桂林
Guilin
The landscape on the twenty-yuan note. Use Guilin city as the gateway, drift down the river, and stay in the countryside around Yangshuo.
At a glance
- Stay
- 3–4 days
- Best seasons
- Apr–May, Sep–Nov
- Airports
- Rail or road access
- Region
- South China
Chaimaa Lkhaili · Owned / licensed upload
Places to begin
Make the city tangible.
相公山
Xianggong Mountain
The sunrise viewpoint over the Li River bends. Worth the early alarm.
遇龙河
Yulong River
Cycle or raft the Li's quieter tributary through the rice fields.
漓江
Li River cruise
Four hours downstream from Guilin to Yangshuo, or a raft on the best stretch from Xingping.
象鼻山
Elephant Trunk Hill
Elephant Trunk Hill stands where the Peach Blossom River meets the Li River, its water-level arch creating the silhouette that became Guilin's emblem. Water Moon Cave, historic inscriptions and the Ming-era Puxian Pagoda add cultural layers to the compact limestone hill, while the surrounding riverbank gives a clearer view of the landform than a hurried climb alone.
芦笛岩
Reed Flute Cave
A vast limestone cave lit like a nightclub. Gaudy and genuinely impressive.
漓江山水游览线
Li River Scenic Route
The Li River corridor carries Guilin's tower karst south through farming villages toward Yangshuo. Isolated limestone peaks, cliff faces, shoals and reflections change with water level and weather, producing a moving landscape rather than one fixed viewpoint. Scheduled cruises, shorter bamboo-raft sections and shore walks are different experiences and should not be treated as interchangeable.
龙脊梯田
Longji Rice Terraces
Longji's cultivated terraces climb steep mountain slopes around Zhuang and Yao villages. Their appearance follows the agricultural calendar—water-filled fields, green rice, golden harvest or winter fallow—so the landscape should be understood as working farmland maintained by communities, not a permanent postcard. Ping'an and Jinkeng Dazhai offer different routes and viewpoints.
靖江王城与独秀峰
Jingjiang Princes' City and Solitary Beauty Peak
Jingjiang Princes' City was the Ming-dynasty residence of the Jingjiang princely line, built around the abrupt Solitary Beauty Peak in central Guilin. Surviving walls, gateways, institutional reuse and inscriptions connect imperial administration with the city's karst setting. The peak climb gives a compact overview of how historic Guilin developed among isolated limestone hills.
Local snacks
Taste the city, one dish at a time.
These cards describe dishes, not restaurants. Images are added only after their license and attribution are verified.
Savory, aromatic, tangy and optionally spicy
Guilin Rice Noodles
桂林米粉
Round rice noodles are dressed with a concentrated braising sauce, sliced meat, fried soybeans or peanuts and pickled vegetables; broth is often added separately rather than turning every bowl into soup.
Mix the dry bowl first and add condiments gradually; ask about peanuts and the type of meat if needed.
Toasty, gingery, herbal and gently bitter
Guilin Oil Tea
桂林油茶
Tea leaves, ginger and aromatics are pounded and cooked into a hot, lightly bitter infusion, served with puffed rice, peanuts and crisp accompaniments. It reflects northern Guangxi and ethnic food traditions rather than sweet milk tea.
Try a small bowl first; recipes vary and peanut-heavy toppings matter for allergies.
Rich, savory, softly sweet and floury
Lipu Taro with Pork Belly
荔浦芋扣肉
Slices of rich pork belly alternate with floury Lipu taro and are steamed until the flavours merge, creating a celebratory Guangxi dish with strong contrast between fat and absorbent root vegetable.
This is filling and usually shared; confirm fermentation seasonings and pork if dietary restrictions apply.
Lightly sweet, clean and crisp-soft
Water Chestnut Cake
马蹄糕
Water-chestnut starch and chopped fresh water chestnuts set into a translucent cake with a clean, crisp bite, often served steamed or lightly pan-fried.
Best fresh; ask whether it is steamed or fried and whether extra sugar syrup is used.
City essentials
The practical details, when you need them.
Places and local food come first. Open these notes for context, arrival and neighbourhood advice.
Overview+
HUNANGUANGDONGHAINANGUIZHOUHONG KONGMACAUGuilin
Guilin is a pleasant mid-sized city with limestone peaks poking up between the buildings, but the reason to come is the Li River and the karst country south of it. The classic plan is a morning boat or bamboo raft downstream, then a few nights in Yangshuo or one of the villages nearby.
Yangshuo town itself is loud. The villages along the Yulong River, ten minutes away, are not. Rent a bike or an electric scooter and spend your days between rice paddies and peaks.
Summer is hot and wet; the river is highest and greenest. Winter is grey and the water low. Spring and autumn are the compromise.
Getting there+
**Liangjiang (KWL)** has flights from the major cities. High-speed trains stop at Guilin (several stations; Guilin West and Guilin North are the main ones) and at **Yangshuo** station, which is actually in Xingping, 40 minutes from Yangshuo town by bus.
**Rail tip.** Your passport is your ticket. Book on 12306 or [Trip.com](/go/trip?to=trains&from=city-rail), then go straight to the gate. See [Getting around](/guides/getting-around). The Trip.com link earns us a small commission at no cost to you ([how that works](/about#affiliate)).
**Stay online.** Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked on Chinese networks; a travel eSIM that roams gets around it. Install one before you fly — [Saily](/go/saily?from=city-esim) takes US$5 off a first plan with the code **CHINA**. See [Staying online](/guides/staying-online). The code earns us the same amount in Saily credits, at no cost to you ([how that works](/about#affiliate)).
Where to stay+
Yangshuo countryside
阳朔乡村
Guesthouses among the peaks along the Yulong River. The reason you came.
Villages like Jiuxian and Chaolong, ten to twenty minutes from town. Bikes, river bends, and nothing to do after dark, which is the point.
scenerycyclingquiet
Xingping
兴坪
Old river town at the best stretch of the Li. Sleepy after the day-trippers leave.
The twenty-yuan view is a short walk away. Good for a night or two; limited restaurants.
river viewsquiet
Guilin city centre
桂林市区
Around Two Rivers and Four Lakes. Convenient for transport, one night is enough.
Fine for arrival or departure days. The lakes are pleasant in the evening.
transitconvenience
**Booking.** Compare hotels in Guilin on [Trip.com](/go/trip?to=hotels&city=guilin&from=city-stay), filtered to its China travel essentials list: English-speaking staff, foreign cards, guest rating 8 or higher. See [Where to stay](/guides/where-to-stay). Booking through this link earns us a small commission at no cost to you ([how that works](/about#affiliate)).
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