Today, I present to you a travel guide for Guilin.
Since last year, Guilin has gradually gained popularity.
Last year, the TV show “Running Man” on Zhejiang Satellite TV visited Guilin, and the third episode of CCTV’s “Far Away Places” featured the Longji Rice Terraces in Guilin. This year, the China-Russia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Guilin, and just a few days ago, President Xi Jinping also visited the city.
With its stunning scenery of green mountains and clear waters, it’s no surprise that Guilin has become a must-visit destination.
When people think of Guilin, the first thing that comes to mind is often the saying, “Guilin’s scenery is the finest under heaven.” I remember hearing this phrase back in elementary school. Later on, I also heard that “Yangshuo’s scenery is the finest in Guilin.”
From a young age, I had a deep desire to visit Guilin and Yangshuo, feeling that these were places I had to see.
Last week, I spent five full days exploring Guilin and Yangshuo, in addition to a previous visit. I am confident that I have thoroughly experienced these two cities, which is why I decided to write this guide.
Before the big Guilin deal on Monday, it’s the perfect opportunity for everyone to learn more about how to plan a trip to Guilin.
Why visit Guilin?
The scenery here is stunning, with lush mountains, beautiful waters, remarkable caves, and exquisite rocks. You won’t just be sightseeing; you’ll be immersed in the picturesque landscape, as if walking through a painting.
Guilin boasts unparalleled karst landscapes, the result of countless fortunate geological coincidences.
It is home to the world’s largest outdoor theatre, Impression Sanjie Liu.
The Li River and Yulong River are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
…
Oh, and one more thing. Whether in Guilin or Yangshuo, the hotels offer great value for money.
What to do in Guilin?
Traveling in Guilin is not difficult. To sum it up, there are three main locations and five key activities.
Three locations: Guilin, Yangshuo, and Longsheng
Five activities: Explore the mountains (various peaks such as Elephant Trunk Hill, Nine Horses Fresco Hill, Moon Hill, Xiangong Hill, etc.), enjoy the water (Li River, Yulong River), visit caves (Silver Cave), hike through rice terraces (Longji Rice Terraces), and watch performances (Impression Sanjie Liu, Guilin Romance).
For first-time visitors, I recommend combining Guilin and Yangshuo. If you’re revisiting Guilin, I suggest using Guilin as a transit point and heading straight to Yangshuo or Longsheng.
Guilin
The essence of Guilin’s scenery lies along the Li River, so most of the city’s best attractions are found on both banks, such as Elephant Trunk Hill, Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Duxiu Peak, Diecai Hill, Jingjiang Prince City, and East-West Alley.
These attractions are relatively close to each other, and one day is enough to visit them all.
The biggest issue with Guilin is that the entrance fees are a bit pricey. The 55 yuan ticket for Elephant Trunk Hill and the 110 yuan ticket for Jingjiang Prince City are not exactly cheap.
The Two Rivers and Four Lakes area is best enjoyed at night, where you can experience the harmony between the city and the landscape. The highlight of this area is the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas.
Yangshuo
The best scenery in Guilin is actually found in Yangshuo, so no matter what, a trip to Guilin must include Yangshuo.
However, Yangshuo has its own problem: the attractions are very scattered, making it somewhat inconvenient to explore without hiring a car.
Here’s how I recommend experiencing Yangshuo:
Cycling through the landscape
Remember to rent an electric bike, or you’ll exhaust yourself. The best stretch for cycling is the Ten Mile Gallery.
Bamboo rafting through the painting
Yulong River, known as the “Little Li River,” is the longest tributary of the Li River in Yangshuo. It may not be the Li River, but it’s just as beautiful.
Truly immerse yourself in the painting-like scenery while the boatman serenades you with a song. I suggest rafting from Longshan to Jiuxian, as this section contains the most stunning views.
Visit Xingping Ancient Town, featured on the 20 yuan banknote
Xingping Ancient Town is located on the east bank of the Li River, where the river makes a bend before flowing onwards. It is the location depicted on the back of China’s 20 yuan banknote.
