First Time in Guilin — The Complete Beginner's Guide for 2026

Q: How many days should I spend in Guilin as a first-timer?

Two to three days covers the three core experiences — a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, cycling the Yangshuo countryside along the Yulong River, and an evening on West Street. With four or five days you have room to stay overnight in the Longji rice terraces for sunrise, and add the Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill and Xingping ancient town.

Q: Do Thai nationals need a visa for Guilin?

As of 2026, Thai passport holders benefit from a roughly 30-day visa-free arrangement for tourism. However, the policy can change, so always verify the current requirements with the Chinese embassy or a reliable official source before you travel.

Q: Does Guilin have a metro? How do I get around the city?

Guilin has no metro or subway for visitors. You get around the city by public buses at ¥1-2 (scan Alipay or WeChat), and by cheap taxis and DiDi rides. To reach Yangshuo (about 65 km) you take a bus or the bullet train from Guilin North to Yangshuo station in just 24 minutes, and the Longji rice terraces are a roughly two-hour tour bus or charter ride north. Use Amap or Apple Maps to navigate, because Google Maps does not work in China.

Q: What is the best month to visit Guilin?

April to May and September to October are the best, with green landscapes, full rivers and the scenery at its most photogenic. The Longji rice terraces turn gold at harvest from mid-September to early October, and become mirror-like water after spring planting from late April to June. Avoid summer (June to August), which is hot, humid and the wettest, and steer clear of the Golden Week in early October and Chinese New Year, when crowds and prices spike.

Why Guilin

The finest scenery in all of China

Seen the images of strange green peaks rising straight out of a clear river? That is Guilin — a city in Guangxi province where nature has sculpted thousands of limestone (karst) peaks along the Li River. For centuries the Chinese have said "桂林山水甲天下" — the mountains and waters of Guilin are the finest under heaven. And the stretch of the Li River near Xingping is the very scene printed on the 20-yuan note in your wallet.

The heart of the trip is three experiences — a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo through the most beautiful peaks · the Yangshuo countryside, where you cycle past paddy fields and drift on bamboo rafts along the Yulong River · and the Longji rice terraces, stepping up the mountainside like living contour lines. This is a slow city you come to in order to breathe with nature, not a city of skyscrapers — see the full picture in our complete Guilin guide →

A note: the information here is compiled from public sources and real visitor accounts. Prices and opening hours can change — always check the latest before you travel.

Plan your trip

How many days is enough?

The honest answer: two to three days covers the three core experiences — a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, cycling the Yangshuo countryside along the Yulong River, and an evening on West Street. With four or five days you have room to stay overnight in the Longji rice terraces and fill in the city highlights.

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2–3 days — the three core experiences

Best for first-timers short on time

Day 1: city highlights in Guilin — Elephant Trunk Hill → Two Rivers Four Lakes → the Sun-Moon Pagodas after dark. Day 2: cruise the Li River to Yangshuo → wander West Street. Day 3: cycle the Yulong River countryside + drift on a bamboo raft.

Full plan: 3-day itinerary →

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4–5 days — slower + up to Longji

Best if you want to go deeper

+Day 4: the Longji rice terraces (Ping'an or Dazhai), staying a night to catch sunrise over the paddies. +Day 5: Xingping ancient town, the Reed Flute Cave, or simply explore at your own pace.

Full plan: 5-day itinerary →

There is a plan for every length of trip: 1 day (short visit) · 2 days · 3 days · 4 days · 5 days

Before you go

When to go + the visa question

The best windows

Spring + early autumn

April to May and September to October are the best, with green landscapes, full rivers and the scenery at its most photogenic. The Longji rice terraces turn gold at harvest from mid-September to early October, and become mirror-like water after spring planting from late April to June. Summer (Jun–Aug) is hot, humid and the wettest (rivers run high with dramatic mist, but downpours happen). Winter (Dec–Feb) is cool, around 5–12°C, often foggy, and low water on the Li River can shorten the cruise. See month-by-month detail in when to visit →

Avoid: Golden Week (1–7 Oct) and Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) — crowds and prices double or triple.

