Guilin is world-renowned for its stunning scenery and charming karst landscape, with numerous limestone hills and caves.
Unlike most caves are formed by the weathering of rock, caves in Guilin are generally created by the uplift of underground lakes and water erosion, which are a must that you should not miss.
Among all the caves, there are well-developed caves that are lit with colorful lights and paved roads suitable for everyone, such as Reed Flute Cave, Silver Cave, and Crown Cave.
However, if you're looking for pristine caves that are less touristy, Swallow Cave in Guilin and Moon Water Cave in Yangshuo may suit you more. These are undeveloped karst caves that can only be lit by your torch, offering a real sense of exploration and making it especially fun for active couples or families who want to enjoy an adventure together.
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- Developed Guilin Caves: Sightseeing
- Pristine Guilin Caves: Caving Adventure
- Best Times to Visit Guilin Caves
- Travel Tips for Guilin Caves
Developed Guilin Caves: Sightseeing
Typically, Guilin's developed caves are paved with stone paths, equipped with steps, handrails, and lighting. You can easily complete the cave tour if you're comfortable exploring on your own, but without a guide, you might miss out on the fun of understanding the meaning behind the landscape.
Ask staff for help if you encounter any problems (there may be a language barrier), which makes the experience safe and accessible to most people, especially when traveling with seniors or young children.
Reed Flute Cave: A Must-see for First-timers
- Location: Reed Flute Road, Xiu Feng District, Guilin City
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Time needed: 1-2 hours
- Entrance fee: About 13 USD/pp
Reed Flute CaveReed Flute Cave is named after the reeds growing outside that were once used to make flutes, and is often considered Guilin's most famous and accessible show cave.
Reed Flute Cave is ideal for tourists who are short on time or experiencing the cave for the first time. Transportation is extremely convenient with a 30-minute drive from downtown Guilin. The cave dazzles with a stunning concentration of stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, and rock formations illuminated by colorful lights. The trails are well developed, making it easy for tourists to explore.
Along your visiting way, you will see some vividly named landscapes, such as "Crystal Palace" and "Snowman", which are full of imagination. It is like entering a dreamy underground crystal palace with a strong visual impact, thanks to the lighting that enhances the natural colors and creates a magical atmosphere.
Before your visit, you may be interested to learn more about it: Reed Flute Cave, The Largest and Most Impressive Cave in Guilin.
Silver Cave: Yangshuo's Top Short Trip Choice
- Location: Ligui Road, Maling Town, Lipu City(18 kilometers to the south of Yangshuo)
- Opening hours: 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
- Time needed: 1-2 hours
- Entrance fee: About 9 USD/pp
Silver CaveLocated about a 30-minute drive from Yangshuo's West Street, this is arguably the most visually stunning single cave in the region. Silver Cave's name comes from the glittering, snow-white calcite crystal formations that cover large sections of the cave walls and ceilings, which sparkle like silver and diamonds under the light.
Alike Reed Flute Cave, Silver Cave features some of the largest and most impressive individual formations in Guilin, including the massive "Music Screen," the towering "Mirage Palace," and the unique "Snowy Corridor." The landscapes are especially breathtaking and visually stunning.
Because of the Chinese saying, "Visit Silver Cave and you'll never lack money," this cave is somewhat more popular with Chinese tourists than Reed Flute Cave. Crowds are particularly intense during the peak summer months of July and August, as well as during holidays, so it's recommended to avoid visiting during these times.
Also, the humidity inside Silver Cave is extremely high, making the ground and steps slippery year-round. The walk-through is longer and more varied than Reed Flute Cave, so it's highly recommended to wear non-slip shoes and exercise caution when walking and climbing stairs.
Crown Cave: Most Interesting
- Location: Caoping Village, on the east bank of Li River, Guilin City
- Opening hours: 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
- Time needed: About 2 hours
- Entrance fee: About 9 USD/pp
Though the rock formation is not as stunning as that of Reed Flute Cave and Silver Cave, Crown Cave offers the most varied and adventurous mode of exploration, and it's one of the world's few caves that multiple types of transport can visit within the cave system itself.
During your visit, you will take a sightseeing elevator down into the cave, explore the cave on foot, and then take a short underground train ride through the large caverns. It's more about the journey and the different perspectives than just the formations.
However, as it involves multiple means of transportation, the tour takes a relatively longer time of lining up and walking distance than other caves, but the experience is totally worth it.
Seven Star Cave: Best for History Enthusiasts
- Location: Seven Star Park, 1 Seven Star Road, Guilin City
- Opening hours: 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Time needed: About 1 hour
- Entrance fee: About 14 USD/pp (including the park entrance ticket)
Seven Star Cave is located within Seven Star Park, Guilin's largest park, approximately a ten-minute drive from downtown Guilin. Visiting Seven Star Cave requires a park entrance ticket, and after entering the park, it's a 30-minute walk to the cave.
