South · 3–4 days

Guilin travel guide

Guilin is a two-part trip. The city itself is a practical base with a cave and a hill, and the reason you came — the Li River and the limestone peaks — starts 40 minutes south in Yangshuo. Plan the cruise one way, stay a night among the karst, and the rest of the region falls into place.

  • Best time: April–June, September–October
  • Suggested stay: 3–4 days
  • Reviewed 2026-11-07

Why go

Karst peaks on every horizon, a river that does the work for you, and rice terraces an hour uphill.

  • Scenery
  • Cycling
  • River cruises
  • Photography

What is worth your time

Li River cruise to Yangshuo

The four-hour boat from Zhujiang Pier is the classic route. Sit on the left side going downstream, and skip the lunch — bring snacks.

Yangshuo by bike

Rent a bike or scooter and ride the Yulong River lanes. The small dirt roads between the peaks are the whole point; avoid the main road.

Longji rice terraces

A day trip from Guilin to Longsheng, two hours each way. Go in spring for water-filled terraces or September for gold, not in heavy rain.

Airport and station transfers

Liangjiang International (KWL) is about 28 km west of the city, with a shuttle bus and taxi access.

MethodTimePriceNotes
Airport shuttle35–45 min¥20–30Runs to the city centre and the main hotels; buy a ticket at the counter outside arrivals.
DiDi / taxi30–40 min¥80–110The easiest option with luggage; confirm the meter.
Rail connection60–90 min¥10–20Bus or taxi to Guilin North or Guilin West, then high-speed rail if you are heading onward.

Getting around

  • City buses — Cheap and cover the caves, the hills and the stations; slower than DiDi but easy to use.
  • DiDi — Short city hops are cheap; use it for the airport and the pier.
  • Boats — The Li River cruise is the transport and the sightseeing at once — book the downstream route.
  • Bikes and scooters — In Yangshuo this is the default; rent from the guesthouse and stay off the main road.

Where to stay

AreaBest forTrade-off
Guilin city centreFirst nightTwo Rivers and Four Lakes area; walkable, with easy access to the pier in the morning.
Guilin North StationOnward trainsPractical if you are heading to Guangzhou or Guiyang.
Yangshuo West StreetNightlifeBusy and loud; convenient but not the scenery you came for.
Yulong RiverKarst viewsGuesthouses among the peaks; quiet, and the best base for cycling.

What to eat

DishWhere to find it
Guilin rice noodlesBreakfast shops everywhere — dry noodles with braised meat, broth on the side
Beer fishYangshuo restaurants; the local river fish is the point
Stuffed snailsNight markets, eaten with a skewer
Oil teaLongsheng villages, a savoury tea with puffed rice
Luo han guo teaAny tea shop — sweet, cooling, and sold everywhere

What it costs

StylePer dayWhat that buys
Backpacker¥200–350Guesthouse, buses, rice noodles, one river trip
Comfortable¥500–9003-star hotel, DiDi, Li River cruise, bike hire, a proper dinner
Premium¥1,300+Karst-view hotel, private car and guide, terrace day trip

Same three tiers for every city, plus what individual meals, metro rides and tickets cost: what a trip to China costs.

A route that fits the days you have

  1. Day 1 — Guilin city
    Elephant Trunk Hill · Reed Flute Cave · Two Rivers and Four Lakes night walk
  2. Day 2 — The river
    Transfer to Zhujiang Pier · Li River cruise to Yangshuo · West Street in the evening
  3. Day 3 — Karst countryside
    Yulong River bike loop · Village lunch · Sunset from a viewpoint
  4. Day 4 — Terraces
    Longji rice terraces day trip · Back to Guilin · Train onward

Last reviewed 2026-11-07 — rules and prices in China change often. Confirm critical details in the app or on the official site before you rely on them.

Official sources used for this guide