Guilin

Karst Mountains and Serene Rivers

Guilin stands out in southern China with its striking karst mountains rising above lush valleys. The city is known for clear rivers winding between limestone peaks, creating landscapes that have inspired artists and travelers alike for centuries. Local culture mixes ancient traditions with modern life along the Li River where boats drift past villages and rice paddies. Guilin’s climate stays mild year-round, making outdoor activities like hiking or cycling comfortable in most seasons. Its accessibility by train and plane connects visitors to this scenic region efficiently.

Add to list Map view

City in China

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 6.8

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	6

Read details

3/5

English is spoken at major tourist spots, hotels, and on guided tours. However, in smaller shops and public transport, communication might be more challenging.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Guilin Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

World-class for karst mountains and river scenery. Cruise along the Li River, cycle through rural landscapes, explore caves and photograph dramatic peaks.

Place score

7.2

Best at:

Natural sites

Mountains

Rivers

Walkable

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

China – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type I Type A: Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) £1 ≈ CN¥8.88
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in China, particularly in urban areas. Mobile payment services like Alipay and WeChat Pay are commonly used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in China and is not expected, although it may be appreciated in high-end restaurants or by hotel staff for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in many places in China, but it is common in restaurants and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, such as restaurants and public transport, but enforcement can vary.

Chinese New Year (January/February)	Major holiday with family gatherings and public celebrations
National Day (1 October)	National holiday with parades and festivities

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 110 (Police), 120 (Ambulance), 119 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	DiDi, Uber
Other:	China is known for its vast cultural heritage, including historical landmarks like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. It offers diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to beaches.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Guilin, China

🌥️

Jan

☁️

Feb

🌧️

Mar

🌧️

Apr

⛈️

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

🔥

Sep

☀️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	April, Sep. - Nov.
Shoulder season:	March, May - Aug., Dec.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Chinese National Day holiday, October 1 to 7: extremely crowded, Li River cruises and Yangshuo sell out

Li River water level is low from December to February, and some cruise sections may not run

Longji rice terraces: planted and flooded in May, golden harvest in late September to October

Don't miss

🛶 Cruise the scenic Li River through karst peaks
🦩 Explore the colorful Reed Flute Cave’s limestone formations
🌅 Climb Xianggong Mountain for sunrise views
🐘 Visit Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin’s natural symbol
🌳 Stroll through Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park
🚶‍♂️ Wander the vibrant Zhengyang Pedestrian Street

You've been here?

Why travel to Guilin?

Guilin offers stunning natural landscapes, with the Li River Cruise being an absolute must-do. The surrounding countryside and rice terraces in Longsheng add to its charm. The city itself is relaxed, with beautiful parks and caves to explore. However, it can get quite humid and in peak season, some attractions may feel crowded.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Yangshuo
Known for limestone karsts rising from the Li River, this region offers scenic river cruises, bamboo rafting and terraced rice fields. Visitors can explore ancient villages, rock‑art sites and enjoy local cuisine amid dramatic natural landscapes.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Fubo Hill
2 Daxu ancient town

🎡Places for activities

1 Li River Cruise Port
2 Yulong River Scenic Spot Bamboo Rafting

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Reed Flute Cave
This ancient cave features a stunning reed flute-shaped stalactite hanging from its ceiling. The site offers breathtaking rock formations and underground rivers, making it one of Guilin's most popular tourist attractions for visitors seeking natural wonders.
2 Seven Star Park
3 Elephant Trunk Hill
4 Li River

🛍️Shopping

1 Guilin Wei Xiao Tang Plaza
2 Zhengyang Pedestrian Street

🎈Events

Guilin International Tourism Festival
Longji Terraces Fireworks Festival
Guilin Fishing Festival
Li River Bamboo Rafting Festival
Chinese New Year Celebrations

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Take a Li River cruise for iconic karst views.
Visit Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's famous landmark.
Explore Reed Flute Cave for stunning illuminated rock formations.
Visit Longji Rice Terraces for breathtaking mountain scenery and ethnic culture.

How to travel to Guilin

Fly into Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) or take a high-speed train from major cities like Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing. The train ride offers scenic views and is a good alternative to flying.

Access summary

From Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL): Shuttle bus or taxi, about 40–60 minutes.
From Guangzhou: High-speed train to Guilin, typically around 2.5–3 hours.
From Yangshuo: Bus or private transfer along Li River valley, roughly 1.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Guilin

Guilin offers a range of accommodation, from budget hostels to upscale hotels. Yangshuo, nearby, is popular for those wanting a quieter, more scenic stay surrounded by nature.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Lijiang Waterfall Hotel

8.4

Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel Guilin

9.0

Shangri-La Guilin

8.6

Yangshuo Tea Cozy Hotel

9.2

Aroma Tea House

8.8

Yangshuo Mountain Nest Boutique Hotel

9.4

Guilin Sapphire hotel

7.5

Banyan Tree Yangshuo

9.0

Sheraton Guilin Hotel

8.2

Holiday Inn Express Guilin City Center By IHG

9.0

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Guilin

Getting around is easy with buses, taxis and bike rentals. Buses are cheap but might not have English signs. Guided tours are also a good option, especially for visiting the surrounding countryside.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-75 %

Daily expenses in Guilin are around 75% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-1 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CNY) is 1% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£26	£58	£147
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£90
🍝 Food per day	£10	£18	£52
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£3	£5

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£8
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£2.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£3.60
☕ Cappuccino	£2.10
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.65

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.22
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£3.30
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.90

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.20
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£21
🤧 Cold medication	£3.80
💇 Basic haircut	£2.60

Safety information overview

General safety

Guilin is generally safe for tourists. Petty theft can occur, so keep an eye on your belongings. Avoid unlicensed river cruises or tours to stay safe.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are available in Guilin, but English-speaking staff might be limited. Bring any necessary medication and consider travel insurance with medical coverage.

Accessibility

Major tourist sites are accessible, though some natural areas like the Longji Rice Terraces have challenging terrain for those with mobility issues.

Tap water

Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Stick to bottled water, which is widely available. Carry a bottle, as public drinking fountains are rare.