Just as Xian is a must when you travel to China, so is Guilin. 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 bamboo to conifers together with wonderful caves make Guilin such an attraction for tourists.
Located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 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 leading cities in the country. However, situated within this area one may find green mountains, crystal clear waters, unique caves and beautiful stones.
Major attractions include Elephant Trunk Hill, Li River, Reed Flute Cave and Seven-Star Park that boasts a Stone Museum where amazing geological finds are displayed. Believe that each of these places and many other attractions will leave you the lasting memories.
Guilin is also an important cultural city with a history encompassing more than 2000 years. The city has been the political, economic and cultural center of Guangxi since the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Solitary Beauty Peak is considered to be the oldest place of interest and has been so since the far off days of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). The prosperity enjoyed by the city during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) is epitomized by the Tomb of Prince Jingjiang.
The many ethnic minorities represented here that include the Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao, Mulao, Maonan and Dong enrich the cultural life of the city. Each minority has its own unique customs and festivals and this means that they are much more abundant here than in many other places elsewhere in China. Travelers can enjoy these pageants at the Li River Folk Customs Center.
Guilin is a well-developed tourist center with convenient transportation, communication and accommodation facilities. You can enter Guilin by air, by train or by bus and get around on free buses. From luxury hotels to hostels, from splendid restaurants to local snacks, you are sure to find that your needs will be met beyond your expectations.
Recommended Guilin Package Tour Itineraries:
Essence of Guilin: 3 Days Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin
Ethnic Minorities Discovery: 6 Days Guilin-Longsheng-Sanjiang-Yangshuo-GuilinRecommended Tours including the visit to Guilin:
Classic China: 12 Days Small Groups of Beijing-Xian-Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin-Shanghai
Highlight Cities Tour: 13 Days Beijing-Xian-Shanghai-Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin-Hong KongGolf Tour Information
Guilin Golf Tour: 5 Days Golf Tour of Guilin
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Travelers' Voices on Guilin
1.
Jun. 21,2009 09:38 Reply
Mr.pok(Malaysia) said:
I plan to go guilin for 7 days 6 nights in december 2009, 4 persons. Can anyone recommend what we should do?
Jun. 21,2009 21:29
Mr.Jason replied:
Hi, You can spend two days in Guilin city and then to Yangshuo by cruise and riding or hiking in Yangshuo for about two days (Li River, West Street, other sights), then head for Longsheng to see the terrace fields, then back to Guilin.
Jul. 2,2009 04:06
Ms.lily(chinayangshuo) replied:
Hi,Mr pok!
It's a great idea of your trip. you can come straight to yangshuo first, stay three or four nights there,have a bike ride,hiking,liusanjie show, boat trip, west street, then booking tickets to longsheng, stay over night there, and then come bach guilin, stay one night in guilin to see the hills in guilin city and then leave.
2.
Jun. 26,2009 20:43 Reply
Mr.Mil(malaysia) said:
I'll be going to Guilin from 13 -23 July.... Can any1 provide me with more info. on the public transport from the airport to town & coach info to Long Sheng & Yang Shuo... Any recommended budget hotels around city area for convenience?
Thanks...
Jun. 27,2009 10:00
Mr.Pan(China) replied:
Hi Mr,
There is no public bus from airport to town or coach,
you need to take the airport bus which take you 20yuan to town.For the hotel,its depend what standars you need,general speaking ,200-300yuan per-nigh you can get a good service and well-equipped hotel hotel.
Transportation,in the Bus terminal near by the train station, you can almost every where in Guilin,Longsheng(25yuan) Yangshuo(15yuan).
Jul. 2,2009 03:54
Mrs.lily(chinayangshuo) replied:
Hi,Mr Mil!
my name is lily, i am a local girl in yangshuo, the place you are going to visiting. if you plan to stay in this area for ten days, you can straight go to yangshuo first, in there you can take a liusanjie show and had a bike ride, also can go to the caves, small li river cruise.....
3.
Jul. 1,2009 07:54 Reply
Ms.Cathrien(indonesia) said:
We will arrive in Guangzhou on 27 SEPT 09, TOTAL 12 PERSON,please inform how we can get to Quilin from Guangzhou, Shenzen,Beijing?Is there Liu Sanjie show on that day/everyday?
Jul. 2,2009 03:24
Mr.Jamie P.W. replied:
Well, could your please let me know your arrangement about cities order? Just a brief answer here:
Guangzhou-->Guilin, please take a flight. And the Empression Sanjie Liu is shown almost everyday in Yangshuo, which is about 66kms away from Guilin. So, it seems urgently to finish this trip in one day.
Guangzhou-->Shenzhen, frequent buses and express trains could take you there in 1.5 hours.
Guangzhou-->Beijing, please consider to take a flight to Beijing Capital Airport.
Actually, since you have 12 people together, I think you could make up of a tour group so that everything will be easier:)
Jul. 2,2009 03:43
Ms.lily(china,yangshuo) replied:
Hi, yes, the liusanjie show will open everynight, also it's ver easy to get to guilin from everywhere. if you arrivel from guangzhou, you can take a train to guilin. if you want to see the liu san jie show, you should stay in yangshuo least two nights, yangshuo is a beautiful place we call paradase, you will enjoy here.
4.
