Guilin is a core aviation hub for Guangxi and primarily for Asian countries, and it also has a well-developed railway network. Therefore, you can reach Guilin by either plane or high-speed rail.
Currently, there is no subway in Guilin, but transportation alternatives such as taxies, e-scooters, ships, and buses are all available. Given that many scenic spots are scattered and expansive, it is recommended that you plan your itinerary in advance and combine different transportation methods for your journey.
How to Get to Guilin?
By Air
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport is the main aviation hub of Guilin. It has flights to over 40 Chinese mainland cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Guangzhou, as well as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The international air routes mainly focus on Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia regions, with direct flights to Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, etc.
If Guilin is the first stop of your journey in China, taking a plane is the most efficient option. Considering that there may be no direct flights from your country or city to Guilin, you can make a transfer in cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Hong Kong first, and then head to Guilin. These cities are respectively 1 - 1.5 hours’ flight away and 2 - 3.5 hours’ train ride from Guilin.
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
Guilin Flights
By Train
Suppose the previous stop during your trip in China is Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Changsha, taking the bullet train to Guilin is preferred, which allows you to directly reach Guilin downtown in 2 – 3 hours. However, if you are departing from distant cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi’an, high-speed rail would not be recommended, with a tedious journey around 7 - 10 hours.
Guilin has several railway stations, among which the main ones are Guilin Railway Station, Guilin North Railway Station and Yangshuo Railway Station.
Guilin Railway Station is the closest to city center where many core attractions such as Elephant Trunk Hill, Two Rivers and Four Lakes, and Solitary Beauty Peak and Jingjiang Prince City are gathered. After exiting from the station, you can arrive at these spots by taxi or bus in about 10 minutes.
Guilin North Railway Station is farther away from Guilin downtown, about a 30-minute drive away, but with more train options.
Tourists who want to visit Xingping Ancient Town first are suggested to choose Yangshuo Railway Station which is about a 10-minute drive from the town.
Guilin – Yangshuo Train
Guilin Train Schedule
How to Get Around Guilin?
Although subway is unavailable in Guilin due to its karst landform, many other transportation modes including taxies, buses, e-scooters, bikes, and ships can facilitate your travel and sightseeing as well. It would be more efficient for your trip if you combine different means of transportation to get around Guilin based on the different geographical characteristics of the scenic spots and your personal preference.
By Taxi
Taking a taxi is generally the most convenient way to travel around Guilin. With densely distributed tourist attractions in the city center as well as close distances between one and another in Guilin downtown, the taxi fare is quite affordable. Besides, taking a taxi is the best choice as it can directly take you to the vicinity of the destination if you are departing from the airport or the railway station, or if you want to visit attractions that are farther from the city center.
Taxi fares between common destinations are as follows for your reference:
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport — Guilin City Center: CNY 100 - 120 (USD 15 - 18)
Between one attraction and another in the city center: CNY 20 - 30 (USD 3 - 5)
Guilin City Center — Yangshuo: CNY 300 - 400 (USD 45 - 60)
Guilin City Center — Longji Rice Terraces: CNY 400 - 500 (USD 60 - 75)
By E-scooter / Bike
In consideration of the large open areas of many attractions in Guilin, if you’re already near there, it’s highly recommended that you ride an e-scooter or bike for sightseeing. This would be both energy-saving and enjoyable for admiring the landscape in a broad vision. Particularly during public holidays, it helps you to improve travel efficiency by avoiding the traffic congestion to a large extent.
A large number of shared e-scooters and bicycles are available on the roadsides in Guilin’s urban area and at the entrances of the scenic spots. Just scan the QR code with Alipay on the e-scooter / bike and then you can start riding. It should be noted that shared e-scooters / bikes have operating area restrictions and some areas around certain scenic spots are designated as no-parking zones. Therefore, you’d better check the return locations on the riding map beforehand.
If you plan to spend half a day or a whole day to tour around, it would be best to rent an e-scooter. Both scenic areas and guesthouses provide renting services, with the price ranging between CNY 30 - 60 (USD 5 - 10) per day.
By Bus
There are various buses such as Tourist Bus, Sightseeing Bus, City Bus, and Long-distance Bus, which suit specific travel needs.
