The scenic beauty and cultural richness of Guilin have made it one of China' s premier tourist destinations, which in turn has driven the development of the city' s recreational and entertainment facilities. The town in rich in opportunities for daytime and nighttime fun, from sporting facilities to bars, clubs and theaters.

For those looking for a different kind of theatrical performance, there are unforgettable opportunities in Guilin. One is the Dreamland Theater and its nightly fairy tale play, and another is the folk musical performance ''Impressions: 'Liu Sanjie' ''(''Impressions: 'Third Sister Liu' '') which is performed in the natural landscape of Yangshuo. You could also seek out the Longji Show at Guilin' s Lijiang Theater for a taste of Guangxi' s minority culture. Then there are the dinner shows offered by hotels every night like ''Guishan Zhi Xiu'' (''The Beauty of Guishan'') at the Guishan Hotel, or ''Huayuan Zhi Ye'' (''Garden by Night'' ) at the Guilin Royal Garden Hotel.

A popular night activity is to combine a performance of ethnic dancing at the Water Pavilion with a night cruise on the Li River. The Water Pavilion is located at No.2 Dock, Binjiang Road on the west bank of the Li River, next to the Li River Yinzuo Ferry. Travelers can watch the performance and then go for a cruise, when there will be more musical entertainment on the ferry. Another place to enjoy the music and dance of Guangxi' s minority people is the Li River Folk Customs Center, located at the confluence of the Li and Xiaodong Rivers at Liangjiangkou on Linjiang Lu. Take the number 58 free bus.

Guilin has two forms of traditional local musical theater which will be of interest to visitors: Gui opera and Cai opera.

Gui opera originated at the time of the Ming dynasty from a form of musical theater introduced from Anhui province. Combined with elements of Jingjiang Palace opera, Gui opera was adapted for the local dialect and grew in popularity in Guilin and areas to the north. Gui opera continues to develop today: a new play, ''The Legend of Concubine Yao,'' was recently awarded a prize by the China Cultural Administration.

Cai opera is an early form of popular folk opera from the region to the north of Guilin. Male players use colorful fans, while the female players, walking in stylized little steps, display colorful handkerchiefs. ''Liu Sanjie'' (''Third Sister Liu''), is a Cai opera play based on a legend of the Zhuang people. It gained fame in 1961 when it was adapted for a movie, and again in 2003 when renowned film director Zhang Yimou began directing outdoor performances of the play in Yangshuo.

Another way of gaining insight into the cultural world of Guilin is to time your visit with one of the colorful festivals that take place during the year. The Third of March Festival, which is held on the third day of the third lunar month, is a song festival involving local ethnic minorities, notably the Zhuang people. The Longsheng Red Clothes Festival, also held in the third lunar month, was originally held by the Yao people (more particularly the ''red Yao'', whose women favor red clothes). It is now a celebration of minority folk arts and performances by a number of the local ethnic groups. Every three years the Li River comes alive to the Dragon Boat Festival, when colorfully decorated dragon boats compete for prizes, cheered on my thousands of supporters. The Ziyuan River Lantern and Song Festival takes place in the seventh lunar month: daytime art shows and performances by local minorities culminate at night in a beautiful lantern show on the river.

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