Elephant Trunk Hill
The limestone hill shaped like an elephant drinking from the Li River and the emblem of Guilin, with Water-Moon Cave forming the arch between trunk and body.
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About Guilin
Guilin is a city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, known for the Li River and karst peaks that appear on the back of the old 20-yuan note. Within the city, visitors can see Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, the Two Rivers and Four Lakes with the lit Sun and Moon Pagodas, and the Ming Jingjiang Princes City. Day trips reach Yangshuo (cruise, cycling, Impression Sanjie Liu) and the Longji Rice Terraces. Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) and the Guilin and Guilin North railway stations connect it to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
- Capital
- Guilin
- Largest city
- Guilin
- Population
- Approximately 5 million in the municipality, with about 1.1 million in the urban core
- Languages
- Mandarin Chinese; Guilin dialect and the Zhuang language are also spoken
- Currency
- Renminbi (Yuan)
- Time zone
- China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8, no daylight saving)
Explore Guilin by topic
Jump straight to the experience you're planning.
Best places to visit in Guilin
The 15 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Reed Flute Cave
A cavern about 240 metres long lit in multicoloured light, with stalactites, stone pillars and a crystal-palace chamber, visited by tourists for over 1,200 years.
Seven Star Park
The largest park in Guilin, named for seven hills laid out like the Big Dipper, with Seven Star Cave, Camel Hill, the Flower Bridge and a small zoo.
Two Rivers and Four Lakes
The loop of the Li and Taohua rivers with Shan Lake, Rong Lake, Gui Lake and Mulong Lake, once part of the city moat, now a lakeside promenade with bridges and the lit Sun and Moon Pagodas.
Sun and Moon Pagodas
The golden Sun Pagoda (41 m, nine storeys) and the bronze Moon Pagoda (35 m, seven storeys) rising from Shan Lake, joined by an underwater passage and glowing at night.
Fubo Hill
A hill jutting into the Li River with the Returned Pearl Cave, Thousand-Buddha Cave, Tang and Song dynasty rock carvings and a sword-testing stone.
Recommended itineraries
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
5-Day Guilin Explorer
- Day 1Arrive in Guilin, explore city center
- Day 2Visit top attractions and museums
- Day 3Day trip to nearby highlights
- Day 4Local markets and hidden gems
- Day 5Final sightseeing, departure
7-Day Classic Guilin
- Days 1-2Guilin city highlights
- Days 3-4Regional exploration
- Days 5-6Cultural immersion and local experiences
- Day 7Return and departure
14-Day Ultimate Guilin
- Days 1-3Guilin comprehensive city tour
- Days 4-6Northern region exploration
- Days 7-9Eastern highlights
- Days 10-12Southern attractions
- Days 13-14Return to Guilin, departure
Where to stay in Guilin
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Budget ¥300-420 (~$44-62) per person
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Mid-range ¥750-1100 (~$111-163) per person
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
Luxury ¥2000-4000 (~$296-593)+ per person
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Sheraton Guilin Hotel
A 408-room riverfront hotel renovated in 2021, two minutes' walk from Zhengyang Pedestrian Street and a short walk from Elephant Trunk Hill and the Sun and Moon Pagodas.
Check rates on Booking.comLijiang Waterfall Hotel
A long-established five-star beside Shanhu Lake in the central tourist district, known for an artificial waterfall down its facade that is recorded by Guinness World Records.
Check rates on Booking.comShangri-La Guilin
A 439-room resort-style hotel opened in 2009 with landscaped gardens and family facilities. It sits away from the central lakes, so taxis are needed for the main sights.
Check rates on Booking.comHoliday Inn Express Guilin City Center
An IHG-brand hotel two blocks from the Central Square and Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, popular for its location and included breakfast.
Check rates on Booking.comWhere to eat in Guilin
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Luanle Rice Noodles (Luan Le Fen Ku)
A rice noodle pub on Zhengyang Pedestrian Street with an English-friendly picture menu, vegetarian bowls and homemade beer, open until midnight.
Youyixuan Rice Noodles (Yiren Road head store)
Head store of a local rice noodle brand beside the Zhengyang Bell Tower, noted for horse-meat rice noodles.
Lao Dongjiang Rice Noodles (Longyin Road head store)
The Longyin Road head store of a 10-plus-branch Guilin brand, famous for braised-topping rice noodles served from early morning.
