Folded Brocade Hill (Diecai Hill)

Situated in the northeast of Guilin by the Li River, Folded Brocade Hill (Diecai Hill) is one of the most popular local attractions, a place known for its amazing scenery and stone carvings. It gained its name because of the resemblance of its rock formations, piled up layer upon layer on each other, to folded brocade. Many other special names have been given to this picturesque spot: the name Laurel Hill (Gui Hill), derived from the laurels that have spread across the slopes since ancient times, and the name of Wind Cave Hill, due to the remarkable wind cave on the hill. Four small hills, Yuyue Hill, All-Direction-Looking Hill (Siwang Hill), Crane Peak and Bright Moon Peak surround Folded Brocade Hill.

Folded Brocade Hill

Enchanting landscape

A visual feast of magnificent scenes such as Folded Brocade Pavilion, Wind Cave and Cloud-Catching Pavilion, along with countless stones with inscriptions created by famous Chinese scribes, awaits your eyes.

Through the gate of Folded Brocade Hill Garden, within a few steps of the southern foot of the hill, you will first reach the distinctive Folded Brocade Pavilion, occupying an area of about 64 square kilometers (15,815 acres) on the hillside of Bright Moon Peak. 5 meters (16 feet) high, 7.5 meters (25.6 feet) long and 8.5 meters (27.9 feet) wide, it is surrounded by Bright Moon Peak to the north, All-Direction-Looking Hill to the west and Yuyue Hill to the east. Although only a single storey high, it is well designed and elaborately built with red poles, green tiles, and four unique angles. Your fantastic journey will start from here.

After Folded Brocade Pavilion, you will see a stele commemorating the two loyalists Qu Shisi and Zhang Tongchang of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Wind Cave, which the wind blows through in all seasons, waits for you a little further along. This cave penetrates Bright Moon Peak, with a wide mouth protruding from either side of the slope and a narrow part in the middle. What makes it famous is the changing temperature of its winds. Whatever the weather is outside, a cool breeze is always blowing in the Wind Cave. For this reason it is known as the 'Cool World' by many people. The cave is worth a visit not only for its winds but for its rock carvings, both inside and outside of the cave. Nearly 100 Buddha images of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, as well as 210 stone carvings, can be found here. If you are interested in Chinese calligraphy and want to experience the peculiar nature of this remarkable cave, now is your chance!
 

After some more steps, and a journey through more marvelous landscapes, you can congratulate yourself as you reach the top of Bright Moon Peak. This is where the Cloud-Catching Pavilion, a building with a round shape, single eave and a pinnacle, is located. No other place offers you a better vantage position to admire the picturesque Li River, as well as the magnificent city of Guilin in its entirety. A journey to the summit will also offer you the opportunity to admire the Solitary Beauty Peak and Wave-Subduing Hill (Fubo Hill), the other two notable hills in Guilin.

Of course, the other three ranges of Folded Brocade Hill connected to Bright Moon Peak are all very attractive, and notable for their unique pavilions, eminent stones and cliff carvings, Buddhist sculptures and abundance of evergreen trees. Places such as Yuyue Pavilion, Huanbi Garden (Trees' Garden) and Wood Dragon Cave are all well worth a visit.

The highest peak of Folded Brocade Hill, the Bright Moon Peak is only 223 meters (732 feet) tall and comparatively easy to climb. So in choosing to make a journey up the hill, you choose an enjoyable and not too difficult hill-climb.