Ludi Yan (Reed Flute Cave)
Located a pleasant 45-minute bike ride northwest of town, Reed Flute Cave, whose name derives from the reeds that used to cover the entrance and were used to make flutes, is the most impressive and most popular of Guilin's caves. Going first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon helps you avoid the overwhelming crowds. At any time, however, individual visitors may have to wait for a group of 20 or more tourists to amass before you can take the 40-minute tour of the cave -- and then only with a Chinese-speaking guide. The highlight is the cavernous Crystal Palace of the Dragon King (Shuijing Gong) with a dense collection of limestone mounds reflected in pools of water, all lit by hundreds of colored lights. Despite the blatantly tacky artifice of it all, most visitors can't help but gasp at the scene before them. This grotto is said to have been an air-raid shelter during World War II.
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| Hours | Apr-Nov 7:30am-5:20pm; Dec-Mar 8am-4:50pm | |
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| Location | Ludi Lu | |
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| Transportation | If you're biking from the Guilin Bravo Hotel, go north on Xinyi Lu, take a left on Lijun Lu, and continue as it becomes Xishan Lu; bear right as the road changes to Taohua Jiang Lu, and continue all the way to Ludi Lu; take a right onto the bridge crossing the Peach Blossom River (Taohua Jiang) until you reach the park entrance. Bus: no. 3 | |
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| Prices | Admission ¥45 ($5.50); in the slow season, ¥40 ($5) | |