Northeast Guangxi
Guilin 桂林
The karst landscape that put China on the postcard.
- Region
- Northeast Guangxi
- How long
- 2 days (1 for the river, 1 for the city)
- Best time
- April to October
- Climate
- Subtropical monsoon, 15-28°C most of the year; humid and rainy from May to August
What is there to see in Guilin?
- -Li River cruise to Yangshuo
- -Elephant Trunk Hill
- -Reed Flute Cave
- -Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise
- -Daxu Ancient Town
What it was like on the ground
We boarded the Li River boat at 8 AM as mist still hung between the peaks, and for the next four hours the scenery did the work. The stretch around Xingping is the one on the 20 RMB note, and when the boat rounded that bend, half the deck scrambled for the same photo. Back in the city, the night cruise through the Two Rivers and Four Lakes was less a boat ride and more a light show, with pagodas and bridges glowing over the water. Honest verdict: Guilin city is pleasant but not a destination in itself; the river is the point, and it earns every bit of its reputation.
How do you get to Guilin?
Guilin is northeast Guangxi's rail and air hub, the usual entry point for the whole region.
By train: High-speed rail from Guangzhou (2.5h, CNY 150-250), Shenzhen (3h, CNY 300) and Guiyang (2h, CNY 120).
By air: Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL), 30km from the city, with flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and some international routes.
What should you eat in Guilin?
Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉) CNY 8-15
The region's staple: rice noodles in a light broth with pickled beans, peanuts and braised beef. Eat it for breakfast like a local, standing at a counter, not a restaurant table.
Beer fish (啤酒鱼) CNY 60-100
Li River carp braised with beer, tomatoes and chilies. A Yangshuo invention that spread to every riverside restaurant in Guilin.
A sample day in Guilin
Day 1
- Morning: Elephant Trunk Hill and the Li River promenade
- Afternoon: Reed Flute Cave
- Evening: Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise
Where should you stay in Guilin?
City center hotels (CNY 200-500) — Reliable chains near the Li River promenade and the pedestrian streets.
Riverside boutique (CNY 400-900) — Courtyard hotels along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, walking distance to the night cruise.
Is Guilin right for you?
Worth it for
First-time visitors, classic landscape photography, families
Skip it if
Travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path solitude; Guilin is on every itinerary for a reason
Know before you go
Skip the city on a tight schedule
If you have 3 days total, do the river cruise and head straight to Yangshuo. Guilin's old town is generic and the sights are spread thin.
Li River cruise booking
The 4-star boats (CNY 350-500) are worth the premium over the 3-star (CNY 190). Buy through your guesthouse a day ahead in peak season.
Guilin FAQ
2 days (1 for the river, 1 for the city). Best suited to: First-time visitors, classic landscape photography, families.
April to October. Subtropical monsoon, 15-28°C most of the year; humid and rainy from May to August.
High-speed rail from Guangzhou (2.5h, CNY 150-250), Shenzhen (3h, CNY 300) and Guiyang (2h, CNY 120).
Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉) — CNY 8-15; Beer fish (啤酒鱼) — CNY 60-100.
City center hotels: CNY 200-500; Riverside boutique: CNY 400-900.
Other places in Guangxi
- Yangshuo 阳朔 Karst peaks, bamboo rafts and the slowest pace in China
- Longji Rice Terraces 龙脊梯田 Zhuang and Yao villages carved into the steepest terraces on earth
- Beihai & Weizhou Island 北海涠洲岛 China's youngest volcanic island and a beach break without the crowds
- Chongzuo & Detian Waterfall 崇左德天瀑布 Asia's largest transnational waterfall on the Vietnam border
- Liuzhou 柳州 The birthplace of luosifen, the noodle soup that took over the world
- Huangyao Ancient Town 黄姚古镇 A 1,000-year-old town of stone lanes and karst, still lived in
- Bama & Hechi 巴马河池 The 'longevity village' and Guangxi's karst secret world
Planning the whole region? See all Guangxi destinations, the ready-made itineraries, the food guide and the best time to visit.