Best Things to Do in Guilin, China

Jingjiang Princes' City — Jingjiang Wangcheng — is the oldest and best-preserved Ming Dynasty princely palace complex in China, a walled royal city within a city that occupies the heart of Guilin and shelters one of Guangxi’s most extraordinary concentrations of imperial heritage. Built beginning in 1372 for Zhu Shouqian, the first Prince of Jingjiang and a nephew of the Hongwu Emperor, the complex served as the seat of twelve generations of princes across 257 years until the dynasty’s collapse. The surrounding walls, stretching 1,556 meters in perimeter and standing 7.9 meters high, remain largely intact — a testament to Ming construction engineering. The palace layout followed strict imperial protocols: a ceremonial gate complex, throne hall, inner palace quarters, and the dramatic backdrop of Solitary Beauty Peak rising from within the compound’s walls. Today the complex is shared between a public heritage park and Guilin Normal University, whose modern campus occupies much of the inner grounds, creating an unusual juxtaposition of ancient imperial grandeur and contemporary academic life. The ceremonial gate tower, Chengyun Gate, has been meticulously restored and now houses exhibitions on Ming Dynasty court culture and Guilin’s history. Archaeological excavations have unearthed significant finds including glazed roof tiles, porcelain shards, and stone inscriptions that continue to inform understanding of the Ming princely system. A visit here anchors any exploration of Guilin’s historical depth beyond its celebrated natural scenery.

Reed Flute Cave — Ludi Yan in Mandarin — is Guilin’s most spectacular natural cavern, a 240-meter-deep limestone grotto that has awed visitors for over 1,200 years. Located in Guilin’s Xiufeng District, the cave takes its name from the reeds that once grew at its entrance, traditionally harvested by locals to craft musical instruments. Inside, an otherworldly gallery of stalactites, stalagmites, and stone columns has been sculpted by millions of years of water seeping through the limestone bedrock. Multicolored lighting installed throughout the cave dramatically highlights formations with fanciful names like the Crystal Palace of the Dragon King, the Virgin Forest, and the Flower and Fruit Mountain — each shape inviting the imagination to roam. Tang Dynasty inscriptions dating back to AD 792 cover certain walls, evidence that ancient travelers were just as captivated by this subterranean wonder. The main chamber, expansive enough to hold a thousand people, served as an air-raid shelter during World War II. A comfortable paved walkway approximately 500 meters in length guides visitors through the cave’s highlights, making it accessible for most fitness levels. The stable interior temperature of around 20°C provides welcome relief from Guilin’s humid summer heat. Reed Flute Cave pairs naturally with other Guilin landmarks such as Elephant Trunk Hill and Fubo Hill for a full day of geological wonders. It remains one of China’s most visited natural caves and a highlight of any Guangxi itinerary.

Seven Star Park — Qixing Gongyuan — is Guilin’s largest and oldest urban park, sprawling across 120 hectares on the eastern bank of the Li River and offering one of the most diverse concentrations of natural and cultural attractions in all of Guangxi. The park takes its name from seven karst peaks whose arrangement mirrors the pattern of the Big Dipper constellation — a poetic conceit that has delighted Chinese visitors since the Tang Dynasty. Camel Hill, the park’s most photographed formation, resembles a reclining camel with uncanny precision and serves as its informal mascot. Within the park’s boundaries visitors discover an extraordinary range of experiences: the Qixing Cave system reveals elaborate stalactite chambers with Song Dynasty inscriptions; the Flower Bridge, a Song-era stone arch spanning the Small Li River, is among Guilin’s finest historic structures; and a large zoo section houses giant pandas and other wildlife that delights families. Ancient stele inscriptions dating back 1,500 years document the site’s long history of cultural pilgrimage. Shaded pathways wind through bamboo groves, lotus ponds, and flower gardens, making Seven Star Park a genuine respite from the city’s busier tourist zones. Early morning visits find local residents practicing tai chi, flying kites, and rehearsing traditional opera near the pavilions. The park’s size means it absorbs visitor numbers well, never feeling overcrowded despite its popularity. Entrance fees remain modest by Chinese tourism standards, offering exceptional value for the breadth of experiences contained within.

