Guilin, China: travel guide
Set among the surreal karst peaks of the Li River, Guilin and neighbouring Yangshuo offer China's most iconic river-and-mountain scenery, immortalised on the 20-yuan note.
- Country
- China
- Currency
- CNY
- Time zone
- Asia/Shanghai
- Nearest airport
- KWL
Top places to visit in Guilin
Li River (Lijiang)
Nature · about 5 h
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
Viewpoint · about 1.5 h · entry CNY 55
Guilin's emblem — a riverside karst hill with an arch that resembles an elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River.
Reed Flute Cave
Nature · about 1.5 h · entry CNY 110
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)
Viewpoint · about 1.5 h
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
Nature · about 2 h · entry CNY 75
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
Nightlife · about 2 h
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
Nature · about 3 h
A tranquil tributary threading Yangshuo's most beautiful countryside of karst peaks and rice paddies, explored by bamboo raft or bicycle.
Xingping Ancient Town
Heritage · about 2 h
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
Viewpoint · about 5 h · entry CNY 80
The 'Dragon's Backbone' — vast, sculpted rice terraces climbing the mountains around Zhuang and Yao minority villages, ~100 km northwest of Guilin.
Moon Hill
Viewpoint · about 1.5 h · entry CNY 15
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
Viewpoint · about 1.5 h · entry CNY 100
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 around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
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.