Guilin Itinerary: A Complete Guide for First-Time Visitors

Guilin is located in Guangxi province, in southern China. Although it is not one of China’s largest or wealthiest cities, it is world-famous for its dramatic karst mountains and the beautiful Li River, making it one of the country’s most spectacular natural destinations.

When to visit:

• Late September to mid-November: This is the best time to visit. Rain is less frequent, the river is clearer, and the skies are often blue.

• April and May: These are also good months. Frequent light rain and mist create a unique “misty mountain” atmosphere.

• December to March: The weather is cool and damp. The Li River water level drops, and the scenery is not as green. However, there are fewer tourists and hotel prices are lower.

• June to August: This period is not recommended. The weather is hot, heavy rain is common (making the river muddy and sometimes suspending bamboo rafting), and it is also the peak summer vacation season.

• If possible, avoid Chinese public holidays, when major attractions become much more crowded.

by vigor poodo

Getting to Guilin

Guilin Airport & Transportation

Guilin has one airport: Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL).
It is about 30 km (19 miles) from downtown Guilin and takes around 1 hour by car. Only Terminal 2 (T2) is currently in operation.

Getting to Downtown

• Ride-hailing (DiDi) : This is the most convenient option and usually costs CNY 70–100. After you get in the car, the driver may ask whether you would like to take the expressway. If you do, expect to pay an additional CNY 10 for the toll. Occasionally, a driver may also ask you to cancel the ride in the app and pay the same fare directly in cash or by mobile payment. This allows the driver to avoid the platform’s commission fee. We recommend declining and waiting for another driver. However, late at night or during peak travel season, many drivers might make this same request.

• Taxi: Regular taxis are usually more expensive than ride-hailing cars, typically costing CNY 100–150, depending on traffic.

• Airport Shuttle Bus: Operating from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm with departures every 30–40 minutes, the airport shuttle costs CNY 25 per person and stops at Elephant Trunk Hill and the CAAC Building (Aviation Building) in downtown Guilin. The bus features English signage, and you can buy tickets easily from either the ticket machines or the service counter. Once you arrive at either stop, you can take a Didi or taxi to your hotel; if you are unsure which stop is closer, simply show your hotel address to the staff and they will happily help you. However, keep in mind that if you are traveling with three or more people, taking a Didi or taxi directly from the airport is usually cheaper than buying multiple bus tickets.

Guilin Train Stations & Transportation

Guilin has three main train stations:

1. Guilin Railway Station (City Center)
Located right in the city center, this station mainly serves slower regular trains and some bullet trains. There are fewer long-distance high-speed trains here. It is convenient for traveling from Guilin to Yangshuo.

2. Guilin North Railway Station
About 10 km (6 miles) from downtown, taking around 30–40 minutes by car.
Ride-hailing: about CNY 20–30.
Note: This is the main station for high-speed trains from other cities and is the most commonly used station in Guilin.

3. Guilin West Railway Station
About 15 km (9 miles) from downtown, taking 40–60 minutes by car.
Ride-hailing: about CNY 40–50.
Note: This station mainly serves routes from cities like Chongqing and Chengdu. It is relatively far from the city center, and Didi/taxis can be hard to get on rainy days or holidays, sometimes requiring higher fares.

Where to Stay in Guilin

Most travelers take the Li River cruise the next morning, and the cruise piers are about 1 hour from downtown Guilin. For this reason, it is often more convenient to stay in the southern part of the city, where hotels are cheaper and the ride to the cruise piers is shorter (about 40 minutes). Below are two recommended hotels in this area:

JI Hotel (Guilin High-tech Wanda Plaza)

• 4-star hotel | Guest rating: 9.6/10
• Modern and well-maintained property
• About a 10-minute walk to Guilin High-tech Wanda Plaza 桂林高新万达广场 (a large shopping mall with many dining options)
• Drive times:
  • 70 minutes to Guilin Airport
  • 30 minutes to Guilin North Railway Station
  • 20 minutes to Elephant Trunk Hill
  • 10 minutes to Chuanshan Scenic Area
  • 20–25 minutes to Guihai Qinglan

