South · DESTINATION GUIDE

Guilin 桂林

Guilin is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Guangxi, where limestone hills rise among rivers, plains and urban streets. Central Guilin offers one kind of stay, while Yangshuo's countryside and northern terrace villages provide others within a much wider administrative area. Give the city time before leaving for the landscape: a rice-noodle breakfast, a historical precinct and an evening around the lakes make a coherent introduction. Then choose one countryside base according to the river, village or agricultural setting you most want to explore.

Location of Guilin in China

About Guilin

Guilin at a glance

Population
4,908,600Year-end resident population, entire city administrative area · 2025Source ↗
Income per person
36,010Mean annual disposable income per person, all residents · 2025 · CNYSource ↗
Languages & dialects
Mandarin and Guilin/Guiliu speech (桂林话、桂柳话), part of northern Guangxi's Southwestern Mandarin tradition.The wider prefecture also includes communities with other languages.Source ↗
Geography
Northern part of the Guilin–Yangshuo karst basin, with river plains and surrounding northern Guangxi mountains.Source ↗
Elevation
Central karst plain and river terraces about 150–160 m; surrounding peaks and mountain counties are higher.Central basin landforms, not a prefecture-wide average.Source ↗
Province / region
GuangxiPrefecture-level city in Guangxi
Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) · 芦笛岩
Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan) · Guilin · Fremantle99 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Discover Guilin

See several sides of the karst city

The Jingjiang Princes' Palace area and riverside walks provide a historical and urban beginning. Elephant Trunk Hill offers the familiar silhouette, while Ronghu and Shanhu suit another look at the city after the day's main visits. Reed Flute Cave shifts attention from distant peaks to underground formations. These are distinct experiences rather than interchangeable photograph stops. A simple noodle bowl and a slower oil-tea meal also show how local life extends beyond the scenery.

Choose precisely within Yangshuo

Yangshuo county town, Xingping's Li River setting and the Yulong River countryside offer different accommodation and outing choices. A hotel near one is not automatically convenient for the others. Select the river activity or walking area first, establish its beginning and end, then arrange the transfers. Leave time for village roads and a seated beer-fish dinner. A countryside stay is most rewarding when it is based around the actual place you want to experience.

Add a northern or food-focused county deliberately

Longji in Longsheng is a separate terrace-and-village journey, with agricultural appearance changing through the farming cycle. Xing'an's Lingqu Canal offers another northern direction for an interest in historic water systems. Gongcheng oil tea, Lipu taro with pork and Pingle stuffed dishes can motivate different food-led detours, but these counties are not one compact route. Central Guilin plus one chosen rural base is a useful starting point; add other areas only when they serve a clear interest.

Explore Guilin

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Guilin local specialties

桂林特色美食 · 27 specialties to discover

Photograph of Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉).Guilin rice noodles 桂林米粉

The strands are smooth, carrying a concentrated savory sauce, while pickles and crunchy toppings add sharpness and texture. Each shop's brine has its own character.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Flickr user gigijin · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Preparing Gongcheng oil tea by pounding and stirring tea leaves, ginger and accompaniments in a pan.Gongcheng oil tea 恭城油茶

The drink is tea-bitter, ginger-warm and savory, with crunchy additions softening as they soak. It is closer to a light meal than a sweet bottled tea.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Nan Ning Huang Sokaz 12 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Yangshuo beer fish (阳朔啤酒鱼).Yangshuo beer fish 阳朔啤酒鱼

The flesh is tender beneath a rich, aromatic sauce; beer forms part of the cooking liquid rather than making the dish taste like a cold drink. Tomato or peppers may add freshness.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Filipe Fortes from United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Pork belly layered with taro; the photograph does not establish the taro cultivar or growing origin.Lipu taro with pork 荔浦芋扣肉

The taro is powdery and creamy, contrasting with rich, yielding pork. Both absorb a concentrated savory sauce, often with a fermented note.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Peachyeung316 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Pingle stuffed dishes · 平乐十八酿 · AI dish illustrationPingle stuffed dishes 平乐十八酿AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

Different outer ingredients give the stuffed dishes distinct soft, crisp or chewy textures, even when their fillings share similar seasonings.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photograph of Osmanthus cakes (桂花糕).Osmanthus cakes 桂花糕

Expect a floral fragrance and gentle sweetness, with texture ranging from soft and crumbly to smooth and elastic. The ingredient list is more informative than the name alone.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: 李元顥 · Public domain
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Nun-style vegetable noodle soup · 尼姑素面 · AI dish illustrationNun-style vegetable noodle soup 尼姑素面AI illustration · AI 示意图

