A complete travel guide to Guilin & Yangshuo

Guilin, located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was China's first city to develop tourism after 1949. As a favorite China tour destination for both domestic and foreign travelers, Guilin is well-known for the spectacular view of the surrounding karst peaks, which gave birth to emerald mountains, clean crystal rivers, and peculiar caves. Besides the amazing natural endowments, there are more than a dozen ethnic minorities in Guilin, including Zhuang, Yao, Miao, and Dong, with unique folk customs and exotic local cultures for travelers to explore. Around the south corner of Guilin, Yangshuo county is about 65KM from Guilin, which is an indispensable and important part of landscapes in Guilin. For those natural wonders lovers to tour China, Guilin scenery stands out as China's best, Yangshuo scenery tops those of Guilin.

Longji Rice Terraces

Longji Rice Terraces are located in Longsheng County, about 100KM away from Guilin. Longji Rice Terraces are composed of 3 villages, Dazhai village, Ping’an village, and Longji ancient village, all can be reached by buses or private vehicles with about 2-3 hours driving from Guilin downtown. Enjoying the reputation of "the crown of terraces in the world", Longji Rice Terraces are a must-visit destination for photographers and hikers. With Yao and Zhuang ethnic minority villages dotting the terraces, travelers can taste local farm dishes and experience the unique ethnic customs and minority culture.

Longji Rice Terraces are suitable for traveling in all seasons with different sceneries. In Spring, the water-filled terraces are set against the sky, like overlapping silver belts. In Summer, green seedlings in the terraces wave with the softy wind. In Autumn, the terraces are covered with golden yellow carpets. In winter, the terraces and cottages are embedded in the fairy tale world of snow.

Admission: CN¥ 80 per person (Available from 08:30 to 17:30)
Opening hours: 24/7 (It is recommended to visit during the day)
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days
Tips:

1. Overnight at Longji Rice Terraces should not be missed, so that you can see the amazing sunrise and sunset.
2. The best time to visit the Longji Rice Terraces is around mid-May when the terraces are irrigated.
3. As most hotels are located on the mountain, we advise you to keep your heavy luggage at the entrance of the scenic area. Or you can hire local people to carry your luggage up, which costs about CN¥ 50 per suitcase.
4. Baby carts are not recommended to bring when you visit Longji Rice Terraces, where there are almost stone steps. For travelers with babies or the aged, we advise you to visit Dazhai village where you can take a cable car.

Li River

Li River, considered as the highlight of the Guilin landscape, features the background of the 20 Chinese Yuan note. Originating from Mao’er Mountain, Li River runs through Guilin and Yangshuo, finally merges with the Lipu River and the Gongcheng River in Pingle. Taking a cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the best and relaxing way to admire the exceptional karst landscape along the Li River, among the explorations by cruising, bamboo rafting, cycling or trekking. And the core part of the cruise is from Yangdi to Xingping, which is supposed to be the most picturesque.

In different weather, Li River presents a variety of landscapes to appreciate. Sunny days make everything freshest and greenish, cloudy days attach a mist and cloudy hat to the tranquil water, and rainy days add a mysterious veil to the shadowy and foggy Karst.

Admission: Free (cruise or bamboo rafting needs extra payment)
Opening hours: 08:40 - 22:40 (from April to November); 08:40 - 21:40 (from December to March)
Recommended sightseeing time: 4 hours
Tips:

1. The cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is recommended for family travel with kids and the elderly, which is not affected by bad weather. It takes about 4 hours, so it is not recommended for travelers with seasickness.
2. If travelers prefer a more enjoyable and adventurous way to explore the Li River, we would recommend taking the bamboo rafting from Yangdi to Xingping. It takes about 1 hour, but it is not available for children under 7-year-old and seniors over 70-year-old.

Elephant Trunk Hill

Elephant Trunk Hill, formerly known as Li Mountain, is located at the junction of the Taohua River and Li River. The Elephant Trunk Hill got its name because it resembles a giant elephant standing on the edge of the river with its nose stretching out and drinking water from Li River. As the symbol and landmark of Guilin, it is one of the favorite attractions in Guilin.

