Guilin

Basic Overview

Located in northeastern Guangxi, Guilin is a world-famous international tourist city honored as “the best landscape under heaven”. Dominated by magnificent karst landforms, limpid river systems and layered pastoral scenery, Guilin represents the classic ink-wash landscape of southern China. Inhabited by multiple ethnic groups including Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Dong people, it blends stunning natural ecology, thousand-year ancient city culture and rich ethnic customs. It is the most iconic landscape travel destination in southern China for overseas tourists.

Natural Landscapes

Guilin’s scenery is defined by dense karst peaks, clear winding rivers, cave landscapes and rural pastoral terraces, with fresh air all year round.

• Li River Scenic Belt: The core landscape of Guilin. Green karst peaks stand along the crystal-clear Li River, forming the classic scroll-like Chinese landscape.
• Elephant Trunk Hill: City symbol of Guilin, a unique hill shaped like an elephant drinking river water.
• Reed Flute Cave: Super large karst cave with colorful stalactites and stone formations, known as “Nature’s Art Palace”.
• Longji Rice Terraces: Layered golden-green terraced fields built on mountain slopes, presenting spectacular rural seasonal scenery.
• Diecai Hill & Fubo Hill: Stacked layered rock hills and river-view peaks in downtown, forming elegant urban mountain-river scenery.

Historical and Cultural Sites

Guilin retains ancient city relics, imperial scenic inscriptions, ancient ferry piers and traditional southern Guangxi cultural heritage.

• Guilin Ancient City Wall & Old Street: Well-preserved ancient urban pattern with old pavilions, arches and traditional southern-style buildings.
• Duxiu Peak & Royal City: Ancient imperial examination city complex with cliff inscriptions from multiple dynasties.
• Zengpiyan Ancient Ruins: Prehistoric human settlement site recording ancient southern Chinese civilization.
• Ancient Ferry Sites along Li River: Old transportation relics witnessing thousand-year river trade history.

Local culture experiences

Guilin’s travel experiences focus on Li River cruise, ethnic customs, pastoral slow travel and traditional handicraft appreciation.

• Li River Classic Cruise: Take a sightseeing boat from Guilin to Yangshuo, enjoy 80km of continuous karst landscape.
• Zhuang Ethnic Folk Performance: Watch traditional Zhuang singing and dancing, folk costumes and ethnic ritual shows.
• Rice Terraces Hiking & Photography: Walk Longji Terraces, visit local Yao and Zhuang mountain villages.
• Traditional Guilin Handicraft Visit: Watch bamboo weaving and traditional stone carving craftsmanship.

Local cuisine

Guilin cuisine features fresh mountain and river ingredients, sour and refreshing southern flavor, famous for rice-noodle series and ethnic snacks.

• Guilin Rice Noodles: China’s iconic rice noodle dish with savory brine, peanuts, bean curd and crisp toppings.
• Braised Li River Fish: Fresh wild river fish cooked in mild sauce, retaining original river freshness.
• Osmanthus Glutinous Rice Cake: Fragrant local dessert with sweet osmanthus flavor, representative Guilin pastry.
• Sour Bamboo Shoot Dishes: Classic southern Guangxi sour-flavor specialty, refreshing and appetizing.
• Zhuang Ethnic Glutinous Rice: Colorful steamed glutinous rice with natural plant dyes, traditional ethnic festival food.

Recommended itinerary 

• Day 1: Downtown core sights — Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Two Rivers & Four Lakes night view
• Day 2: Full-day Li River cruise to Yangshuo along the classic landscape route
• Day 3: Longji Rice Terraces sightseeing & mountain ethnic village visit

Travel tips

Best travel time: April–October. Spring misty river scenery and autumn terrace golden view are the most beautiful. Rainy days are frequent in summer; carry light rain gear. Mountain terrace areas have large temperature differences between morning and evening.