The karst peaks on China’s 20-yuan note are real — and they’re only the start. After three trips, here are the best things to do in Guilin, from Li River cruises and caves to rice terraces and the riverside old towns most first-timers miss. Whatever your pace, this guide to what to do in Guilin helps you separate the must-sees from the skippable.
Guilin splits into four kinds of days: on the water, underground, in the terraces, and in the old streets. Below is my full list of things to do in Guilin — what each spot is, how to reach it, what it costs, and whether it earns your time. Most of these Guilin attractions cluster by mood, so they’re easy to pair together. Short on days? Skip to the top-three note further down.
On the water and under the peaks — these are the things to see in Guilin that define the postcard view.
1. Li River cruise (from ¥215 / USD 31)
Boats leave Mopanshan Pier (three-star) or Zhujiang Pier (four-star) around 8:30 a.m. and drift down to Yangshuo over about four hours. The karst peaks roll past frame by frame — the “Yellow Cloth Shoal” scene from the 20-yuan note sits on this stretch, near Xingping. Three-star is the budget pick; four-star adds a buffet. Fair warning: the second half can drag, so a nap doesn’t hurt.
2. Xianggong Mountain sunrise (¥60 / USD 9)
Twenty-five kilometers north of Yangshuo, this is the spot for the “first bend of the Li River.” To catch the sunrise you leave Yangshuo around 4:30 a.m. and climb 25 minutes to the top — four viewing platforms, the highest with the widest view. After 7 a.m. the tour buses arrive and the quiet vanishes. No sun means no show, so check the forecast first.
3. Yangshuo Ten-Mile Gallery (free; e-bike rental about ¥30 / USD 4 per day)
A road lined with karst peaks where the whole point is to stop wherever you like. Moon Hill and the Big Banyan Tree sit along the route. Renting an e-bike here beats any minivan tour.
4. Reed Flute Cave (¥90 / USD 13)
North of downtown, reachable by bus 3 or 213 or a 20-minute taxi. Stalactites under colored lights, with a guide attached. Honest take: the lighting leans artificial, so nature purists should lower expectations. As a classic, though, it earns its place.
5. Elephant Trunk Hill (free, reservation required)
Guilin’s city emblem, right downtown where the Li and Taohua Rivers meet. Entry is free now, but you book on the “Guilin Culture & Tourism” mini-program or scan a code at the gate. Enter through Gate 3, cross to Lover’s Island for the full “elephant drinking” shot, then follow the river path to the Water Moon Cave. Half an hour to an hour is plenty.
6. Sun and Moon Pagodas (lake walk free; climbing the pagodas ¥20 / USD 3)
The best night view in the city center, lights on at 7:30 p.m. Skip the pagoda tickets (just commercial exhibits inside) and skip the night cruise too — walking the Shan Lake shore gives you the reflection for free.
7. Duxiu Peak & Jingjiang Prince City (¥100 / USD 14)
A Ming-dynasty prince’s palace, and the line “Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven” is carved right into Duxiu Peak’s cliff. The climb is steep, but the top opens onto the whole city. Also worth a look nearby: Seven Star Park, Guilin’s largest park, for quiet paths and river views.
8. Longji Rice Terraces (¥80 / USD 11, ticket valid three days)
In Longsheng County, about two hours from the city, on winding mountain roads — bring motion-sickness pills. April floods the terraces into a thousand mirrors; October turns them gold. For sunrise and a sea of clouds, sleep up in Ping’an or Jinkeng village.
9. Yulong River bamboo raft (¥180–320 / USD 26–46 per raft, two people max)
The “little Li River,” and the real thing — a boatman poles you along in near silence. The Jinlong Bridge to Jiuxian stretch is the classic; the little dam-drop splash is the best part. One catch: this is not the motorized “bamboo raft” on the Li River, so don’t mix them up.
10. Xingping Ancient Town (free)
A thousand-year-old river town where the 20-yuan note’s backdrop was shot, at Yellow Cloth Shoal. Quieter than Yangshuo’s West Street — no bars, no buskers. Before 9 a.m. the water is calmest, best for the reflection photo.
