Gulin

Introduction

Gulin County sits in the far south of Sichuan Province, under the administration of Luzhou, and its position is unusual: Guizhou province wraps around it to the north, south and east. That borderland setting makes it a place where Sichuan and Guizhou meet, and it is a large, mostly rural county rather than a compact city.

This is not a destination with a well-documented set of sights in the source material, so treat it as a stop for travellers already exploring southern Sichuan or the edges of Guizhou. Come with modest expectations and an interest in the everyday life of a remote county, and plan your onward transport carefully before you arrive.

Getting around

Gulin is a large, mostly rural county rather than a dense city, organised into the three subdistricts of Zhangde, Jinlan and Yongle plus towns and ethnic townships spread across the countryside. Getting around is therefore less about a compact grid and more about linking the main built-up areas to one another and to the wider region. Within the urban core, local buses, taxis and walking cover most needs: the settled area is contained enough that short errands, meals and sightseeing near where you are staying are easiest on foot, while longer hops across town are best handled by bus or taxi.

• Urban buses are the mainstay of local public transport and the cheapest way to cover longer distances in town; keep small change or a mobile payment app ready.
• Long-distance buses connect Gulin to Luzhou and neighbouring areas, and are the usual way to reach the county from outside; check schedules the day before, as services may be infrequent.
• Motor tricycles are common for short trips — agree the price before you set off, and be cautious if a driver insists on taking you to particular shops.
• Taxis are widely available for point-to-point trips, especially with luggage or outside bus hours; ride-hailing apps work as elsewhere in China and help if you do not speak the local dialect, so make sure your pickup point is clearly marked.
• There is no metro, tram or urban rail within the county, and no commercial airport; railheads and airports lie outside Gulin, so plan the onward road leg in advance and allow buffer time.

Outside the main built-up districts, distances between towns and villages are considerable, so treat walking as a way to explore a neighbourhood rather than to move between parts of the county.

Three days in Gulin

Day one: Start in Gulin County itself, getting your bearings in the urban core before heading out to the surrounding villages. Within the county you can use long-distance buses or motor taxis to reach the outlying settlements, and taxis are the simplest way to move between stops. Come prepared for warm and humid weather, and keep your plans flexible since transport outside the urban area can be slow.

Day two: Head for the village of Zhangde, then continue to Jinlan and Yongle, all within Gulin County. These rural communities sit in the hills of Sichuan Province, close to the border with Guizhou, and the scenery along the way is the main draw. That said, services are limited, so carry what you need and arrange your return transport in advance.

Day three: Use Luzhou as your onward connection if you are leaving the county, or spend the day revisiting whichever village appealed to you most. Getting around remains easiest by motor taxi or hired car. This part of Sichuan rewards a slow pace rather than a packed schedule.