Two Rivers and Four Lakes / Sun & Moon Pagodas
两江四湖
Downtown Guilin's ring of waterways, formed by the Li and Taohua Rivers and Rong, Shan, Gui and Mulong Lakes. The Sun and Moon Pagodas on Shan Lake are Guilin's signature night view.
Two Rivers and Four Lakes is a waterway system encircling downtown Guilin, made up of the Li River, the Taohua River, and Rong, Shan, Gui and Mulong Lakes. After the channels were connected in 2002, a boat route now circles the old city. Gardens, bridges and ancient-style buildings line the shore. By day it is an urban park for residents, and at night, when the lights come on, it becomes the “Venice of the East”. The most famous landmark is the Sun and Moon Pagodas in Shan Lake. The Sun Pagoda is a nine-story bronze pagoda 41 meters high, the tallest bronze pagoda in the world, and it glows golden at night. The Moon Pagoda is a seven-story glazed-tile pagoda. The two pagodas are linked by an underwater tunnel, and you can climb them to look over the city for about 35 yuan. Highlights and activities: First, the night boat cruise. Board at Jiefang Bridge, Wenchang Bridge, or Riyue Bay pier. The cruise around the four lakes takes about 90 minutes and passes 19 bridges, the outside of Elephant Trunk Hill, cormorant fishing and folk music performances. Tickets cost about 150 to 220 yuan. Second, a free walk along the lakes from Zhengyang Pedestrian Street past Shan Lake and Rong Lake (the ancient South Gate and a thousand-year-old banyan tree) to Gui Lake. The walk is about 3 km in total. The pagodas under the lights, the glass bridge and the banyan-shaded road are all very photogenic. Admission is free, but boat cruises and pagoda climbs cost extra. Getting there: the area is in the city center, within walking distance of Zhengyang Pedestrian Street and Shizi Street, with bus stops at “Shan Lake” and “Shizi Street”. Notes: Book night cruises in advance in peak season, and preferably choose a departure after dark, at 19:30 or later. It is windy by the lakes at night. Zhengyang Pedestrian Street and the East and West Lanes are on the way for Guilin rice noodles and oil tea.
Opening hours
Open all day (cruises approx. 08:30–22:00)
Nearby sights
- Li Zongren's Official Residence
- Elephant Trunk Hill
- Dongxi Alley & Zhengyang Pedestrian Street
- Xiaoyao Tower
- Jingjiang Princes' City & Duxiu Peak
- Guihai Stele Forest Museum
- Diecai Hill (Folded Brocade Hill)
- Fubo Hill