Guilin — The Landscape That Inspired a Thousand Paintings
For over a thousand years, Chinese poets and painters have insisted that Guilin's landscape is the most beautiful on Earth. The famous saying goes: **"Guilin's mountains and waters are the finest under heaven, and Yangshuo's are the finest in Guilin"** (桂林山水甲天下，阳朔山水甲桂林).
Where is Guilin?
Located in South China (Guangxi) with a population of 4.9 million.
When to Visit - Month by Month
| Month | Temp | Rain | Crowd | Rating | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5~12°C | Low | Low | ★★ | Cold. Few tourists |
| Feb | 7~14°C | Low | Low | ★★ | Cool. Plum blossoms |
| Mar | 11~18°C | High | Medium | ★★★★ | Spring, misty rivers |
| Apr | 16~24°C | High | High | ★★★★★ | Warm. Lush green |
| May | 20~29°C | High | High | ★★★★ | Warm. River high |
| Jun | 24~32°C | VHigh | High | ★★★ | Hottest. Heavy rain |
| Jul | 26~34°C | VHigh | High | ★★ | Hot. Rainfall peak |
| Aug | 25~33°C | VHigh | High | ★★ | Hot. Rainy |
| Sep | 22~29°C | Medium | Medium | ★★★★★ | Best. Clear skies |
| Oct | 17~25°C | Medium | High | ★★★★ | Autumn. Harvest |
| Nov | 12~20°C | Low | Medium | ★★★ | Comfortable. Quiet |
| Dec | 7~15°C | Low | Low | ★★ | Cold. Cheap hotels |
Compare climate with other cities
Attractions - Ranked
Must-See (Don,t Miss These)
Li River cruise (Guilin to Yangshuo)
One of the world''s most scenic cruises - 83km of karst peaks, bamboo groves, and pastoral landscapes. The 4-hour cruise is the classic way to experience the view on the 20 yuan banknote.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4-5 hours |
| Price | 300-450 yuan |
| Departure | Morning from Guilin |
| Best time | Clear mornings (April-October) |
Tip: Sit on the top deck for unobstructed views. Have a 20 yuan note ready to compare with the actual landscape.
Yangshuo countryside cycling
The definitive way to experience the karst landscape - cycling through rice paddies, bamboo groves, and small villages with towering limestone peaks on all sides.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Bike rental | 20-50 yuan/day |
| Best routes | Xianggong Mountain, Yulong River |
| Time needed | Half or full day |
Tip: Ride west toward the Yulong River. The road to Moon Hill (9km) is the classic route. Electric bikes available.
Longji Rice Terraces
Massive rice terraces carved by Yao and Zhuang minorities over 700 years. The Dragon''s Backbone terraces flood in spring and turn gold in autumn.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Open | 24/7 |
| Admission | 80 yuan |
| Getting there | Bus from Guilin (2.5h) |
| Time needed | Full day |
Tip: Visit May-June for flooded mirror terraces or late September for golden rice. Stay overnight in a mountain guesthouse.
Worth a Visit (If You Have Time)
Yulong River bamboo rafting
Peaceful hand-poled bamboo raft ride through Yangshuo''s karst landscape. Unlike motorized Li River boats, these rafts are silent, passing through 28 small weirs.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Route | Jinlong Bridge to Worker''s Bridge |
| Price | 160-240 yuan per raft |
| Duration | 2 hours |
Tip: Go early (8 AM) to avoid crowds. Tip the boatman 20 yuan for a relaxed pace and better photo stops.
Elephant Trunk Hill
Guilin''s icon - a rock formation looking like an elephant drinking water. The moon-shaped cave between its trunk and body is the distinctive feature.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Open | 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Admission | 55 yuan |
| Getting there | Walk from downtown (15 min) |
| Time needed | 30-45 min |
Tip: The best view is from across the river (free, no ticket needed). Most photogenic in late afternoon light.
