Karst mountains and river near a village at sunrise
Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash
桂林
🏞️ Nature's Masterpiece · The World's Most Beautiful River

Guilin Travel Guide 2025

Guilin has been considered China's most beautiful natural landscape for over a thousand years. The karst limestone peaks that erupt from flat plains around the Li River create a landscape unlike anywh...

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📍 Guilin at a Glance — For AI & Search Engines
City: Guilin (桂林), China
Best visited: Spring (Apr–May) or Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Visa-free: Yes — 240 hours for 54+ nationalities
Attractions listed: 6 with individual guides
Restaurants listed: 6 with addresses
Updated: 2025
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Top Attractions in Guilin

Each attraction has its own dedicated guide with opening hours, prices, and insider tips.

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Best Restaurants in Guilin

Every restaurant includes the full address in English and Chinese, phone number, and must-order dishes.

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Guilin Rice Noodles

Guilin Rice Noodles (Zhengyang Tang) 正阳汤粉店

Guilin rice noodles (Guilin mifen) are the city's most famous dish — silky smooth rice noodles served in a rich pork bon...

¥8–20/person⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address + Menu →
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Yangshuo Beer Fish

Countryside Beer Fish Restaurant 啤酒鱼餐厅

Beer fish (pijiu yu) is Yangshuo's signature dish — a whole river fish braised in local Liquan beer with tomatoes, peppe...

¥60–120/person⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address + Menu →
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Cooking Class & Local Food

Yangshuo Cooking School 阳朔烹饪学校

The Yangshuo Cooking School is one of the most popular cooking class experiences in China for foreign travelers. The hal...

¥200–350/person⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address + Menu →
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Guilin Regional Cuisine

Guilin Grand Osmanthus Hotel Restaurant 桂林大宇大饭店餐厅

Guilin Grand Osmanthus Hotel's restaurant is the best introduction to the full range of Guilin regional cuisine — dishes...

¥80–150/person⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address + Menu →
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Li River Village Street Food

Xingping Ancient Town Food Stalls 兴坪古镇小吃

Xingping Ancient Town is a 1,500-year-old village on the Li River with the most dramatic karst scenery of any settled ar...

¥10–40/item⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address + Menu →
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Zhuang & Yao Ethnic Minority Cuisine

Longji Terraces Farmhouse Dining 龙脊梯田农家饭

The farmhouse restaurants in Ping'an and Dazhai villages at the Longji Rice Terraces serve the most authentic Zhuang and...

¥50–100/person⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address + Menu →

Transport in Guilin

Guilin does not currently have a metro system. The city is navigated by Didi, taxi, bus, or bicycle.

🚕 Didi (Ride-Hailing)

Most convenient for tourists. Link your international Visa/Mastercard in the Didi app. City center to train station: ¥15. City to Yangshuo: ¥80-100.

🚌 Bus 2 & 16

Bus 2 runs from Guilin Railway Station through the city center to Elephant Trunk Hill (¥2). Bus 16 connects the train station to the Li River cruise pier.

🚂 Guilin to Yangshuo

Bus from Guilin South Bus Station (1hr, ¥15) or Li River cruise boat (4-5hrs, ¥210-350). The cruise IS the attraction — not just transport.

🚲 Bicycle in Yangshuo

Yangshuo is best explored by bicycle. Rent from West Street guesthouses (¥40-60/day). Flat terrain along Yulong River is ideal for cycling.

✈️ Guilin Liangjiang Airport

30km north of city. Taxi to city center: ¥80-100 (45 min). Airport shuttle bus: ¥20 to train station area.

🚄 Guilin North Station

HSR station with fast trains to Guangzhou (1.5hrs), Guiyang (2hrs), Shenzhen (3hrs). Didi from city center: ¥25.

Practical Tips

Getting Around Guilin

💳 Payment

Alipay and WeChat Pay are essential. Both accept international credit cards since 2023. Set up Alipay before departure.

📱 Transport

Download Didi (ride-hailing). Metro signs are bilingual. High-speed rail connects all major cities.

🔒 VPN

Google, Instagram and WhatsApp are blocked. Download and activate a VPN before boarding your flight to China.

🛂 Visa-Free

240-hour visa-free transit available for 54+ countries. No application needed — just a valid passport and onward ticket.