Top places to visit in Guilin

• Li River (Lijiang)

  river landscape · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The dreamlike river winding between sugarloaf karst peaks from Guilin to Yangshuo — the classic Chinese landscape, featured on the 20-yuan banknote. Best seen by cruise.

• Elephant Trunk Hill

  karst hill · about 1.5 h · entry ¥55 (≈ ₹780)

  Guilin's emblem — a riverside karst hill with an arch that resembles an elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River.

• Reed Flute Cave

  limestone cave · about 1.5 h · entry ¥110 (≈ ₹1,560)

  A spectacular limestone cavern of stalactites and stalagmites dramatically lit in multicoloured light, named for the reeds that grow at its mouth.

• Two Rivers & Four Lakes (Sun and Moon Pagodas)

  lakeside pagodas · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The night-lit heart of Guilin, where interconnected lakes are ringed by willows and crowned by the golden Sun and silver Moon Pagodas.

• Seven Star Park

  scenic park · about 2 h · entry ¥75 (≈ ₹1,070)

  Guilin's largest park, named for seven peaks arranged like the Big Dipper, with caves, a zoo and forested trails across the river.

• Yangshuo West Street

  tourist street · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The lively cobbled main street of Yangshuo, buzzing with bars, cafés, craft shops and travellers at the downstream end of the Li River cruise.

• Yulong River

  river countryside · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A tranquil tributary threading Yangshuo's most beautiful countryside of karst peaks and rice paddies, explored by bamboo raft or bicycle.

• Xingping Ancient Town

  riverside town · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 1,000-year-old riverside town whose reach of the Li River is the exact scene printed on the 20-yuan note.

• Longji Rice Terraces

  rice terraces · about 5 h · entry ¥80 (≈ ₹1,140)

  The 'Dragon's Backbone' — vast, sculpted rice terraces climbing the mountains around Zhuang and Yao minority villages, ~100 km northwest of Guilin.

• Moon Hill

  natural arch · about 1.5 h · entry ¥15 (≈ ₹210)

  A karst hill pierced by a natural moon-shaped arch near Yangshuo, reached by a stepped climb with sweeping countryside views.

• Solitary Beauty Peak & Jingjiang Princes' City

  karst peak · about 1.5 h · entry ¥100 (≈ ₹1,420)

  A sheer pinnacle rising from a restored Ming princely mansion in the city centre, with 300-plus steps to a panoramic summit.

Things to do

• Li River Cruise Guilin to Yangshuo Cruise · 5 h · from CNY 380 per person
• Yangshuo Countryside Cycling Tour Adventure · 4 h · from CNY 220 per person
• Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour Tour · 10 h · from CNY 420 per person
• Impression Sanjie Liu Light Show Show · 1.2 h · from CNY 240 per person
• Yulong River Bamboo Raft Adventure · 2 h · from CNY 150 per person

Day trips and tours

• Li River Cruise & Yangshuo Day Tour 9 h · from CNY 620

Where to stay in Guilin

• Guilin City Centre about CNY 500 per night

  Around the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, walkable to Elephant Trunk Hill and the night-lit pagodas.

• Yangshuo (West Street) about CNY 450 per night

  Backpacker-friendly karst town at the end of the Li River cruise, ringed by rivers and rice fields.

Hotels

• Shangri-La Guilin 5-star · CNY 900 to CNY 1,700 per night
• Sheraton Guilin 5-star · CNY 700 to CNY 1,300 per night
• Guilin Central Wada Hostel 2-star · CNY 50 to CNY 190 per night
• Yangshuo Mountain Retreat 4-star · CNY 500 to CNY 1,000 per night

Where to eat

• Chongshan Rice Noodles Chinese, Guangxi, Noodles · about CNY 25 per person
• Yangshuo Beer Fish (West Street) Chinese, Guangxi · about CNY 90 per person
• Zhengyang Tangcheng Food Street Chinese, Guangxi, Street Food · about CNY 60 per person

Getting to Guilin

Airport: Guilin (KWL)

How visitors arrive in Guilin

• Train from Guangzhou and the south-east By train from Guangzhou / Shenzhen / Hong Kong · common

  Rail links run to Guilin from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong (high-speed), as well as Nanning, Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. Services use Guilin, Guilin North or Guilin West stations. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flight to Liangjiang airport By air from Major Chinese cities · common

  Guilin Liangjiang International Airport has flights from major mainland cities and some East and Southeast Asian cities, with airport buses to the centre and Yangshuo. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus By road from Nanning / Guangzhou / Kunming · possible

  Buses reach the Guilin bus terminal from Nanning, Kunming, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, plus buses and minibuses from Yangshuo. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport shuttle bus Line 1 to the city terminal unconfirmed

  Line 1 runs to the city terminal at the Civil Aviation Building with a city-centre stop near the Swan Hotel; it may leave only when mostly full. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Airport shuttle bus Line 2 to Guilin North Station unconfirmed

  Line 2 serves Guilin North high-speed rail station, which is far from downtown. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from Liangjiang airport

  A taxi goes directly to a city-centre hotel; hotels can often arrange the return. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Airport shuttle to Qintan Bus Terminal

  A shuttle bus links the airport with Qintan Bus Terminal in central Guilin, where coaches to Yangshuo and Longsheng also depart. Source: regional.chinadaily.com.cn

Getting around

• Bicycle

  Mountain bikes can be hired from shops in Guilin, for example on Sanduo Road, for riding in and around the city.

• Bus

  City buses link the railway and bus stations with many attractions, and Guilin is known for running double-decker buses on major routes.

• Ride Hail

  DiDi, the ride-hailing app used across mainland China, can be used in Guilin as an alternative to hailing a taxi.

• Taxi

  Taxis can be hailed on the street in Guilin, though they are harder to find at peak hours.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Li River Cruise Ticket Touts

  Guilin docks and hotels

  Touts sell 'discount' Li River cruise tickets that turn out to be for a shorter, lower-quality boat or a different, less scenic stretch.

  How to avoid it: Book through your hotel or a reputable operator and confirm the boat class and the full Guilin-to-Yangshuo route.

Best time to visit Guilin

• Jan 12°C
• Feb 14°C
• Mar 18°C
• Apr 24°C
• May 28°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 33°C
• Aug 33°C
• Sep 31°C
• Oct 26°C
• Nov 21°C
• Dec 15°C

More in China

• Beijing
• Shanghai
• Guangzhou
• Hangzhou
• Xi'an
• Chengdu

Frequently asked questions about Guilin

How many days do you need in Guilin?

A typical trip to Guilin is 3-4 days.

What are the main places to visit in Guilin?

Places covered in our Guilin guide include Li River (Lijiang), Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Two Rivers & Four Lakes (Sun and Moon Pagodas), Seven Star Park.

Where should I stay in Guilin?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Guilin: Guilin City Centre, Yangshuo (West Street).

How do I get around Guilin?

Ways to get around Guilin covered in our guide: Bicycle, City bus, Ride-hailing app, Taxi.

What scams should I watch out for in Guilin?

Scams reported to us for Guilin include Li River Cruise Ticket Touts. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Guilin?

Average daytime highs in Guilin run from 12°C in Jan to 33°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Guilin?

The nearest airport to Guilin has the code KWL.