Shang Palace (Shangri-La Hotel Guilin)
The Chinese restaurant of the Shangri-La Hotel Guilin, serving Cantonese dishes alongside Guilin rice noodles and regional specialties.
Chunji Roast Goose (Zhongshan branch)
A Cantonese roast goose restaurant in the Zhongshan Hotel on Zhongshan Middle Road, known for roast goose and Guilin stuffed dishes.
A Gan Restaurant (Zhengyang Pedestrian Street branch)
A Guilin local-cuisine brand with a branch on West Lane off Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, serving beer fish and Lipu taro.
Book a food tour in Guilin We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Getting around Guilin
Guilin is compact in the centre and easy to reach by air and high-speed rail. There is no extensive metro, so visitors rely on city buses, Didi and taxis. Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) is about 28 km from the centre, Guilin North (Guilin Bei) station serves most high-speed trains and Guilin station sits in the city centre.
Budget breakdown
Daily spend by tier in CNY, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ¥100-180 (~$15-27) | ¥350-600 (~$52-89) | ¥1200-2800 (~$178-415) |
| Food (per day) | ¥50-90 (~$7-13) | ¥150-250 (~$22-37) | ¥400-900 (~$59-133) |
| Transportation | ¥15-40 (~$2-6) | ¥50-120 (~$7-18) | ¥200-500 (~$30-74) |
| Activities | ¥40-120 (~$6-18) | ¥150-300 (~$22-44) | ¥300-800 (~$44-119) |
| Daily total | ¥300-420 (~$44-62) per person | ¥750-1100 (~$111-163) per person | ¥2000-4000 (~$296-593)+ per person |
Best time to visit Guilin
Weather through the year in Guangxi
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Guangxi.
Guilin is best in spring and autumn when mist and clear days frame the karst peaks, with the Longji terraces flooded in late April-May and golden in late September-October.
Guilin has a humid subtropical climate: spring (March-May) about 12-26 C / 54-79 F with frequent drizzle; summer (June-August) about 25-35 C / 77-95 F, hot and humid with the heaviest rain in May-July; autumn (September-November) about 14-28 C / 57-82 F with the clearest skies; winter (December-February) about 5-12 C / 41-54 F, damp and cool, with low river levels that can shorten Li River boat routes.
Essential travel tips
- Book the Li River cruise, Reed Flute Cave and Impression Sanjie Liu on Trip.com or their WeChat accounts before arrival
- Download Amap (Gaode) and Didi; Google Maps is unreliable in China
- Carry a passport for real-name tickets and for train booking on Trip.com or 12306
- Combine Elephant Trunk Hill and the lakes in one evening, and reserve a full day for Longji
- Eat rice noodles (mifen) for breakfast; many stalls accept only Alipay and WeChat Pay
Safety information
Install a VPN, offline translation and a mobile-payment app before arrival, since Google services and many Western apps are blocked in mainland China.
Carry the passport (or a copy) at all times; hotels register foreign guests with police on check-in, and a copy helps with transport and ticketing.
Keep valuables secure in crowded areas such as Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, West Street at night and the Li River piers.
Cross roads carefully: e-bikes and scooters run silently, often against traffic and across crosswalks.
Check river levels and local weather during the April to June rainy season; Li River cruises are suspended when water is too high or too low.
Wear sturdy shoes on karst hills and cave paths, which are slippery in rain and humidity.
Drink bottled or boiled water; tap water is not recommended for drinking.
Use only official or app-hailed taxis, particularly at night.
Frequently asked questions
Is Guilin safe to visit in 2026?
Yes. Violent crime is rare; use licensed taxis or Didi, avoid touts and keep valuables close in crowds.
Do I need a visa to visit Guilin?
Many nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, and the 240-hour transit policy applies to travelers with onward tickets; check with the Chinese embassy as rules change.
What is the best time to visit Guilin?
March-May and September-November have the clearest weather; avoid Golden Week (October 1-7).
How do you get from Guilin to Yangshuo?
Take the Li River cruise (4-5 hours, from about ¥215, ~$32) or an intercity bus from Guilin Bus Station (about 1.5 hours, ¥25-35); Didi costs around ¥200-250.
How many days do you need in Guilin?
Three days: one for city sights, one for the Li River and Yangshuo, one for Longji or Yangshuo cycling.