Elephant Trunk Hill is located at the confluence of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River in Guilin City. It is named for its resemblance to an elephant.
Elephant Trunk Hill was already a popular tourist destination in the Tang Dynasty, boasting a history of nearly a thousand years of tourism development.
Furthermore, due to its unique mountain shape and long history, it was designated as the emblem of Guilin City in 1995.
Elephant Trunk Hill is not far from East-West Alley; it only takes a short ride to get there.
Elephant Trunk Hill is a free attraction, and despite it being a weekday, it was still very popular with visitors.
As soon as they got off the car, they saw a long line of people.
Before leaving home, Chen Zhiyao had done her homework; there were three gates to Elephant Trunk Hill.
Gate 1 is the entrance and exit, allowing people to go in and out, and it's also the gate with the most visitors.
Gate 1 is open from 7:00 to 18:00. Although it's perfectly fine to go through now, there are too many people, and she doesn't want to go through this gate.
Gate 2 is the exit; you can only go out from here, not go in. It is open from 7:00 to 21:30.
Gate 3 is the entrance; you can only enter from here and cannot exit. It is open from 7:00 to 21:30.
Chen Zhiyao had already checked and found that the best viewing platform was right at Gate 3, so she led her family straight in through Gate 3.
After entering through Gate 3 and walking about 150 meters, the family of five arrived at the first observation deck.
From here, you can see the entire Elephant Trunk Hill. And you know what? It really does look like an elephant.
Chen Zhiyao stood in a secluded spot, gazing into the distance.
The weather is great today; the green mountains and clear waters against the blue sky and white clouds are breathtaking and make me feel much happier. "Tangtang, come help me take a picture!" at Elephant Trunk Hill.
"Hey, you're here!"
Upon arriving at the viewing platform, Grandma Chen and Yan Shuting began posing wildly again.
Chen Zhiyao held her phone, taking pictures while jokingly saying:
"Mom, remember to transfer the photography fee to my account later."
"Okay, okay, I'll transfer it to you now."
As she spoke, Yan Shuting immediately took out her phone and transferred one cent to her daughter.
Upon seeing the one-cent red envelope, Chen Zhiyao couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"You really are my mother."
Seeing that her daughter was unhappy and wouldn't take any more pictures, Yan Shuting quickly started to coax her:
"Don't stop! I'll treat you to a big meal tonight, okay?"
"Then I want beer fish, braised pork belly with taro from Lipu, and snail chicken hot pot." She didn't stand on ceremony and ordered the dishes directly.
"Okay, okay, I'll arrange everything for you tonight."
"That's more like it."
While the mother and daughter chatted and laughed, Chen Zhiyao had already taken dozens of photos on her phone.
She couldn't understand where the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law came up with so many bizarre and wonderful designs.
Having come all this way, the group didn't want to spend time climbing the mountain, so they took some photos and exited through Gate 2.
Fortunately, Gate 2 wasn't far away, and the group walked slowly for about 10 minutes before exiting.
The entire process, from entering the park to leaving, takes less than half an hour.
Before setting off, Chen Zhiyao had already planned her route. Her next destination was the Sun and Moon Twin Towers in Shanhu.
After leaving Elephant Trunk Hill, she happily took out her phone and opened the map app.
She had already researched the route; the Sun and Moon Twin Towers were quite close by, so the group decided to walk there and take a stroll around the area.
A family of five strolled leisurely through the streets and alleys of Guilin, enjoying the unique landscape of the city.
Everywhere you look up, you can see rolling mountains that resemble a traditional Chinese ink painting, a truly breathtaking sight.
The group wasn't in a hurry; each person held a cup of milk tea and savored the picturesque scenery along the way.
Occasionally, when I pass by an interesting little shop, I'll go in and see if there's anything interesting there.
And so, the group walked toward the Sun and Moon Twin Towers, admiring the surrounding scenery.
We walked and stopped along the way, and after half an hour, we finally saw the legendary Sun and Moon Twin Towers. The two towers, one large and one small, were clearly reflected in the clear lake water beside them, and together with the surrounding green mountains and clear waters, it was quite a beautiful sight.
The Sun and Moon Tower is also known as the Gold Tower and Silver Tower, or the Lovers' Tower.
The Sun and Moon Twin Towers are located in Shanhu Lake in Guilin City. The Sun Tower is made of copper and has a golden hue, hence its other name, the Golden Tower. It is situated in the center of the lake, has a total of 9 stories, and stands 41 meters tall.
The Moon Tower is a glazed tile tower, silver in color, and is also known as the Silver Tower. It has a total of 7 floors and is 35 meters tall.
The two towers are connected by a 10-meter-long underwater tunnel.
You can take an elevator up to both towers, but there's an 80 yuan entrance fee per person.
The tickets weren't expensive, but Chen Zhiyao and her friends didn't plan to go all the way to the top. After taking a few photos, they continued to wander around the area.
Time always flies when you're having fun, and before you know it, the sun has quietly set.
Everyone was tired after shopping all afternoon, so Chen Zhiyao found a small shop with good online reviews and decided to try some local Guilin cuisine.
My mom is treating us tonight, and she didn't hold back, ordering several of the restaurant's signature dishes without hesitation.
Beer fish, braised pork belly with taro from Lipu, stir-fried snails, three-delicacy fish ball soup, and a stir-fried seasonal vegetable dish.
It was lunchtime, and the place was quite crowded. We waited quite a while before the dishes we ordered started arriving. The first dish to be served was a large bowl of beer-braised fish, with taro, braised pork belly, and stir-fried snails from Guilin.
After walking around all afternoon, everyone was starving, so they started eating without waiting for the other dishes to be served.
The bright red beer fish looked quite appetizing, and Chen Zhiyao couldn't wait to pick up her chopsticks, take a piece of fish, and put it in her mouth.
The fish is tender and juicy, with a subtle beer aroma, a flavor completely different from the usual steamed sea fish.
"Mmm, delicious! Although this fish isn't as good as the sea fish we usually eat, it tastes pretty good with the sauce."
However, apart from her, the other four people thought it was too spicy, and the excessive sauce completely masked the taste of the fish.
Next, the taro and braised pork belly dish arrived. The taro absorbed the savory flavor of the pork juices, and the pork belly became rich yet not greasy. The two complemented each other perfectly, creating a very rich taste.
"This taro with braised pork is delicious, fatty but not greasy." Chen Zhiyao directly put a large piece on the plate for the elderly couple.
This dish is stewed until very tender, making it perfect for people like Grandpa and Grandma Chen who have trouble with their teeth.
Soon after, the waiter brought over another plate of steaming hot stir-fried snails.
The plump snails, paired with a special sauce, allow the freshness of the snails and the richness of the sauce to blend together perfectly.
The slightly spicy flavor was irresistible, and Chen Zhiyao ate several in a row, unable to stop.
The family ate and chatted, and before long, the last dish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, was served.
The green vegetables looked fresh and delicious. Grandma Chen took a bite and found them to be sweet and crisp.
"Hmm, this dish is also good, very refreshing." She nodded in satisfaction.
Apart from the beer fish, which some people found too spicy, the other dishes tasted pretty good.
After eating and drinking their fill, the whole family walked out of the restaurant together. Chen Weiqiang, who was at the front, suggested:
"Let's take a walk along the river and digest our food."
So the family strolled leisurely along the riverbank, enjoying the tranquility and beauty of the night.
Before they knew it, the group had returned to the vicinity of the Sun and Moon Twin Towers. As night fell, the twin towers were reflected in the lake, their lights twinkling like stars fallen to earth.
The lakeside was brightly lit, and among the bright lights, two tall towers stood out.
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