Reed Flute Cave

Reed Flute Cave is a limestone cavern on Reed Flute Road in the Qixing District of Guilin, Guangxi, China, about 240 metres long and lit in multicoloured light. It has been visited by travellers for more than 1,200 years, and inscriptions on the walls record earlier visitors. The name comes from the reeds that once grew near the entrance and were used to make flutes. Inside, a lit walkway leads through a sequence of chambers filled with stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars and curtains of rock, each given a descriptive name by the guides, including the crystal palace chamber, a large hall that is the highlight of the route. Coloured lighting picks out shapes resembling animals, mountains and waterfalls, and a pool reflects the formations. The guided loop takes about 50 minutes, and with the approach path and time at the entrance the full visit takes one to one and a half hours. The cave stays at roughly 20 degrees Celsius all year, which makes it a comfortable stop in hot summers and a mild one in winter. Opening hours are about 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, running to 6:00 PM in summer, and the adult ticket costs 90 yuan at the gate or about 82 yuan online. Booking the evening before is advised in busy periods. Children under 1.2 metres enter free, and reduced prices apply to ages 6 to 18 and to seniors with ID. Tours in Mandarin run continuously, with English commentary limited, so visitors who want detail often use a translation app or a hired local guide. Photography is generally allowed but the low light and coloured bulbs make sharp pictures hard without a steady hand. The cave is reached by bus 3 or 13 from the Guilin Railway Station area or by taxi for about 20 to 25 yuan. Crowds are heaviest from late morning when tour groups arrive and during public holidays, so the first slot of the day is the calmest. Paths are damp in places, and the lighting changes with the season of the display.