11. Yangshuo West Street (free)
Quiet by day, transformed after dark. Ming and Qing buildings and bars line the flagstone street — loud, sure, but the noise plus a sizzling pan of beer fish feels exactly right.
12. Dongxi Alley (free)
Guilin’s own Ming-Qing old street, far calmer than West Street. After 7 p.m. the lanterns come on and the old-town feel finally arrives. The nearby Xiaoyao Tower is free to climb for a view over the Li River and the old quarter.
13. Guilin rice noodles (¥5–8 / USD 1)
The first thing you should eat. Chongshan or Lao Dongjiang will do. The drill: eat it dry first — mix the brine, crispy pork, and pickled beans — then add a ladle of hot bone broth at the end. For the full food rundown, see my what to eat in Guilin guide.
14. Yangshuo beer fish (around ¥100 / USD 14 per person)
Xie Sanjie and Dashifu are the famous names, but prices double inside the tourist zones. For the real thing, find a neighborhood spot locals actually eat at — or the food stalls along Zhengyang Pedestrian Street.
⏱️ Short on time? Start with these three.
These are the things to do in Guilin I’d prioritize if I had to cut it short:
Big boat or bamboo raft? Three trips taught me one rule: take the big boat first for the full panorama, then a second trip for the best stretch. Bringing the family? Three-star, easy and no fuss. Want to feel the water? Take the Yangdi-to-Xingping raft. That “floating through an ink painting” feeling lives on the Yulong’s hand-poled rafts, not the Li’s motorized ones — those PVC rafts run loud with a diesel smell, so don’t expect peace.
If I had to name one karst moment you shouldn’t miss, it’s the Xianggong Mountain sunrise — one of the most memorable things to do in Guilin. That September, I left Yangshuo at 4 a.m. and stood on the platform at 5:15, wind cutting through my jacket, watching the ink-black sky dissolve. When the sun broke through, gold light hit the river’s bend below and rolled across rows of karst peaks wrapped in fog. Fifteen minutes. It made the early alarm worth it. One reminder: after 7 a.m. the buses arrive and the quiet goes, and bad weather means no sunrise at all — check before you go.
The Longji terraces are all about season. April floods them into broken mirrors, the Zhuang stilt-house eaves dipping into the water; October turns the valley gold, with a red-dressed Yao woman passing in the distance now and then. I’ve been in April and November — April’s “mirror of the sky” photographs better; November, after the harvest, feels a little empty. For sunrise, sleep up the mountain and start early. You get fewer crowds and, on the right day, a sea of clouds. These big-name Guilin attractions reward a little planning.
How many days do I need in Guilin?
Tight: two days (city + Li River). Comfortable: three to four (add Yangshuo and the Longji terraces). For a day-by-day plan, see my how to plan your days in Guilin guide.
Is Guilin worth visiting?
Yes — but don’t stop at Yangshuo. The city’s Elephant Trunk Hill, Dongxi Alley, and Two Rivers and Four Lakes, plus Xianggong Mountain and the terraces nearby, are what make Guilin whole. Still deciding what to do in Guilin first? Start with the Li River, then work outward.
Should I stay in Guilin or Yangshuo?
Guilin city is easier for transit and food; Yangshuo is where you slow down into the scenery. With two-plus days, split your nights between both — for hotel picks, see my where to stay in Guilin guide. Before you go, also skim my Guilin travel tips for weather and getting around.
Guilin doesn’t rush. Walk it slowly — it beats hurrying, every time. For the rest of the region, head back to my Guilin travel guide, where these Guilin tourist attractions plug into a full trip.
Which corner of Guilin did you fall for?
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Eight in the morning, and I’m on an electric scooter crossing Gongnong Bridge, the mist still hanging low. Bamboo groves arch over the Yulong River like a tunnel, and a hand-paddled raft slips off a low dam just ahead — the raftman leans on his pole, and the nose kicks up a spray of white…
