Guilin Attractions - Things to Do

Guilin boasts magnificent natural beauty and many precious cultural relics. Every visitor going there will be enchanted by the unique karst landscapes, which are embodied in the verdant hills along the Li River and various caves decorated by colorful lights.

If you want to explore the Guilin top attractions in downtown only, one or two days are enough. The Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Seven-Star Park, Silver Cave, and Folded Brocade Hill are the top picks of most travelers.

However, most tourists will extend their trip to Yangshuo by a Li River cruise to fully enjoy the sceneries en route. As the ship sails down the river, you will encounter the most breathtaking part of your Guilin tour at the section from Yangdi Village to Xingping Town.

In addition, it will be a great idea to spend one or two days at the Longji Rice Terraces, a paradise for shutterbugs and ethnic culture lovers.

Top 5 Guilin Attractions

1Li River

Highlights:

• A must see during your Guilin vacation for the fascinating karst landscapes.
• As it sparkles in the sunlight, the river meanders through lush mountains like a liquid jade belt.
• A Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the best way to take in the sceneries.
• The Yellow Cloth Shoal along the Li River is where the background of the CNY20 banknote was taken.

2Yangshuo

Highlights:

• One of the most beautiful towns in China where you can feel the rustic charm of China’s countryside.
• Li River presents its glamour to the best in Yangshuo. Take a bamboo raft ride on the river is the most-favored way for visitors to relax.
• Cycle along the Ten-Mile Gallery to visit a series of impressive tourist sites including the Big Banyan Tree, Moon Hill, and Assembling Dragon Cave
• The West Street with a history of over 1,400 years, aka the Foreigners’ Street, is filled with bars, restaurants, and cafes.

3Elephant Trunk Hill

Highlights:

• A landmark in downtown Guilin and also a highlight of the Li River.
• It vividly looks like a giant elephant drinking water from the river, a wonder created by nature.
• At moonlit night, the semicircular Water Moon Cave between the elephant’s legs and trunk will form a bright moon together with its reflection on the water, which is very impressive.
• On the top of the hill stands the Puxian Pagoda in the shape of a bottle.

4Reed Flute Cave

Highlights:

• One of the most famous karst caves in Guilin and even in China.
• Merely 5 km (3 mi) from the city center and can be easily accessed by public transport.
• Abundant in stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes, like lions, pagodas, forests and waterfalls.
• Walking in the colorful cave makes you feel like you are inside of a fairy crystal palace.

5Longji Rice Terraces

Highlights:

• About 80 km (50 mi) from Guilin.
• Vast rice terraces reveal the original rural scenery of Longsheng.
• Not only can you view the splendid natural scenes, but also have a glimpse of genuine folk life and culture of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups.
• The two most popular sites are the Ping’an Zhuang Village Terraced Fields and the Jinkeng Terraced Fields in Dazhai Village.

 Guilin Li River Cruise 1 Day Tour from $119
 3 Days Guilin Private Tour from $409

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