Apart from the elephant-like appearance, Elephant Trunk Hill is famous for its magic view of “Two Moons on the Li River”. Between the elephant’s trunk and legs, there is an arch that is known as Water Moon Cave. Seen from the arch at night, the moon is mirrored under the water, forming a peculiar landscape of "Two Moons on the Li River": one moon hanging in the sky and another one is floating on the water.

Admission: CN¥ 55 per person
Opening hours: 06:30 - 19:00 (from April to October); 07:00 - 18:30 (from November to March)
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Tips: For those who love photography, the night view of Elephant Trunk Hill with the Water Moon Cave should not be missed. And a boat tour which costs about 1.5 hours is recommended for different angles to shoot the magic landscape.

Reed Flute Cave

Known as “the Palace of Natural Art”, Reed Flute Cave is a sparkling pearl of the Guilin landscape. Settled by the bank of Taohua river in the northwest of Guilin, Reed Flute Cave is a natural limestone cave with dazzling colorful lighting, like a magnificent underground palace carved with gems, corals, and emeralds. It is also called as “the State Guest Cave”, which is highly appreciated by leaders of many countries, such as former Chinese government leader Deng Xiangping, Jiang Zemin, and former U.S. President Nixon.

Admission: CN¥ 110 per person
Opening hours: 08:00 - 18:00
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Tips:

1. We advise you to bring an electric torch and wear antiskid shoes because the light may be turned off with the visitors’ movement and the walking path is slippery.
2. Photography is allowed, while the flash is not permitted inside the caves. In order to take good photographs, a high ISO level is necessary for your camera.

Yao Mountain

Yao Mountain is located in the eastern suburbs of Guilin City, 8km away from the city center. Its main peak is 909.3 meters/2,983 feet above sea level, which is the highest mountain in Guilin. Yao Mountain is named after the temple for Emperor Yao which was built on the mountain during the Zhou and Tang Dynasties. Because of its lying-buffalo-like shape, it is also known as Buffalo Mountain by common people in Guilin. Taking the sightseeing cable car to the top of Yao Mountain, and looking southeast, you can see the largest natural reclining Buddha, like Shakyamuni sleeping on a lotus. Apart from the astonishing panorama view of Karst landscape in Guilin, Yao Mountain is famous for the best-preserved tombs of the Ming Dynasty prince - Jingjiang. The plum bottle unearthed here is renowned all over the world.

Admission: CN¥ 120 per person
Opening hours: 08:00 - 17:30
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Tips:

1. Fogs usually show up around Yao Mountain, which obstructs the bird-view of the karst landscape. We advise you to check the weather forecast before heading to Yao Mountain.
2. The long queue of the cable cars can not be avoided to visit Yao Mountain, especially during Chinese holidays and weekends.

Daxu Ancient Town

Located at the eastern bank of Li River, Daxu Ancient Town is one of the "four ancient towns" in ancient Guangxi, which was built in 200 AD. It has not yet been fully commercialized, keeping its antique style inherited from the Ming and Qing Dynasty. Row upon row of well-preserved residences lines along the Li River, with many old handicraft workshops, such as bamboo weaving workshop, straw shoe workshop, herbal medicine clinic, and old barbershop. The ancient town is secluded and tranquil, with only the elderly and children living in most of the old houses.

Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24/7
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Tips:

1. In Daxu Ancient Town, the polished Wanshou Bridge is a must-visit place. It is an excellent location to appreciate the Li River.
2. Daxu Ancient Town can be easily accessed by taking a 40-min bus from Guilin Bus Terminal.