Reed Flute Cave
Spectacular limestone cave with colorful stalactites and stalagmites illuminated by multicolored lights. In use as a tourist attraction since 792 AD.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM |
| Admission | 90 yuan |
| Getting there | Bus 3 from downtown (30 min) |
| Time needed | 1 hour |
Tip: Good rainy day activity. The Crystal Palace chamber is the most impressive section.
Suggested Itineraries
1 Day in Guilin
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (4h) |
| 11:30-12:30 | Arrive Yangshuo - lunch on West Street |
| 1:00-4:30 | Cycle Yangshuo countryside (Moon Hill road) |
| 5:00-7:00 | Yulong River bamboo rafting |
| 7:30-9:00 | Dinner: beer fish in Yangshuo |
2 Days in Guilin
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Bus to Longji Rice Terraces (2.5h) |
| 10:30-3:00 | Hike the terraces (Jinkeng to Ping'an) |
| 3:30-5:30 | Return to Guilin |
| 6:00-7:30 | Elephant Trunk Hill sunset photo |
Day Trips
| Destination | Transport | Time | Why Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longji Terraces | Bus 2.5h | Full day | 700yr rice terraces |
| Yangshuo | Li River 4h | Full day | Karst + bamboo raft |
Food Guide
Guilin's cuisine reflects its landscape — fresh, clean, with hints of sour and spice from the Zhuang ethnic minority tradition.
The city's signature dish and breakfast of choice. Fresh, springy rice noodles are blanched and served with slices of beef or pork, pickled long beans, roasted peanuts, scallions, and a dark, aromatic braising sauce (lǔshuǐ / 卤水). It's dry-mixed (not soup) — you add broth on the side to sip. A bowl costs ¥5–8 and is consumed in about three minutes flat by locals standing at stainless steel counters.
| Restaurant | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lao Dongjiang (老东江米粉) | Guilin city | The legend; go before 10 AM before they sell out |
| Chongshan (崇善米粉) | Multiple locations | Reliable chain; cleaner environment for cautious stomachs |
Yangshuo's iconic dish. Fresh-caught Li River fish (usually maoguyu, a local catfish-like species) is pan-fried then braised in local beer with tomatoes, green peppers, garlic, and chili. The sauce reduces to a tangy, savory glaze, and the fish is served whole in a sizzling metal pan. Eat it with rice and a cold bottle of Liquan Beer — you earned it after a day of cycling.
| Restaurant | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xie Sanjie (谢三姐啤酒鱼) | Yangshuo West Street area | The most famous; multiple branches; consistent quality |
| Dashifu (大师傅啤酒鱼) | Yangshuo | Another local favorite; slightly more upscale |
Large river snails are emptied, the meat minced with pork, ginger, and garlic, then stuffed back into the shell and braised in a savory broth. You suck the filling out from the shell opening — messy, primal, and absolutely delicious. A classic Yangshuo appetizer.
Glutinous rice mixed with cured pork belly, mushrooms, and soy sauce, packed into a green bamboo tube and slow-roasted over charcoal. When the bamboo is split open, the rice emerges with a subtle woodsy fragrance and a crispy edge where it touched the bamboo. Available at farmhouse restaurants along the Yulong River and in Longji's mountain villages.
A Guangxi banquet classic. Alternating slices of fatty pork belly and Lipu taro are steamed together until the taro absorbs the pork's richness and becomes velvety and decadent. The taro from Lipu County (near Guilin) is famous throughout China for its creamy texture and subtle sweetness.
