Top 10 Things to Do in Guilin
Guilin has long been renowned for its scenery of karst topography and is one of China's most popular tourist destinations. With Li River, The Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Seven Star Park, Folded Brocade Hill, Duxiu Feng (Solitary Beauty Peak), Longji Terraced Field, Yangshuo West Street, and so on, there is more than just visual enjoyment waiting for you to explore. Check out our list of the top 10 things to do and see in Guilin.
1. Eat Rice Noodles
Guilin Rice Noodle is a traditional dish with a long history in Guilin, Guangxi. Known for its unique flavor, the workmanship is exquisite. The most elaborate production is the brine production, the process varies from person to person, and is roughly cooked with pork, beef bone, momordica grosvenori, and various seasonings. The content and method of making brine are different, therefore, the flavor of the rice noodle are not the same. Guilin Rice Noodles can be either round or flat - the round rice noodles called 'mifen(米粉)', and the flat rice noodles called 'qiefen(切粉)'. The round one is more suitable to eat without soup while the flat one can be tasted together with the delicious broth. The soup one called 'lucai(卤菜)', and the one served with soup called 'tangcai(汤菜)'. For a bit of spice, pepper oil or chilli flakes can be added. These popular noodles can easily be found at numerous eateries in and around Guilin.
2. Cruise the Li River
The Li River flows 83 kilometres (52 mi) from Guilin to Yangshuo, where the karst mountains and river sights highlight the famous Li River cruise. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Guilin. Along the way, the blue sky, green mountains with strange rocks and the clear water compose a beautiful masterpiece. Sometimes travelers can even catch glimpses of fishermen fishing from bamboo rafts. If you are traveling in the rainy weather, it will be another mood. It is more like an ink painting, and you are in this magnificent painting.
3. The Reed Flute Cave
The Reed Flute Cave is located in the Guangming Hill in the northwestern outskirts of Guilin. It is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lighting and has been one of Guilin's most interesting attractions for over 1200 years. It is over 180 million years old. The cave got its name from the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into flutes. It is an amazing fairyland of exquisite stalagmites, stone milk, stone pillars, stone sarcophagi, and other rock formations in different shapes and colors which makes tourists dazzle, like a wonderland, and is known as "the palace of nature's art". Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been traces of tourists in the past dynasties.
4. Elephant Trunk Hill – Landmark of Downtown Guilin
Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of the city of Guilin. It got its name because it looks like an elephant drinking water. The round opening that would be under the elephant's trunk is known as Water-Moon Cave because at night the reflection of the moon can be seen through the arch and it looks as if it is under the water and floating on the surface of the water at the same time. Elephant Trunk Hill and Water-Moon Cave are located at the confluence of the Taohua River and the Lijiang River. Don't forget to take a memorable picture.
5. Seven Star Park
Seven Star Park is located on the east coast of Li River, Guilin, 1.5 kilometers from the city center. With an area of about 134.7 hectares and a green coverage rate of 84%, it is the largest scenic spot with the largest area and longest history in Guilin. The profoundness of history and culture is gathered in the Seven Star Park. The perfect combination of nature and humanity is presented in here. It is the epitome of Guilin’s landscape and culture.
6. Folded Brocade Hill
Located in the north of Guilin City and on the west bank of the Li River, Folded Brocade Hill is one of the city's major attractions. Folded Brocade Hill has a special landform composed of limestone and dolomitic limestone date back to 367 million years ago. It is named after its unusual looking rocks. It's amazing to climb to the top to witness the panoramic view of the city! The entrance fee is cheap, but the visual enjoyment is priceless, and the air could not be more crisp.
7. Duxiu Feng (Solitary Beauty Peak)
Jingjiang Princes' City is located beside the Li River. It is a tourist attraction highlighted by the Solitary Beauty Peak and covers the whole Jingjiang Princes' City. Perfectly combining the natural landscape and historical sites, it is praised as a "city in a city" since the ancient time. The Solitary Beauty Peak is often compared to be a king as it erects from the ground like a unique column propping up the blue sky. Its summit offers a panoramic view of Guilin. As Folded Brocade Hill above, the entrance fee is cheap, but the visual enjoyment is priceless!
8. The Longsheng Rice Terraces (Longji Terraced Field)
The Longsheng Rice Terraces are located in Longsheng Country, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) from Guilin. The terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountain top, between 600 to 800 metres (2000 to 2600 ft) above sea level. A coiling terrace line that starts from the mountain foot up to the mountain top divides the mountain into layers of water in spring, layers of green rice shoots in summer, layers of rice in fall, and layers of frost in winter. It offers great photo opportunities of all time. It is super suitable for unmanned aerial vehicle shoot.
9. Yangshuo West Street
Yangshuo West Street is 1.5 hours drive from downtown Guilin. The West Street has a long history with more than 1,400 years and is a "Global Village" in China. It is renowned for ancient and local architectures, artistic tourist souvenirs, special and tasty snacks, and so on. Hustle and bustle of the dynamic Yangshuo West Street awaits you to explore the magic – entertainment, great vibe, food, culture, and so much more. The number of foreigners who come here to travel leisurely every year is three times that of the permanent residents here.
10. Shopping in Guilin Wei Xiao Tang Plaza (Niko-Niko-Do Plaza)
Speaking of shopping in Guilin, you can't miss Guilin Wei Xiao Tang Plaza (Used to be named Guilin Niko-Niko-Do Plaza). Opened in 1997, Located on Zhongshan Road, it is the most important and the most famous shopping mall in downtown Guilin. Niko-Niko-Do Plaza is an all-around commerce mansion sale food, clothes, hats, shoes, cosmetic, ornaments, porcelain enamels, general articles, home fittings, special local products and so on. If you feel tired and want to have something to eat, do not worry to go out of this building and look for another restaurant. This plaza provides some fine restaurants on the top floor and a KFC outlet on the ground floor facing the main street. Besides, the supermarket in basement is greatly welcomed by Guilin citizens.