Elephant Trunk Hill
Guilin’s most famous peak lies at the junction
of the Li and Yang rivers. The rock hill with an arched hole (known
as the water-moon arch) is named after its striking resemblance
to an elephant sipping water.
On calm days, this giant elephant is reflected
on the mirror-like surface of the river and in the evening, when
viewed under a moonlit sky, the hill creates a lasting and magical
impression.
A narrow winding path leads to the top of the hill
and the Samantabhadra Tower. Built from solid brick and dating from
the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the tower’s core is round like a bottle
or the handle of a sword, so the tower is also referred to as the
Precious Bottle Tower or the Sword Handle Tower.
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