Explore Guilin’s rich culture and stunning landscapes with our travel guide. Learn about must-see spots like Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, and Longji Rice Terraces, plus tips on where to eat, stay, and make the most of your journey.

Discover why Guilin is a must-visit destination in China and how you can make the most of your stay whilst there.

Overview

Our recent visit to Guilin was a delightful mix of natural beauty, cultural sights, and a relaxed pace that let us soak in the atmosphere.

Historically, Guilin has been a significant city due to its strategic location along the Li River, which made it a major trading and transportation hub. This economic importance is still evident today, as the city thrives with a blend of traditional industries and tourism.

For centuries, Guilin has been celebrated for its natural beauty, with poets and artists drawing inspiration from its distinctive karst landscape.

Travel to and Around Guilin

How to Get to Guilin

Travelling to Guilin can be done by various means depending on where you’re coming from. We opted to travel from Yangshuo by coach, which was straightforward and allowed us to enjoy views of the countryside.

Reflecting on our journey, we felt that taking a Didi taxi might have been a better option for comfort and convenience, especially given that the cost would have been about the same ($12 for 2 people).

If you’re coming from further afield, Guilin is well connected by high-speed train, and the city’s airport offers flights from major cities across China. If you’re coming from Beijing or any major city, there are multiple ways to reach Guilin.

We flew to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (IATA: KWL) from Beijing. It’s a comfortable and convenient option for those travelling from Beijing, with the flight taking around 3 hours.

If you are looking for suitable flight options, make sure to check out the article below with top tips on how to find cheap flights.

For those interested in a scenic journey, the boat from Guilin to Yangshuo and vice versa is an iconic experience that offers beautiful views along the Li River. We didn’t opt for this as the journey is around 3 hours and we found that we could use this time for other things but here is a suggestion if you are interested in Yangshuo and Li River Highlights Day Tour.

If coming from Yangshuo you also have the option of travelling by high speed train from Yangshuo High Speed Station, which is a 10 minute ride, however, do note that the Yangshuo station is 40 minutes away by car from the actual city.

Travelling Around Guilin

Once in Guilin, we found that getting around was relatively easy. Local taxis, Didi ride-hailing services, and even bicycles are common options. Unlike Yangshuo, here major bike renting networks are present such as Alipay (“Hello app”) and others. This makes it extra convenient as we found that exploring downtown Guilin by bike is the most time effective way.

The city’s size makes it quite accessible, with most attractions just a short ride away. Hiring a bicycle can be a fun and flexible way to explore some of the more scenic spots at your own pace.

Ultimately, we found that buses wait times are simply too long and simply renting a bike might be more efficient. Getting an e-scooter would also be ideal, however, we found that for foreigners the Alipay app doesn’t enable that option.

Where to Stay in Guilin?

There are various places to stay in Guilin, ranging from luxury hotels to charming guesthouses. We stayed in a centrally located hotel, which made it easy for us to visit all the main sights without too much hassle.

We stood at Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel (Elephant Trunk Hill and Two Rivers and Four Lakes) and would highly recommend it. Our hotel had a direct view over the Elephant Trunk Hill which was simply amazing. We absolutely took our time at breakfast to simply enjoy the amazing views.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, we would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Trip.com to get the best rates. Use the widget below to find the best accommodation in Guilin for your specific dates.

Depending on what you want out of your stay, there are also options by the riverside, which offer stunning views but may be a bit further from the city centre.

Best Time to Visit Guilin

The best time to visit Guilin is between April and October, when the weather is more pleasant, and you can fully appreciate the natural beauty of the area.

However, be aware that this is also the busiest time, with more visitors at popular sites. If you prefer quieter times, November can still be a good month to explore, with an average temperature of 25 degrees C. In other words, shorts and t-shirt during the day and a light coat in the evenings.

Things to do in Guilin

There are plenty of things to see and do in Guilin. We recommend at least 2 days so you can cover most things. As we had a flight at 10pm the next day to Shanghai we decided to get a private tour by a local guide since this would offer us the mobility we would need but also the opportunity to keep our luggage in the car till the drop off at the airport.

The cost was $130 for both of us which included the entrance to the attractions in question and transport. For the tour we went with the hotel’s recommendation and arranged the itinerary accordingly. With the tour guide the itinerary was the following:

• Reed Flute Cave
• Liu San Jie Tea Farm
• Huangluo Yao Village (& Hair Museum)
• Longji Rice Terrace
• Ping’an Village

Our guide was Jason and if interested, you can contact him via WeChat using WeChat ID: wxid_ywdnfnmq1arv22.

If you prefer an off the shelf private tour, you can check out this Longji Rice Terraced Fields and Minority Villages Tour.

