The Karst-Mountains of China: A Complete Guilin Guide

By Raphael M., a travel photographer and writer based out of New York City

Last Updated on July 27th, 2026

Sweeping clouds, karst-mountains, and the Li River provide some of the most grandiose views in the nation. Guilin sunrises look straight out of a painting, drawn out right in front of your eyes.

Located 2 hours from Guangzhou is Guilin, the quiet countryside that largely contrasts with the megacities of China. With limestone hills that have been carved by thousands of years of erosion, the karst-landscapes found here are absolutely insane, unlike anywhere else in the world.

The closest major city to Guilin is Guangzhou, located in southern China. It's about 2 hours on high-speed rail, the most convenient and efficient way to get there. Guangzhou's main airport is Baiyun International Airport, and has a ton of flights from major hubs in North America, Europe, and other parts of Asia. While the area is called Guilin, the specific area with the highest concentrations of karst-mountains in called Yangshuo.

Your travel pathway will most likely be Guangzhou, Guilin, then Yangshuo. From the train station in Guilin to Yangshuo I'd recommend getting a DiDi (Chinese rideshare) from the station to your accommodation, or one of the taxis located outside the station.

I stayed at Simple Zoo Hotel, which was about 15 minutes from town. I booked a corner room that had a view of the karst mountains, and was arguably my favorite hotel of my entire Asia trip. It was a relatively budget option for the area, and if you are willing to pay more, you can get a grander, more wider view of the mountains, or even the Li River. A tip is to book a room that specifies the view that you will have, as many of the rooms have photoshopped views that aren't what you will receive. Customer support on Trip.com, which the site I booked pretty much everything from hotels to experiences in China, was fast and responsive.

Whatever the budget you have is, make sure to spend at least 1 night in one of these scenic rooms, it really is an unforgettable experience.

The way I would plan out a visit to Guilin would be to schedule your plan accordingly as you would, look at the forecast, and don't be discouraged with rain. Even with the lack of visibility, the short clearings of the clouds would create such a dramatic view that I loved it equally as a sunny day, as with a scene like Guilin, any view is incredible. If you are visiting Guangzhou or Chongqing, say for a few days or a week, I would watch the weather forecast, and if you see a few days of rain followed by a sunny day, I would take the chance.

This is it. This is arguably the peak of China's beauty, it's natural wonder, and its most iconic landscape. Located 30-45 minutes from downtown Yangshuo, Xianggong Mountain gives you one of the most elevated, panoramic views in Guilin, with the Li River running straight through the middle.

Generally, sunrises are their best right when the sun peaks, as that is when the oranges and red hues become the most vivid without being overwhelming. While I do think the case is the same here, the blue hour was absolutely breathtaking. The hues of purple and blue slowly melding into the growing orange was just insane, alongside the rolling clouds over the Li River.

There is nothing like this anywhere else in the world. The only thing that would've made this even better would be if there was scattered clouds in the skies, but I don't think I can be too greedy.

How to get there:

Generally, I chose accommodation based mainly on price, but for Guilin/Yangshuo, it is 100% worth it to spend more time and effort choosing the perfect accommodation.

The greater Guilin area is massive, and there is no shortage of attractions to visit. The top things you have to do when visiting Guilin are: Xianggong Mountain, Ruyi Peak, and a bamboo raft down the Li or Yulong River. Other attractions that you can do is the Longji Rice Terraces, Yangshuo Silver Cave, visit a mountain cafe, and the Guilin Romance Show. There is also a small downtown area, but it's not super exciting.

When you see views like this, it makes sense why generations of poets, artists, and the elite are infatuated with these mountains, much like how I've found myself.

Ruyi Peak is about 15 minutes from downtown Yangshuo, and offers the highest vantage point in the entire region. There are several things that make Ruyi Peak special, on top of the already insane views.

There's also a glass bridge located on the lower section of the park where you can see the mountains below you. I think the view of the bridge is better than actually being on the bridge, but it was interesting nonetheless.

