Attractions · Guilin

Called Guishui in antiquity, the Li rises on Mount Mao'er in Xing'an County, whose 2,141.5-metre summit is hailed as the highest peak in southern China; below Pingle the stream takes the name Gui Jiang, reaches the Xi River at Wuzhou and so drains into the Pearl River system, while the 83-kilometre stretch from Guilin to Yangshuo has long been treated as the scenic core. At its 38th session in 2014 the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Guilin karst as part of the second phase of South China Karst, and the dense forest of tower-like karst hills along the banks is the landscape that earned it. According to the Li River scenic area's own website, the cruise route begins at Mopanshan passenger port, under 30 km from downtown Guilin, and ends at Longtoushan wharf in Yangshuo, covering about 61 kilometres. Highlights include the 20-yuan banknote viewpoint. Tip: the Yangdi–Xingping bamboo raft is recommended, about 1.5–2 hours. Practical info: located on the Li River in Guilin (the Guilin–Yangshuo section, with Yangdi–Xingping as the highlight); tickets vary by raft/cruise; opening hours 08:00–17:30.

Tip: Yangdi to Xingping bamboo raft (about 1.5–2 hours) is recommended.

• Address: Li River, Guilin to Yangshuo (highlight section Yangdi–Xingping)
• Ticket: Varies by raft/cruise
• Opening: 08:00–17:30

Elephant Trunk Hill resembles a giant elephant dipping its trunk to drink from the Li River, with the rounded Water Moon Cave formed between trunk and body; it is Guilin's city emblem. Highlights include Puxian Pagoda, Elephant Eye Cave and the confluence of the Li and Taohua rivers. It is a natural rock hill that looks like a giant elephant stretching its trunk to drink the Li River, with the rounded Water Moon Cave between trunk and body. On moonlit nights, the reflection in the cave and on the water create the poetic image of "a bright moon at the bottom of the water, a bright moon floating on the water." On the hill stands the Ming-dynasty Puxian Pagoda, and the summit looks over the beautiful confluence of the Li and Taohua rivers — the most classic calling card of Guilin's scenery. Tip: the silhouette at dusk is most moving. Practical info: located on Binjiang Road, Xiangshan District, Guilin; admission free (all charges dropped from January 2022); opening hours 07:00–21:30. Best season: spring and autumn (April–May, September–November) have moderate rainfall, when the Li River scenery is at its clearest and most beautiful. Pair it with the Li River, Jingjiang Princes' City (Solitary Beauty Peak) and Yangshuo West Street for a half- or full-day itinerary.

Tip: The silhouette at dusk is most evocative.

• Address: Binjiang Road, Xiangshan District
• Ticket: Free (admission charge scrapped in January 2022)
• Opening: 07:00–21:30

The Jingjiang Princes' City was first built in 1372, the fifth year of the Ming Hongwu reign, as the residence of Zhu Shouqian, Prince of Jingjiang, and it is the best-preserved Ming princely palace in China. Highlights include Solitary Beauty Peak, the inscription of the famous line, the cliff inscriptions and Chengyun Gate with the palace platform. At its heart rises Solitary Beauty Peak, where the line "Guilin's scenery is the finest under heaven" was first carved into the cliff face, and nearly 200 inscriptions from successive dynasties still cover its rocks, layering princely history and literati verse on one mountain. The walled city now lies inside the Wangcheng campus of Guangxi Normal University — red walls set against the sound of study, a rare national 5A scenic area within a university — and the summit gives a panorama of all Guilin. Tip: the summit is the best spot to look over the whole city; go in the morning and allow 2 hours; the site overlaps with the university campus, so keep quiet when passing teaching areas. Practical info: located at No. 1 Wangcheng Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin; tickets from ¥89 (includes the climb up Solitary Beauty Peak; combo tickets and guide services per notices on site); opening hours 07:30–18:30.

Tip: The peak gives the best view over the whole city — go in the morning and allow about two hours.

• Address: No. 1 Wangcheng Road, Xiufeng District
• Ticket: From ¥89 (includes the climb up Solitary Beauty Peak; combo tickets per notice on site)
• Opening: 07:30–18:30

Yangshuo West Street has over a thousand years of history, is 517 metres long, and blends Ming-Qing architecture with international elements to create a distinctive "global village" atmosphere. Highlights include the Ming-Qing old buildings, distinctive bars and cafés, craft shops and the West Street night scene. The cobblestone lanes are lined with bars, cafés, craft shops and Chinese and Western restaurants, where blond-haired foreign visitors and local residents live together harmoniously. By day you can browse the distinctive shops; by night the neon glows and music drifts, making it the perfect place to experience Yangshuo's slow life. Tip: daytime suits shopping, while the evening has more atmosphere. Practical info: located in Yangshuo County, Guilin; admission free; open all day. Best season: spring and autumn (April–May, September–November) have moderate rainfall, when the Li River scenery is at its clearest and most beautiful. Pair it with the Li River, Elephant Trunk Hill and Jingjiang Princes' City (Solitary Beauty Peak) for a half- or full-day itinerary.