The bowl is light but savory, with earthy mushrooms, soft noodles and contrasting chewy toppings.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Bean-paste sticky rice · 豆蓉糯米饭 · AI dish illustrationBean-paste sticky rice 豆蓉糯米饭AI illustration · AI 示意图

Sticky rice and smooth bean paste contrast with crunchy toppings, while the seasoning can be sweet, salty or spicy.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
All dish names · 全部菜名 (27)

Top sights in Guilin

Trip.Best · Best Things to DoChecked 2026-09-20

  1. Elephant Hill Scenic Area · 象鼻山景区TOP1

    Elephant Trunk Hill 象鼻山

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    象山区

    Elephant Trunk Hill stands where the Taohua and Li rivers meet in Guilin. The limestone outline resembles an elephant lowering its trunk into the water, with a rounded opening beneath the arch. That opening is known as…

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  2. Li River Three-star cruise ship · 漓江三星游船TOP2

    Li River Three-star cruise ship 漓江三星游船

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    灵川县
  3. Solitary Beauty Peak Prince City Scenic Area · 独秀峰王城景区TOP3

    Solitary Beauty Peak and Princes' City 独秀峰王城

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    秀峰区

    Duxiufeng Wangcheng (独秀峰王城) is the walled former residence of the Ming-dynasty Prince of Jingjiang, Zhu Shouqian, standing below Duxiu Peak on the west bank of the Li River in Xiufeng District, Guilin, and listed in December 2022 among China's fourth batch of National Archaeological Site Parks.

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  4. Longji Rice Terraces · 龙脊梯田TOP4

    Longsheng Rice Terraces 龙脊梯田

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    龙胜县

    The Longji terraces wrap around mountain contours in a pattern of narrow fields and curving embankments. Their appearance changes with cultivation: flooded plots reflect the sky, growing rice turns the slopes green, and harvest…

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  5. Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area · 桂林两江四湖景区TOP5

    Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area 桂林两江四湖景区

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    象山区
  6. Guilin Li River Scenic Area · 桂林漓江景区TOP6

    Guilin Li River Scenic Area 桂林漓江景区

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    灵川县
  7. Impression Sanjie Liu · 《印象刘三姐》山水实景演出TOP7

    Impression Sanjie Liu 《印象刘三姐》山水实景演出

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    阳朔县
  8. Silver Cave · 银子岩TOP8

    Silver Cave 银子岩

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    荔浦市

    Silver Cave is a multi-level limestone cave near Lipu, with a managed route through a lower cave, a large hall and an upper section. Lighting picks out hanging formations, columns and reflective water, allowing their shapes to…

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  9. Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic Area · 阳朔如意峰TOP9

    Ruyi Peak Scenic Area 阳朔如意峰

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    阳朔县

    Ruyi Peak is a developed hilltop attraction that uses a cableway and elevated paths to reveal Yangshuo’s limestone landscape. Yuanbao, Ruyi and Xianglian peaks frame the visit, with a viewing platform, suspension bridge and…

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  10. Guilin Songcheng Show Park · 桂林千古情景区TOP10

    Guilin Songcheng Show Park 桂林千古情景区

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    阳朔县
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Ranking source & photo credits

The first ten entries of Trip.Best Best Things to Do. Rankings reflect platform recommendations, not counts of international visitors. Read on 20 September 2026; platform pages may use cached snapshots.

  • Elephant Trunk Hill: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Li River Three-star cruise ship: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Solitary Beauty Peak and Princes' City: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Longsheng Rice Terraces: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Two Rivers and Four Lakes Scenic Area: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Guilin Li River Scenic Area: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Impression Sanjie Liu: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Silver Cave: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Ruyi Peak Scenic Area: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Guilin Songcheng Show Park: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.

Our place guide directory →

EXPLORE THE NEXT LEVEL

Counties & districts in Guilin

17 areas belong directly to Guilin.

17 areas

District

Xiufeng District 秀峰区

Xiufeng District is a district of the city of Guilin, Guangxi, China.

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Diecai District 叠彩区

Diecai District (simplified Chinese: 叠彩区; traditional Chinese: 疊彩區; pinyin: Diécǎi Qū; Zhuang language: Dezcaij Gih) is a district of the city of Guilin, Guangxi, China.

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Xiangshan District 象山区

Xiangshan District ( [ɕjâŋ.ʂán] simplified Chinese: 象山区; traditional Chinese: 象山區; pinyin: Xiàngshān Qū; Zhuang: Siengsanh Gih) is a district of the city of Guilin, Guangxi, China.

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Qixing District 七星区

Qixing District is a district of the city of Guilin, Guangxi, China.

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District

Yanshan District 雁山区

Yanshan District is a district covering part of the southern suburbs of Guilin, Guangxi, China.

