Guilin Travel Guide

Guilin Travel Guide

'East or west, Guilin landscape is best!' Located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China, Guilin is considered to be the pearl of China's thriving tourist industry on account of the natural beauty and historic treasures. Covering an area of about 27,800 square kilometers (10,734 square miles), the city is rather compact when compared with other major travel destinations in the country. The stunning landscape in which the city is situated has a kind of magic that is all its own. The strangely shaped hills or karsts, with the verdant vegetation ranging from bamboos to conifers together with crystal clear waters and wonderful caves make the city such an appealing destination. It is an important cultural city with a history of more than 2,000 years, and has been served as the political, economic and cultural center of Guangxi since the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

 Click to see all Guilin Attractions
It is a well-developed tourist city with convenient transportation facilities. You can enter Guilin by air, train, long-distance bus or ship and get around the city by bus, taxi or bicycle.
 
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 Best Time to Visit Guilin

Guilin Rice Noodles
Local food is influenced by the food of Canton, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian. In recent years, Sichuan and Cantonese dishes become the most popular. From splendid restaurants to local snacks, tourists from around the world are sure to find that your need is met beyond your expectations. The most popular local snacks include rice noodles (mifen), nun noodles, chestnut glutinous rice dumplings (banli zong), stewed duck with gingko, lotus-leaf duck and stewed duck with ginger.
 Read more: Top 10 Guilin Restaurants

Shopping in Guilin

 What to Buy: The sanhua alcohol, fermented bean curd and chili sauce are considered to be the city's three treasures, and are top choices among travelers. Products made from sweet-scented osmanthus are also recommended since the name of Guilin literally means forests of osmanthus. Osamnthus tea, sugar and wine will bring you sweet memories of this city. 

 Where  to Buy: Here lists department stores for daily articles and local specialties as well as shops for souvenirs, jewelry, panitings and calligraphy works.

Guilin Nightlife
Local nightlife is as attractive as its natural beauty. From modern nightclubs, romantic night cruise to Li River Folk Customs Center, travelers can enjoy or relax themselves thoroughly.

 Recommended Ethnic Shows: Impression - Liu Sanjie (Yangshuo), The Beauty of Guishan (Guishan Hotel)...

 Popular Nightclubs: Guilin Plaza Hotel Karaoke Bar, Bravo Hotel Reed Flute Cowboy Bar, Bravo Hotel VIP Nightclub...

Area: 27,809 square kilometers (10,737 square miles)
Population: 4,951,100
Ethnic Minorities: Han and over ten minorities of Zhuang, Yao, Dong, Miao, Hui, Mulao, Maonan

 Further Reading:
Top 10 China Destinations for First Time Travelers

10 Most Beautiful Cities in China

10 Best Cities in China for Budget Travelers 

- Last updated on Sep. 29, 2024 by Serena Zhou -
Questions & Answers on Guilin Travel
Asked by HH from SINGAPORE | Sep. 27, 2024 15:57Reply
Can I buy a SIM card in Wuxu airport
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Sep. 29, 2024 00:13
00Reply


You mean the Wuxu airport in Nanning? There is the China Mobile store, but I'm not sure if foreigners can buy the SIM card there or not.
Asked by Jessica from ITALY | Sep. 23, 2024 06:03Reply
Transport from Yangshuo to Guilin Airport early in the morning
Is there a earlier bus or train which can bring me from Yangshuo to Guilin Airport in time, I have a flight that departs at 11 a.m. and they recommend to get to the airport at least 2 hours before. Is it likely to find a Didi which can bring me there that early in the morning?
Answers (1)
Answered by Daniel | Sep. 23, 2024 22:49
00Reply


The earliest bus from Yangshuo Bus Station to the airport departs at 08:00 and takes 90 minutes, not recommended. You can find a didi car to the airport or share a car with other tourists.
Asked by John Christenbury from UNITED STATES | Sep. 01, 2024 09:57Reply
Afternoon or Sunset River Cruise to Yangshuo
Hi,

My friend and I will be traveling to Guilin and Yangshuo. Our train arrives at Guilin North at 13:08. We would like to take an afternoon river cruise or sunset cruise from guilin to yangshuo but I can't find any online. Do you have any offerings? We are fine paying for a private charter boat if there are no group cruises
Answers (1)
Answered by Daniel | Sep. 02, 2024 02:23
00Reply


Sorry, the river cruises only depart in the morning. There is no afternoon and sunset cruise. You can book the cruise through TravelChinaGuide in this page: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangxi/guilin/4-star-li-river-cruise-tickets.htm
Asked by Kasia from POLAND | Jul. 06, 2024 04:26Reply
Combined trip - what if 1 segment is not booked?
I will be booking tickets for a round trip with 3 stops: Shanghai - Guilin then Guilin - Xi'an and finally Xi'an - Shanghai
What happen if you did not manage to buy for me a ticket for instance Guilin-Xi'an and all others will be booked.
In such case it doesn't make sense for me to even go to Guilin if I have no possibility to move forward and in such case I would rather cancel the part of the trip through Guilin. Would that be possible ?
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Jul. 08, 2024 01:03
00Reply


Hello Kasia, do you mean book train tickets from TravelChinaGuide?
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