From a source high in the Mao'er Mountain, the Li River sweeps south toward Guilin and into the world's imagination. Millions each year take to its waters, weaving between poetic peaks and submerged islands in search of scenery that arguably epitomizes Chinese landscape beauty. In the world's eyes, Guilin's karst hills and jade waters are quintessential China. Images of Guilin's iconic karst peaks dignify conference rooms and lobbies across China. The use of the Li River as an emblematic subject of Chinese landscape painting received the ultimate stamp of approval when it was pressed on the 20 yuan banknote.
A lake is a landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature - Henry David Thoreau. A dam was built on the Bin-el-Ouidane River, forming a 3,755 ha reservoir that brightens up the surrounding mountainous terrain. This impressive piece of engineering, 133m tall and 285m long at the top, produces electricity and irrigates the Tadla Plains. The road affords great views of the dam and the calm and amazingly blue waters of the lake.
It is in the early morning hour that the unseen is seen, and that the far-off beauty and glory, vanquishing all their vagueness, move down upon us till they stand clear as crystal close over against the soul.
