- Best time
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- How long
- 3–4 days
- Daily budget
- ¥200–400 + hotel
- Getting in
- KWL · Guilin North/West
Overview
The landscape around Guilin is the one painted on the 20-yuan note: rows of steep limestone peaks, slow green rivers and water buffalo in the rice fields. Guilin city is the gateway, but most of what you came for lies downriver around Yangshuo, about 65 km south.
The classic plan is one night in Guilin, a Li River cruise down to Yangshuo, then two or three days in the countryside cycling, rafting and walking. Add a day for the Longji rice terraces to the north if you have time.
See, eat and plan
Li River cruise 漓江游船
Four hours by boat from Guilin to Yangshuo past the best karst scenery. Prices depend on the boat class; book through an official channel, not a street agent.
Xingping 兴坪古镇
A small river town at the stretch printed on the 20-yuan note. Short boat rides from here are a cheaper way to see the river.
Guilin rice noodles
Round rice noodles with braised meat, peanuts and pickles. Add broth and chilli yourself at the counter. ¥8–15 a bowl.
Yulong River rafting 遇龙河竹筏
A slow bamboo raft, poled by a boatman, down a quiet river lined with peaks and fields. Two people share a raft.
Cycling around Yangshuo 阳朔骑行
Rent a bike or e-bike and follow the lanes along the Yulong River between villages. Flat, easy, and the best way to see the countryside.
Beer fish
Yangshuo's signature: river fish braised with local beer, tomato and chilli. Agree the price per jin (500 g) before they cook.
Longji rice terraces 龙脊梯田
Terraces carved up whole mountainsides, about two hours north of Guilin. Flooded and mirror-like in May and June, golden in late September.
Reed Flute Cave 芦笛岩
A big limestone cave in Guilin city, lit in bright colours. Touristy but impressive; good for a rainy hour.
Stuffed snails
River snails stuffed with minced pork and herbs, part of Yangshuo's 'stuffed everything' tradition.
Yangshuo stuffed dishes
Tofu, peppers, aubergine and bitter melon filled with pork. Order a mixed plate.
Oil tea
A savoury, bitter tea soup with puffed rice and peanuts, from the hill villages. An acquired taste worth trying once.
Taro pork
Layers of pork belly and soft Lipu taro steamed together. Rich, sweet and very Guangxi.
Getting there and around
Guilin Liangjiang airport (KWL) is about 30 km west of the city, with an airport bus and taxis. High-speed trains stop at Guilin North and Guilin West, and some continue to Yangshuo station, which is about 40 minutes by bus from Yangshuo town. Guangzhou is about 2.5–3 hours away by train.
Between Guilin and Yangshuo you can take the river cruise one way and a bus or taxi the other. Around Yangshuo, bikes, e-bikes and Didi cover the countryside; most guesthouses rent bikes and can call a driver.
Where to stay
Spend a night in Guilin only if you arrive late or want the Reed Flute Cave. Otherwise base yourself in Yangshuo. West Street in town is lively and noisy; guesthouses along the Yulong River or in Xingping are quieter and closer to the scenery. For Longji, stay a night in Ping'an or Dazhai village to see the terraces at sunrise.
Good to know
- Rain: spring and summer bring heavy showers and the occasional flood that stops river trips. Autumn is drier and clearer.
- Book the cruise and rafts ahead on holidays and weekends, using your passport. Rafting can stop when the water is too high or too low.
- Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin is best seen from the riverbank opposite. Ticket rules for the park have changed more than once, so check before you pay.
- Agree prices first for fish, rafts and private drivers in Yangshuo.
- Paying: set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you fly and keep some cash for villages. See paying in China.
- Next stops: Guangzhou and Shenzhen are a short train ride south; Zhangjiajie and Chengdu are further but direct.
Prices, hours and visa rules change. Confirm key bookings before you go.