High Speed train to Guilin

We have escaped the compound for a few days and headed up north to Guilin, China.

Guilin has been on our list of places to visit for over 10 years, as both Jon and Ben had visited on school trips and said how lovely it was.  I'm sure much has changed in those 10 years, as China has developed immensely in that time.

We absolutely loved the high speed train and couldn't believe how convenient it was to travel right from Hong Kong.  Speeds got up to about 250km/h, not as fast as I imagined but fabulously fast, nonetheless.

It was a three hour journey, with lovely countryside.  Lots of farm land, and interesting house architecture.  I was fascinated to see so much land.

About an hour out of Guilin, we started to see the hill formations that it is so famous for. Quite spectacular and so incredibly different to anywhere else we've been.

We were greeting very warmly by the host at the Executive Club in our hotel. She served us dinner, even though, the dinner time was closed.  We feasted on Guilin specialties and all kinds of fruit.  Passion fruit is in season, and Martin and I were given at least four to eat.  

Can't wait to go exploring tomorrow.