The Location
1) Write observations you have made about the location of our trip.
- Guilin and Yangshuo are in Guangxi Province
- Guangxi Province is located in Southern China
- Guangxi Province is adjacent to countries of Southeastern China (e.g. Vietnam)
- Guangxi Province touches the South China Sea
- Guilin and Yangshuo are located on the Li River
- A number of hills and caves exist around Guilin and Yangshuo
History
Source 1
1) What does the following quote tell you about the history of Guilin? Has it only recently been a destination for visitors?
“I often sent pictures of the hills of Guilin which I painted to friends back home, but few believed what I saw.”
The quote, which is from a writer from the Song Dynasty, shows that the place has been attracting visitors for centuries, not just recently.
Source 2
1) How have Han Chinese ruled Guilin historically? What does this tell you about the ethnic groups that live in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region?
At the time, Guangxi was considered an exotic region. However, the people of Guangxi did not welcome the Han people. Eventually, the Hans used force and took control over Guangxi. The population of Guangxi mostly consists of Zhuang people, as you might tell from its official name “Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.”
2) When was the Ling Canal constructed? How did this canal influence the history and economy of Guilin?
The Ling Canal was built in 3rd century B.C.E. Guilin was founded along the canal, and became an important trading post. The canal also allowed irrigation for farming.
Source 3
1) Why were canal built throughout the city of Guilin?
Canals were built to transport food from the Yangtze plain to southwestern China.
2) When was Guilin declared under the “protection of historical and cultural heritage?” Why would this be important or significant for the city? For the protection of the environment?
It was declared in 1981, and this is significant because since the place becomes recognized for its heritage, the visitors must take care, and also helps the tourism industry.
3) What are some of the local industries in Guilin?
Pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, fertilizer, silk, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon, herbal medicine
4) What are some of the agricultural products? What do these tell you about geography of Guilin?
Shantian Pomelo, summer orange, Fructus Momordicae, ginkgo, moon persimmon, Lipu Tara, Sanhua Alcohol, pepper sauce, fermented bean curd, Guilin Rice Noodle, water chestnut, grain, fish, dried bean milk cream in tight rolls
The lands of Guilin are good for a variety of crops, from rice to oranges.
5) Where you can find a picture of Guilin? Hint – $
Use the internet
The People
1) According to the following site http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cebe/eng/hxsz/t71999.htm (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China), which ethnic groups live in the Guangxi Region?
Han, Mostly Zhuang, Yao, Miao, Dong, Gelao
2) What evidence tells us that the level of education in Guangxi is still lower than the rest of China?
“…However, it is still low compared with the rest of the country…” – UNESCAP
3) For what reasons do the inhabitants of this region move elsewhere in China? Where do they go?
They move to for jobs or for a business, as well as reuniting with family, studying, training, work transfer and visiting relatives or friends.
They often go to well developed cities.
4) The UNICEF article about an internet project here in China tells us a lot about the extent of the digital divide for people in the Guangxi Region. What conclusions can you draw about this topic from this information? Identify 2.
- A lot of rural people don’t have access to Internet
- Things that we take for granted are not available to a lot of the rural people
Environment
1) According to Jordan Clary, what is ‘karst topography’?
Limestone peaks formed by dissolution
2) Explain in your own words what the 4 factors are that created the type of karst seen in Guilin.
- compact rock of carbonate, like limestone
- a force that lifts the rock
- climate where summers have high humidity
- never have had a glacier
3) Whose research did Clary base her information on?
Ray Beiersdorfer, a gelogist at Youngstown State University, Ohio
4) Clary’s article gives us a number of images of Guilin. Identify one that you are looking forward to.
Floating down the Li River with unique mountains in the background, while watching water buffalos.
1 Comment »
Filed under: Humanities tagged China Alive, Webquests
