Guilin

Guilin, in the far northeast corner of Guangxi, is really two places to plan around: the city itself, ringed by limestone karst hills beside the Li River, and Yangshuo, a smaller river town about 65 km south that most visitors end up preferring once they see it. Between the two runs the most photographed stretch of river in China, the same jagged peaks and green water printed on the back of the 20-yuan note. Our 3-day Guilin itinerary lays out one way to fit both halves into a short trip.

What to See

The classic way to take in the karst scenery is the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, a four- to five-hour boat trip that runs the most scenic stretch of the river past the fishing village of Xingping. About 20 minutes' walk beyond Xingping's old town is the actual bend in the river behind the 20-yuan note, a shoal locals call Yellow Cloth Shoal; cruise boats slow down for it, and it's also reachable on its own from Yangshuo if you'd rather skip the full boat trip.

Away from the river, the Longji (Dragon's Backbone) Rice Terraces near Longsheng wrap entire mountainsides in stacked paddies: flooded and mirror-like from late April into June, then gold at harvest from late September into early October. In Guilin city, Elephant Trunk Hill, a karst arch shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk into the water, is the most photographed spot in town, and the floodlit Reed Flute Cave is worth the detour for its illuminated stalactites. Once you're in Yangshuo, West Street is the town's cafe-and-bar strip, and the calmer Yulong River makes a shorter, easier bamboo-raft outing than the main cruise.

Guilin or Yangshuo: Where to Stay

Most travelers land in Guilin, since that's where the airport and the main train station are, then move straight on to Yangshuo and base there instead: it's smaller, walkable, wrapped in the same karst scenery, and closer to the countryside cycling routes and Longji. Staying a night in Guilin city itself still makes sense if you want Elephant Trunk Hill or Reed Flute Cave without a round trip, or if your flight or train times line up better that way. See our where to stay in China guide for booking basics; whichever you choose, book ahead around the October holiday week and Chinese New Year, when both towns fill up fast.

Best Time to Visit

The ideal window is April through October, with the two sweet spots being spring (April to May) and autumn (September to November). Spring brings the soft, misty light Guilin is known for, though May and June are also the rainiest months, when the Li River can run high and cloudy. Autumn is drier and clearer, with comfortable temperatures, osmanthus blossom in the air, and the Longji terraces turning gold from late September into early October. Winter (December to February) is cool, quiet and far less crowded, though low water sometimes shortens or pauses the full Guilin-to-Yangshuo cruise, so check conditions before booking a winter departure.

Getting There & Around

Most travelers arrive by high-speed train into Guilin North (Guilinbei) station, with fast links to Nanning and Guangzhou in around 2 to 2.5 hours and direct trains from Shanghai, Shenzhen and Kunming; Guiyang is further, typically 3.5 hours or more even on the fastest trains, so treat it as its own trip rather than a quick add-on. Guilin Liangjiang International Airport sits about 30 km southwest of downtown, linked by a regular airport shuttle bus. It's one of the ports where eligible passport holders can use China's 240-hour visa-free transit, though direct international flights here mostly connect within Asia (Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei), so travelers from further afield usually connect through a bigger gateway city first.

Between Guilin and Yangshuo, the river cruise runs one direction only, Guilin to Yangshuo, so plan your return a different way: a direct bus from Guilin's South or Qintan bus stations covers the same 65 km by road in about an hour and a half and runs every 20–30 minutes through the day. Inside both towns, taxis and Didi cover longer hops, but Yangshuo's center is easily walkable, and renting a bike or electric scooter is the standard way to reach the rice fields and villages around town.

Practical Tips

Base yourself in Yangshuo for at least a night if your schedule allows it. Pack layers and rain gear for spring's mist and showers, and a warm layer for mornings on the river in winter. Treat the Longji terraces as a separate full day, not a stop on the way to somewhere else, since the drive alone runs 2.5–3 hours each way.