Guilin Travel Tips
Climate and Weather
Located in low attitudes, Guilin has subtropical humid monsoon climate, with moderate climate and distinct seasons. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 46℉(7.9℃) and the hottest month is July with an average temperature of 82.9℉(28.3℃).
In wintertime, warm clothes, scarves and knitted hats are necessary because of intense cold in Guilin. A woolen sweater will be comfortable during spring and autumn. In hot summer, T-shirts, shorts, skirts and slacks are the best choice for you. Besides, it often rains during summer, especially in May and June. Please take an umbrella and with you and wear comfortable footwear. Furthermore, sun block and a bottle of anti-mosquito spray are also necessary.
The best time of visiting Guilin is from April to October. However, it is better to avoid three peak periods in China: May Day Holiday (May 1st-May3rd), National Day Holiday (Oct.1st-Oct.7th) and Spring Festival (usually in late Jan or early Feb). Avoid these peak periods and choose off seasons to visit Guilin and enjoy its unique and fantastic landscapes.
| Average Data | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average High (℃) | 11-13 | 12-14 | 16-18 | 21-23 | 26-28 | 30-32 | 32-34 | 32-34 | 30-32 | 25-27 | 19-21 | 14-16 |
| Average Low (℃) | 4-6 | 6-8 | 10-12 | 15-17 | 19-21 | 22-24 | 24-26 | 23-25 | 21-23 | 16-18 | 11-13 | 6-8 |
Local Festivals and Folk Custom
Like other places in China, most of the traditional holidays are celebrated, such as Spring Festival (in the late Jan or early Feb, including Lantern Festival which falls on the Jan 15th of lunar calendar), Tomb Sweeping Day (falling on one day between Apr 4th to 6th), Dragon Boat Festival (May 5th of lunar calendar), Mid-Autumn Day (Aug 15th of lunar calendar) and etc. Besides, various ethnic holidays are also interesting and attractive.
Third of March (Mar 3rd of lunar calendar), also known as Song Festival, is celebrated by Zhuang nationality. According to a folk story, Third of March was created in order to commemorate Sanjie Liu, who is considered as the queen of song by Zhuang people. People gather together and sing songs, while most of Zhuang people go to sweep tombs. Besides, don’t forget to eat five-color glutinous rice.
Miao New Year is on the day of the winter solstice, usually falling on Dec 21st or 22nd. Young people can express their deep feelings to their beloved boys or girls. Girls will dress up their best costumes while boys are playing fantastic reed flutes.
Dong Fireworks Festival, with a history of 100 years, is the grandest traditional festival for Dong people. The specific day depends on the places, such as Jan 7th of lunar calendar in Chengyang and Oct 27th of lunar calendar in Linxi. Fireworks are divided into the first, the second and the third one with different folk meanings. The first one means fortune, prosperity and longevity and the second firework means promotion and becoming rich, while the last one means flourishing population.
Guilin Mountain and Water Cultural Tourism Festival is held in the tourist off season of Guilin (Oct-Dec) every year. Started in 1992, this festival has not only increased the popularity of Guilin, but also loved by tourists from home and abroad.
Other Odds and Ends
Useful Numbers:
Phone Dialing Code: 0773
Postcode: 541000
Emergency Call
Fire: 119
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Weather Forecast: 121
Consumers' Complaint: 12315
Post Office: Zhongshannan Road and Zhongshanbei Road
CAAC Ticket Center: the Aviation Building, No.18 Shanghai Road, Guilin
Information of Railway Station: Zhongshannan Road, Guilin
Christian Church: No.456, Zhongshanzhong Road, Guilin
Money can be exchanged in any one of the 28 exchange counters of Bank of China in Guilin. Bank of China Guilin Branch is situated in No.5, Shanhubei Road.
Toilets in Guilin are free to everyone. All the toilets are clean with advanced equipment.
Universities
Guilin University of Electronic Technology
Add: No.1, Jinji Road, Guilin
Postcode: 541004
Fax: 0773-2191 683
Website: http://www.guet.edu.cn/
Guangxi Normal University
Add: No.15, Yucai Road, Guilin
Postcode: 541004
Tel: 0773-5812 081
Website: http://www.gxnu.edu.cn/
Guilin University of Technology
Add: No.12, Jian’gan Road, Guilin
Postcode: 541004
Tel/Fax: 0773-5896 078
Website: http://www.glite.edu.cn/Git/Index.asp
Guilin Medical University
Add: No.109, Huangchengbei Road, Guilin
Postcode: 541004
Tel: 0773-5895 812
Website: http://www.glmc.edu.cn/