Ramada by Wyndham Guilin Hi-Tech Zone

• 4-star hotel | Guest rating: 9.4/10
• Comfortable mid-range hotel with generally good service reviews
• About 10 minutes by ride-hailing car to Guilin High-tech Wanda Plaza 桂林高新万达广场
• Drive times:
  • 70 minutes to Guilin Airport
  • 25 minutes to Guilin North Railway Station
  • 20 minutes to Elephant Trunk Hill
  • 15–20 minutes to Chuanshan Scenic Area
  • 20 minutes to Guihai Qinglan

Guilin Itinerary & Getting Around

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Guilin at noon. In the afternoon, visit attractions based on your interests, such as Chuanshan Scenic Area, Guihai Qinglan, or Elephant Trunk Hill.

• Day 2–3: Take the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo and explore the surrounding area.

Notes:

• Guilin is mainly a transportation hub. The most impressive landscapes are actually in Yangshuo, so there is no need to spend too much time in the city center.

• If you visit between September 25 and October 25, we highly recommend adding 1 or 2 days to visit the Longji Rice Terraces for the spectacular golden harvest view.

Map of Guilin Attractions:

Getting Around Guilin:
Guilin has no subway system. Ride-hailing (Didi) or taxis are the best ways to get around.

Top Attractions in Guilin

Li River Cruise

The Li River Cruise is the most scenic way to travel from Guilin to Yangshuo and is one of Guilin’s most famous attractions. The journey takes about 4 hours.

There are 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star cruises. They all follow the same route and take about the same amount of time. The main differences are the departure pier, onboard facilities, passenger capacity, and dining.

4-Star Cruise (Recommended)

• Passengers: 80
• Price: CNY 360 (adult), CNY 180 (child)
• Booking: Advance booking on Trip.com is recommended.
• Departure: 9:00–10:00 am
• Boarding: Zhujiang Passenger Pier 漓江景区竹江客运港
• Arrival: Longtoushan Pier, Yangshuo
• Meals: Buffet lunch included. À la carte dishes are available for an extra charge.
• Other: In addition to the onboard audio guide, English-speaking staff provide live commentary during the cruise.

3-Star Cruise (Best Value)

• Passengers: 150 (slightly more crowded)
• Price: CNY 215 (adult), CNY 108 (child)
• Booking: Advance booking on Trip.com is recommended.
• Departure: 9:00–11:30 am
• Boarding: Mopanshan Pier 漓江三星游船(磨盘山码头)
• Arrival: Longtoushan Pier, Yangshuo
• Meals: Lunch is not included. You can bring your own food or buy a boxed meal on board (about CNY 30–50).
• Booking tip: When booking on Trip.com, try to choose “Boat No. 1” because it is newer.

5-Star Cruise

• Passengers: 40
• Price: CNY 880–1,200 (adults), half price for children
• Booking: Advance booking on Trip.com is recommended.
• Departure: 9:00–10:00 am
• Boarding: Usually Zhujiang Passenger Pier 漓江景区竹江客运港 (depends on your booking)
• Arrival: Longtoushan Pier, Yangshuo
• Meals: Buffet lunch included. À la carte dishes are available for an extra charge.
• Booking tip: When booking, you can choose seats on the first or second deck. The second deck costs about CNY 100 more and offers a noticeably better experience.

Getting there

• Both Zhujiang Passenger Pier and Mopanshan Pier are about 25 km (16 miles) from downtown Guilin. The journey takes around 1 hour by Didi/taxi and costs about CNY 50. Arrive at the pier at least 30 minutes before departure.
• After arriving at Longtoushan Pier in Yangshuo, Didi or taxis cannot pick up passengers directly because of traffic restrictions. Walk about 6 minutes to the Yangshuo Government Office (“阳朔县人民政府”), where you can easily call a Didi or taxi to your hotel.

