Guilin & Yangshuo桂林 · 阳朔

Why visit Guilin & Yangshuo

Guilin city sits on the Li River among limestone hills such as Elephant Trunk Hill and Fubo Hill. It is a pleasant base for a night, but most travellers head south to Yangshuo, where the karst scenery begins in earnest.

The classic way to travel between them is the Li River cruise. From Yangshuo you can cycle or raft the Yulong River, walk to Moon Hill, explore Xingping village and the 20-yuan viewpoint, and take a cooking class.

Must-see in Guilin & Yangshuo

• Li River — Cruise or raft the Xingping section.
• Yulong River — Bamboo rafting and cycling through the valley.
• Longji rice terraces — Zhuang and Yao villages about 2 hours north of Guilin.
• Reed Flute Cave — Lit karst cave in Guilin city.

Getting there, getting around, staying

Best time to visit

April–October for green scenery; October–November for clearer skies. Heavy rain can suspend rafting in early summer.

Getting there

Guilin Liangjiang (KWL). Guilin North and Guilin West stations have high-speed services; Yangshuo station is on the Guiyang–Guangzhou line.

Getting around

Shuttle buses or DiDi between Yangshuo station and town; rent a bike or e-bike for the countryside.

Stay: Yangshuo countryside (Yulong River)

Guesthouses among the rice fields with mountain views.

Stay: Xingping

Quiet riverside village for sunrise photography.

Stay: Guilin centre (Two Rivers Four Lakes)

Handy for early cruises and trains.

What to eat in Guilin & Yangshuo

• Guilin rice noodles (mifen) for breakfast.
• Beer fish — a Yangshuo speciality cooked with local beer.
• Stuffed snails and stuffed vegetables (niang).

Day trips

• Longji terraces with an overnight in Ping’an or Dazhai.
• Huangyao ancient town.

Field notes

• Buy Li River cruise tickets through official channels; many cheaper “cruises” are rafts on other rivers.
• West Street in Yangshuo is loud at night — stay outside the centre for sleep.

FAQ