Guilin, China
Top places to visit in Guilin
6 places worth your time in Guilin, with what each is actually like and when to go.
Last updated 2026-08-09
1. Li River cruise
Photo: archer10 (Dennis) · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
The Guilin to Yangshuo run past the karst peaks that appear on the 20-yuan note.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: April to October
- Cost: CNY 215–450
Watch outStreet agents selling boats of a lower class than described, or with the route shortened.
2. Yangshuo and the Yulong River
Photo: Nature.Catcher · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
The karst country at its most concentrated, with bamboo rafts and cycling through the fields.
3. Reed Flute Cave
Photo: Omar A. · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
A limestone cave lit theatrically, with stalactites and an underground lake.
4. Longji rice terraces
Photo: Navjot Singh - British Journalist and Photographer · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
Terraces carved over 650 years up the slopes at Longsheng, with Zhuang and Yao villages among them.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: May for flooding, September for gold
5. Elephant Trunk Hill
Photo: jafsegal (Thanks for the 5 million views) · CC BY 2.0 · source
The rock formation that is the city's emblem, best seen free from the opposite bank.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Tip: The paid enclosure adds little; the river path is fine.
6. Xianggong Hill
Photo: Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0 · source
A short climb to the classic elevated view over the Li River bend.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: Sunrise, for mist between the peaks
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