Daxu Ancient Town

If you are fond of places that are unique, antique and not commercialized, Daxu Ancient Town will be a satisfying place to visit. The town is located to the north of Millstone Hill along Li River, about 23km (14.3 miles) south of Guilin. It is a little known ancient town of primitive simplicity, with a long history and lots of traditional Chinese residences.

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Rural Leisure

Daxu Ancient Town was initially founded during the early Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD), which means it has a history of over one thousand years. It was a prosperous market town at that time thanks to the convenient water transport. And during the period of the Republic of China (1911-1949), the town was in its heyday. There were eight broad commercial streets, more than ten docks, and merchants came together in crowds. It was the leader among the four best known ancient towns in Guangxi in terms of its scale. Now all that prosperity has gone, leaving the town standing quietly by Li River.

The joy of visiting Daxu Ancient Town is in strolling along the long and narrow blue flagstone paths. Houses on both sides are made of black brick and grey tile in the style of the Ming (1368-1644AD) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911AD), reflecting historical vicissitudes over past years. Walking along the old street, you will feel that you are back in time and those age-old buildings are telling you enchanting stories. Also to be found here are ancient workshops where bamboo weaving and shoe making was done, as well as old-style barber shops. Here, the elderly people would gather together to chat and drink tea or they would sit at the door, reading books. You will find that villagers lead a slow-pace and carefree life, with a soft and contented smile on their faces. Friendly inhabitants might invite you to visit their houses so you can have a close up view of these buildings.

One thing you cannot miss in the Daxu Old Town is Longevity Bridge that stands at the converging point of Mahe River and Li River. As this stone arch bridge was built in the Qing Dynasty, the surface is now smooth and glossy. It is an ideal place to enjoy the Li River scenery and the hills across the river. Strolling around, you may find over ten docks, as well as a wooden mosque, where religious activities are held.

Longevity Bridge in Daxu Town

In 2001, a group of ancient tombs was discovered in Daxu Ancient Town. The seven tombs were arranged in the shape of the Plough, and is the first example of this in China. The relationship between the tombs and stars remains unclear, but cultural relics found in the tombs are of a great research value. If time permits, you can also take a ferryboat to Maozhou Islet where you can pick fresh strawberries and eat local dishes at a farm stay.  
 Take a direct bus at Guilin South Bus Station to Daxu Ancient Town. The buses departure at 08:20 and 13:00 every day. The whole journey takes 30 minutes at a cost of CNY 10. From Guilin North Railway Station, passengers can take Lingchuan Bus 306 to Daxu Town, which takes 1.5 hours and CNY 3.

Entrance Fee	Free of charge
Opening Hours	The whole day

 

Following is a recommended one-day tour route for your reference:
Guilin Daxu Ancient Town  Crown Cave  Gudong Waterfall Scenic Area   Guilin

1. Firstly, take a bus from Guilin South Bus Station to Daxu Ancient Town, an underground karst cave that enjoys a kaleidoscope of stalactites.
2. After visiting the ancient town, you can take the Daxu-Caoping Bus to Caoping Station, and walk to visit the Crown Cave, an underground karst cave that enjoys a kaleidoscope of stalactites.
3. From Crown Cave, take Lingchuan Bus 306 Extension at Caoping Town Station to Huahai Road, then take a taxi to the Gudong Waterfall. It is the only multilevel waterfall formed by underground water. The joy of visiting Gudong Waterfall lies in exhilarating waterfall trekking experience. Recommended time for a visit is two to three hours.
4. After the visit, you can take a taxi or walk for 1.5 miles to Xiafuli Bus Station, and take Daxu-Caoping line to Daxu Town, and then transfer to Lingchuan 306 to Guilin City.

Next: Ox Gorge & Wangfu Rock