Guilin
Guilin is one of China's most visually stunning destinations, famous for its dramatic karst limestone peaks and the legendary Li River, and it remains remarkably affordable compared to Western nature destinations of similar grandeur. Budget travelers can feast, cruise, and explore for well under $50 a day.
Why go to Guilin
Li River Cruise (Guilin to Yangshuo)
A 4-hour sail past jade-green water and surreal limestone pinnacles that inspired the 20-yuan banknote.
Reed Flute Cave
A dazzling 240-million-year-old cavern lit with multicolored lights revealing otherworldly stalactites and stalagmites.
Longji Rice Terraces
Centuries-old cascading terraces carved into mountain slopes by the Zhuang and Yao ethnic minorities, breathtaking in any season.
Elephant Trunk Hill
Guilin's beloved icon, a karst hill shaped exactly like a drinking elephant at the confluence of the Li and Peach Blossom rivers.
Yangshuo West Street & Karst Cycling
Rent a bike in Yangshuo and pedal through fairy-tale limestone countryside along the Yulong River for virtually nothing.
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Good to know in Guilin
- Transit: City buses cost about $0.20-0.30 per ride; buses and shared minivans connect Guilin to Yangshuo for roughly $1.50-2, skip the tourist shuttle markups.
- Tipping: Tipping is not customary in China and may even cause confusion, skip it entirely at restaurants, taxis, and hotels.
- Tap water: Do not drink tap water in Guilin; buy large 5-liter bottles from supermarkets for under $0.50, or use a filtered bottle.
- Free-entry days: Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill do not have consistent free days, but Seven Star Park offers reduced entry during certain national holidays, check ahead for Golden Week discounts.