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Lingui District 临桂区

Lingui District is the county seat and district administered by Guilin, Guangxi, China, and located midway between Guilin and Yangshuo.

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Yangshuo County 阳朔县

Yangshuo County (simplified Chinese: 阳朔县; traditional Chinese: 陽朔縣; pinyin: Yángshuò Xiàn) is a county under the jurisdiction of Guilin City, in the northeast of Guangxi, China.

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Lingchuan County 灵川县

Lingchuan County (simplified Chinese: 灵川县; traditional Chinese: 靈川縣; pinyin: Língchuān Xiàn) is a county in the northeast of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city.

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Quanzhou County 全州县

Quanzhou County is a county in the northeast of Guangxi, China, bordering Hunan province to the north and east. It is under the administration of Guilin City.

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Xing'an County 兴安县

Xing'an County is a county in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. It is administered as part of the prefecture-level city of Guilin.

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Yongfu County 永福县

Yongfu County is a county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Guilin, Guangxi, China, located 55 km (34 mi) to the southwest of downtown Guilin.

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Guanyang County 灌阳县

Guanyang County (simplified Chinese: 灌阳县; traditional Chinese: 灌陽縣; pinyin: Guànyáng Xiàn; Zhuang language: Gvan'yangz Yen) is a county in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China…

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Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County 龙胜各族自治县

Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 龙胜各族自治县; traditional Chinese: 龍勝各族自治縣; pinyin: Lóngshèng Gèzú Zìzhìxiàn; Zhuang: Lungzhingz Gakcuz Swciyen; usually referred to as…

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Ziyuan County 资源县

Ziyuan County (simplified Chinese: 资源县; traditional Chinese: 資源縣; pinyin: Zīyuán Xiàn; Zhuang: Swhyenz Yen) is a county in the northeast of Guangxi, China, bordering Hunan province to the north.

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Pingle County 平乐县

Pingle County (simplified Chinese: 平乐县; traditional Chinese: 平樂縣; pinyin: Pínglè Xiàn; Zhuang: Bingzloz Yen) is a county in the northeast of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin city.

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Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County 恭城瑶族自治县

Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County (simplified Chinese: 恭城瑶族自治县; traditional Chinese: 恭城瑤族自治縣; pinyin: Gōngchéng Yáozú Zìzhìxiàn) is a county within the prefecture-level city of Guilin, Guangxi, China.

Explore the area →County-level city

Lipu 荔浦市

Lipu is a county-level city in the northeast of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Guilin City, the downtown of which is 100 km (62 mi) to the north.

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Arrive, stay & get around Guilin

交通枢纽、住宿与天气

YOUR ARRIVAL GATEWAY

Guilin桂林

Transport gateways for Guilin; check the named terminal or station on the ticket.

Airports

Railway stations

Metro & city transport

Coaches, ferries & onward travel

Transport reference review: 2026-09-06. Consult the operator for current services and timetables.

More about getting around

Arrive through Guilin Liangjiang airport or by rail. Choose the correct station and plan onward transport separately for Yangshuo or Longji.

Stay in Guilin

Choose central Guilin for a city stay. Within Yangshuo county, compare the county town, villages near the Yulong River and the separate town of Xingping. Longji's terrace villages are in Longsheng, so check the exact village and the final transfer before booking.

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Guilin weather

The current-hour forecast loads when this section is visible. It uses MET Norway model data for the named city, not station observations.

Seasons & when to go

Summers are warm and humid with seasonal rain; river conditions and visibility vary with the weather.

Local life & communication

Guilin's everyday character is visible where limestone hills meet normal streets, noodle counters and waterside evening walks. Its wider administrative area includes rural counties with separate food traditions and landscapes. An urban meal, a Yangshuo river day and a Longsheng terrace walk reveal different local settings; none should stand in for the whole destination.

Rice noodles and regional food complement countryside routes through culturally varied communities.

Language & communication

Mandarin is useful in the city; local speech and minority languages vary in surrounding areas.

Useful local tips

  • Select central Guilin plus one countryside base first. Check the station, county, village and final hotel address together before reserving a transfer.
  • Li River and Yulong River products differ by route and operator. Confirm the finish point and onward journey; if a rented vehicle is left at the start, establish how you will return to collect it.
  • For Longji, choose the village and walking route before the accommodation. The terraces are cultivated land, and a photograph from another month does not establish what your travel dates will look like.
  • At a shared fish meal, establish the fish, portion and price first. For oil tea, ask what accompaniments are included and what is ordered separately.
  • Keep an urban evening flexible for the lakes and a meal instead of treating the city only as a transfer stop.

Written by China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-09-07

Sources & useful links