Things to Do in Guilin
Top attractions, best neighborhoods to wander, and the food you shouldn't skip in Guilin, China — 2026 traveler picks.
Top places to see
Elephant Trunk Hill
Iconic Guilin karst formation resembling an elephant. Free from certain angles or CNY 60 for close view. 1 hour. Symbol of Guilin.
Reed Flute Cave
Multicoloured limestone karst cave with LED-illuminated formations. CNY 110 entry. 90 min. Tourist-friendly.
Two Rivers + Four Lakes evening cruise
Boat cruise through Guilin's waterways lit up at night. CNY 210 evening ticket. 90 min. Iconic Guilin experience.
Yangshuo + Li River cruise (day trip)
For 12+ hour layovers: Guilin → Yangshuo river cruise (4-6 hours). Book "Li Jiang cruise" tour CNY 210-450. Full day. Iconic Chinese scenery.
Book tours + skip-the-line tickets
Compare tours + attractions in Guilin across GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Trip.com — free cancellation on most, and prices match direct booking.
Things to do in Guilin
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Guilin and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse GuilinJust need timed-entry attraction tickets? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Guilin.Eat here first
Guilin rice noodles (Guilin mifen). Beer fish (pi jiu yu). Sour + spicy Guangxi cuisine. Sweet + sour lotus root. Guangxi tea. Osmanthus flower liquor (Guilin means "cassia forest").
Local tip
KWL is 28km SW of Guilin. Airport bus Line 100/K99 (CNY 20) is the cheapest, DiDi CNY 100-170. Guilin's karst landscape is one of China's most iconic — inspired countless paintings. Two Rivers + Four Lakes evening cruise is essential for any Guilin visit. For 12+ hour layovers: consider Yangshuo Li River cruise (needs 6-8 hours). For 6h: city cruise + Elephant Trunk Hill + rice noodles.
Where to stay
Hotels across Guilin — filter by neighborhood + budget on the map below.