FORBES: THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL PARKS

4 - Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China

Located in southeastern China, this park is renowned for its karsts, limestone cones, cylinders and hills with colorful names like “Elephant Trunk,” “Dragon Head” and “Five Fingers”; these have inspired countless Chinese poets and artists and even been depicted on the country’s paper currency. The best way to drink in this breathtaking scenery is to take a 30-mile boat trip along the Lijiang River, from Guilin to Yangshuo.

Guilin National Park (China)

The Guangxi region in the Gulf of Tonkin touches the border of Vietnam. The karst area, surrounded by hills, cliffs and caves is one of the country’s best known, filled with myriad flora and fauna. The Lijiang River is the oldest canal in the world, best seen from the deck of a bamboo raft.

3. Guilin Li River National Park — Karst Landscapes

More of a scenic area, with not much of a national park feel, the Li River National Park has no entrance and fee to get in. It covers the 80-km (50-mile) stretch of river between Guilin and Yangshuo, bounded by classic sheer karst hills, which have inspired many a poem and ink painting.

• Top features: Nine Horse Fresco Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal, 20-Yuan-Bill Hill, Xingping Ancient Town
• Popular activities: cruises, hiking, photography, hill climbing
• Access: from Guilin, take a Li River cruise, or visit villages along the river by mountain/rural roads
• Suitable for: Anyone can take a cruise or vehicle to see this amazing limestone and water scenery.
• Best time(s) to visit: summer for misty peak views after the rain; fall for drier, cooler weather
• Popularity: Immensely popular, dozens of tour boats ply the river daily, but you can find quieter villages and hills to enjoy relative peace
• Facilities: Cruise boats serve buffet lunches, bamboo rafts offer another way to see the river; Guilin and Yangshuo offer everything from Western food to local specialties, while farmer restaurants along the river provide simple local fare.
• Accommodation: hotels in Guilin and Yangshuo are the mainstay with all price ranges, though more modest lodging is offered in Xingping and other riverside resorts
• Days needed for a classic tour: 1 day for the main sights + 1/2 days to explore Guilin and Yangshuo
• Entry fee: none

1. Marvel at karst landscape in GUILIN NATIONAL FOREST PARK – Guilin, Guangxi

Imagine winding your way through a valley of karst topography (gigantic, funky-shaped limestone rocks) on one of the most picturesque and stunning river journeys in the world. Take in more than 30 miles of eye candy, including natural caves, local villages and awe-inspiring peaks and ridges, during a day trek around Guangxi Guilin National Forest Park, which is free to enter. Most visitors choose to be whisked downstream on a Li River boat cruise, but more daring adventurers can raft their way down to Yangshuo through hairpin river trails and misty passes. This river point is so famous, China includes an image of it on the 20 yuan note, but the real deal is absolutely priceless!

When to go

Summer is generally the best time to enjoy the park, but everyone else thinks so, too! Be prepared to bump shoulders with loads of tourists during June through August. Though the weather is humid, temperatures average a comfortable 75.2°F (24°C). For more manageable crowds and a less balmy climate, opt for a spring or fall tour during the months of April and May or September and October, respectively. Winter is peaceful and still but can be treacherous for hikers who aren’t accustomed to trekking on snow.

How to get there

Most hotels in Guilin and surrounding areas in Southeast China will help you book transportation to the park. From Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, you can reach Guilin National Forest Park in less than an hour.