“East or west, Guilin’s scenery is best,” the old saying goes. The karst hills around Guilin and Yangshuo are the postcard image of China — jagged limestone peaks rising from rice paddies and the jade-green Li River.

What to do

• Li River cruise — the classic 4–5 hour boat trip from Guilin to Yangshuo passes the scene printed on the ¥20 note.

💴 The ¥20-note view: flip a 20-yuan note over and you’ll see this very stretch of the Li River near Xingping (兴坪). Holding the note up against the real peaks — like the photo above — is the classic Guilin shot. Many bamboo rafts stop right here so you can line it up yourself.

• Cycle or bamboo-raft the Yulong River around Yangshuo, through fields and villages.
• Longji Rice Terraces are an easy add-on from Guilin (see our terraces guide).
• West Street in Yangshuo for cafés, bars and people-watching.

Getting there

High-speed rail reaches Guilin from across China; book on Trip.com (affiliate). Cruises and day tours are easy to arrange on Klook or Viator (affiliate).

Tips

• Base yourself in laid-back Yangshuo rather than Guilin city.
• Misty mornings are the most atmospheric for photos.
• Allow 2–3 days to slow down and enjoy the countryside.

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