Nostalgic Journey: My Adventures in Guilin, China

This week for Lens Artist, Sofia has challenged us to look back. I was inspired by her post to dig out some old photos of my first trip to China. Like many of you I have numerous photos of long ago travels. Many are in albums but there are a great deal of loose ones.

I took a trip to Guilin in 1989 and had been in Hong Kong for a few months. I had already met Anthony but had some free time between jobs. It was an organised trip made through a local travel agent, one of those all inclusive tours. As I was travelling solo I thought this was the best option. There would be no stress about where to eat and what to do.

I had agreed to share a room, quite brave when I think about it now. When I arrived at the hotel, which was a Holiday Inn, I met the other people in the tour group. I quickly deduced that the only other single person was a man, who was with two friends. I had a slight panic attack until I got to the counter and was told I was being upgraded to a King Size room. Phew, awkwardness averted.

The views from my large balcony. I was very impressed!

One of the tours was a trip down the River Li. Guilin is famous for its towering lime stone cliffs and beautiful scenery. The trip was meant to take three hours, with a bus back. As it was the dry season, the boat trip itself took 6 hours! I had got to know the others on the trip, so we spent this time chatting and taking photos. I do remember there being no drinking water, only Coke.

All photos were taken on an old film type camera. I can’t remember the make. After scanning these, I did some editing and brought them back to life.

Guilin China

At some bends in the river, the men sailing the boat had to jump out. They tried to push the boat through the extremely shallow water. We did wonder if we would have to also jump out to help.

Without a care in the world, enjoying the views and thinking how amazing China is.

The famous Elephant Rock at the end of the trip. There were many stalls selling small artefacts and gifts.

One of the American men on my tour, he was travelling with his daughter. We both ended up buying a hat each.

Before reading Sofia’s post I hadn’t thought about this trip for years. Now I’m remembering small details from the trip that have been locked away for a few decades.

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Author: Alison

Hi A nanny of two and a mum of two adult children, mum to two fur babies and wife of one. I love to travel and up until recently travelled the world, now exploring Western Australia! I play bridge, board games, read dance and blog in my spare time.

35 thoughts on “Nostalgic Journey: My Adventures in Guilin, China”

  2. How wonderful to revive these old photos and with them the memories! We did the same boat ride but with more water in the river 😃

    1. Oh really, I’ve never met anyone else who’s been there. I just remember it being a long hot afternoon with only warm coke to drink

      1. I remember that lunch was included on our trip but I’d been ill the day before (traveller’s tummy!) and only ate boiled rice and a banana!

  4. Hi Ali. I really enjoyed your memories and photos. The mountains are amazing in your images. What distinctive shapes! And I loved the picture of you and the older man wearing hats.

  5. I’m glad you enjoyed the challenge, Alison. I loved every bit of it, the experiences, the photos. I’m sure it’s very different now, but I’d love to visit, something I wouldn’t even think if it wasn’t for your post.

    1. Thanks Sofia. I imagine it would be very touristy now and many more boats. The cliffs wouldn’t have changed though

  7. You look great with your hair curly, Ali. What an adventure, and what stunning scenery! Have you been back to China since then?

    1. All Westerners get curly hair in Asia! Yes we went to China a few times after with the children when they were small. Just for a weekend. I often went for day trips to Shenzhen with girlfriends for shopping

  10. Beautiful scenery and travel memories, Ali. You did a great job scanning and editing old film photos to bring them back to life.

  14. I especially loved your post Alison because we visited Guilin long after you did and it was fun thinking of our experience vs yours. Clearly Guilin has become a major tourist attraction. We also did the boat trip but there was tons of water. I cannot imagine it having been that low! There were also tons of tourists and lots of typical tourist-intended highlights like an old man with a long pole held horizontally with a cormorant sitting on each end just as one example. I think I’d have appreciated it more before it became so touristy but oh my..the karsts were just glorious and while we were admiring them a huge flock of white birds flew along the front of them. Natural glory at its best. Thanks so much for the fond reminder – loved your post!

    1. Thanks for these wonderful comments Tina. At the time I went in 1989 there were hardly any Westerners so it made a truly exotic trip.

  15. I feel good just reading about your trip, Ali, how many memories it brought back to you! It is a beautiful place. I enjoyed this challenge very much myself, and it seems many of us dig out old treasures long hidden.

    1. Thanks for your lovely comments Leya. Yes these challenges are great for bringing back memories. Who knows how long those photos would have been left languishing in the dust

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