Guilin

Guilin has been considered the most beautiful landscape in China for over a thousand years. The classic image — jagged limestone karst peaks rising sharply from flat plains, reflected in the mirror-still Li River, with bamboo groves and water buffalo in the foreground — is not a fantasy constructed for tourists. It is simply what this part of Guangxi looks like, and it is breathtaking.

The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is one of the great river journeys in Asia. Over four to five hours, the boat drifts through a landscape that appears painted rather than real — each bend in the river revealing new formations of peaks with names like Nine Horses Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal. The journey ends at Yangshuo, a small town that has evolved into one of China's most popular traveller destinations, with a lively West Street, excellent cycling routes through rice paddies, and rock climbing on the karst peaks.

Guilin city itself is pleasant but less remarkable than its surroundings — most visitors use it as a base. The real draws are the countryside: cycling the countryside around Yangshuo, hiking in Longji Rice Terraces (two hours north), and exploring the caves and waterways of the broader karst landscape. This is a region best experienced slowly, ideally with a bicycle and no fixed agenda.

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) receives direct flights from major Chinese cities and some Southeast Asian destinations. The airport is about 30 kilometres from the city centre (40–50 minutes by taxi, ¥80–100). No direct metro connection currently exists.

By high-speed train, Guilin is connected to Guangzhou (2.5 hours), Shenzhen (3 hours), Changsha (2 hours), and Beijing (7–8 hours). Guilin has two railway stations: Guilin Railway Station (older, in the city centre) and Guilin North Railway Station (high-speed services, further from centre). Check which station your train uses before booking.

The Li River cruise to Yangshuo is the most famous way to arrive in Yangshuo — boats depart from Zhujiang Wharf (about 30 minutes south of Guilin by bus or taxi) and take 4–5 hours to reach Yangshuo. Tickets (¥210–310 depending on cabin class) should be booked in advance during peak season.

Most visitors divide their time between Guilin city and Yangshuo — staying in Guilin for the first night (for airport or train arrival) then moving to Yangshuo for 2–3 nights. Yangshuo offers far more atmosphere and is the better base for exploring the countryside.

In Yangshuo, West Street (Xi Jie) and the surrounding area has the most guesthouses, hostels, and boutique hotels. For a quieter, more rural experience, guesthouses in the villages surrounding Yangshuo — particularly Moon Hill and Yulong River area — offer stunning countryside settings. In Guilin city, hotels near the Two Rivers and Four Lakes area are well-located and pleasant.

The Li River cruise is weather-dependent — in heavy rain or fog, boat services may be reduced or the views obscured. Low water levels in dry season (November–March) can also affect operations. The most reliable months for the cruise are April to October.

Yangshuo is excellent for cycling — flat terrain, quiet roads through rice paddies and karst valleys, and bicycle hire available everywhere (¥40–80 per day). The route along the Yulong River is particularly beautiful and far less crowded than the Li River main corridor.

Longji Rice Terraces (Longsheng) are a half-day drive north of Guilin — best visited in May (young green rice) or late September to October (golden harvest season). An overnight stay in one of the Zhuang or Yao minority villages on the terraces is highly recommended.