Tip: Daytime is great for shopping; nighttime for atmosphere. Try Yangshuo beer fish and stuffed river snails.

• Address: Yangshuo County
• Ticket: Free
• Opening: All day

Longji Rice Terraces were first built in the Yuan dynasty and have a history of more than 700 years, spiralling from the foot of the mountains to summits over 1,100 metres, layer upon layer like chains and ribbons on a spectacular scale. They were carved by the ancestors of the Zhuang and Yao peoples; when flooded they mirror the sky, and in golden autumn they roll like golden waves, presenting a completely different magnificent picture in each season. Ping'an Village and Jinkeng Dazhai are the two core viewing areas, and when clouds and mist wrap around them they seem even more like a fairyland. Highlights include the Ping'an Village terraces, Jinkeng Dazhai terraces, Thousand-Layer Stairway and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers. Tip: they are most beautiful during the flooding season (April–May) and golden autumn (September–October). Practical info: located in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Guilin; admission ¥80; opening hours 08:00–18:00. Best season: spring and autumn (April–May, September–November) have moderate rainfall, when the Li River scenery is at its clearest and most beautiful.

Tip: Most beautiful during flooding season (Apr–May) and golden autumn (Sep–Oct).

• Address: Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County
• Ticket: ¥80
• Opening: 08:00–18:00

Silver Cave is a typical karst cave where the stalactites look like silver and jade under the lighting, clear and translucent, hence the name. The cave runs through twelve peaks and has a touring area of 20,000 square metres, divided into sections including Music Stone Screen, Jade Pool Wonderland and Snow Mountain Waterfall. The "Music Stone Screen" is made up of countless stone curtains, and when tapped gently it gives out pleasing notes — an art palace carved by nature over hundreds of millions of years. Highlights include Music Stone Screen, Jade Pool Wonderland, Snow Mountain Waterfall and the musical stalactites. Tip: the cave is cool, so bring a jacket. Practical info: located at Maling Town, Lipu City, Guilin; admission ¥65; opening hours 08:30–17:30. Best season: spring and autumn (April–May, September–November) have moderate rainfall, when the Li River scenery is at its clearest and most beautiful. Pair it with the Li River, Elephant Trunk Hill and Jingjiang Princes' City (Solitary Beauty Peak) for a half- or full-day itinerary.

Tip: The cave is cool inside — bring a light jacket. Allow about 1.5 hours.

• Address: Maling Town, Lipu City
• Ticket: ¥65
• Opening: 08:30–17:30

Completed in 214 BC and 36.4 km long, the Lingqu Canal uses the Plough-Share splitter to divide the flow and joins the Xiang and Li rivers, connecting the Yangtze and Pearl River systems; it is one of the world's oldest canals with locks. It was dug in the Qin dynasty to support the southern campaign against the Bai Yue and to transport military grain. At Xing'an it divides the water at the Plough-Share and holds it back with the Great and Lesser Weirs, skilfully linking the Xiang and Li rivers; after more than two thousand years it still serves irrigation and navigation, and is now listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit and on the World Heritage Irrigation Structures list. The towpath along the canal is quiet, with old bridges, stone embankments and shrines to the engineers of successive dynasties forming a continuous scroll — Guilin's weightiest cultural heritage beyond the karst scenery. Highlights include the Plough-Share water-splitting pond, the Great and Lesser Weir stone embankments, the South and North Canals, and the shrines and old bridges. Tip: about 60 km from downtown Guilin, it can be combined with Mount Mao'er in the same county for a day; the Plough-Share and the two weirs are the core sights, the towpath rewards a slow walk, and in summer take care with sun protection and hydration. Practical info: located at No. 998 Shuangling Road, Xing'an County, Guilin (about 60 km from downtown Guilin); admission and boat tickets are sold separately, prices per notices on site; opening hours 08:30–17:00 (ticket sales and entry stop at 17:00).

Tip: Roughly 60 km from Guilin — pair it with Mount Mao, also in Xing'an, for a day trip.

• Address: No. 998 Shuangling Road, Xing'an County (about 60 km from Guilin)
• Ticket: Entrance and boat tickets sold separately; prices per notice on site
• Opening: 08:30–17:00 (sales and entry end at 17:00)