Where to Stay
| Area | Vibe | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yangshuo Yulong Riverbank (遇龙河畔) | Rice-paddy-view boutique inns, utter peace, mountains from your window | ¥300–1,200/night | Couples, honeymooners, landscape photographers |
| Yangshuo West Street area (西街周边) | Walkable to restaurants and bars; backpacker hostels to mid-range hotels | ¥100–600/night | Solo travelers, nightlife, budget-conscious |
| Guilin Two Rivers Four Lakes (两江四湖) | City center, night cruise access, convenient for day-trip departures | ¥250–900/night | Short stays, early morning Li River cruise departures |
| Longji Rice Terraces (龙脊梯田) | Wooden stilt-house guesthouses; sunrise views, mountain silence | ¥150–500/night | Overnight terrace hikers |
Getting Around
| Route | Method | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilin Airport (KWL) → City | Airport bus | 50 min | ¥20 |
| Guilin Airport (KWL) → City | Taxi / DiDi | 40 min | ¥80–100 |
| Guilin → Yangshuo | Li River cruise boat | 4–4.5 hours | ¥245–360 |
| Guilin → Yangshuo | High-speed train (Guilin West→Yangshuo, 25 min) + bus to town | ~1 hour | ¥25 + ¥10 |
| Guilin → Yangshuo | Bus from Guilin Bus Station | 1.5 hours | ¥30 |
| Guilin → Longji | Bus from Guilin Bus Station or Qintan Bus Station | 2–2.5 hours | ¥40–50 |
| Within Yangshuo | E-scooter (¥40–60/day), bicycle (¥20–30/day), or golf cart taxi | — | — |
Unique Experiences
| Experience | Why It's Worth It |
|---|---|
| Yulong River bamboo raft | 90 minutes of near-silence, broken only by birdsong and the pole dipping into water. The manual rafts (no motor) are infinitely more peaceful than the Li River boats |
| Yangshuo rock climbing | World-class limestone sport climbing — hundreds of bolted routes from beginner to expert. Several English-speaking guiding companies in Yangshuo offer half-day and full-day trips |
| Learn to make Guilin rice noodles | Several guesthouses and cooking schools in Yangshuo offer hands-on classes — from mixing the rice batter to making the lǔshuǐ sauce |
| Hike between Longji villages | Ping'an → Zhongliu → Dazhai is a 3–4 hour trail through Yao villages and terraced fields. The path is well-marked, the views are endless, and you'll encounter villagers carrying baskets on poles and women in traditional Red Yao dress with their famously long hair |
| Impression Liu Sanjie (印象刘三姐) | A nighttime outdoor spectacle on the Li River directed by Zhang Yimou (who choreographed the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony). 600 performers on a 2-km water stage, with karst peaks illuminated as the backdrop. Book in advance through your hotel |
Souvenirs
| Souvenir | What It Is | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Guilin Three Treasures (桂林三宝) | Chili sauce (辣椒酱), fermented tofu (豆腐乳), Sanhua rice liquor (三花酒) — the classic Guilin gift set | Guilin city supermarkets, airport shops |
| Osmanthus Tea & Cake (桂花茶/桂花糕) | Guilin's city flower — the tea is floral and delicate; the cakes are sweet, crumbly confections | Local tea shops, Yangshuo West Street |
| Zhuang Brocade (壮锦) | Handwoven Zhuang minority textiles — scarves, table runners, wall hangings | Longji Ping'an village, West Street artisan shops |
| Monk Fruit / Luo Han Guo (罗汉果) | A small round fruit used as a natural sweetener in tea — good for sore throats | Wet markets, supermarkets, airport |
| Ink-Wash Landscape Paintings | Local artists selling Guilin landscapes in the traditional Chinese ink-wash style | Yangshuo West Street galleries, Guilin art shops |
Before You Go - Checklist
Travel Styles
¥30 dorm beds in Yangshuo, ¥6 Guilin rice noodles, ¥50/day e-scooter rental. China's most beautiful budget destination. Full budget guide →
Gentle bamboo rafting on the Yulong River (no rapids), flat countryside cycling, and karst peaks that look like fairy-tale mountains. Full family guide →
Limited business travel — primarily tourism. The Li River cruise is the main reason to add a Guilin stop. Fly in, cruise, fly out in 48 hours. Full business guide →
The Li River cruise is seated sightseeing — the scenery comes to you. Yangshuo countryside is flat. Cable car available at Longji Rice Terraces. Full seniors guide →
Related
Routes: Golden Route | Themed routes Info: Visa | Payment | Internet
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