Guilin Shopping — What to Buy and Where to Buy

Imagine bringing home a piece of Guilin's landscape. For travelers seeking authentic local treasures beyond postcards, this guide showcases Guilin's unique character, from its Three Treasures to innovative cultural and creative products.

Read on to start your shopping adventure in Guilin.

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• Unique in Guilin - Landscape-Inspired Cultural Creations
• Unique in Guilin - Edible Treasures and Iconic Souvenirs
• Unique in Guilin - Special Gifts with Cultural Soul
• Where to Shop Like a Local in Guilin?

What Is Unique to Buy in Guilin?

Landscape-Inspired Cultural Creations

Guilin's iconic mountains and rivers aren't just for postcards, but they've inspired beautiful art and crafts that let you bring a piece of this magical landscape home.

These unique creations will spark cherished memories every time you see them. If traditional paintings or calligraphy feel beyond your budget, you'll find charming alternatives like fridge magnets, postcards, and canvas bags that capture Guilin's spirit perfectly. There are delightful shops for everyone on your gift list!

Make Your Own Painting as a Unique Souvenir Is Also a Great Idea

For Chinese Traditional Art and Calligraphy

Guangxi Normal University Art Gallery (广西师范大学美术馆)

• Address: 3F, Guangxi Normal University Press, No.9 Wulidian Rd, Qixing District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 9 AM - 12 PM, 3 PM - 6 PM (Closed Mondays)

Guilin Art Museum (桂林美术馆)

• Address: No.2 Ziyou Rd, Qixing District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 9 AM - 5 PM (Closed Mondays)

Guilin Detian Plaza (桂林德天广场): Large-scale wholesale art market with a great variety

• Address: No.113 Huancheng South 2nd Rd, Xiangshan District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 9 AM - 6 PM

The Zhuang Ethnic Group's Embroidered Balls Are Auspicious Tokens and Toys

For Souvenirs and Small Gifts

MomiBook (猫的天空之城): Whimsical postcards and literary gifts

• Address: Shop A106, East West Alley Cultural Block, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 10 AM - 10 PM

Osmanthus (木樨堂): Handcrafted seals and nature-themed souvenirs

• Address: Shop C115-1, East West Alley Cultural Block, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 10 AM - 10 PM

Blade Bookstore (刀锋书店): Various books and locally designed accessories

• Address: 18 Binjiang Rd, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 11 AM - 10 PM

Guilin's Edible Treasures and Iconic Souvenirs

Meet Guilin's legendary Three Treasures: sanhua liquor(distilled from three kinds of flowers), fermented tofu, and chili sauce, which are the city's most iconic flavors. Since tastes vary, remember to sample before you buy at local shops. Here are more local favorites that deserve your attention:

• Crispy Lipu taro sticks(荔浦芋头条)
• Sweet Lipu rice cakes(荔浦米饼)
• Osmanthus-infused treats: cakes, honey, tea(桂花糕、桂花蜜、桂花茶)
• Monk fruit tea(罗汉果茶)

* Lipu(荔浦) is the name of a county under the jurisdiction of Guilin City.

Osmanthus Tea is One of Guilin's Most Popular Specialties

Osmanthus Commune and Guilin Jinshunchang Specialty Store are famous specialty stores in Guilin, with clear prices and authentic tastes. If you want to savor the freshly made local flavor immediately, embark on a food adventure in Lequn Market or Heishan Morning Market could be interesting.

Osmanthus Commune(桂花公社)

• Address: 1F, Building No.2, Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 10 AM - 9 PM

* Try osmanthus-flavored ice cream and drizzle osmanthus honey on yogurt.

Guilin Jinshunchang Specialty Store(桂林金顺昌土特产店): "Three Treasures" gift sets available

• Address: Shop D101-1, East West Alley, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 9 AM - 11 PM

Lequn Market(桂林乐群市场): Fresh seasonal snacks

• Address: Corner of Lequn Rd and Taiping Rd, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 6 AM - 8 PM

Heishan Morning Market(桂林黑山早市): Bustling local energy

• Address: 206-1 Huancheng West 1st Rd, Xiangshan District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 5 AM - 11 AM

* Allergy tip: Ask the staff about allergens in products like peanuts, eggs, or milk. Most stores are happy to check labels.

Special Gifts with Cultural Soul

Here are some specialties that could bring home more than memories:

• Tea from Guilin's hills (osmanthus green tea is heavenly)
• Saltwater pearls (historically prized as "Southern Pearls")
• Zhuang brocade (embroidered balls and purses bursting with ethnic charm)

Ethnic Minority Costumes Are Also a Popular Choice for Souvenirs

*Shopping Tips

• For pearls: Visit large malls in the city's downtown area with certification to avoid imitations, such as the Guilin MixC and Wanda Plaza. You could ask your guide for more advice.
• For tea: Experience harvesting at scenic plantations.

Pick Your Tea with Your Families

Yangshuo Qixianfeng Tea Garden(阳朔七仙峰生态茶观园): Pick tea leaves overlooking misty peaks.

