Guilin

桂林

Guilin is renowned for its dramatic karst mountains rising from the Li River, offering some of China's most iconic natural scenery. The city serves as the gateway to river cruises and hiking adventures through stunning limestone peaks dotted with caves and traditional villages.

Things to do

• Li River Bamboo Raft Cruise — Float down the iconic Li River on a traditional bamboo raft between Guilin and Yangshuo, passing the most photographed karst peaks and cormorant fishing villages.
• Elephant Trunk Hill — Climb this signature limestone peak shaped like an elephant's trunk at the confluence of the Li and Taohua rivers for panoramic city and river views.
• Reed Flute Cave — Explore an ancient limestone cavern illuminated with colorful lighting, featuring stalactites and stalagmites formations along a 500-meter underground path.
• Yangshuo Countryside Cycling — Rent a bicycle to pedal through rural villages, rice paddies, and karst landscapes around Yangshuo, stopping at local markets and family farms.
• Cormorant Fishing at Night — Watch traditional fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish by lantern light on the Li River, a centuries-old practice still performed for tourists.
• Seven Star Park — Hike among karst peaks dotted with caves, pavilions, and the Moon Palace cave in this large scenic park on Guilin's east side.
• Longji Terraced Rice Fields — Trek through dramatic stepped rice terraces carved into mountains in a minority Zhuang village area, best visited during planting or harvest seasons.

Food to try

• Guilin Rice Noodles — Thin, delicate rice noodles served in a savory broth with peanut sauce, pickled vegetables, and your choice of protein, the most iconic local breakfast dish.
• Snail Rice Noodles — Rice noodles in a rich broth flavored with snail meat and aromatic spices including star anise and cinnamon, a regional specialty from Guangxi.
• Grilled Fish with Bamboo Leaves — Fresh Li River fish wrapped in bamboo leaves and grilled over charcoal, served with herbs and dipping sauces that highlight the local river catch.
• Osmanthus Cake — A sweet pastry made with local osmanthus flowers, sticky rice flour, and brown sugar, sold throughout the city and perfect as a take-home souvenir.
• Guilin Soy Sauce — The region's distinctive fermented soy sauce with a darker color and complex flavor, used as a staple condiment in most local dishes.
• Taro and Pork Rice Balls — Sticky rice balls filled with diced pork and taro, wrapped in bamboo leaves, a popular street food and light meal throughout Guilin.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect Local Mountain Customs — Many karst areas are sacred to local communities; avoid loud noise, littering, or removing stones, and ask permission before photographing locals or their villages.
• Learn Basic Chinese Phrases — English is limited outside tourist zones in Guilin, so carrying a translation app or learning polite greetings in Mandarin will greatly enhance interactions with locals.
• Use Local Transportation Apps — Didi (China's rideshare app) is essential for getting around Guilin as taxis can be scarce; download it before arrival and have your hotel help with initial setup.
• Bargain at Markets Respectfully — Haggling is expected at wet markets and some shops, but do so with good humor and respect; excessive aggression is considered rude to vendors.