Things to Do in Guilin
the Li River cruise, a Yulong raft, the Longji terraces & the Liu Sanjie show

If you only do one thing in Guilin, most people say make it this. The Li River cruise is the number-one highlight of the trip. A big covered boat leaves a pier near Guilin in the morning and sails roughly 83 km down to Yangshuo, taking about 4–5 hours. Along the way you drift past the most beautiful stretch of karst peaks — strange-shaped summits, water buffalo grazing on the banks, and the exact bend that appears on the 20-yuan note. You can eat lunch on board and stand at the stern shooting photos the whole way. When you reach Yangshuo you can walk straight up to West Street. A 4-star boat is more comfortable and less crowded than a standard one. Book ahead on Klook.

If the Li River cruise is the grand wide-angle view, the Yulong raft is the close-up countryside mood. The bamboo raft (actually PVC pipes made to look like bamboo) seats two, with a boatman who poles you along the clear, quiet Yulong River. Either side is green rice paddy, old stone bridges and karst hills mirrored in the water. Where there are small weirs the raft slides gently down them — fun, and you get a little wet. It suits anyone staying in Yangshuo who wants some quiet after the big Li River views. These days you have to book through a hotel or tour rather than turn up at the pier, and you should bring your passport. Go in the morning or evening to avoid the strong sun.

The Longji rice terraces — the "Dragon's Backbone" — prove Guilin is more than just river and hills. The Zhuang and Yao people have carved whole mountainsides into stepped paddies, from the base to the summit, for over 600 years. They sit about 2 hours north of Guilin by road. You can join a day tour with transfers, or take a bus from the bus station to Ping'an or Dazhai village. Ping'an has an easier walk up to the viewpoints; Dazhai has a cable car to the high views. Come during spring planting (Apr–Jun) for flooded paddies mirroring the sky, in summer for deep green, or at harvest (mid-Sept to early Oct) for fields of gold. Stay overnight to catch sunrise over the terraces. Book a tour ahead on Klook.

This show is something you have to see in person. Impression Liu Sanjie is an outdoor light-and-sound performance staged on the surface of the Li River in Yangshuo town, directed by Zhang Yimou, who directed the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. What makes it goosebump-worthy is that the stage is the actual river and the backdrop is 12 real, floodlit karst peaks. A cast of more than 600 local villagers and fishermen row boats, sing folk songs and trail long red sashes across the water. The performance runs about 70 minutes, with shows at roughly 7:45 pm and 9:20 pm every evening. The better-zone seats sell out fast in high season, so it pays to book ahead on Klook or through your hotel.

On a rainy day or when the sun is too strong, the Reed Flute Cave is a good indoor option. It sits in the northwest suburbs about 5 km from central Guilin, and is named for the reeds at its mouth that people once cut to make flutes. Inside is a large stalactite cave lit in many colours that turn the pillars and stone curtains into something cinematic. A walking path leads through it in about 40 minutes, with highlights like the "Crystal City" reflected in a still pool of water. The cave stays cool and comfortable all year, so it is good for kids and older travellers. Take bus 3 or a taxi about 20 minutes from the city. Buy tickets ahead on Klook.

If you want the easygoing side of Yangshuo that rushed visitors usually miss, rent a bike or e-bike and head out into the countryside. Rental shops line West Street and most guesthouses; a regular bike is about ¥30–50 a day, an e-bike about ¥50–80. The most popular route runs along the Yulong River past green paddies, old stone bridges and small villages, mostly on flat, easy roads with views the whole way. Stop for photos, sip coffee beside a paddy, or dip your feet in the river whenever you like. People who love a slow pace and rural scenery tend to fall for it. The afternoon sun is strong, so set out in the morning or evening, bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and use Amap for directions instead of Google.

The classic evening activity in Guilin city is the Two Rivers Four Lakes cruise, a waterway that links the Li River, the Peach Blossom River and four city lakes into one loop. The boat sails about 2 hours past a string of pretty bridges, with the highlight being the twin Sun and Moon Pagodas glowing gold and mirrored in the water. Some sailings include a traditional cormorant-fishing display and short shows along the banks. If you would rather not take the boat, walking the lakeside to see the lit pagodas from the shore is just as lovely and free. Buy tickets at the dock near the twin pagodas or book ahead — it makes a relaxed way to close out the day.

Pull out a Chinese 20-yuan note: the hills and river behind the figure are Xingping, a small old town on the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo. The Li River cruise sails right past this spot, but to stand at the exact banknote viewpoint you come by land into Xingping town and walk to the river, or take a small boat out to that bend. The old town itself has stone lanes, old wooden houses and little shops to wander, and it is far quieter than Yangshuo. Photographers and anyone wanting to escape the crowds will like it. It makes an easy half-day trip from Yangshuo. The old-town fee is a few tens of yuan or sometimes free; the small boat out to the banknote bend costs extra.

If Guilin has one symbol, it is Elephant Trunk Hill — a riverside hill in the city centre shaped exactly like an elephant lowering its trunk to drink from the Li River. The arch between the trunk and the legs is the "Water-Moon Cave", which reflects in the river to look like a full moon. It is the photo that has filled countless calendars and postcards. Walk the riverside park to see the hill from several angles, and climb up to the small pagoda on top. The light is softest in the late afternoon. It is central and easy to reach. These days you can sometimes enter with a QR-code scan and no ticket, though at other times there is still an entry fee — check on site — or simply view the hill for free from the opposite bank, where it is just as clear.

Coming to Guilin with kids, or just want a big park for an easy stroll, Seven Star Park is the answer. It is the largest and oldest park in the city, named for seven hills arranged like the Big Dipper. Inside it is huge, with an old flower bridge, the Seven Star Cave, hills you can climb for a view, a forest of inscribed stone steles, and a small zoo with giant pandas for the children to see. It is an easy half-day, shaded by big trees — good for a day when you want to rest your legs after all the cruising and climbing. The park entry covers the grounds; the zoo/panda section may cost extra, so check on site. It sits on the east bank of the Li River, reached by a bridge from the centre or by bus.

If you want to bring home more than photos, try a cooking class in Yangshuo. It starts with a walk through the fresh market with your chef to pick vegetables, spices and fresh ingredients — a real glimpse of local life — before you cook the town's signature dishes. Top of the list is beer fish (啤酒鱼), river fish stir-fried with beer, tomato and chilli into a bold, tangy dish that defines Yangshuo, alongside popular plates like kung pao chicken and stuffed fried eggplant. Afterwards you sit down and eat your own cooking for lunch or dinner. The class runs about 3–4 hours and is taught in English, so it suits couples, families and anyone who loves to cook. Book ahead through a cooking school or on Klook.

After a full day of cruising or cycling, Yangshuo's nights centre on West Street, a stone pedestrian street more than 1,400 years old that is quiet by day and comes alive the moment the sun goes down. Both sides fill with local and Western restaurants, bars with live music, cafés, souvenir stalls and shops selling tea and local cloth. You can graze on street food, sip a beer, listen to a band, or just take a seat at a roadside table and watch the crowds drift by. It is touristy and lively, but it keeps the charm of a small riverside town. The walk itself is free; you pay only for what you eat and buy. It makes a good way to round off the day before heading back to your room, and it sits right in the centre of Yangshuo, walkable from almost every guesthouse.