Jun. 19,2009 12:36 Reply
Mr.ToM(indonesia) said:
hi... i'll be in gui lin in mid-august until january for study in one of the university there... i just want to know... will guilin snowy at that times?
oh yeah.. my reason go to guilin just for study.. but right now.. i'm interest with many places there... can colleger traveleing there.. i mean about the price for traveling... is it cheap?? oh yeah... if we can't speak chinese... is it make a problem?
thanks ^^
Jun. 21,2009 21:24
Mr.Emma replied:
It may be snowy in January in Guilin. Yes, you can travel there. If language is a problem, you can think about to take part in a 1 or 2 day tour in local. THat is the low season (Nov-Jan) and I think it is not expensive. In witer, it is not good to take a cruise ship from Guilin to Yangshuo for the river level is lower. If you want to travel alone, prepare all you should know before going. It is ok, there are many individual expats travelers like to hike and travel there.
Jun. 22,2009 02:56
Ms.Rachel(Guilin, China) replied:
It doesn't snowy in Guilin even winter (it's rarely)
Jun. 28,2009 09:45
Mr.bernie yoksh(usa) replied:
yes -some times--hot=90f to cold=45 to 50-i was there last july and was there november , after i left in november it snowed,my wife said-very humond there
byokshsr@hotmail-e-mail me if you want to know more
Jul. 1,2009 23:13
Ms.GIGIRE(China) replied:
Yangshuo is a very good place where the old lady can speak English
5.
Jun. 29,2009 23:32 Reply
Mr.MaryLou(USA) said:
I plan to visit Guilin Aug 1 to 3rd. I plan to take the Li River Curise the first day and then the Fubo Hills, Craves, Elephant Hill and 7 Star park the second day. I haven't found any tours to Longsheng but see there is a bus that I can take on my third day. Would it be best to find a tour or could I just walk around and see everything? Do you know of any tours that are given in English of Longsheng if I should need a tour. If I take the bus, what is the best time to plan my return trip back to Guilin? I'm traveling alone, so what is best for me to do, as I love to see Longsheng from what I'm reading about it. I have my camera ready and looking forward to my trip to China.
Thank you and have a nice day.
Mary Lou
Jun. 30,2009 02:09
Mr.Alan replied:
Hi sir, it seems a little urgently that if you would like to visit Longsheng and back to Guilin in one day. From Guilin to Longsheng, you could take an express bus Guilin Bus Terminus (without stop)to arrive at Longsheng County in 2 hours. Then, if you would like to the the Jingkeng rice terraces, you have to transfer to take a local bus. The journey is about 1.5 hours. So, you have to depart early in the morning from Guilin so that you could return to Guilin at the same day.
Actually, participating a local 1 or 2-day's tour may save much time so that you could enjoy more beauties of Longsheng~
Jun. 30,2009 02:11
Mr.Alan replied:
Oh, me again! As for an English-speaking tour, you may ask for help from this website. I noticed that they have some short tours from Guilin to Longsheng, may also Yangshuo~
Jun. 30,2009 10:21
Mr.Pan (China Guilin) replied:
Hi,there,Mr Alan is right ,your journey seems like very tight,it would be difficuld for you to take the Li Jiang river cruise and Longsheng also three hills in Guilin city town,if possible,maybe you can spend more time in Guilin
6.
Jun. 28,2009 23:33 Reply
Ms.Hong(M'sia) said:
Hi there,
I'll arriving Guilin on 4th July and staying in youth hostels for two (2) weeks moving around Guilin and Yangshuo areas
Is there anyone who would like to join me for cost sharing purposes for transports etc.
Please leave your e-mail for contact.
Thanks.
Hong
7.
Jun. 27,2009 14:14 Reply
Mrs.christel(USA ) said:
what are the most affordable ways to travel from Shanghai to Guilin.
Are there any direct trains available?
Jun. 28,2009 04:25
Mr.Jason replied:
Yes, there are trains from Shanghai to Guilin, but the it will take you at least 21.5 hours to get there by train. If the time is not a problem, you can take a train. There are five train in total, you can get them in Shanghai South Railway Station.
8.
Jun. 26,2009 19:02 Reply
Mr.Chin(Malaysia) said:
I am planing a trip to Guilin with more than 12 adults from 9th -17th April 2010.
This is our 1st trip to Guilin so we would appreciate if someone can give me a proposed itinerary/program, estimated cost of lodging and tour.
9.
Jun. 26,2009 00:38 Reply
Ms.Ng(singapore) said:
I plan mid August for 5 days 4 nights holiday in guilin/ nearby interested place. Any recommend? online booking? Thanks.
10.
May. 30,2009 19:23 Reply
Ms.Emma(UK) said:
Hi there,
I may travel to Guilin at the end of November. Will the river cruise to Yangshou go for the whole length at that time, or will the river be too low?
Many thanks
May. 30,2009 23:09
Mr.Qi replied:
Usually, October to March is regarded as the low season of the river. Ticket price is cheaper at that time. There is still cruise shop available at that time and not sure if you can cruise the whole trip. If the water level is too low, you can only enjoy the part from Xingping to Yangdi, but also the most wonderful part of Yangshuo.
Jun. 15,2009 23:27
Mr.Deng(China) replied:
enjoy the part from Xingping to Yangdi is a good idear.