Best things to do in Guilin

Guilin's Absolute Essentials

Guilin’s landscape is defined by dramatic karst topography and a historic city center integrated with the Li River. This selection features iconic landmarks like Elephant Trunk Hill and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes system, including the Song Dynasty-era Shanhu Lake. Cultural sites range from the Ming and Yuan dynasty stone carvings at the former Confucian Temple to the modern exhibits at the Guilin Fine-arts Museum, highlighting the city's long-standing role as a regional artistic hub.

吴稼文 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Elephant Trunk Hill Park

The Elephant Trunk Hill is a hill, landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China.

Elephant Trunk Hill

Iconic karst formation at the confluence of the Li and Taohua Rivers, resembling an elephant drinking water. It features the Water Moon Cave between the 'trunk' and the 'body'.

King of Hearts / CC BY-SA 4.0

Shanhu Lake

Also known as Cedar Lake, this central body of water was originally part of a Song Dynasty moat system. It is the site of the Sun and Moon Pagodas.

Flsxx / Public domain

Jie fang qiao

A major bridge spanning the Li River, originally constructed in 1939. It features decorative reliefs on its lower pillars and is a central point for viewing the riverfront.

Flsxx / Public domain

Jie fang qiao

A major bridge spanning the Li River, originally constructed in 1939. It features decorative reliefs on its lower pillars and is a central point for viewing the riverfront.