Ten-Mile Gallery

Ten-Mile Gallery is a scenic road from Yangshuo town to Moon Hill, decorated with bamboo groves, rice paddies, flower fields, little villages, and farmlands. The best way to appreciate the countryside view along the Ten-Mile Gallery is cycling. For those who don’t like or don’t know how to cycle, shuttle battery bus or trekking is also available. There are many well-known scenic spots in the Ten-Mile Gallery, such as Butterfly Spring, Big Banyan Tree, Assembling Dragon Cave, Moon Hill, Yulong River, etc. Cycling or trekking along the Yulong River is top recommended, which offers a chance to get a deeper insight into farm life in rural China.

Admission: Free (an extra payment is required for some sites inside)
Opening hours: 09:00 - 18:00
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Tips: Private cars are not allowed to enter the Ten-Mile Gallery from 8 am to 8 pm. Travelers need to change to the bike or the shuttle battery car. The bike can be rented easily at the entrance of Ten-Mile Gallery with CN¥ 20-30 per day with a deposit. The shuttle battery car is CN¥ 60 per person, and travelers can take it unlimited times in the day.

Xianggong Hill

Xianggong Hill is about 28km from Yangshuo and 57km from Guilin. Located on the west bank of the Li River, it is between Yellow Cloth Shoal and Nine Horse Fresco Hill, the two highlights of the Li River. Xianggong Hill is a secret retreat to appreciate the spectacular panorama of the Li River with about 15 minutes hiking to the top, and it stimulates countless photographers coming here for the breathtaking views: the sunlight and shadow, the clouds sea, the sunrise, and the colorful clouds.

Admission: CN¥ 60 per person
Opening hours: 06:00 - 18:00
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Tips:

1. Xianggong Hill is a perfect place for sunrise, with karst peaks and Li river bathed in the golden light. However, it is not a good site for sunset. For photographers, we advise you to start climbing to Xianggong Hill at 5 am, to seize an ideal seat for the magnificent sunrise.
2. The best months are from May to October for photography.

West Street

West Street is a commercialized pedestrian street in the center of the ancient town of Yangshuo county. With a history of more than 1,400 years, it is the oldest and most bustling street in Yangshuo and one of the important tourist attractions in Yangshuo. The narrow street is made of stone slabs with curved S shape. The quaint houses on both sides of the street are built in Northern Guangxi style during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with small blue tiles, sloped roofs, white whitewashed walls, and hanging balconies. The ancient buildings are relatively well-preserved on the street, such as Ming city walls, ancient temples, ancient pavilions, former residences of celebrities, and memorial halls. Yangshuo locals termed West Street as a foreigner street, as you can see more foreigners than locals. West Street is full of various bars, restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, which are decorated in a mixed style of eastern and western. All sign boards are written in both Chinese and English, and almost all waiters can serve tourists in fluent English.

Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24/7
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Tips:

1. West Street is more crowded in the evening than daytime. If you just want to do some shopping, we advise you to go in the afternoon when it is much quieter.
2. If necessary, wheelchairs and baby carts can be used to explore West Street.

Xingping Town

Xingping Ancient Town, a bright pearl on the east bank of Lijiang River, is located in the northeast of Yangshuo County, 25 kilometers away from the county. Xingping was an innominate little village where many fishermen dwelling. Since 1730, both Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of China's democratic revolution and US president Colinton paid a visit to the village on their visits to Li River, Xingping aroused many domestic and overseas tourists to visit. Surrounded by karst peaks and the Li River, Xingping is the most beautiful ancient town in Yangshuo. Compared with the bustling West Street, Xingping Ancient Town is quaint and solitary, showing the original flavor of Yangshuo.

Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24/7
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Tips:

1. Xingping Ancient Town can be reached by a shuttle bus from Yangshuo Bus Terminal at an expense of CN¥ 10 per person. Travelers can also take the bamboo rafting from Yangdi to Xingping, which costs CN¥ 216 per person.
2. Every Spring Festival and 19th day of September of the Chinese lunar calendar, a traditional temple fair will be held in Xingping Ancient Town, which is a good time for appreciating the folk customs and local opera performances.
3. Xingping Ancient Town is the best place for shooting or watching fishermen with cormorants and the “Yellow Cloth Shoal '' which is known as the 20 CNY note scene.

