Discover Guilin

Guilin reveals itself as a city of water, rock and history. A landscape belt of lakes and rivers surrounds the city centre; distinctive hills are home to historic inscriptions, niches and rock statues. A stay in Guilin therefore brings together a variety of discoveries: the city’s distinctive scenery, cultural and historical details, and a night-time boat ride offering views of traditional mountains from the water.

Water shapes the cityscape

The Two Rivers and Four Lakes water system comprises Rong Lake, Shan Lake, Gui Lake and Mulong Lake, as well as the Li River and the Peach Blossom River. Together, they form a landscape belt around Guilin city centre. The lakes and rivers give the city experience a distinctive setting and make them a particular highlight for travellers who want to discover Guilin through its landscape.

The Guilin Two Rivers and Four Lakes·Elephant Hill Scenic Area is also located in the central urban area. It covers around 3.1 square kilometres. In the wider travel region, the Guilin component of the South China Karst World Heritage Site in Guangxi Province lies within Lijiang National Park. It includes tower and cone karst formations. The landscape thus extends from the water belt around the city centre to the distinctive karst formations of the wider region.

Rock inscriptions and traces of history

At Water Moon Cave on Elephant Hill, there are 22 historic cultural inscriptions dating from the Tang and Song periods, comprising a total of 3,065 characters. These figures give the cave a distinct cultural and historical profile: it is not only about the striking rock landscape, but also about inscriptions handed down from two dynastic periods. Elephant Hill was declared a landmark of Guilin in 1995.

Fubo Hill also brings together landscape and the history of writing. The hill has 112 rock inscriptions. Among the most artistically significant are a self-portrait and a handwritten name inscription by the Song-era artist Mi Fu. Fubo Hill is considered a landscape in miniature of Guilin and brings together mountains, water, caves and rock. For those interested in art and history, the inscriptions offer specific points of interest: from the large number of rock inscriptions to two works by Mi Fu that are particularly noteworthy.

Wind Cave on Diecai Hill adds another combination of stone and art to this picture. It contains 178 stone inscriptions as well as 24 niches with a total of 98 rock statues. The inscriptions and statues are distinct features of the cave; their different forms make the site another example of Guilin’s cultural history preserved in rock.

Experience the mountains from the water and from above

A night-time boat ride through Two Rivers and Four Lakes offers views of more than ten traditional mountains, including Elephant Hill, Fubo Hill, Diecai Hill, Laoren Hill and Baoji Hill. A boat ride is considered a preferred way to see the new city of Guilin. For your trip planning, it offers a distinct perspective on the city: rather than viewing the mountains one by one, you can see them together during the ride.

Those who want to get to know Guilin from above can enjoy an elevated view across the whole city from Diecai Hill. Mingyue Peak, one of its four peaks, is described as the highest peak in the urban area; its relative height is 73 metres. The Old South Gate Tower also stands by Rong Lake. This protected cultural heritage site in Guilin was built in 621 by the Tang general Li Jing. These sites offer different highlights: views across the city, historic rock art and an early tower from the Tang period.

Find the right location for your trip to Guilin

If the lakes, rivers and central cityscape are key to your trip, you can start your holiday rental search by focusing on Guilin’s urban experience. The central urban area is a practical point of reference: the Guilin Two Rivers and Four Lakes·Elephant Hill Scenic Area is located there, while the water belt runs around the city centre. The landscape and cultural highlights can help you decide what to focus on during your stay, without implying that any one accommodation offers specific views or distances.

Guilin is therefore a good destination for travellers who want to explore natural formations and cultural history together. You can discover the karst landscape as a broader setting, explore the rock inscriptions on individual hills, or take in the mountains from a shared perspective on a night-time boat ride. Deciding which of these experiences you want to shape your trip is a useful starting point for choosing an area of the city and a suitable holiday rental or holiday home.

More destinations

Hezhou, Fangchenggang, Nanning, Guigang, Qinzhou, Wuzhou, Chongzuo and Xing An.

Back to the main travel overview: Guangxi.