The best of Guilin’s scenery is in Yangshuo, and the best of Yangshuo’s scenery is in Xingping. The area is home to eight major scenic spots, including Nine Horses Fresco Hill, Luoshi Mountain, Lianhua Rock, and Tianshui Village, as well as over 20 other attractions.
This place exudes a regal atmosphere.
Climb Xianggong Hill for a view of the peculiar peaks along the shore
Xianggong Hill offers the best vantage point for photographing the first bend of the Li River. It is also the location where the bronze award-winning photographs of the International Film Festival were taken. While Xianggong Hill itself is average, the view of Yangshuo’s landscape from here is unparalleled, whether you’re admiring the sea of clouds, the sunrise, or the sunset.
Visit Silver Cave and never lack money in your life
The karst landforms in Guilin are known for their many caves. Among the three main caves in Guilin, Silver Cave is the most famous and is a must-visit attraction.
Enjoy a cup of coffee at the most beautiful Starbucks in Yangshuo
This is my little secret – a Starbucks that perfectly blends with Guilin’s stunning scenery. The three-story building, designed in a traditional style, is located at the entrance of Yitian West Street. It offers an unparalleled view of Yangshuo’s landscape, with the pavilions and towers harmoniously complementing the misty mountains and waters.
Buy a city mug and order a cup of coffee from Starbucks. Then, head up to the third floor of this Starbucks to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yangshuo.
Slurp a bowl of Guilin rice noodles
The authentic way to eat Guilin rice noodles is to mix them dry, without adding soup.
Visit the world’s largest outdoor theatre and watch Impression Sanjie Liu
Impression Sanjie Liu is a stunning performance and the pioneering work of director Zhang Yimou’s “Impression” series. It is an outdoor performance that fully utilizes Yangshuo’s natural scenery as its stage.
Yangshuo also has an indoor performance called Guilin Romance, which is equally worth watching.
Longsheng
Longsheng is relatively straightforward – you go there to see the rice terraces. Spending a night there and watching the sunrise over the rice terraces is a wonderful experience.
How to get to Guilin?
Guilin has an airport, so flying is definitely the most convenient option. Moreover, flights to Guilin are not expensive. Take Hangzhou as an example: round-trip flights from Hangzhou to Guilin are usually around 1,000 yuan throughout the year. There are also plenty of daily flight options to choose from.
Guilin Airport has shuttle buses to Yangshuo and Guilin city center.
Both Guilin and Yangshuo have high-speed railway stations. Guilin is considered the backyard of Guangdong residents. It takes just over 2 hours to reach Guilin from Guangzhou by high-speed train, and even less time to reach Yangshuo.
However, Yangshuo’s high-speed railway station is located in Xingping, which is still a 50-minute drive from Yangshuo’s West Street.
You can take the high-speed train, a taxi, or hire a car to travel from Guilin to Yangshuo.
The attractions in Guilin city are relatively concentrated, but those in Yangshuo are very scattered. Hiring a car is undoubtedly the most convenient way to explore Yangshuo. Car rentals in Guilin and Yangshuo are quite affordable.
The most leisurely way to get from Guilin to Yangshuo is to take a boat directly. There are boats available every day, and it takes about 5 hours to reach Yangshuo. This is an excellent choice for appreciating the scenery along both banks of the Li River.
4.The best time to visit Guilin
Almost any time is good for visiting Guilin. If I had to pick the most suitable, comfortable, beautiful, and optimal season, it would be from April to November. The peak season is during the summer holidays in July and August.
Due to its proximity to Guangdong and the popularity of high-speed rail travel, room prices in Guilin on weekends are significantly higher than on weekdays.
If it’s your first time visiting Guilin, I recommend a 4-5 day itinerary.
If you also have any insights about traveling in Guilin, feel free to share them in the comments. For guide-style articles, the comments section can often be even more interesting than the main text.
