Du Juan in Guilin, China Lensed by Leslie Zhang for Wallpaper China June 2025

Top echelon Chinese model Du Juan is styled by Monica Mong in ‘Return Journey’, a trip to Guilin, China lensed by Leslie Zhang [IG] for Wallpaper Magazine China June 2025./ Hair by Han Bin; makeup by Clive Xiong

Guilin, China, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and unique karst formations, which have inspired poets and artists for centuries. The evolution of Guilin's landscapes and architecture reflects a harmonious blend of natural beauty and human ingenuity.

Over millennia, water erosion of the region’s limestone hills crafted the dramatic scenery of steep, jagged peaks, serene rivers, and lush valleys. This natural wonderland has remained remarkably preserved, despite the passage of time, due to both reverence for nature and recent conservation efforts.

The Li River meanders through Guilin, creating a stunning tableau of verdant mountains, clear waters, and lush greenery that has inspired countless artists and poets over the centuries. Wallpaper China takes us to Guilin today.

Guilin has been a significant locale throughout various ancient dynasties, each leaving an indelible mark on its cultural and historical landscape. During the Qin Dynasty, around 214 BC, Guilin became crucial as the Lingqu Canal was constructed, creating a vital waterway connecting the Xiang River of the Yangtze basin with the Li River of the Pearl basin.

This engineering feat was instrumental in facilitating the movement of troops and goods, underscoring Guilin’s strategic importance.

A Bastion of Influence for Poets, Artists and Military Strategists

Throughout the Han Dynasty, Guilin flourished as a trade hub, bolstered by its strategic positioning along key trade routes. It was during this period that the city began to develop its unique cultural identity, enriched by the convergence of diverse ethnic groups. Under the Tang and Song Dynasties, the tranquil waterways and breathtaking karst mountains of Guilin not only inspired poets and artists but also attracted scholars and officials, further cementing the city's role as a cultural nexus.

In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Guilin's significance as a military outpost was reaffirmed, particularly during campaigns in Southern China. Owing to its rich cultural tapestry and strategic position, Guilin served as a bastion of military and cultural influence throughout its ancient history, shaping the region’s development and leaving a legacy that endures in its present-day identity.

The Role of Animism in Guilin’s Spiritual Traditions

Researching the spiritual practices of the Ma Peoples, living in the highlands of Vietnam, I learned about their connections to this region of China. It was only natural that I would inquire of my trusted AI for scholars, about the spiritual practices in Guilin. Specifically, I asked about ancestor worship and animism — especially considering this divine visual landscape.

Historically, spiritual practices were deeply interwoven with the area's natural environment and cultural history. Animism plays an integral role in shaping the spiritual traditions in this region of China. This belief system asserts that all elements of the natural world—rivers, mountains, trees, and stones—are imbued with spiritual essence or consciousness. The connection between the people of Guilin and their surrounding landscape to this day is profound, as they perceive the natural world not just as a physical reality but as a living community of spirits that must be respected and revered.

Modernism has had impact on the practices of animism, but the foundation of reverence towards nature’s vitality and life force remains.

Nature worship in Guilin is deeply influenced by the region’s dramatic scenery, with its soaring limestone peaks and winding waterways serving as spiritual entities that command both awe and reverence. It is common for locals to ascribe spiritual attributes to these natural features, believing them to be inhabited by guardian spirits or gods. These deities are often honored through rituals and offerings to ensure harmony and balance between humans and nature.

Sacred sites within this unique landscape are visited by pilgrims seeking blessings and guidance.

Through these animistic traditions, inhabitants of Guilin maintain a harmonious relationship with their environment, allowing them to live in a way that respects both their cultural heritage and the natural world’s spiritual dimensions.

Ancestor Worship in Guilin

In the lush, mountainous region of Guilin, China, ancestor worship has long played a central role in spiritual and cultural life. This deeply rooted tradition is a manifestation of filial piety, a Confucian value emphasizing respect for one's parents and ancestors. The people of Guilin honor their ancestors through various rituals, expressing gratitude and maintaining a spiritual connection with their forebears.

These practices serve as a conduit for intergenerational continuity, enabling the living to seek guidance and blessings from their deceased relatives.

Central to ancestor worship in Guilin is the belief that ancestors possess a continuing presence that can influence the lives of their descendants. Families often maintain ancestral altars in their homes, where incense, food offerings, and joss paper are presented during rituals aimed at honoring and appeasing the spirits. Tomb-sweeping ceremonies, particularly during the Qingming Festival, are opportunities for families to clean and decorate ancestral graves, ensuring the spirits are cared for and remembered.

Ancestor worship in Guilin not only fosters familial bonds but also sustains communal ties. It reinforces a collective identity rooted in shared heritage and history, which is crucial for maintaining social harmony. This practice reflects a world view where the past is intricately linked with the present, and the spiritual realm is seamlessly interwoven with daily life, providing both continuity and comfort to the living.

Shamanism and Spirit Communications

In Guilin, China's rich tapestry of spiritual practices, shamanism and spirit communication stand out as integral components that have shaped the region's cultural and spiritual identity. Rooted in ancient traditions, these practices often involve shamanic figures who serve as mediums between the physical world and the spiritual realm. These shamans, often respected members of their communities, are believed to possess the ability to communicate with spirits, ancestors, and deities.

By undergoing ritualistic journeys, sometimes induced by drumming, chanting, or dance, shamans enter altered states of consciousness to seek guidance, healing, or insight for individuals or the community at large.

Influences of Taoism and Buddhism

In Guilin, the spiritual landscape has been deeply influenced by both Taoism and Buddhism, which coexist alongside animistic and ancestral worship practices. Taoism, with its emphasis on harmony with nature and the Tao, has shaped the cultural and spiritual ethos of Guilin. The city's dramatic karst mountains and serene rivers serve as a natural reflection of Taoist principles, and many residents embrace this philosophy in their daily lives.

Taoist temples and practices are prevalent, where rituals often involve meditation, offering incense, and consulting Taoist texts for divination and guidance.

Buddhism also holds a prominent place in Guilin's spiritual practices, introduced to the region over a millennium ago. The city houses numerous pagodas and Buddhist temples, such as the iconic Seven Star Park Temple. Buddhist practices in Guilin include meditation, chanting sutras, and participating in community gatherings at temples. The teachings of compassion and mindfulness resonate deeply with the local populace, influencing their outlook on life and ethical conduct.

Modern-Day Spiritual Practices In Guilin

The fusion of Taoist and Buddhist elements can often be seen in local festivals and rites, where both traditions intertwine to form a unique spiritual tapestry. This blend represents an integration of philosophies that underscores Guilin's rich cultural heritage, offering insight not only into spiritual practices but also into the harmonious coexistence of diverse beliefs.

Modernity has delivered a lessening of the rituals of animism, but without diminishing the reverence for nature and the stunning landscapes surrounding Guilin.

Contemporary elements have also begun to integrate into the spiritual fabric, with practices like meditation and Tai Chi gaining popularity as means of achieving personal well-being and spiritual balance. Consequently, the spiritual practices in Guilin today represent a rich tapestry of continuity and adaptation, where ancient customs coexist alongside modern spiritual pursuits.