Guilin Hotels

But on those humid days where thick hazes obscure the scenery, Guilin has a few other options. Fork out for a tour to the Longsheng Rice Terrace, or give in to the old-world charms of the dilapidated Daxu Ancient Town. The Western world is no stranger to cashing in on beauty, and deservedly smug Guilin proves that our Eastern cousins can do exactly the same thing.

Guilin’s Top 10

Guilin History

• Central Square - A huge gathering place located in the town centre. Tourists here can witness the beautiful artificial waterfall every evening.
• Jingjiang Prince City - A tiny forbidden city located in the city centre.
• Moon and Sun Pagodas - The pagoda’s exterior and its surrounds offer a welcome respite from Guilin city centre.
• Returned Pearl Cave - This cave is home to 200 etched Buddha images, some of which date back more than 1,000 years.
• Thousand Buddha Cave - A Guilin holiday highlight. This attraction features stone statues from the Song and Tang dynasties.

Guilin Art & Culture

• Guilin Art Museum - This museum is a must-see for those fascinated by art.
• Guilin Museum - This impressive museum is home to more than 20,000 items.
• Li River Folk Custom Centre - This centre is home to local shows of music and dancing.
• Ziyuan River Lantern and Song Festival - Located in nearby Ziyuan County, this annual festival is held in the middle of July.
• Guilin Scenery, Culture and Tourism Festival - This eight-day festival, held in mid-November, features a stunning opening ceremony.

Guilin Shopping

• Zhongshan Zhonglu - Guilin’s main shopping district.
• Central Square - The shops here are interspersed by countless eating establishments and other places of interest.
• Zhongshan Zhonglu Night Market - A bustling market open from early evening until midnight.
• Guilin Department Store - A seven-floor building selling quality products from across China.
• Guilin Weixiaotang Department Store - A shopping complex that is home to a beauty salon, a supermarket, a bookstore and a food court.

Gay & Lesbian Guilin

• No. 8 Club - A mixed club frequented by tourists and locals. The club lacks a dance floor, perfect for those with two left feet.
• Lv Club - A mixed club that gets extremely busy after 11 pm. This bar is popular with tourists and locals alike.
• Ragazza Pub/Yi Ren - A mixed Guilin club that becomes livelier after 11 pm.
• Guilin Theatre - This theatre hosts regular acrobatic performances.
• Dadu Hui - A disco in which visitors can dance the night away and mingle with like-minded locals.

Guilin Events

March’s Cherry Blossom Festival isn’t just another senior citizen flower show. Marked by games and art performances, it’s one of Guilin’s biggest events.

Hamburgers are off the cards in May for the Zhuang National Cattle Festival, where cattle are groomed, fed and covered in flowers.

The best things in life are free, including the noodles at June’s Guilin Rice Noodles Festival.

Guilin is humming in July or August during the Ziyuan Song Festival. The locals sing and release lanterns onto the river to remember their forefathers.

The annual Guilin Scenery Tourism Festival takes place in November to highlight the city’s scenic beauty and culture. It’s an easy sell.

When To Go

Snow does fall in Guilin, but rarely. Winter lows are normally around 4ºC (40ºF)

May and June are Guilin’s wettest months.

July is the hottest month, with temperatures hovering around 32ºC (90ºF)

Getting Around

A cruise along the Li River is the most scenic way to explore the city.

If daily boat rides are out of your price range, buses are relatively cheap and frequent.

The best way to really explore the city is by bicycle. Most of the peaks and parks are within riding distance.

Guilin has a wet monsoon climate with humid, rainy summers and mild winters.

• Winter (December to February) 4-16degC
• Spring (March to May) 10-28degC
• Summer (June to September) 21-34degC
• Fall (October to November) 11-27degC

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General Information

Attractions & Activities

Restaurants & Nightlife