Solitary Beauty Peak — Duxiu Feng — is the dramatic limestone pinnacle that rises 152 meters above the center of Guilin, standing alone within the historic compound of the Jingjiang Princes' City and serving as the city’s most compelling viewpoint for visitors willing to make the 306-step ascent. The peak earned its lyrical name from the Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Jie, who wrote of its solitary magnificence towering above the surrounding plain — a description that has guided visitors for over 1,200 years. The climb rewards with 360-degree panoramas sweeping across the full extent of Guilin’s karst landscape: the Li River winding southward, the Seven Star peaks to the east, and the urban density of modern Guilin encircling the historic core. The base of the peak is inscribed with a remarkable density of carvings and inscriptions from successive dynasties, documenting centuries of visitors moved to leave their mark on the stone. A carved stone relief of the Bodhisattva Maitreya dating to the Tang Dynasty occupies a prominent niche on the lower slopes. The peak sits within the protected enclosure of the Jingjiang Princes' Palace, meaning admission to the palace complex also grants access to the summit trail. Visitors exploring central Guilin can combine Solitary Beauty Peak with the palace courtyard, the Guilin Normal University campus that surrounds it, and the nearby Rong Lake promenade for a rewarding half-day of history and heights. Early morning ascents avoid peak crowds and offer the best photography light.

Xingping Town sits at what many consider the most dramatically beautiful section of the entire Li River, a stretch of karst scenery so sublime it was chosen to represent China on the 20-yuan banknote. Located in Yangshuo County of Guangxi, this ancient riverside settlement dates back over 1,600 years and preserves a remarkable collection of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture — cobbled alleyways, carved wooden facades, and ancestral halls that have survived centuries largely intact. The panoramic view from Old Fisherman's Viewpoint, overlooking the river bend with its crown of limestone peaks, is arguably the single most photographed natural vista in all of Guangxi. The journey between Xingping and Yangshuo by bamboo raft is considered superior to the full Guilin–Yangshuo cruise for sheer scenic concentration, passing Nine Horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal along the way. The town itself rewards wandering: a morning fish market draws locals at dawn, riverside tea houses serve pu-erh to the accompaniment of birdsong, and small guesthouses offer immersive stays within the historic fabric of the village. Unlike the more commercialized Yangshuo, Xingping retains a relatively unhurried pace, though visitor numbers have climbed steadily with its growing international reputation. Cycling routes through surrounding rice paddies and karst valleys provide an excellent half-day extension. Xingping is best reached by a combination of boat and local bus or by cycling from Yangshuo — the journey itself being part of the reward.

Yao Mountain — Yao Shan — is the highest peak in Guilin, rising 909 meters above sea level in Lingchuan County and offering the region’s most expansive panoramic views across the boundless karst landscape of Guangxi. Unlike the dramatic water-level formations of the Li River valley, Yao Mountain presents a different face of Guilin’s geology — forested ridges and rocky outcrops that reward hikers willing to ascend above the famous pinnacles and look back down on them from above. A cable car system connects the base to the summit area, providing access for visitors who prefer not to tackle the mountain on foot, while multiple marked hiking trails offer graded routes for different fitness levels. The mountain’s peak affords clear-day visibility stretching dozens of kilometers in every direction, encompassing the Li River corridor, Guilin city, and seemingly endless ranks of karst towers receding to the horizon. Autumn visits are especially prized when the mountain’s deciduous trees turn gold and red against the evergreen limestone formations below. A section of the mountain has been developed as a ski area — unusual for subtropical Guangxi — using artificial snow during winter months, attracting visitors from across southern China during the cooler season. The base area features walking trails, pavilions, and local food vendors specializing in Guilin rice noodles. Yao Mountain provides a refreshing counterpoint to the river-level attractions of central Guilin and gives the broader landscape a vital third dimension that is easy to overlook when focused on the valley floor.