1. Tourist Bus
Tourist buses are available at the airport, railway stations, and coach stations in the downtown, making it convenient for tourists to visit the attractions directly upon arrival in Guilin or reach scenic spots located farther from the city center in one go. For instance, from 09:00 to 15:30 every day, there are tourist buses running every half hour from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport to Elephant Trunk Hill, Two Rivers and Four Lakes, and Seven Stars Park.
2. Sightseeing Bus
Guilin has buses specifically designed for tourists to enjoy the city’s scenery. The most recommended one is the Guilin – Yangshuo Sightseeing Bus, which operates from 08:30 to 16:30. During the journey, you can fully appreciate the beautiful karst landscape of Guilin. Additionally, from mid-September to late November each year, when the sweet osmanthus in Guilin are in full bloom, there is a “Sweet Osmanthus Sightseeing Special Line” from 09:00 to 17:00, passing by attractions such as Seven Stars Park and Xiangshan Park.
3. City Bus
There are also city buses in Guilin downtown, but the bus routes are limited, unable to cover attractions far away from the city center, so it’s more suitable for tourists traveling in downtown areas. Other than that, the bus schedules are relatively sparse. It’s likely that a bus ride may require waiting for 20 – 30 minutes, thus not suitable for tourists with a tight schedule.
It is also worth mentioning that you’d better ring the bell before getting off each bus to alert the driver, because some buses need to ring the bell in advance before getting off, otherwise the vehicle may pass directly without stopping.
4. Long-distance Bus
If you are going to visit suburban areas of Guilin such as Yangshuo, you can consider taking a long-distance bus as an alternative except for the bullet train. Tourists who want to visit Longji Rice Terraces can also choose the long-distance bus as a more cost-effective option.
March – June & September – October: 08:30 – 18:30
July – August: 08:30 – 21:00
Read more:
How to Travel from Guilin to Yangshuo
How to Travel from Yangshuo to Guilin
How to Travel Between Guilin and Longji Rice Terraces
By Cruise
By virtue of crisscrossed rivers, taking a cruise is also a common way of traveling around this city and it is an excellent experience for appreciating the natural scenery of Guilin. There are various types of cruise boats available for tourists in both the urban area and the county areas, allowing them to enjoy different views. Here are the most recommended ways of touring:
1. Li River Cruise
Set off from Mopanshan Wharf or Zhujiang Wharf by Li River Cruise and you’ll reach Longtoushan Wharf in Yangshuo in 4 - 4.5 hours. During the whole journey is breathtaking scenery of lush karst mountains and green winding rivers. Moreover, English-speaking guide service is provided, contributing to an amusing scenic journey rather than a tedious transfer.
2. Night Cruise of Two Rivers and Four Lakes
Between 19:00 and 21:30 daily in the downtown area of Guilin, there are Night cruises of Two Rivers and Four Lakes. Each cruise trip lasts for 90 minutes and passes by the Sun and Moon Pagodas, the light show of the ancient city wall, as well as the night view of the Elephant Trunk Hill. Along the way, you can also watch folk performances such as the fishing by the osprey and the Chinese traditional fire acrobatics.
3. Yulong River Bamboo Raft
Taking a bamboo raft ride on the Yulong River is a more peaceful way to enjoy the scenery. You can fully appreciate the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery and immerse yourself in the idyllic charm of Yangshuo.
How to Pay for Public Transportation in Guilin?
By Cash
Cash is the most direct way to pay for public transportation in Guilin. The fare for Guilin’s city buses is CNY 1 or CNY 2, which requires you to pay exact fare since no change is given. Additionally, some cross-district bus routes may charge based on mileage. Therefore, it is recommended that you prepare some change in advance.
Alipay / WeChat QR Code Scanning
If you have an Alipay or WeChat account with proper payment functionality, it will be quite easier to take any mode of transportation in Guilin. You can make payments by scanning the QR code of the payee when taking a cruise, renting an e-scooter, or taking a taxi, etc.
Before taking the city bus, simply add the bus QR code of Guilin in the transportation section of Alipay or the mini-program of WeChat's Bus Ticket Code, and then show the Guilin Bus QR code for payment.
Swiping NFC Linked with GX T-Union Card
If your phone supports NFC payment, you can add “GX T-Union Card” to your mobile wallet. Recharging with either CNY 10 or CNY 20 would be appropriate. After getting on the bus, simply put your phone close to the sensor area to pay the fare.