Card payments aren’t widely accepted, and we found that China is a cashless society, using Alipay or WeChat Pay is therefore paramount. We linked our 0% fee cards throughout this trip to make sure we always got the better rates. Read more below about managing your finances when travelling.

1. Admire Elephant Trunk Hill

Elephant Trunk Hill is an iconic symbol of Guilin, with its distinctive shape resembling an elephant drinking from the river. We were fortunate enough to find a great hotel overlooking the hill and seeing the hill illuminated in the evening when it takes on a different charm.

You can actually climb on the hill itself, but we found that our view was simply the best so no need to go up.

2. Stroll Down Guilin Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street

Guilin Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street is a lively spot full of shops, restaurants, and street food vendors. It’s the perfect place to find local souvenirs or try some street food. It’s very similar to Huimin Street in Xi’an or West Street in Yangshuo but on much smaller scale.

We spent a lovely evening here, simply enjoying the bustling atmosphere. We even tried some local pastries and got a lemon ice tea. Overall, a great pastime after dinner.

3. Visit Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park – Sun & Moon Pagodas

The Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park, also known as the Sun and Moon Pagodas, is worth visiting, especially at night when both pagodas are beautifully lit up. Strolling around the lake, we found the views of the pagodas and their reflections in the water quite magical.

Whilst the pagodas were built in the early 2000s as a replica of the original ones from medieval times, they still offer a good picturesque view and complement the park scenery wonderfully.

The pagodas are also open to visiting and the Sun Pagoda is accessible from the Moon one by an underwater tunnel. On this occasion we chose not to go in and simply admire them from the outside.

4. Admire the Views from above on Fubo Hill

Fubo Hill is another must-see, with great views over the city from the top. The climb is manageable and worth it for the panorama. The ascend does require some level of fitness but overall, is manageable with a few spots for breaks along the way.

At the top, you will get an amazing view of the city and the surrounding karst mountains in the nearby vicinity althought nowhere near the amount of karst mounts like in Yangshuo, it still makes for a spectacular and unique scenery.

We also enjoyed seeing the stone carvings and statues within the hill’s park area. Tickets can be bought online or on the spot however, there isn’t a need to reserve ahead of time.

5. Discover Reed Flute Cave

One of our highlights in Guilin was exploring Reed Flute Cave. This impressive limestone cave is filled with stunning rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites, all beautifully illuminated. It was fascinating to wander through the chambers, seeing the variety of natural sculptures inside.

We think the light really bring to life the rock formations and that in itself makes the experience truly unique and worth considering a visit.

6. Relax at Liu San Jie Tea Farm

We visited the Liu San Jie Tea Farm for a more relaxed experience. It was a nice change of pace, allowing us to take in the serene surroundings, learn a little about tea production, and, of course, enjoy some delicious tea tasting.

At the end the owner will offer you a sample of his tea and give you some insight into tea ceremonies but also how to brew the perfect cup of tea. Little did we know, the best temperature to brew tea is 85 degrees C!

Don’t feel compelled to buy anything if it’s not worth it in your eyes and of course, you can always haggle a bit to get the price down. The prices he offered us came across too expensive and so ended buying some quality tea from elsewhere.

7. See the Longest Hair in the World at Huangluo Yao Village (& Hair Museum)

The Huangluo Yao Village is home to the Yao ethnic minority, famous for their tradition of growing long hair. The village is also known as the “Long Hair Village” due to the women who grow their hair up to several metres long.

The women only cut their hair once in their lives, at around 18 years old, as part of a coming-of-age ceremony. This unique cultural practice has earned the village recognition, and they even have a small Hair Museum dedicated to showcasing the tradition and its significance.

We also had the opportunity to interact with some of the villagers and learn about their traditional garments, music, and dances. It was an enriching experience, and the natural setting of the village, surrounded by beautiful mountains, made it all the more memorable.

8. Hike at Longji Rice Terraces

The Longji Rice Terrace Scenic Spot is a bit outside of Guilin but well worth the trip. Known as the “Dragon’s Backbone”, these terraces are a remarkable feat of engineering. We took a day trip out there, and the hike along the terraces was both beautiful and rewarding, providing stunning views over the tiered landscape.

To go to the Rice Terraces, you will need a ticket. The entrance was included as part of our organised tour but if you go on your own, you will need a Longji Rice Terraces ticket.

The guide took us to the parking lot where a bus takes you up to the scenic area. The bus ticket is extra however, there is a good bit of ascend. You can climb up on your own but we wouldn’t recommend.

The bus drops you at the scenic area spot where you can see the rice fields in their splendour. We went there in November, right after the last harvest however, the scenery is still amazing.

From here, you have the option to return via the bus or go down on your own to the parking spot or simply hike along the fields all the way through Pang’an village and then back to the car park, which is what we did.