Fuli Ancient Town

Fuli Ancient Town is located in the east of Yangshuo County, about 8km from the county. It is surrounded by three impressive mountains and the Li River, offering beautiful landscapes and unique culture. With a history of more than 1,000 years, the ancient town provides stunning scenery as the backdrop for the movie “Liu Sanjie”. Apart from the beautiful landscapes, it also retains the diversified ancient culture. In addition, the hand-painted fans in Fuli Ancient town are favored by domestic and overseas tourists, because of its exquisite collection of poetry, calligraphy and painting, thus the ancient town is also known as the hometown of Chinese painted fans.

Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24/7
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Tips:

1. Every 18th day of May in the Chinese lunar calendar, a grand temple fair will be held in Fuli Ancient Town, which is a good time for joining with locals for a spectacular and lively scene.
2. Travelers might be disappointed if they are coming to Fuli Ancient Town for ancient architecture because it used to be a supply town for traders traveling up and down the Li River, there are not many ancient buildings.

Impression Liu Sanjie

For those who spend the night in Yangshuo, the Impression Liu Sanjie is a must-see. The magnificent night show is chiefly directed by Zhang Yimou, one of the most famous film directors in China, with the largest natural theater in the world, 12 karst peaks as the backdrop and Li River as the stage. Combined with music and illumination, ethnic songs and dances, the Impression Liu Sanjie takes the love story of Liu Sanjie as an introduction, representatively show the customs of Zhuang, Yao, Miao, Dong, and other ethnic minorities, as well as daily life around the Li River.

Admission:

• CN¥ 190 per person for C ticket
• CN¥ 230 per person for B2 ticket
• CN¥ 320 per person for B1 ticket
• CN¥ 480 per person for A2 ticket
• CN¥ 680 per person for A1 ticket

Show Times:

• From April to November: first run at 20:00 and second run at 21:35
• From December to March: first run at 19:30 and second run at 21:05
• The show is not available in the month of the Chinese New Year.

Duration: 70 minutes
Tips:

1. The entrance tickets can be purchased directly at the ticket window, or you can book the tickets through a local China travel agency in advance.
2. The areas (A1, A2, B1, B2, or C) of the seat can be selected in advance, while the position of the seat is selected randomly, and unable to be confirmed in advance. Seats in different positions have their own advantages. The front position allows you to see the actors in certain segments clearly, and the back position allows you to experience the performance in a more macroscopic view.

Silver Cave

Silver Cave, located about 18km from Yangshuo, is the largest and typical karst landscape in Guilin. As a multistory cave, it winds through twelve hills, containing a variety of stalactites developed and grown in different geological ages. Silver Cave got its name because its stalactites are transparently clear and glittering like silver. There are many special spots in the cave, and the most famous are the Flying Waterfall of Snow Mountain, the Music Stone Screen, and Wonderland in a Jade Pool. Silver Cave is called “the Wonder of Worlds’ Cave”, where the magical craftsmanship of nature is shown vividly.

Admission: CN¥ 65 per person
Opening hours: 08:00 - 17:30
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Tips:

1. It is humid and hot inside the Silver Cave, so sweating is to be expected with extensive walking and stair climbing.
2. The light in the cave is relatively dark, and it will be turned off after the explanation from the guide. We advise you to follow your tour guide, or you can open your own electric torch to prevent hurting in a slip and fall.

As the entryway into China’s most imaginary scenery, Guilin & Yangshuo offer spectacular views of poetic karst peaks, the tranquil Li River, undulating rice terraces with endless outdoor activities. To travel in a slow path, travelers will need at least 4 days to see and experience all that Guilin & Yangshuo have to offer.

1. The most classic way to visit Guilin and Yangshuo is going to Longji Rice Terraces for trekking and photographing, taking a cruise on the Li River, riding to the Moon Hill, visiting West Street for bars and nightlife, which is the must-try experiences for the first time travelers to Guilin. Check out the 4 days Guilin to Yangshuo cruise with Longji Rice Terraces tour for more details.
    
