On Thursday, President Clinton travels to Guilin, an ancient city founded
over a thousand years ago. The President will take a boat trip downriver
on the Li River, one of the main tourist attractions of the Guilin area.
The cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, about forty miles away on the winding
Li River, takes approximately two hours and will give the President an
opportunity to see extraordinary karst formations, sprays of bamboo
lining the riverbanks, and picturesque villages.
The President will arrive in Yangshuo, once a sleepy village at the end
of the boat trip down the Li River from Guilin, at the conclusion of the
boat tour. This tiny country town set amidst limestone pinnacles is
surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in China. Situated just
one-and-one-half hours from Guilin by bus, Yangshuo has become a regular
stop for Chinese and foreign travelers, especially backpackers who use it
as a base from which to explore the beauty of the nearby countryside.
After touring Yangshou, the President will depart Guilin for Hong Kong.
Upon his arrival, the President will attend a reception and dinner with
Hong Kong Chief Executive C.H. Tung. The reception and dinner will take
place in the Government House, which served as the British Colonial
Governor's residence and office until June 30, 1997. It is currently
used by the Special Administrative Region government for official
functions and cultural events.
