Guilin 桂林 is a city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 广西壮族自治区 in the far south of China. Its name means 'forest of sweet osmanthus', owing to the large number of fragrant sweet osmanthus trees (also known as sweet olive) located in the city. The city has long been renowned for its picturesque scenery of amazing karst formations. These formations were produced by the dissolution of layers of soluble bedrock, usually limestone, creating peaks and fantastic caves. Guilin is the most extensive example of this phenomenon in the world. The green mountains and the clear Li River, extraordinary caves and beautiful rocks are regarded as the 'Four Wonders' of Guilin. The poet Zhenggong Wang living during the reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 – 1279) wrote 桂林山水甲天下 'Guilin scenery tops the world', and this has been the motto of Guilin ever since.

One popular activity in Guilin is river rafting, sometimes through tranquil and serene waters, and sometimes against turbulent and swift currents. But the most marvellous experience is to take a cave tour, by foot, boat or rail and be transported to the fairy-like environment created by the stalactites, stalagmites and colourful rocks and waters.