2. For travelers with limited time, we recommend saving the Longji Rice Terraces for an in-depth exploration next time. Then this 3 days Guilin River cruise and Yangshuo cycling tour will be a good option, with most highlights covered.
    
3. For those adventurous travelers, the get-out choice can be among the decent hiking paths through minority villages in Longji Rice Terraces and the cozy trekking/cycling trails through the countryside in Yangshuo. Follow the 6 days Guilin Li River cruise and Longsheng hiking tour and you will marvel at the untouched landscapes on this adventure.
    
4. For travelers who want to gain an insight into minority culture while viewing the breathtaking scenery, they could combine the nearby cities in Guizhou for over one week to explore the unique minority villages. This 9 days Guilin and Guizhou minority tour with Li River cruise is a related tour for your inspiration.

The best time to visit Guilin and Yangshuo is from September to November when the weather is pleasant with little rainfall. During this period, Li River is suitable for cruise or rafting with a moderate water level. However, please be advised to avoid traveling to Guilin and Yangshuo during the golden week from October 1, when hotels are highly needed with the highest price charged and almost all scenic areas are crowded.

Spring in Guilin and Yangshuo is from March to May, which is the rainy season. The water flow of Li River is rapid and turbid, which obstructs seeing the reflection of the karst mountains. However, the temperature is mild during this time, and it is cooler when it rains, and you can see the shadowy and foggy karst under a mysterious veil. In addition, May is the best month to capture the Longji Rice Terraces with filled water.

Summer in Guilin and Yangshuo is from June to August, when it is hot and humid, but offers more opportunities to appreciate the sunrises and sunsets. Summer is also considered as the peak season when schools are holidays from July to August.

Autumn in Guilin and Yangshuo is from September to November when the weather is most favorable with blue sky on most days and good for outdoor activities. For photographers, the best time to capture the golden rice terraces is from end-September to mid-October.

Winter in Guilin and Yangshuo is from December to February when the weather is chill with grey and gloomy sky. The Li River cruise might be closed because it is also the dry season.

Guilin can be easily reached by flight, train, or bus. There are daily domestic flights to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, which is about 28km/40 minutes driving to Guilin downtown. In addition, there are also direct international flights to Guilin from Fukuoka in Japan, Jeju in South Korea, Bangkok in Thailand, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore.

A short train ride of about 2-3 hours can take travelers to Guilin from nearby cities, such as Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Changsha, and Guiyang. Travelers taking a high-speed train to Guilin arrive at Guilin North Railway Station, while travelers taking a regular fast train arrive at Guilin Railway Station. It is about 10km/30 minutes driving between the two stations.

Expressway is well developed in Guilin. There are direct luxury buses to Guilin from neighboring cities, such as Nanning, Wuzhou, Beihai, Zhangjiajie, etc. There are 3 bus stations in Guilin: Guilin Bus Terminal, Qintan Bus Terminal, and North Gate Bus Terminal.

The role of accommodation affects the trip in many ways. It provides safety for travelers who are not familiar with the new places, and it helps travelers explore the city in a better way. Guilin & Yangshuo offers a variety of hotels from local guesthouses, 3-star to 5-star luxury hotels, and all guesthouses or hotels provide rooms with a private bathroom with a western toilet and hot shower. Based on your requirements, our professional travel advisors are here all the time to advise the best hotel for you.

Guilin cuisine is well-known throughout China, as a special existence. Strictly speaking, Guilin cuisine does not belong to any of the eight major cuisines in China. However, due to special historical factors, it is influenced by the hot and sour of Hunan cuisine and the light Cantonese cuisine, forming the adjustable Guilin delicacies, which is suitable for most people. Among all Guilin delicacies, Guilin rice noodles are the most famous, which have been the breakfast staple for locals since the Qin dynasty.