Good to Know

• You can bring luggage on board. The crew will tell you where to store it.
• The Li River is usually very calm, so seasickness is rarely a problem.
• Cruises operate one way only, from Guilin to Yangshuo. The boats return empty upstream and do not carry passengers.

Watch: Li River Cruise Short & Scenic Sections | A Gentle Drift Through Guilin’s Most Poetic Waters

Watch: CHINA’S BEST RIVER CRUISE Li River Cruise From Guilin To Yangshuo on a 4 STAR BOAT

Chuanshan Scenic Area

Chuanshan Scenic Area is a relatively quiet attraction and one of the best places to enjoy panoramic views of Guilin.

Hours: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Admission: Free entry. (Some attractions inside the park require a separate ticket).
Visit Time: About 1.5 hours
Suggested Route

• Enter through the North Gate. After 3–5 minutes, turn left at the first intersection, then left again at the second intersection. Continue uphill for 15–20 minutes to Chuanbei Pavilion 穿北亭, one of the best viewpoints in the park.
• After enjoying the view, walk back down and continue south through the park. The first paid attraction is Chuanshan Cave (CNY 30) — a small limestone cave you can skip if you want. Farther south is Moon Cave 月岩 (CNY 30), a cave that passes completely through the mountain. Above the cave is Moon Cave Café, a good place to take a break and enjoy the view. Afterward, you can walk around the rest of the park before leaving.

Getting there: Search for the Chinese characters “穿山景区(北门)” in your map app.
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Guihai Qinglan

Guihai Qinglan is a large ecological park about 10 km (6 miles) from downtown Guilin.

The site was originally planned as an 18-hole golf course, but the project was later converted into a public park for environmental reasons. Today, it covers 2.29 square kilometers — about the size of 320 soccer fields — with wide lawns and 12 natural lakes.

Note: From mid-November to March, the grass turns yellow, so the park is not as beautiful as it is in spring and summer.

Hours: 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
Admission: CNY 25 for adults; free for children under 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) tall
Visit Time: 2–3 hours
Things to Do:

• It is a great spot to walk, enjoy the views, take photos, or have a picnic.
• Optional paid activities include a sightseeing shuttle (CNY 30), a hot air balloon (CNY 108), and a petting zoo (CNY 40 per person).

Getting there: The park is about 20 minutes from downtown Guilin. Search for the Chinese characters “信昌·桂海晴岚景区” in your map app.
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Elephant Trunk Hill

Elephant Trunk Hill is Guilin’s most famous landmark. The hill is named after its shape, which looks like an elephant drinking from the river.

Note: This is one of Guilin’s busiest attractions because it appears in Chinese elementary school textbooks and is well known across China. However, many international visitors find the scenery fairly ordinary, so it is an optional stop rather than a must-see.

Hours: 7:00 am – 9:30 pm
Admission: Free. Scan the QR code at the gate to get your free ticket before entering.
Visit Time: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Suggested Route:

• Enter through Gate 1 and leave through Gate 2.
• After exiting, walk to the Zhiyin Pier Viewpoint (“杉湖风景区知音台码头”) for a great, free view of the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas across the lake. You can pay CNY 35 to go inside the pagodas, but the view from the top is limited and not worth the money.

Getting there: The park is in downtown Guilin. Search for the Chinese characters “象鼻山景区(1号门)” in your map app.

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by Mikaela Wiedenhoff

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East-West Alley

East-West Alley is a historic area dating back about 600 years. Once a run-down neighborhood, it was rebuilt in 2016 and is now a pedestrian area filled with local food, traditional crafts, souvenir shops, and cafés.

It is a pleasant place for an evening walk, especially after 7:30 pm when the weather is cooler and the area becomes livelier. However, commercial streets like this are common in many tourist cities across China, so it is an optional attraction rather than a must-see.