• Address: Qixianfeng Scenic Area, Baisha Town, Yangshuo(1.5hrs from Guilin / 30mins from Yangshuo West Street)
• Opening hours: 8 AM - 6 PM; 9 USD/pp for admission

Jinyuanhe Handicrafts(锦元和手工伴手礼): Zhuang embroidered purses and modern accessories

• Address: No.1 West Lane, Zhengyang Rd, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 10 AM - 10 PM

Lijinfang Cultural Shop(漓锦坊非遗文创店): Heritage crafts and artisan demos

• Address: No.18 Binjiang Rd, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
• Opening hours: 10 AM - 10 PM

Where to Shop Like a Local in Guilin

Like most Chinese cities, Guilin has modern malls with familiar brands, perfect for air-conditioned comfort but short on local character, such as Guilin MixC (luxury splurges with international labels) and Guilin High-Tech Wanda Plaza (everyday prices and popular chains).

For true Guilin flavor, explore these local-favorite spots bursting with regional charm and budget-friendly treasures. Remember that bargaining is part of the fun at smaller shops and street stalls, and always negotiate if prices aren't marked (and sometimes even when they are). A friendly "太贵啦！" (tài guì la!/"Too expensive!") often works wonders.

Tips Before Shopping

If a vendor pressures you into paying for unsolicited "experiences" (like impromptu massages or trinket engraving):

• Use body language or a translation software to politely but firmly decline.
• Contact your guide immediately.

For serious disputes: (Keep these numbers saved in your phone!)

- Guilin Tourism Hotline: 0773-2800315

- Police: Dial 0773-110

Guilin's Top 2 Shopping Malls

Guilin MixC (桂林万象城)

• Address: No.1 Hongling Road, Xiufeng District
• Opening hours: 10 AM -10 PM

Inspired by Guilin's karst landscapes and Northern Guangxi folk dwellings, Guilin MixC's architectural showcasing its beauty with unique designs different from MixCs in other regions.

Limited by the consumption level of Guilin locals, Guilin MixC offers affordable luxury boutiques and mid- to high-end restaurants. It is also the home to Guilin's only POP MART store, which is perfect for shopping for trendy collectible souvenirs.

Guilin High-Tech Wanda Plaza (高新万达广场)

• Address: No.43 Chuanshan East Road, Qixing District
• Opening hours: 10 AM - 10 PM

Slightly different from Guilin MixC, Guilin High-tech Wanda Plaza focuses on brands at great value and affordable diners.

After nightfall, the street outside the shopping mall transforms into a bustling night market that boasts budget-friendly choices, such as gadgets, snacks, and street games.

The Walking Street: Zhengyang Pedestrian Street

• Address: No.29 Zhengyang Road, Xiufeng District
• Opening hours: 10 AM - 10 PM

Nestled beside Guilin's Central Square(桂林中心广场), Zhengyang Pedestrian Street(正阳步行街) pulses with infectious energy, especially on weekend evenings and holidays when crowds thicken like moving walls.

Stroll past boutique shops showcasing ethnic handicrafts and clothing, pause at milk tea stands for refreshments, and follow the aroma of sizzling street food to Shangshui Street(尚水街), a narrow culinary alley adored by locals. This hidden gem awaits your exploration, offering everything from steaming Guilin rice noodles to sweet osmanthus cakes.

The Antique Commercial Street: East-West Lane

• Address: No.18 Jiefang East Road, Xiufeng District
• Opening hours: 24/7

Just across the street from Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, East-West Lane (东西巷) revitalizes Guilin's heart with newer renovations and a more diverse cluster of boutiques.

Wander through Qing dynasty-inspired alleyways illuminated by silk lanterns, where live folk music bars spill melodies onto bluestones, creative workshops showcase minority embroidery, and steaming local snacks perfume the air.

At the lane's end, ascend the freely accessible Xiaoyao Tower (逍遥楼) to witness a panoramic vista blending history with modernity, when twilight paints the Li River and Jiefang Bridge in gold, then lights up by neon lights after dark.

The Underground Market: "Little Hong Kong"

• Address: No.95 Little Hong Kong Underground Market, Xiufeng District
• Opening hours: 10 AM - 9 PM

Beneath Central Square lies "Little Hong Kong"(小香港), a labyrinthine underground bazaar, where winding corridors overflow with stalls hawking budget-friendly clothing, handbags, shoes, and trinkets.

It's time to encourage your inner treasure hunter and start an adventure. Peer into crammed racks and glittering displays to unearth hidden gems, such as ethnic embroidered pouches or pearl-adorned hairpins at startlingly low prices.

Just 200 meters north, the Cross Street Underground Passage offers a different experience, browsing snack carts and sundry shops selling steamed buns or bamboo trinkets while crossing beneath the bustling avenue.

The Wholesale Market: Wa Yao Wholesale Market

• Address: 15 South Huancheng Road 2nd Section, Xiangshan District
• Opening hours: 9 AM - 7 PM

As Guilin's largest wholesale hub, Wa Yao Wholesale Market(瓦窑批发市场) immerses you in a bustling sprawl of creativity and commerce.

Navigate warehouse-like alleys stacked with minority silverwork, lacquerware tea sets, and hand-painted scrolls. Don't be afraid to ask for prices since all at wholesale rates.

Beyond souvenirs, discover everyday bargains: from pajamas and ceramic rice bowls to fragrant osmanthus-scented candles. Whether sourcing bulk orders or hunting unique keepsakes, this is where locals and traders alike strike deals.