China Guide
Guangxi and Guizhou
Elephant Trunk Hill
Opening time: Daily 6.30am–10pm
Price: ¥31
Address: Off Minzhu Lu
Elephant Trunk Hill is said to be the body of a sick imperial baggage elephant who was cared for by locals and turned to stone rather than rejoin the emperor's army. For once the name is not poetically obscure; the jutting cliff with an arched hole at the base really does resemble an elephant taking a drink from the river. There's an easy walk to a podgy pagoda on top, and, at river level, you can have your photo taken holding a parasol while you sit next to a cormorant on a brightly coloured bamboo raft.