Visa for Thai nationals

~30-day visa-free (verify before you go)

As of 2026, Thai passport holders enter China visa-free for short tourist stays. The policy can change, however, so check the latest at our China visa-free guide for Thais → before booking your flights.

Bring: a passport valid for 6+ months and a confirmed hotel booking.

Before you leave home: set up an eSIM and VPN for China → (Google, Facebook and LINE are blocked) and have Alipay or WeChat Pay → linked to a card and ready to go.

Getting in

From the airport + rail into the city

Direct flights from Bangkok land at Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL), about 28 km southwest of the city centre. Guilin has no airport metro — plan your way in before you arrive.

From KWL airport to the city

Airport bus / taxi / DiDi

The airport bus (机场大巴) — best value, running into Guilin Railway Station in the centre, ¥20 (about ฿100), around 60 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes from about 07:00 to 22:30. A taxi costs ¥80–100 (about ฿400–500) and takes 40–50 minutes — handy with heavy luggage. DiDi runs ¥70–90 (about ฿350–450) with transparent pricing; many hotels arrange a paid pickup. Heading straight to Yangshuo, there are shuttles and charters of around 1.5 hours.

Full detail: airport transfer guide →

Arriving by high-speed rail (HSR)

Linking Guangzhou, Nanning and Yangshuo

Guilin's main stations are Guilin (桂林站) in the centre, walkable to the Two Rivers Four Lakes and Zhongshan Road and best if you are staying there; Guilin North (桂林北站), the main bullet-train hub; and Guilin West (桂林西站) on the Guiyang–Guangzhou line. From Guilin North it is just ~24 minutes to Yangshuo station (8+ bullet trains a day, ~¥30, then about 30 minutes onward into Yangshuo town), about 2h45 to Guangzhou South, and 1.5–2.5 hours to Nanning. Book through Trip.com or the 12306 app.

Rail overview: China high-speed rail guide →

Getting around + paying

What to use in the city

The Li River at Guilin — limestone karst peaks lining a clear river with a boat passing through light mist

Getting around Guilin — no metro

Buses ¥1–2 · DiDi · 24-min train to Yangshuo

Guilin has no metro or subway. You get around the city by buses at ¥1–2 (scan Alipay or WeChat; many routes pass the lakes and Elephant Trunk Hill) and by cheap taxis and DiDi (flagfall around ¥9–10), the easiest default. For Yangshuo (~65 km) take a bus or the bullet train to Yangshuo station in 24 minutes, and for the Longji terraces a roughly two-hour tour bus or charter. See detail in our getting around Guilin guide →

Tip: use Amap (Gaode Maps) or Apple Maps to navigate — Google Maps does not work in China.

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Paying in Guilin

Alipay · WeChat Pay · credit card · cash

Most places run on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Hotels and larger venues take Visa and Mastercard, but small noodle shops, market stalls and street carts often accept mobile payment only. Set up the tourist version of Alipay before you leave (it links foreign cards), or keep some yuan from an ATM as backup. See the full guide to paying in China →

Internet: Google, Facebook and LINE need a VPN or eSIM — see the VPN + eSIM guide →

⚠️ Guilin has no metro — plan by geography: the main sights are spread out (Guilin city ↔ Yangshuo ~65 km ↔ Longji ~2 hours north), with no metro map to follow. The fix: group your sights by area — one day in the city, one day in Yangshuo, a separate day up at Longji — then match the train, bus or charter to each route. That is the most efficient way to use your time.

Where to stay

Which area to base in

In Guilin you can choose your base by the kind of trip you want — the city for walk-everywhere convenience, Yangshuo for countryside and karst peaks, Longji for sunrise over the terraces. Learn the areas first and choosing a hotel gets much easier. See real hotel reviews in our Top 10 Guilin hotels →

Central Guilin

Two Rivers Four Lakes / Zhengyang Street — the best first-timer base

The heart of the city, within walking distance of Elephant Trunk Hill and the Zhengyang pedestrian street. After dark, the Two Rivers Four Lakes light up with the glowing Sun-Moon Pagodas. Hotels range from hostels to luxury towers. This is the answer if it is your first visit and you want to make the most of your time.

