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Travel Guide

Guilin is a prefecture-level city located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. It is famous for its unique karst landform scenery and is known as 'the best landscape under heaven'. Its name means 'forest of sweet osmanthus' and is named after the abundance of sweet osmanthus in the area. Guilin is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China and was among the first National Historical and Cultural Cities announced by the State Council. Guilin rice noodles are a famous local breakfast staple.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and Autumn

Daily Budget

¥400-800 ($60-120) per day

Getting Around

Airplane, Train, Car, Bus, Taxi, Ride-hailing

Suggested Stay

3-4 days

Must-Visit Attractions

Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area

Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area

The Longji Rice Terraces are located in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and are a typical representative of terraced fields in the world. They boast a large-scale and magnificent group of terraced fields, winding from the foot of the mountain to the top. Small mountains resemble snails, and large mountains are like towers, layered one upon another, with varying heights. The Longji Rice Terraces are mainly divided into several major scenic spots, such as Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces, Jinkeng Dazhai Yao Rice Terraces, and Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraces, showcasing the wisdom and diligence of the Zhuang and Yao people. The scenery varies throughout the four seasons: in spring, when water is poured, there are layers of silver belts; in summer, the rice waves roll, a lush green; in autumn, the rice ears are golden, a scene of harvest; in winter, the snow is white, and the landscape is wrapped in silver, forming a series of beautiful pictures, making it an excellent destination for photography, sightseeing, and hiking.

Jinkeng Dazhai Red Yao Rice Terraces

Jinkeng Dazhai Red Yao Rice Terraces are an important part of the Longji Rice Terraces, known for their magnificent terraced landscape and unique Red Yao ethnic culture. Here, layers of terraces wind from the foot of the mountain to the top, with smooth lines, grand scale, and different scenery in each season. Visitors can enjoy the magnificent sunrise and sunset, the misty clouds, experience the customs of the Red Yao people, and feel the charm of agricultural culture. Among them, the "Pavilion" is a famous viewpoint.

Yangshuo West Street

Yangshuo West Street

Yangshuo West Street, located in Yangshuo County, Guilin City, is an ancient street with a history of more than 1400 years. It is famous for its unique karst landforms, Li River scenery, and the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. West Street is the core of Yangshuo tourism, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. Chinese and English signs can be seen everywhere on the street, and many locals can speak some English. It not only has a rich history and culture, but also many climbing spots, such as Moon Hill, Low Mountain, Shuangmen, Frog, Egg, Bamboo Forest and Wine Bottle Cliff. At the same time, West Street is also a vibrant commercial street with a variety of shops, restaurants and bars, making it an ideal place to experience Yangshuo's nightlife.

Yulong River Scenic Area

Yulong River Scenic Area

Yulong River Scenic Area is located in Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and is the longest tributary of the Li River in Yangshuo. It is known as the "Little Li River" for its beautiful natural scenery and unique pastoral landscape. The river is crystal clear, surrounded by green hills on both sides, reflected by verdant bamboo, and dotted with rice fields and orchards, forming beautiful Chinese landscape paintings. There are no motorized boats on the Yulong River. Tourists mainly enjoy the scenery along the way by taking bamboo rafts, experiencing tranquility and leisure. In addition, cycling along the river is also a popular activity, allowing you to deeply experience the local rural life and customs. This is an excellent place to relax and get close to nature.

Reed Flute Cave

Reed Flute Cave

Reed Flute Cave, also known as the "Palace of Natural Art," is a landmark tourist attraction in Guilin. It is named for the reed grass growing outside the cave, which can be made into flutes. The cave is filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock formations. There are more than 70 ink inscriptions and travel notes in the cave, the oldest of which can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (792 AD). The cave was rediscovered in the 1940s by a group of refugees fleeing the Japanese army. Today, the cave is artificially illuminated with colorful lights, forming unique landscapes such as the Crystal Palace, Fish Tail Peak, and Dragon Pagoda.

Sun and Moon Twin Towers

Sun and Moon Twin Towers

The Sun and Moon Twin Towers are located in Guilin, Guangxi, China, and are twin pagodas. They were originally built in the moat of Guilin during the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in 2001 based on historical records as the core scenic spot of the Sun and Moon Twin Towers Cultural Park. The park is themed on the unity of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The Moon Tower is built on an island in Shan Lake, while the Sun Tower is built in the lake. The Sun Tower has an octagonal base, is covered with bronze, has nine floors, and is 41 meters (135 feet) high. The Sun Tower is the tallest bronze tower in the world and one of the few pagodas in the world with an elevator. The Moon Tower also has an octagonal base, is covered with glazed tiles, has seven floors, and is 35 meters (115 feet) high. They appeared as the ninth pit stop in the fourteenth season of The Amazing Race in 2009.

Must-Try Local Food

Guilin Rice Noodles

Guilin Rice Noodles

Guilin Rice Noodles are a local specialty snack from the Guilin region of Guangxi, China, known for their unique rice noodles, braised sauce, and toppings. The rice noodles are smooth, springy, and chewy, the braised sauce is fragrant and rich, and served with various toppings such as char siu (BBQ pork), crispy pork, peanuts, and sour bamboo shoots, offering a rich taste. It is a popular choice for locals' daily breakfast and main meals.

Guilin Chili Sauce

Guilin Chili Sauce

Guilin Chili Sauce is a traditional specialty of the Guilin region in Guangxi, renowned for its unique spicy and aromatic flavor. It is typically made from high-quality chili peppers and garlic as main ingredients, meticulously prepared through multiple processes. It is one of Guilin's "Three Treasures" and is deeply loved by locals and tourists alike.

Yong Tau Foo

Yong Tau Foo

Yong Tau Foo is a Hakka dish primarily consisting of tofu stuffed with minced meat or fish paste. Besides tofu, variations of this dish also include vegetables and mushrooms stuffed with minced meat or fish paste. Yong Tau Foo can be eaten in various ways: dry with a dipping sauce, or as a soup dish.

Stir-fried Pork with Sour Bamboo Shoots

Stir-fried Pork with Sour Bamboo Shoots

A home-style stir-fry, made primarily with sour bamboo shoots and pork, cooked with simple seasonings. The unique sourness of the bamboo shoots blends with the savory flavor of the pork, creating a rich taste.

Lipu Taro with Braised Pork Belly

Lipu Taro with Braised Pork Belly

Lipu Taro with Braised Pork Belly is a famous Guangxi dish, made primarily with Guangxi Lipu taro and pork belly. The pork belly is steamed, sliced, and then arranged alternately with slices of Lipu taro. It is then steamed with a special sauce. This dish has a bright red color, soft and tender taro, delicious and succulent pork that is rich but not greasy. The taro absorbs the meat juices, making it soft, glutinous, and uniquely flavorful.

Stuffed Field Snails

Stuffed Field Snails

Stuffed Field Snails is a Hakka specialty dish. It uses field snails as the main ingredient, where the snail meat is removed, minced, and mixed with fillings such as pork, shiitake mushrooms, and water chestnuts. This mixture is then stuffed back into the snail shells, and braised in a flavorful broth. Its characteristics include tender and delicious snail meat, rich filling, savory broth, and a unique flavor.