The coloured lighting would have you mesmerised by its rich hue formations. As you walk through the serried stone pillars and look at the changing spots, you will feel like you’re in paradise. As you walk through, look out for the two peculiar stalagmites: one is like a snowman with his hands in his pockets and another is like a round tower-shaped pine with branches covered with a thick layer of snow and ice. The widest part inside Reed Flute Cave is called ‘Crystal Palace’ which consists of a brilliant hall and its height de- creases on all sides. The stalactites hang up in four directions and look like a series of lanterns decorating the hall. Beyond ‘Crystal Palace’ there are several narrow lanes. According to Chinese myths and legends, this is where the Monkey King in the novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en fought with numer- ous underlings of the Dragon King to get his powerful weapon, the magic needle. Throughout Reed Flute Cave, there are many writ- ings on the wall which are quite interesting. It is said there are 77 travelogues and poems left which are derived from the Tang Dynas- ty (618-907 AD). While you’re in Guilin, take a venture on the famous Li River Cruise which takes you on an unforgettable eighty-three-kilometre jour- ney through the picturesque Guangxi region with its iconic peaks and mesmerising panoramas. Sailing up the river, you’ll be amazed by the majestic exhibition of the iconic landscapes in the region, providing the most breathtaking scenery that is hailed as one of the most captivating sights in the country. As you depart from Guilin, the route snakes its way through the dramatic landscapes of the Chinese countryside, passing the nat- ural wonders of Elephant Trunk Hill and Folded Brocade Hill, be- fore arriving in the bustling market town of Yangshuo. This is an opportunity to see the mountains up close, a real highlight of the trip, thanks to its dramatic karst mountain landscape and outdoor recreation. Set amid pinnacles like Bilian Feng (Green Lotus Peak) there is a hiking trail that leads you to the top. Bamboo rafting along the Yulong River is a leisurely way to while away an afternoon in the shadow of the dramatic karst peaks which