Visit Time: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Getting there: Search for the Chinese characters “东西巷牌坊” in your map app.
Watch: 4K China Guilin Dongxi Alley Night Tour

Around Guilin

Yangshuo

Yangshuo is near Guilin, about 65 km (40 miles) from downtown Guilin. It has 16 rivers and more than 20,000 karst mountains. In fact, many of Guilin’s most famous landscapes are actually right here in Yangshuo.
If you are planning to visit, check out our Yangshuo Guide by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos

Longji Rice Terraces

Rice terraces are step-like fields built by farmers on mountain slopes to grow rice. Although rice terraces can be found across China and other parts of Asia, the Longji Rice Terraces are among the largest and most spectacular.

Best Time to Visit

• Late September to late October is the best time, when the rice terraces turn golden.

• The best viewing period is usually September 25 to October 25. Before late September, the rice is still green. Harvest usually begins between October 26 and November 1, so the golden scenery quickly disappears.

• If possible, avoid October 1–7 (China’s National Day holiday), when the terraces are extremely crowded.

• August and September are also beautiful, with lush green terraces, but the weather is very hot.

• During the rest of the year, the terraces are not as beautiful and are not worth a special trip.

Before You Go

• Longji is the name of the town, which includes more than a dozen villages. The two main tourist villages are Ping’an Village (the classic choice, with viewpoints close together) and Jinkeng Village (larger, but the viewpoints are farther apart). They are about 20 km (12 miles) apart, so if you only have one day, it is better to choose just one. Ping’an Village is recommended for most visitors.

• The entrance to the Longji Scenic Area is about 90 km (56 miles) from downtown Guilin and takes 2–2.5 hours by car. From the entrance, it is another 17 km (11 miles) and about 30 minutes to reach Ping’an Village. This mountain road has many sharp turns and can cause motion sickness.

Option 1: Private Day Tour
This is the easiest option. The 1 Day Private Longji Rice Terraces Tour includes Huangluo Red Yao Village and Ping’an Zhuang Terraced Fields Scenic Area.

The advantage is that transportation is taken care of. However, the itinerary usually stops at Huangluo Red Yao Village first, which is a commercial area mainly designed for tour groups. Drivers often recommend the free museum and a paid performance. You can simply decline, but this stop usually takes 1–2 hours.

Option 2: Self-Guided Day Trip

• Take a Didi or taxi to the Ping’an Sightseeing Bus Ticket Office (“龙脊梯田风景名胜区观光车售票点”). Buy your entrance ticket (CNY 80) at the scenic area entrance.
• Walk through Ping’an Village for about 40 minutes to the “Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon” Viewpoint (七星伴月观景台).
• Continue for another 20 minutes to the “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers” Viewpoint (九龙五虎观景点).
• Return to the parking lot at your own pace. Including lunch, allow about 3 hours.
• If you cannot get a Didi back to Guilin, take the scenic shuttle bus to the main entrance (CNY 20, every 30 minutes, 9:00 am–4:00 pm), then book your return ride from there.
• Note: On normal days, a one-way Didi trip usually costs around CNY 300. Although the app may show around CNY 200, many drivers ask for an additional CNY 100 to cover highway tolls for the round trip.

Option 3: Overnight Stay

• If you have more time, spend one night in Ping’an Village. The terraces are much quieter in the evening and early morning. Floral Lux Hotel is a good choice.

• Take a Didi or taxi to the Ping’an Sightseeing Bus Ticket Office (“龙脊梯田风景名胜区观光车售票点”). Since private vehicles are not allowed inside Ping’an Village, this parking lot is the closest drop-off point. After arriving, call your hotel and they will arrange transportation or help with your luggage.

• After checking in (or leaving your luggage), you can walk to the two main viewpoints, “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers” and “Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon”, both about 30 minutes from the hotel.

• The next morning, enjoy a quiet walk around the village before leaving. If time allows, you can also visit Jinkeng Village, about 40 minutes away by car. The scenery is similar but on a larger scale. A one-way ride usually costs around CNY 80, and your hotel can help arrange it.

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Thank you for reading. Hope you have a wonderful journey! ヽ(´▽`)/