Guilin itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Guilin, day by day: Reed Flute Cave, Jingjiang Princes' Palace, Fubo Hill, Seven Star Park, Elephant Trunk Hill and the Sun and Moon Pagodas, then a Li River cruise to Yangshuo and Moon Hill on the second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Guilin in 1 day
Day 1
Reed Flute Cave
Large limestone cave north-west of the centre, with stalactites and rock formations lit in bright colours.
Jingjiang Princes' Palace
Ming dynasty palace of the Jingjiang princes inside the walled city, with Solitary Beauty Peak in its grounds.
Fubo Hill
Small karst hill on the Li River with a cave of Buddhist carvings and a climb to views over the city.
Seven Star Park
Large park east of the Li River named for seven peaks laid out like the Big Dipper, with caves and Camel Hill.
Elephant Trunk Hill
Limestone hill on the Li River whose arch looks like an elephant drinking, the symbol of Guilin.
Sun and Moon Pagodas
Twin pagodas on Shan Lake in the city centre, one bronze and one glazed tile, lit up at night.
Guilin in 2 days
Day 1
Reed Flute Cave
Large limestone cave north-west of the centre, with stalactites and rock formations lit in bright colours.
Jingjiang Princes' Palace
Ming dynasty palace of the Jingjiang princes inside the walled city, with Solitary Beauty Peak in its grounds.
Fubo Hill
Small karst hill on the Li River with a cave of Buddhist carvings and a climb to views over the city.
Seven Star Park
Large park east of the Li River named for seven peaks laid out like the Big Dipper, with caves and Camel Hill.
Elephant Trunk Hill
Limestone hill on the Li River whose arch looks like an elephant drinking, the symbol of Guilin.
Sun and Moon Pagodas
Twin pagodas on Shan Lake in the city centre, one bronze and one glazed tile, lit up at night.
Day 2
Yangshuo (Li River cruise)
Boat trip down the Li River through karst peaks and villages to Yangshuo, a lively town for cycling and rafting.
Moon Hill
Limestone hill near Yangshuo with a large natural arch shaped like a half-moon, reached by a climb of many steps.
Watch: Guilin
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Guilin
April to October is the warm season, with the karst scenery greenest from spring to summer, though this is also the wettest time. Autumn, from September to November, has clearer skies and is often the best time for the Li River. Chinese national holidays in early May and early October bring big crowds.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Guilin on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Guilin on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Guilin on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Guilin with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for China from Airalo
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Tips for Guilin
- Li River cruises from Guilin to Yangshuo take about four hours one way; book ahead in the summer and holiday seasons.
- Bring your passport: it is needed to buy tickets for cruises, trains and many sights in China.
- Reed Flute Cave is lit with coloured lights and visited on a set path; it stays cool inside even in summer.
- The Sun and Moon Pagodas are lit up at night and look best from the lakeside after dark.
- Rain is common from spring to summer; carry an umbrella and expect slippery steps at the hills and caves.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Elephant Trunk Hill: Sentinel7 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Fubo Hill: Yourusernamewillbepublic2, CC0
- Jingjiang Princes' Palace: prat, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Moon Hill: Kelisi, Public domain
- Reed Flute Cave: Fremantle99, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Seven Star Park: Rcdewiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sun and Moon Pagodas: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Yangshuo (Li River cruise): Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
