One rainy day in Guilin (those grey, drizzly days is always a little quieter and softer than normal), I went to visit the Guilin Romance Park. I didn’t really know what to expect from a theme park during the rain, but it ended up being one of those days where rain made the trip even better. It’s a large park that spans quite a bit of land; there is lakeside walks, totem poles, huge statues, traditional buildings, and more dotted throughout.
After that, I explored around for a bit (avoiding puddles), soaking up atmosphere in there for several hours. Because of the rain, most people hadn’t come out so I pretty much had entire area to myself.
Why Rain Made My Trip Better
Guilin Romance Park
What surprised me the most was how luxurius the interior of the ticket hall was. After walking in to what I thought would be a simple exit/counter, there were all these elaborate details on the walls and ceiling, it felt like stepping into a temple rather than a theme park.
By this point, it was realy raining outside. I got to the avenue of totem poles. Each are huge and carved with faces and figures stacked on top of each other.
It took me a while as I slowly walked along the row, trying to make out all the details on each pole. They represent various ethnic group from the region, and up close you can see just how much work went into them. Whenever I tried to look up, my umbrella got in the way, but I made it.
This giant multi-faced gorgon/goddess statue towers over main entrance area. It was so tall that I stood there for a minute just soaking in how large it was. Since it was raining, there were puddles all around.
I had to mind where I walked and also try to take a good look at everything. Right inside the entrance, I picked up a map of the park, and it ended up being helpful because the site is larger than I thought.
There was also this plaza with a yin-yang patterned ground. The pattern stood out much better because it was wet. I doubt it show up as well on a dry day.
There were not too many people around, just some people with umbrellas walking from the gate to the pavilion. Everything is obviously built new, but it had an old-fashioned feel about it, especially with all of those old-style archways and gates.
Stepping into this covered walkway was a welcome break from the wet weather. Rows of lanterns dangled above my head and I strolled along passages of varying style and colour. There were also some tunnels lined with parasols!
It reminded me slightly of a festival set-up but without any people around. I wandered along the covered shopping street and it was realy quiet, only a handful of shopper exploring the stalls.
There were also these tree trunk arches and play structures in a children’s area… but it wasn’t raining and there weren’t any kids present. Nearby was this wish tree that was absolutely COVERED in red prayer ribbons, so many that you couldn’t really even make out the branches beneath them. It was clear that people had been visiting here for some time.
When I arrived, there was a big plaza around the theatre building and the entire place was slick with rain. There were some more of those statues and totem poles scattered throughout. It was an enormous plaza but a little empty since no one were filling it up.
There was just the sound of rain on the pavement.
That double-faced goddess statue looks impressive up close. Standing under her, I looked up at the two faces, one on either side, which were serene, even in this rainy weather. The level of detail in their features was pretty remarkable.
Continuing on, I found myself in what appeared to be some sort of ethnic village area. Totems and bamboo gates led up to it. Nearby, there was a nice fountain plaza where a hot air balloon had been tethered (optimistic considering the weather).
The balloon sat there, all grounded up, looking a little sad in the mist.
More fountains and thatched buildings lined my way as I turned down another direction signpost pointing toward other themed areas of the park. Even though the park feels like its own little world, you could see karst peaks in the distance through the rain, reminding me that I was still in Guilin after all. Everything looked softer around the edges thanks to the mist.
Bougainvillea grew overhanging a path that I walked down, and the flowers were dripping with rainwater. I couldn’t see too far ahead because it was so misty, which made the walk feel a bit mysterious.
There’s a little beach on the lake part of the park and somebody put up that big LOVE sign in red letters. There was also a statue of this goddess on the other side of the water so I went walking around looking at her from different sides. The water was so still, even in the rain, that I got some nice reflections of the statue.
However, if anything touched the water, the reflection got messed up. You could see all of the faces clearly from some of them, too, which is what it’s supposed to do I guess.
They had some neon decorations and red lighting along some of the paths but they were likely intended more for people visiting in the evenings. In the middle of the day during the rain, they just seemed slightly out of place… but they’re definitely cooler at night.
One of my favourite things about it was the water wheels. They were giant wooden thing next to the lake that just gently turned around in the mist. I listened as they creaked and the water poured from their paddles.
Surrounded by red canopies and mountain views behind me, it was a place where I actually stopped and took some time to stand still.
Other areas held other gardens, such as this one with peacocks and a heart-shaped arch. Giant statues loomed out of the landscaping, and their tops were so high that I had to tilt my neck to take them in. Seriously, everything here in this park is on a grand scale.
Through another elaborate gate, I came upon a tepee-like structure surrounded by a tribal bonfire platform. It was all set-up for some kind of ceremony or performance, though the rain kept it all empty and waiting.
Another decorated gate led into the next area, which was designed around the phoenix image. I passed through it and discovered yet another wishing tree. This one, too, was weighted down with all manner of red ribbons tied to any possible branch.
Apparently people love making their wishes here.
Tucked into a corner of the park near the end of my visit, I discovered the Three Heroes Temple and Fortune God Temple. Inside, the statues were all gold and imposing, warriors on guard. I slipped in to escape the rain for a bit and took a look around.
More serious somehow, the temples was quieter than the rest of the park. I was glad I came out, though I was soaking wet by the time I left. It’s a bit of an odd mix of a cultural showcase, a photo opportunity, and a theme park, but that’s ok…
It all sort of works there too. The rain kept people away and made everything a little more moody than it probably would of be on a sunny day. In fact, it’s not a bad time to go if you’re okay with getting wet.
Have you been to a cultural park or theme park in the rain? Was it better or worse because of the weather?