While the cave boasts some stalactites, neither the rock formations nor the lighting are as stunning as those at Reed Flute Cave and Silver Cave. But being inside the city's largest park makes it easy to combine with other sights, including Elephant Trunk Hill and Daxu Ancient Town.
Like Reed Flute Cave, Seven Star Cave's most notable feature is the historical relics preserved within. Seven Star Cave's history of tourism dates back to the Sui and Tang dynasties, and the caves contain a wealth of precious ancient cliff carvings and inscriptions, making exploring it feel like walking through history.
If you have been to Reed Flute Cave or Silver Cave, it is not recommended to visit Seven Star Cave unless you are really interested in karst stalactite caves.
Pristine Guilin Caves: Caving Adventure
Unlike more developed caves, pristine caves like Swallow Cave lack light sources other than your own, making exploration somewhat dangerous and requiring a professional guide.
However, you'll experience the wildness of pristine caves, the adrenaline rush of exploration, the satisfying curiosity about the unknown, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from exploring rarely seen sights.
Caving is recommended for ages 6-60, depending on individual health. Think twice if you have claustrophobia and avoid bringing unnecessary items to prevent slowing down exploration.
Swallow Cave: A Dry Cave with Rope Rappelling
- Location: Discovery Explores New Frontiers, Huixian Town, Guilin City
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM–6:30 PM
- Time needed: 2-3 hours
Our Clients are Exploring the Swallow Cave HappilyLike other karst caves such as Reed Flute Cave and Silver Cave, Swallow Cave is also a stalactite cave.
Located halfway up the mountain, Swallow Cave is a dry cave with no underground water flow, so the visit is not affected by the weather. After being equipped with professional caving gear, you'll join a professional guide as you explore this dark and mysterious cave.
Here, you'll experience a 25-meter descent with a rope, pass through a long-dried underground riverbed (which still holds a small amount of water during the rainy season), and admire pristine karst formations formed over millions of years, including stalactites, stone columns, and rock terraces. If you're lucky, you might even spot swallows and bats.
Moon Water Cave: Wading Through An Underground Stream
- Location: Pingtang Village, Gaotian Town, Yangshuo County
- Opening hours: 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Time needed: 2-3 hours
Moon Water CaveMoon Water Cave is a water cave that features an underground stream covering approximately one-third of its route. You can explore the cave on foot without technical climbing, making it highly safe.
Inside the cave, you'll find shimmering moss and breathtaking stalactite columns dating back thousands of years. During summer, the stream reaches depths of about 60 centimeters, potentially wetting trousers above the knees for both adults and children. It's safe to proceed with each steady step when wading.
You will come across a natural mud bath during the trip, and it is available for those interested. But note there are no changing facilities or showers after exiting. Unless your Yangshuo hotel is within walking distance, you'll likely need to arrange a car wash afterward.
Bats flying through the cave are common. The smell of bat droppings indicates you're nearing the exit, where dense clusters of bats roost upside-down, and don't disturb them to cause any trouble.
The return hike to the cave entrance takes roughly 20 minutes but involves mountainous terrain, so be cautious of mosquitoes during this section.
Travel Tips for Guilin Caves
- Avoid touching stalactites. Never touch actively forming 'wet' formations since skin oils and acids dissolve calcite crystals years of natural growth. Use laser pointers instead of fingers to indicate features.
- No solo exploration. Maintain visual or voice contact at all times with your guide and companions. Do not explore unmarked passages without permission.
- Put on nylon/polyester quick-dry layers and non-slip shoes. The safety equipment required for caving will be provided when participating in the activity, and fees are already included.
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Never shine white lights on roosting bats (causes panic deaths). Feeding wildlife like cavefish may alter breeding cycles and disrupt the cave ecosystem.
- Prepare yourself before the exploration. There are no toilets or trash bins in the caves.
Best Times to Visit Guilin Caves
The caves are suitable for year-round visits, as they maintain a constant temperature, keeping warm in winter and cool in summer. However, due to their naturally air-conditioned nature, we recommend visiting between April and October for a more comfortable experience.
While Guilin experiences occasional rainfall during this period, which may disrupt your outdoor sightseeing plans, the caves are largely unaffected by the weather, and the cooler atmosphere of the caves offers a welcome respite from the oppressive heat of the rain.
Normally, pristine caves rarely have many people visiting at the same time, while developed caves are often crowded with people. To avoid the crowds, we recommend avoiding the summer and holiday seasons from June to August. On the day of your visit, you can have lunch around 11:00 AM and take a short break before entering the caves to avoid the large crowds.
You may also be interested in: Best Times to Visit Guilin
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