Guilin
桂林 · Guìlín
Karst peaks along the Li River and cycling around Yangshuo.
3–4Days
Apr–OctBest time
70Foreigner-friendliness
Best for a first trip
Best time to visit
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
From the airport or station to the city
Where you land, the ways into the city centre, how long each takes and what it costs.
From Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL)
桂林两江国际机场
From Guilin North / Guilin West stations
桂林北站
From Guilin Bus Station (to Yangshuo)
桂林汽车总站
Getting around
Guilin city is small: taxis, DiDi and buses cover it. Most visitors base themselves in Yangshuo, 60 km south, where e-bikes and bicycles are the best way to explore the countryside. The Li River cruise runs one way from Guilin to Yangshuo, so plan your bags around it.
Book these before you fly
These sights need a reservation with your passport. Walk-ups are usually turned away.
- Li River cruiseReal-name tickets with your passport on the official site liriver.com.cn or through Trip.com and hotels. Book at least a day or two ahead in peak season.
- Elephant Trunk HillFree timed booking up to 7 days ahead on glljsh.com or the official WeChat account, with your passport.
- Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruiseReal-name tickets on the official site glljsh.com (or agencies), then call 0773-8281368 at least a day ahead to fix the departure time and pier. Bring the ID you booked with.
Top sights
漓江精华游Li River cruiseFour to five hours downriver past karst peaks, from Guilin to Yangshuo.
阳朔西街Yangshuo West StreetThe lively old main street of Yangshuo, full of bars, cafés and snacks.
遇龙河竹筏漂流Yulong River bamboo raftingA slow bamboo raft ride between rice fields and karst hills, poled by a boatman.
龙脊梯田Longji Rice TerracesCenturies-old terraces climbing mountain slopes, around Zhuang and Yao villages.
芦笛岩Reed Flute CaveA limestone cave lit in bright colours, inside Guilin city.
象鼻山Elephant Trunk HillGuilin’s symbol: a hill shaped like an elephant drinking from the river.
相公山Xianggong Hill viewpointThe famous sunrise viewpoint over a bend of the Li River near Xingping.
印象·刘三姐Impression Liu SanjieAn outdoor night show on the Li River with the karst peaks as the backdrop.
银子岩Silver CaveA large, glittering karst cave between Yangshuo and Lipu.
日月双塔Sun and Moon PagodasTwo lakeside pagodas in central Guilin, one gold and one silver, lit up at night.
独秀峰·王城景区Jingjiang Princes’ City and Solitary Beauty PeakA walled Ming-dynasty princes’ palace in the city centre, with a steep peak inside and a museum on the old imperial exams.
七星景区Seven Star ParkGuilin’s largest park, with karst hills, Camel Hill, old stone carvings and the Seven Star Cave.
叠彩山Diecai Hill (Folded Brocade Hill)A short climb to one of the best views over Guilin’s rooftops, the Li River and the surrounding peaks.
兴坪古镇Xingping old townA small riverside town among the finest Li River scenery, home of the view on the ¥20 note.大圩古镇Daxu old townA quiet old trading town on the Li River, with a long stone-paved street, wooden shopfronts and a Ming-era arched bridge.古东瀑布Gudong WaterfallsA chain of forest waterfalls you can climb, wading up the rocks in straw sandals and a helmet.
伏波山Fubo HillA small hill rising straight out of the Li River, with Buddhist carvings in Returned Pearl Cave and a stone pillar that almost touches the ground.
尧山Yao MountainThe highest peak near Guilin (909 m), with a chairlift to the top and wide views over a sea of karst hills.
桂林博物馆Guilin MuseumThe city museum in Lingui New District, with Ming dynasty porcelain, classical paintings and the costumes and crafts of Guangxi’s ethnic minorities.
两江四湖夜游Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruiseAn evening boat ride through the lakes and rivers of central Guilin, past lit bridges, the Sun and Moon Pagodas and Elephant Trunk Hill.
东西巷East-West LaneGuilin’s only surviving Ming and Qing street quarter, restored in 2016 with old shopfronts, rice-noodle shops and snack stalls by the Prince City gate.Map
What to eat here
桂林米粉Guilin rice noodlesRound rice noodles with braised meat, peanuts and pickles; add broth and chilli yourself.
啤酒鱼Beer fishYangshuo’s signature: river fish braised in local beer with tomato and chilli.
田螺酿Stuffed river snailsRiver snails stuffed with minced pork and herbs.
荔浦芋扣肉Lipu taro with pork bellyLayers of taro and pork belly steamed together.
油茶Youcha oil teaA savoury pounded tea soup with puffed rice and peanuts, from the Yao and Dong.
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Routes that include Guilin
Good first tripBeijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → ShanghaiChina highlights in 12 days: palaces, pandas and karst peaksThe classic five: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai. Busy but doable with trains and two short flights.
Good first tripGuangzhou → GuilinFrom Hong Kong: Guangzhou, Guilin and Yangshuo in 7 daysCross from Hong Kong by high-speed train: Cantonese dim sum in Guangzhou, then the Li River and Yangshuo.
Guilin → ZhangjiajieKarst landscapes: Guilin, Yangshuo and Zhangjiajie in 8 daysChina’s two most famous landscapes: river valleys of limestone peaks, then the sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar.Travel guides
Nearby cities
2 daysGuangzhou广州Dim sum breakfasts, Cantonese food and Lingnan old streets.
2–3 daysGuiyang贵阳Gateway to Huangguoshu Waterfall, Miao villages and the karst hills of Guizhou.
1–2 daysChangsha长沙Spicy Hunan food, night markets and the gateway to Zhangjiajie.2–3 daysZhangjiajie张家界The sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan, the landscape that inspired Avatar.