Best for: first-timers, walk-everywhere convenience, close to the rail station.

Near the rail station / Guilin North

Rail-convenient and good value

Stay near Guilin Railway Station or Guilin North if you plan to take the train onward to Yangshuo, Guangzhou or Nanning. It is usually better value than the central tourist core, and you can still reach the sights by a short bus or DiDi ride.

Best for: multi-city trips, travellers watching the budget.

Yangshuo — West Street / Yulong River

A base among the karst peaks

About 65 km south of Guilin, where you wake up surrounded by limestone peaks. West Street buzzes after dark, while the countryside out along the Yulong River is quiet and rural, made for cycling past paddies and drifting on bamboo rafts. This is where luxury resorts like Alila and Banyan Tree cluster.

Best for: nature lovers, a slower pace, couples.

Longji terrace villages — Ping'an / Dazhai

Sleep above the rice terraces

Stay up in a village on the Longji rice terraces to wake for sunrise over paddies stepping up the mountain. Most stays are local-style timber guesthouses and small hotels run by the Zhuang and Yao communities. Ideal if you want the photos and atmosphere that the city cannot give you.

Best for: photographers, nature lovers, anyone happy to climb a little.

See real hotel reviews: Top 10 Guilin hotels for every budget → · 6 luxury hotels in Guilin → · full area guide →

The essentials

Sights no first-timer should miss

Guilin has plenty to see, but on a first visit these are the core everyone should experience — see the full list in Guilin attractions → or day trips from the city →

A Li River cruise at Guilin — a boat gliding past karst peaks reflected on the clear water through a veil of mist

Li River cruise (漓江)

The number-one highlight · half to full day

The cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo runs about 4–5 hours through the most beautiful stretch of karst peaks, including the Xingping scene printed on the 20-yuan note. On a clear day you see mountain reflections on the water; on a misty day you get the ink-wash painting effect. Book ahead on Klook.

Route: a pier near Guilin · ending in Yangshuo

The Yulong River in Yangshuo — bamboo rafts drifting past karst peaks with green paddy fields on both banks

Yangshuo countryside + Yulong River (遇龙河)

Cycling + bamboo rafting · half to full day

The Yangshuo countryside is the heart of the slow trip — cycle or e-bike past paddies and villages, then drift on a bamboo raft along the Yulong River, clearer and quieter than the Li, with karst peaks wrapping around on every side. The slowest, loveliest day of the trip.

Base: Yangshuo town · ~65 km from Guilin

The Longji rice terraces — paddy fields stepping up the mountainside in tiers, curving along the ridges

Longji rice terraces (龙脊梯田)

Gold at harvest Sept–Oct · ~2 hours north

Paddy fields stepping up the mountain like a "dragon's backbone", as the name says. They turn gold at harvest from mid-September to early October, and become mirror-like water after spring planting from late April to June. Ping'an and Dazhai villages offer different viewpoints — staying a night for sunrise is well worth it.

Getting there: tour bus or charter, ~2 hours from Guilin

Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin — a karst hill shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River

Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山)

The city's symbol · right in town

A karst hill shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River — the emblem of Guilin that everyone comes to photograph. It sits right in the city, walkable from the central hotel areas. Late afternoon and the illuminated evening are the prettiest times.

Location: central Guilin, on the Li River

The Reed Flute Cave in Guilin — stalactites and stalagmites lit in many colours and reflected in a still pool

Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩)

A floodlit limestone cave · in the city

A limestone cave where the stalactites and stalagmites are floodlit in colour to look like an underground palace, with a still pool inside that mirrors the lights beautifully. It is a good indoor sight on a rainy day, not far from the city centre.

Location: northwest outskirts of Guilin

West Street in Yangshuo — an old pedestrian street lined with shops, restaurants and bars, busy at night

West Street (西街)

Yangshuo's pedestrian street · liveliest after dark

The old pedestrian street at the centre of Yangshuo, lined with restaurants, cafés, bars and souvenir shops. After dark it becomes the social hub of town — the perfect place to find dinner after a day of cycling or cruising.

