Seven Star Park takes its name from its seven peaks which are laid out like the Big Dipper constellation (with its handle bent forward). The park is on the eastern side of the Li River in central Guilin City. Attractions in the park include: Seven Star Cave, Dragon Hiding Cave, Flower Bridge, the Zoo, Maping Mosque, Guihai Forest of Steles and much more. Covering an area of 1.34 square kilometers, it is the largest park in Guilin, and contains some of the finest sights in the city.
Flower Bridge
Flower Bridge was first built in Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is so named because in ancient times, the area surrounding the bridge was planted with various flowers. In late spring and early summer, when the flowers bloomed, the bridge was covered with flowers. However, in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the flowers gradually declined, and today visitors cannot see any flowers surrounding the bridge. Flower Bridge is just inside the main entrance to the park.
Camel Hill
Camel Hill is one of the features of Seven Star Park. With a bit of imagination, you will find that all the limestone hills in Guilin look like somebody or something. This hill looks incredibly like a huge camel standing in a vast grassland. At the foot of the hill there is a grassy lawn, which offers a pleasant place for a stroll. The place is very popular with locals, and many can be seen leisurely walking around in the early mooning or late afternoon. Nearby you will find a zoo, which has pandas, monkeys, camels and reptiles. Animal lovers who don’t like to see creatures in small and dreary enclosures are advised to avoid it as it may be upsetting. However, if they are up and about, which is not often you may get to see a panda.
Seven Star Cave
Seven Star Cave lies in the belly of Putuo Hill, the mass of limestone that forms the four northern peaks of Seven Star Park. The cave is well-known for its dazzling array of stalagmites and stalactites. The cave passageways stretch for about 1,100 meters. The route is 50 meters across at the widest point and 20 meters to the roof at the highest point. The cave has been a place of interest for hundreds of years. As early as the Song Dynasty, some explorers made an expedition into the cave and left their marks inside. With its huge variety of oddly shaped karst formations, the cave is indeed overwhelming and well worth your time and money (30 yuan on top of the park entrance fee of 30 yuan).
Guihai Stele Forest
Guihai Stele Forest is a collection of 218 well-preserved upright stone tablets with various ancient engravings. Most of these painstaking works of engraving were from the Tang (618-907) and Song Dynasties, which are of great significance to the development of Chinese calligraphy. The ‘forest’ of inscribed stones is located south of Crescent Hill, which holds the park’s three southerly peaks. If you don’t have time to visit the famous Forest of Steles in Xi’an, this one will provide an ideal alternative.
Seven Star Cave
Nestling at the belly of the Putuo Hill, the cave is well-known for the dazzling stalagmites and stalactites within it. The cave stretches around 1,100 meters, with 50 meters at the widest point and 20 meters at the highest point. The cave has been a tourist attraction for hundreds of years. As early as song dynasty, some explorers adventured the cave and left their marks inside. With various oddly shaped karst formations, the cave is indeed overwhelming and well values your time and money.