It’s also worth noting that it’s best to come prepared with hiking shoes or at least outdoors shoes as the hike can take 1-2 hours from the scenic area where the bus leaves you all the way to the Pang’an village.

The trail is pleasant and not at all steep which makes the hike enjoyable and adequate for anyone.

Within 45 minutes you will also be able to reach Seven Stars With Moon viewing platform which opens up to the entire valley. Here you will see the Seven Stars With Moon rice fields which offer a spectacular vista panorama.

We suggest to stay here for a while and ingest the views as they are one of a kind. After you are done, head down the road to proceed to Pang’an village. In the village you will see plenty of handcrafts, shops, restaurants and so on. It’s a great opportunity here to sit for a drink and enjoy the views.

9. Explore the Landscapes of Yangshuo

A day trip to Yangshuo is a fantastic way to explore the iconic karst landscapes and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region. Just a short journey from Guilin, Yangshuo offers a blend of outdoor adventures and cultural experiences that make it a perfect escape from the city.

You can go there either by bus or by taxi. We suggest taking a taxi as the ride is the same cost a bus ticket for 2.

Start your day early by heading to Yangshuo Park for a peaceful morning walk and a chance to soak in the serene surroundings. From there, you can rent a bicycle or an e-bike to explore the picturesque countryside at your own pace.

The Yulong River is a must-visit spot where you can enjoy a bamboo raft ride, taking in the stunning limestone peaks that rise dramatically from the ground.

Whatever, you settle on, we do think it’s worth going there. We chose to stay in Yangshuo for 2 nights which made our trip even more relaxing and we had plenty of time to explore the surrounding nature.

Top Restaurants in Guilin

1. Lunch with a View at ZUI Lijiang Restaurant

We had lunch at ZUI Lijiang Restaurant, which offered a good mix of local specialities. The food was authentic, and the location by the river, overseeing Fubo Hill gave a pleasant atmosphere for our meal.

We had the sticky sweet pork ribs, pork buns, the local fried fish, a local fried bread with scallions and an interesting duck like stew in duck blood sauce. All accompanied by a (fairly large) portion of special fried rice.

First of all the traditional duck stew was not particularly to our taste. In all fairness, the waiters did tell us it’s an acquired taste, and it sure was!

Everything else was simply amazing. The fish, was split in two, and cooked to a golden brown crisp perfection.

The pork ribs were amazing, perhaps a bit too sweet for my liking but excellent nonetheless. Having said this they didn’t compare to our Judelou dining experience in Beijing.

As simple as they may have been, the scallion breads were simply amazing. So good, we asked for the left overs to be packed so we can eat them later. Simplicity executed perfectly.

Dessert you ask? The view was simply amazing for us which we savoured with every bite.

2. Afternoon Tea with a View of Elephant Trunk Hill

The hotel’s restaurant is a great opportunity to sit down and have a drink or even better a meal. Part of our package we had an afternoon tea.

It came on tiered plates and the tea was a nice and fragrant oolong tea. We got a some small bites such as sausages and fries followed by some pastries. The sausages were a bit different than a Western style sausage in the sense that they were slightly sweet and had a very intriguing spice.

To finish it all off we had some fruits such as watermelon, melon and dragon fruit. All very fresh and nicely presented.

Whether you are staying or not at the hotel, we think it’s absolutely worth coming here and at least having a drink if not anything else.

3. Try some Roast Goose at Chunji Roast Goose (Zhongshan Store)

Another memorable meal was at Chunji Roast Goose (Zhongshan Store). This place is famous for its roast goose, and we weren’t disappointed. The flavours were delicious, and it was a good opportunity to try something truly local.

Whilst Beijing has the Pekin duck, Guilin and the wider region specialise in roast goose. The cookery of our goose was great, crispy skin, but we found the meat a bit more tough. Nowhere near the experience of eating a Pekin duck.

We also tried a few other things, more memorable were the custard buns, which were soft and the egg flavour came across nicely, albeit a bit grainy the mixture.

We also had the prawn lollipops which were very nice. Think prawn toast but elevated. All in all, a top spot for a great dinner in Guilin.

Final Thoughts

Guilin left a lasting impression on us with its blend of natural beauty and cultural experiences. From the iconic Elephant Trunk Hill to the peaceful Liu San Jie Tea Farm, there was so much to explore and enjoy.

Whether you’re planning how many days in Guilin and Yangshuo you might need or looking into the distance between Guilin and Yangshuo to add it to your itinerary, we’d recommend taking the time to savour the best of what this region has to offer.

We stood in Guilin one night and we found that 2 days was enough to do everything. We hope this guide gives you some ideas on what to do in Guilin and inspires your own adventure.

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