As often happens, I went somewhere to see one thing and found something I wasn’t expecting. But before I explain that, I’ll just say that I’m technologically challenged right now because China has a different system and I’m not even sure how I was able to get to this site. Even so, it’s awkward to use, so, I’ll keep this short.

Back to the main event….Guilin, China. I was there last week to see its stunning natural setting of “karsts,” which are dramatic limestone mountains. There are thousands of them for dozens of miles in every direction beside lakes and rivers and green agricultural land. The landscape gives a feeling of being connected to something primordial and was even more breathtaking than I’d expected.

What I didn’t expect is how much I would love the city of Guilin. Its population is 5 million — considered small-ish in China — about 3 hours from Hong Kong on a high-speed train and a couple of hours from the much bigger city of Guangzhou. (The high speed trains go everywhere here!).

Guilin is loved. Its residents seem so connected to its natural beauty. The city was built around two rivers and several islands, with bridges and foot paths over and along the waterways to make them accessible to walkers, bikers, and tai chi enthusiasts who are out in droves every morning.

There are references to China’s history and folk lore that encourage contemplation and relaxation.

In the center at least, music is everywhere. I heard traditional Chinese flute and guzheng (the 2,000-year-old string instrument), as well as what sounded like more modern versions of Chinese ballads.

Guilin is not the first place most tourists visit in China, but for me it was a wonderful orientation to some of China’s natural beauty and a little of its culture.