Location: central Yangshuo town

Want to see more: Two Rivers Four Lakes (an evening boat ride in the city) · Xingping ancient town (the 20-yuan-note viewpoint) · Seven Star Park (a large city park) — see them all in Guilin attractions → · day trips →

What to eat

Guilin food you have to try

Guilin food has a gentle mountain-and-river flavour, less fiery than Chongqing or Sichuan, built around its famous rice noodles, Yangshuo beer fish and oil tea. See more in our Guilin food guide →

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Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉)

The city's daily breakfast · the one to try

Rice noodles tossed in a signature braised sauce (卤水) with roasted peanuts, stewed meat and pickled vegetables. Locals eat them for breakfast every day — toss them together before you start, then add chilli and peanuts to taste. Very cheap and on every street corner. More in our Guilin rice noodles guide →

Price: ¥8–18 (about ฿40–90) per bowl

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Yangshuo beer fish (啤酒鱼)

Yangshuo's signature dish · a shared-table feast

A whole river fish cooked with beer, tomato, chilli and spices into a tangy, sweet, gently spicy balance — the signature dish of Yangshuo that almost every restaurant makes. Eaten with steamed rice after a day of cycling, it hits the spot. More in our Yangshuo beer fish guide →

Price: ¥60–120 (about ฿300–600) per fish

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Oil tea (油茶)

Pounded tea with crunchy bits · a northern Guilin specialty

A local drink from the Gongcheng and Longsheng areas to the north: tea leaves pan-fried with ginger and garlic, then pounded into a rich, savoury brew, served with puffed rice, beans and crunchy snacks. The salty, nutty taste is unusual but moreish — a welcome ritual of the Zhuang and Yao people. More in our Guilin oil tea guide →

Price: ¥15–40 (about ฿75–200) per set

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Local dishes + street food

Guangxi flavours · mild, fragrant with spice

Guangxi home cooking leans on fresh ingredients and rounded flavours — signatures include taro-and-pork casserole, river fish and roast duck. The night-market street food runs from snails and sweets to grilled skewers. More in our local cuisine → · street food →

Price: ¥10–60 (about ฿50–300) per item

More Guilin food: street food → · cafés →

Set a budget

How much will it cost?

Guilin works on any budget — there are cheap places to stay, buses are very inexpensive, and food is good value. The bigger costs are admission tickets (the Li River cruise, Reed Flute Cave and Longji terraces all charge entry) and the tours or charters out to Yangshuo and Longji. See the full breakdown in our Guilin trip budget →

Tier	Stay / night	Food / day	Total / day (rough)
Budget	¥100–250 (฿500–1,250) hostel or budget hotel	¥60–120 (฿300–600)	¥250–500 (~฿1,250–2,500)
Mid-range	¥300–650 (฿1,500–3,250) 3–4 star hotel	¥150–350 (฿750–1,750)	¥600–1,300 (~฿3,000–6,500)
Luxury	¥1,200–4,000+ (฿6,000–20,000+) Yangshuo resort / mountain view	¥400–1,500+ (฿2,000–7,500+)	¥2,000–6,500+ (~฿10,000–32,500+)

Buses are ¥1–2 a ride, but budget for the Li River cruise, tickets to the Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill and Longji terraces, and a charter up to Longji. See more in the China travel budget guide →

Good to know

What first-timers get wrong

Guilin has no metro

Plan by geography, not by a metro map

Unlike other large Chinese cities, Guilin has no metro or subway for visitors. In the city you ride buses at ¥1–2 and take taxis or DiDi, while the main sights are spread out (city ↔ Yangshuo ↔ Longji). The trick is to group your sights into day-by-day clusters by area, then match the train, bus or charter to each.

Tip: DiDi is the easiest way to hail a ride · book the train to Yangshuo ahead in peak season.

Google / Facebook / LINE are blocked

Set up before you leave home

China blocks all of Google's services (Maps, Gmail, Translate), Facebook, Instagram, LINE, YouTube and WhatsApp. Without a working VPN you are cut off from all of it. Set up a VPN on your phone before you leave, and download Amap (maps) and Baidu Translate. See the VPN + eSIM guide for China →

Replacements: Amap instead of Google Maps · Apple Maps works · WeChat instead of LINE.

