Guilin City & Li River for First-Timers

Stay by the Two Rivers and Four Lakes and visit Elephant Trunk Hill, the Prince City and Reed Flute Cave, with one day on the Li River cruise to Yangshuo and back.

A short route for first-time visitors to Guilin: all three nights are spent in the city center around the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, so there's no need to move luggage. On the first afternoon, see Elephant Trunk Hill and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes at night. The next day, take an early Li River cruise to Yangshuo, stroll West Street, and return to Guilin by high-speed train. On the last day, visit the Prince City and Solitary Beauty Peak and the East-West Lanes in the morning, then Reed Flute Cave in the afternoon before departing. Longji and the Yulong River are not included, which suits first-time visitors short on time.

In June–August, high water on the Li River may suspend cruises. During the National Day Golden Week, book cruises and Elephant Trunk Hill reservations well in advance.

Day by day

Day 1 · Elephant Trunk Hill & the Two Rivers and Four Lakes at Night

Central Guilin（Elephant Trunk Hill、Two Rivers and Four Lakes / Sun & Moon Pagodas）

Take the airport bus or a taxi to the city (about 40 minutes). After checking in, walk to Elephant Trunk Hill. In the evening, board the Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise at Shanhu Pier.

Elephant Trunk Hill requires a real-name reservation via the official WeChat account. Choose a night cruise departing after 7 p.m.

Stay: Two Rivers and Four Lakes · Zhengyang Road

Day 2 · Li River Cruise to Yangshuo

Yangshuo & Li River（Li River、Yangshuo West Street）

Take a bus in the morning to Mopanshan Pier, then the cruise downstream to Yangshuo takes about 4 hours. In the late afternoon, take a high-speed train from Yangshuo Station back to Guilin (about 20 minutes).

The cruise is one way, so buy your return train ticket in advance. Try to take an early boat.

Stay: Two Rivers and Four Lakes · Zhengyang Road

Day 3 · Prince City, Solitary Beauty Peak & Reed Flute Cave

Central Guilin（Jingjiang Princes' City & Duxiu Peak、Dongxi Alley & Zhengyang Pedestrian Street、Reed Flute Cave）

Walk through the Prince City and East-West Lanes in the morning. In the afternoon, take a taxi (about 20 minutes) to Reed Flute Cave, then head to Guilin North Station or the airport.

Prince City tickets include a guided tour. Climbing Solitary Beauty Peak takes about half an hour.

Similar itineraries