Townapedia
View of Guilin from Elephant Trunk Hill
View of Guilin from Elephant Trunk Hill · Shujianyang, CC0
89780-Guilin (45511118122)
89780-Guilin (45511118122) · xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
89775-Guilin (49040276193)
89775-Guilin (49040276193) · xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
East-West Alley 89766-Guilin (49041013162)
East-West Alley 89766-Guilin (49041013162) · xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
East-West Alley 89763-Guilin (49040800571)
East-West Alley 89763-Guilin (49040800571) · xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
East-West Alley 89764-Guilin (49040295833)
East-West Alley 89764-Guilin (49040295833) · xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0

Guilin, China

桂林市

Guilin is a town of 1,572,300 people in Guangxi, China.

Loading the weather...
Population1,572,300 GeoNames
Local name桂林市
RegionGuangxi
Elevation153 m 502 ft
Time zoneAsia/Shanghai
Land area27,667.3 km²
Nearest airportGuilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) 26 km

Why visit Guilin

Townapedia lists 43 museums and landmarks, 44 parks and trails, 97 places to eat, 81 places to stay and 95 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Guilin Medical University, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin Stele Forest Museum and 李宗仁官邸.

About Guilin

Guilin (Chinese: 桂林; Standard Zhuang: Gveilinz), formerly romanized as Kweilin, is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is situated on the west bank of the Li River and borders Hunan to the north. The city has long been renowned for its scenery of karst topography.

From the Wikipedia article Guilin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Guilin on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do95

Guilin Medical University

School · 15.2 km

University in China

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Guilin University of Electronic Technology

School · 3.7 km

Public university in Guilin, Guangxi, China

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Guilin University of Technology

School · 1.6 km

University in Guilin, China

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Reed Flute Cave

Monument and historic site · 3.4 km

Cave and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi Province, China

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Seven-Star Cave

Monument and historic site · 1.7 km

Cave system in Guangxi, China

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Guilin Zoo

Zoo and aquarium · 1.7 km

1 七星路, 桂林市

Mo-Su 09:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 798 7908

Elephant Trunk Hill

Scenic view · 1.2 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Wanda Cinemas

Cinema and theater · 3.6 km

1 红岭路

Open in Google Maps

Wanda Cinemas

Cinema and theater · 4.4 km

43 穿山东路

Open in Google Maps

Wanda Cinemas

Cinema and theater · 4.4 km

169 滨北路

Open in Google Maps

梦幻剧场

Cinema and theater · 3.2 km

95 七星路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps

Baoji Hill

Scenic view · 1.3 km

Open in Google Maps

83 more on the map.

Museums and landmarks43

Guilin Stele Forest Museum

Museum · 0.9 km

1 龙隐路, 桂林市

09:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps

李宗仁官邸

Monument and historic site · 1.0 km

4 文明路

Tu-Su 08:30-11:30, 14:30-16:30

Open in Google Maps

Zengpiyan

Monument and historic site · 7.4 km

Archaeological site

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

桂林市艺术馆

Museum · 1.0 km

15 解放西路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

府学文庙石刻

Monument and historic site · 0.9 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

白崇禧故居

Monument and historic site · 1.4 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

蒋翊武先生就义处纪念碑

Monument and historic site · 1.2 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

South China pearl museum

Museum · 3.3 km

3号 桃花江路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 289 3008

桃花岩

Monument and historic site · 7.1 km

西二环路与189乡道交叉口南480米, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps

Ancient South Gate

Monument and historic site · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Chengyun Gate

Monument and historic site

Open in Google Maps

Guilin fine-arts Museum

Museum · 3.3 km

Open in Google Maps

31 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds44

Reed Flute Cave

Park · 4.5 km

1 芦笛路, 桂林市

Mo-Su 08:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +86 773 221 0889

Tunnel Hill Scenic Area

Park · 2.8 km

55 穿山小街, 桂林市

Mo-Su 08:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 586 6878

Seven Star Park

Park · 1.4 km

1 七星路, 桂林市

Mar-Nov 06:00-19:30; Dec-Feb 06:30-19:00

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 581 5050

Elephant Trunk Hill Park

Park · 1.1 km

Possibly free entrance. But advanced booking is needed apparently.

1 滨江路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +86 773 223 5151

West Hill Park

Park · 2.6 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Yu Hill Park

Park · 2.4 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Diecai Hill Park

Park · 1.4 km

龙珠路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps

Fubo Hill Park

Park · 0.8 km

2 龙珠路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps

Guangxi Guilin National Forest Park

Hiking and trails · 7.9 km

万福路6号, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps

Guilin Lanscape Golf Club

Golf course · 8.4 km

25 金鸡路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps

Nanxi Hill Park

Park · 3.4 km

2 中山南路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps

刘三姐大观园

Sports field and stadium · 3.2 km

1 桃花江路, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps

32 more on the map.

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes97

Liriver Cuisine Restaurant

Restaurant · Regional, Seafood · 0.7 km

3 杉湖北路

24/7

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 282 8172

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.6 km

37 中山中路

Mo-Su 08:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps

Nengren Temple Vegetarian Buffet

Restaurant · Chinese · 1.5 km

6 丽君路

Mo-Su 09:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps

Chunji Roast Goose

Restaurant · Chinese · 1.5 km

2 中山中路

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 285 6188

Emissivity Cafe

Cafe

1 和平巷

Mo-Su 10:00-00:00

Open in Google Maps

Forest Gump Restaurant

Restaurant · Chinese

3 依仁路

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 286 3038

Rice Noodles Pub

Restaurant · Local, Asian, Coffee Shop, Chinese, Pasta, Noodles

142 正阳路

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 280 7508

Rosemary cafe

Restaurant · Pizza, Mexican, Coffee Shop

1-3 依仁路

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 281 0063

Xinguo Jiyoucha

Restaurant · Chinese · 1.1 km

Mo-Su 09:00-11:00, 11:30-14:30, 17:00-22:30

Open in Google Maps

Irish Pub

Bar and pub

4 正阳步行街, 桂林市

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 288 0158

Mixue Ice Cream & Tea

Cafe · Ice Cream, Bubble Tea

Open in Google Maps

Tasty Castle

Restaurant · Seafood · 0.6 km

Open in Google Maps · +86 773 286 0700

85 more on the map.

History

Before the Qin dynasty, the Guilin region was settled by the Baiyue people. In 314 BC, a small settlement was established along the banks of the Li River.

During the Qin dynasty's (221–206 BC) campaigns against the Baiyue peoples, the first administration was set up in the area around Guilin. The modern city was located within the Guilin Commandery, which is the origin of the modern name "Guilin".

In 111 BC, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty, Shi'an County (simplified Chinese: 始安县; traditional Chinese: 始安縣) was established, which could be regarded as the beginning of the city.

In AD 507, the town was renamed Guizhou (Gui Prefecture, 桂州).

In 634, Lingui County was established at the modern site of Guilin, under Gui Prefecture. In 868, Pang Xun rebelled against the Tang from Gui Prefecture.

Guilin prospered in the Tang and Song dynasties but remained a county. The city was also a nexus between the central government and the southwest border, and it was where regular armies were placed to guard that border. Canals were built through the city so that food supplies could be directly transported from the food-productive Yangtze plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire.

From the History section of Guilin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay81

Churches and places of worship14

Advertisement

Shopping21

Gas and EV charging10

Schools, colleges and libraries129

Advertisement

Healthcare19

Map of Guilin

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 26 km away.

  • Yangshuo 59 km south, about 59 min by car
  • Dazhaicun 60 km north, about 1 h by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 3, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.