Learn How to Pronounce Kweilin | YouPronounce.it
How to Pronounce Kweilin
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)
Meaning and Context
Kweilin, the historical romanization for the city now standardized as Guilin, is a prefecture-level city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China. Founded in the Qin Dynasty (circa 314 BC), it served as a provincial capital for centuries and is globally celebrated for its ethereal natural beauty. The city's iconic karst landscape features towering limestone pinnacles that rise dramatically from the plains, often shrouded in mist, creating a scene immortalized in Chinese poetry and art. This breathtaking topography is best experienced on a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, a journey past water buffalo, bamboo groves, and fishing cormorants that is considered one of the world's premier landscape photography destinations. Key attractions within the city include the symbol of Guilin, Elephant Trunk Hill, as well as Reed Flute Cave and the scenic peaks of Fubo Hill and Diecai Hill. As a cornerstone of the Guangxi tourism industry, Guilin (Kweilin) perfectly blends profound cultural history with unparalleled natural scenery, making it a top destination for both domestic and international travelers seeking the quintessential image of China's poetic south.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
The primary spelling variant is "Kweilin," which is the historical postal romanization based on the Chinese pronunciation in the earlier Wade-Giles system. The modern and officially adopted pinyin romanization is "Guilin," which has been the standard since the late 20th century. Common misspellings and typos often arise from phonetic guesses or confusion with other place names, resulting in errors such as "Kwelin," "Kweiling," "Gweilin," or "Guiling." The "Kwei-" prefix is sometimes incorrectly written as "Kwie-." In historical or travel literature predating the widespread use of pinyin, "Kweilin" is the expected spelling, and researchers or readers encountering this term should understand it refers directly to the city of Guilin. The shift from "Kweilin" to "Guilin" in common usage is a clear example of the linguistic standardization of Chinese place names for a global audience.
Example Sentences
Many classic travelogues from the early 20th century describe the surreal beauty of Kweilin and its surrounding karst peaks.
Before planning our trip, we found fascinating old maps in the archive that labeled the city as Kweilin rather than Guilin.
The painter spent a month in Kweilin, capturing the morning mist as it drifted between the iconic limestone towers.
A Li River cruise from Kweilin to Yangshuo remains the highlight of any visit to the Guangxi region.
Historians note that Kweilin served as a vital cultural and military center in southern China for centuries.
When searching for vintage posters, use the term "Kweilin" to find those classic tourism advertisements from the 1930s and 1940s.
Related Pronunciations
- How to pronounce Wanzhou
- How to pronounce Yenji
- How to pronounce Yunnan Fu
- How to pronounce Hoikow
- How to pronounce Kunming