Small places take mobile pay only

Credit cards aren't accepted everywhere

Local noodle shops, market stalls and street carts mostly take Alipay or WeChat Pay only — there is no card terminal. Set up the tourist version of Alipay (it links foreign Visa and Mastercard), or withdraw some cash from an ATM as backup; ¥500–1,000 should cover small purchases.

See the guide: paying in China →

Carry destinations in Chinese

Most drivers can't read English

The airport and rail stations have English signs, but most taxi and DiDi drivers can't read place names in English. Save your destinations in Chinese characters on your phone, or show the driver the screen in Amap.

Examples: Yangshuo = 阳朔 · Elephant Trunk Hill = 象鼻山 · Longji = 龙脊

Misty, drizzly days are Guilin at its best

Don't be disappointed by grey skies

The postcard image of peaks floating above the mist comes on overcast or lightly drizzling days, not under blazing sun. If you wake to fog, don't despair — that is Guilin in its ink-wash-painting form. Pack a light rain jacket and shoes with grip.

Sweet spots: Apr–May / Sep–Oct · see when to visit →

Golden Week & Chinese New Year — very crowded

Avoid if you can

During Golden Week (1–7 October) the whole country travels at once; the Li River cruise boats and the Longji terraces get packed and hotel prices double or triple. Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) is also busy, with some places closed. See detail in when to visit →

Sweet spots: April–May / September–October.

Frequently asked

FAQ · before you travel

How many days should I spend in Guilin as a first-timer?

Two to three days covers the three core experiences — a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, cycling the Yangshuo countryside along the Yulong River, and an evening on West Street. With four or five days you have room to stay overnight in the Longji rice terraces for sunrise, and add the Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill and Xingping ancient town. See all the plans: 1 day · 3 days · 5 days

Do Thai nationals need a visa for Guilin?

As of 2026, Thai passport holders benefit from a roughly 30-day visa-free arrangement for tourism. The policy can change, however, so always verify the current requirements with the Chinese embassy or our China visa-free guide for Thais → before booking.

How do I get from Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL) to the city?

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) is about 28 km from the city centre, and Guilin has no airport metro. The best-value option is the airport bus into Guilin Railway Station in the centre, ¥20 (about ฿100), around 60 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes from about 07:00 to 22:30. A taxi runs ¥80–100 (about ฿400–500) or a DiDi ¥70–90 (about ฿350–450), taking 40–50 minutes. Full detail in our airport transfer guide →

Does Guilin have a metro? How do I get around the city?

Guilin has no metro or subway for visitors. You get around the city by buses at ¥1–2 (scan Alipay or WeChat) and by cheap taxis and DiDi rides. To reach Yangshuo (~65 km) you take a bus or the bullet train from Guilin North to Yangshuo station in just 24 minutes, and the Longji rice terraces are a roughly two-hour tour bus or charter ride north. Use Amap or Apple Maps to navigate. More in our getting around Guilin guide →

What is the best month to visit Guilin?

April to May and September to October are the best, with green landscapes, full rivers and the scenery at its most photogenic. The Longji terraces turn gold at harvest from mid-September to early October, and become mirror-like water after spring planting from late April to June. Avoid summer (Jun–Aug), which is hot, humid and the wettest, and steer clear of the Golden Week in early October and Chinese New Year. See every month in when to visit →

Should I stay in Guilin city or in Yangshuo?

If it is your first visit and you want to walk to everything, stay in central Guilin around the Two Rivers Four Lakes and Zhengyang street, within reach of Elephant Trunk Hill and the illuminated Sun-Moon Pagodas at night. If you prefer waking among the karst peaks and cycling past paddies, stay in Yangshuo near West Street or out along the Yulong River. To watch sunrise over the terraces, spend a night in a Longji village such as Ping'an or Dazhai. Many travellers split the trip across both Guilin and Yangshuo. More in our where to stay guide →

The complete Guilin guide

Stays, sights, transport and everything you need to know

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All Guilin attractions

Li River, Yangshuo, Longji, Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave

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10 best hotels in Guilin

City centre · Yangshuo · every budget

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What to eat in Guilin

Rice noodles, beer fish, oil tea

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