Top Things to Do in Guilin
The old Chinese saying goes, "Guilin's mountain and water scenery is the best under heaven. "Guilin has the most famous karst topography in the world, with limpid rivers and lakes, verdant hills, grotesque rocks and mysterious caves. Touring Guilin and the surrounding towns of Yangshuo and Longsheng is all about scenery and leisure, such as cruising along the Li River, pedaling in the countryside, and visiting minority villages.
China Highlights has listed for you the following top things to do in Guilin. See How to Plan a Day in Guilin and our Guilin tours for ways to combine them.
Also read The Pick of Guilin.
The 83-kilometer-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is like an artist's masterpiece. A cruise along this ink-painting-like river is an unforgettable experience.
The stretch from Yangdi to Xingping is the essence of the Li River. It offers a great opportunity to see the gorgeous Li River scenery close-up and the life of the farmers who live by the river.
The brilliant cave is a fascinating gallery of natural sculpture. It is filled with a large number of stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations in weird and wonderful shapes.
The two rivers and four lakes water system forms a continuous picturesque waterway through the center of Guilin City. The sight is especially pretty at night with the lighting on.
- Essence of Guilin & Li River Tour (contact us to have us customize this tour)
This small tributary of the Li River relies completely on bamboo rafts to ferry passengers down the river. It is the utmost relaxing experience while you sit on the chair of the raft and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere.
Biking leisurely through the rice paddies, fruit orchards, karst hills, and tranquil villages gives you a fascinating insight into the rural life in China. You may also visit one or two of the local farmers' houses.
At the famous Yangshuo West Street, you can simply relax yourself in one of the bars or cafes, or do some souvenir shopping at the numerous stands. At the West Street, you will never get bored.
The rice terraces are built into the hillsides, and look like great chains or ribbons as they wind round the contours in tiered bands. The ethnic minority villages are also worth exploring.
The Impression of the Third Sister Liu is a spectacular nighttime show with colorful lights, music and folk songs, all staged on the Li River. It is one of the creations of the famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou.
- Guilin & Yangshuo Memories Tour (contact us to customize this tour)
It is the most popular local snack, and local people also consume it as breakfast, lunch or dinner. Guilin rice noodles can probably be found within 100m of any town or city area.
Plan to visit Guilin? Read How to plan a Guilin trip.
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