Top 10 Things to Do in Guilin

Longing for a refreshing nature experience? Guilin will certainly not disappoint! The county is branded as one of the world’s most beautiful places with its unique landscapes, clean rivers, majestic rice terraces, and charming countryside. It is a small city located in the Southeast China as part of the Guangxi province. The city is close to Hong Kong and accessible via bullet trains or direct flights. Situated among misty hills and surrounded by sparkling rivers and lakes, the place radiates freedom and serenity that is perfect for soothing the soul. Find your balance by making sure to add Guilin in your must-visit cities in China. Here are the top things to do in Guilin that are sure worth your time:

Li River Cruise

• Ticket Price: 40 USD for peak seasons while 30 USD for off seasons
• Time: Tour starts 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• This is the most popular tour in the city. You never want to miss this since it travels to almost all major attractions by the Li River Cruise. You will be cruising a distance of 80 kilometers or 5 hours from Guilin to another town called Yangshuo. Be blown away with the magnificent and picturesque view of the gnarled-shaped hills or karsts that look like it was drawn by a child with brilliant imagination. Breathe in the fresh smell of bamboo and osmanthus that grow along the river banks. In fact, the name of Guilin comes from the phrase “the forest of sweet osmanthus.” To grab this tour, you have to take a 40-minute drive from downtown to Zhujian Wharf. Most hotels sell cruise tickets including a shuttle ride to the wharf where the boat starts.

Seven Star Park

• Ticket Price: 12 USD
• Time: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Grab the opportunity to see what is inside those odd-looking hills and see Seven Star Park! It is conveniently situated just 5 minutes away from the city center. The park mirrors with the 7 patterns of the Big Dipper constellation hence the name. It is composed of numerous caves, sites, and little parks. The most famous one is the Seven Star Cave due to its special features. This cave consists of three layers. The first layer is an arch that has an outstanding view of the city, the middle layer is full of shining stalactites and stalagmites, while an underground river runs the under layer. Catch a ride via Bus No. 1, 10, 14, 18, 25, 30, or 31 to get here. The Seven Stark Park is certainly one of the best things to do in Guilin. 

Xianggong Mountain

• Ticket Price: 10 USD
• Time: Whole Day
• The Li River cruise will end at Yangshuo town where most tourists stay a day or two due to the long journey. So if you are one of these tourists, head over to Xianggong Mountain in a nearby Xingpin town for a panoramic view of the Yangshuo landscape. The mountain got its name from the way it looks, a man wearing a hat and a Chinese costume in the feudal era. You have to walk 15 minutes to reach the mountaintop. The view will definitely take your breath away seeing the extraordinary hills that stretch out for miles, the gleaming Li River, lush vegetation, and the clear, blue sky. The best time to take photos is at the early hours of the morning during sunny days. To get here, you can rent a car at 50 USD that would take you from Yangshuo directly to Xianggong. If you are feeling adventurous, you can ride a bus to Xingpin town. Travel time is almost 40 minutes and fare costs 2 USD. Then rent a bamboo raft that would glide along the Li River towards Lengshui Ferry. From there, hike for two hours to reach the mountain.

Longsheng Longji Rice Terraces

• Ticket Price: 15 USD
• Time: Whole day
• The Longji Rice Terraces can be found in Longsheng County about two-hour drive from Guilin. This attraction is a special gem of China since it started nearly 650 years ago during Yuan Dynasty as the main source of rice crops. Today, it remains as the top rice supplier in the province. Longji in Chinese means “Dragon’s Backbone.” This is because the rice terraces are strategically built in the hillside that spread out in never-ending arrays of layers. You can visit the site all year round with different themes depending on the season. During planting time around April to June, rice terraces look like endless mirrors reflecting the bright sky. In harvest season, gold sweeps the mountainside with the ripened crops. Come winter, the place will turn into a snowy wonderland. You can take a bus from Guilin Railway Station to the Longji Rice Terraces. The ride is about 2.5 hours and it will cost you 8 USD. Reserve your tickets in advance to avoid the long lines from most hotels.

 Daxu Ancient Town

• Ticket Price: 10 USD
• Time: 8 AM – 4 PM
• A well-preserved ancient town of Daxu thrives 40 minutes away from the city that is accessible by buses in the Guilin Bus Terminal. Take a trip down history by walking in the Old Street, a 2.5 kilometer stretch of centuries-old houses and pavement. Buildings in the village such as Hanhuang Temple and Gaozu Temple survived since the Ming and Qing dynasties. Other activities you can do here are strawberry picking in a nearby farm and thrift shopping in the traditional market.

Reed Flute Cave

• Ticket Price: 13 USD
• Time: 8 AM – 4 PM
• Immerse yourself into the colorful world of stalactites, stalagmites, and rock formations inside The Reed Flute Cave. It is located just 5 kilometers from the city center. The cave is 240 meters long in a U-shaped form with a personal guide that would take you through the magical stories of all the stone pillars. Take the public bus no. 3 from the Guilin South Train Station for 0.14 USD or you can opt to ride a taxi.

Elephant Trunk Hill

• Ticket Price: 12 USD
• Time: 7 AM – 9 PM
• True to its name, Elephant Trunk Hill is a hill that looks like an elephant soaking his trunk in to the river. It is considered as the symbol of the Li River. Primarily because its existence dates back 3.6 million years ago and probably served as a significant landmark in the ancient days. Furthermore, it is located in between Li River and Taohua River. The hill is also home to the Water Moon Cave, Elephant’s Eye Stone, and Pagoda for Puxian and Yunfeng Temple. Explore this wondrous monument by taking Bus No. 2, 23, 57, or 58. Guilin is mishmash of old and new civilizations. With the rise of commercial buildings and modern technologies, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

In Guilin, the daylight promised an outstanding view of nature straight from a postcard. As light slowly fades and night takes over, the city transitions into a vibrant, concrete jungle that comes alive with different lights and sounds. The city offers broad range of evening attractions from night markets, bars, to river cruises. The following are the activities you can do at night:

Zhengyang Pedestrian Street

After a full sightseeing day, travelers unwind themselves with drinks and music in the city’s hottest nightlife spot in Zhengyang Pedestrian Street. The road is lined with bars, entertainment lounges, and shops. The bars offer wide selection of food and drinks in varying setting from a chill, relaxed space to upbeat dance parties. You can score some souvenir items in one of the shops here. This is one of the most recommended things to do in Guilin and one should never miss it.  

Two Rivers and Four Lakes

Two Rivers and Four Lakes is a night cruise around Guilin’s central water system. The two rivers are the Li River and Peach Blossom River while the four lakes are Wooden Dragon Lake, Osmanthus Lake, Banyan Lake and China Fir Lake. All six bodies of water merged together to form a scenic belt in the downtown part of the city. The tour is a 1.5-hour cruise along the rivers and lakes with a spectacular show of lights in the gardens and buildings. It helps set a romantic and dreamy mood if you are eyeing a planned date. Cruise starts at 7:30 PM at 30 USD.

Impression Sanjie Liu

Tourists who stayed at Yangshuo can witness a live performance of the Impression Sanjie Liu in a natural setting. The theatre uses Li River as its stage with the natural landscape as its backdrop. It narrates the story of Sanjie Liu, a mythical fairy singer, and her dealings with the people living around the Li River. It is truly a masterpiece! Seat prices start at 30 USD – 100 USD. Play lasts for 10 minutes and runs twice beginning at 7:40 PM and then 9 PM. 

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