After the bridge, the park leads you to the very top of the mountain, Ruyi Peak. The peak offers 360 degree views of the karst mountains, and the view literally never ends. While I think the best views of the scenery is in the mid-lower sections, this elevated view shows you the scale of the landscape, an ethereal experience. There's also a drone service that they offer that can take a picture of you and the surrounding mountains, a cool service.

Where to stay:

Bamboo Rafting down the Li and Yulong Rivers:

Why Guilin?

The best way I can articulate what it is to experience Guilin is as if you walked right into a painting. Not ones that are hyper-realistic or detailed; ones that capture the emotion, the negative space, and the colors in ways that make you 'feel' the painting rather than visualize it.

If you stay within the town of Yangshuo, you'll get the best prices and convenience to restaurants, shopping districts, and the local town. However, I'd opt out of staying in town and would choose a hotel outside the city and in the mountains.

I've never had a section like this in a guide, but I think it's especially relevant for Guilin. I was here for 3 days, and the first two days were forecasted for rainy weather. At first, I was a bit disappointed, as the first two days were filled with cloudy skies, wet showers, and difficult visibility of the mountains. However, this rain would prove to work in my favor, as the sunrise on my last day in Guilin made it all worth it.

Rafting down the Yulong River was one of the most calming experiences in Guilin, sprinkled in with a splash here and there. They generally recommend a raft-down the Yulong River instead of the Li River because it offers a more scenic view in a shorter time.

My tour was about a hour, and there was 1 or 2 seater options. There's 1 guy on each raft that controls the raft, using a 15 foot bamboo rod to push you along. While I didn't have the most diverse Chinese vocabulary, I got along well with my guide.

He said they generally do 1 trip down the river during the offseason (which is when I visited, late December) and 2-3 during the peak season. It's clear that their job is no joke, and quite physically demanding.

Longji Rice Terraces:

We decided to go to the Longji Rice Terraces on our second day, but it was a bit of a dud. The weather made visibility really foggy, and it was impossible to see more than 2-3 terraces through the smog. It was also the offseason, so the terraces weren't their usually bright, vivid greens.

I wouldn't really recommend the Longji Rice Terraces unless its during season or if the weather is clear, as I couldn't really see the scale of the terraces.

Our driver did drive us to a neighboring town where the skies were briefly clear, and we could see the layers much better. Here, combined with the traditional houses of the indigenous minorities, the views were absolutely beautiful.

This cave system is one of the largest in China and in the world, showcasing massive crystal stalactites and stalagmites. While the cave itself was beautiful and really was massive, the bright neon lights made it look a lot more gimmicky than I prefer, and often served as a distraction rather than accentuate the natural wonders. The photos did come out insane though.

One of the best views of the karst mountains however, was at the very exit of the cave system, where they have a zip-line and colorful wind-streamers that made for a nice photo.

This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip that wasn't scenery related, rather a play. At first I thought it was a tourist trap, but after having a free afternoon, I decided to go and was pleasantly surprised. The show was insanely animated, with people flying over the crowds, running on the walls, a flowing river in the middle of the stage; it was unlike any play I've been to before.

Final Thoughts:

Guilin is unforgettable. It has the most beautiful scenery in all of China (in my opinion), and gives an experience travelers will remember. If you ever find yourself in China, immerse yourself into the China countryside to witness the beautiful wonders of this nation and I guarantee you won't regret it.

I've had the privilege of seeing different countries, landscapes, and scenes that made me change my perspective, alter my vision, and had lasting impressions on me. Nothing comes close to a Guilin sunrise, the greatest sunrise I've ever had (or probably will) ever witness.

Weather conditions:

According to my guide, the low hanging clouds over the rivers only occur before rainy days, generally 1-2 days. Even if you have the rain, the clouds aren't guaranteed, and are super difficult to time, especially if you're on vacation and have a set schedule.

Things to do:

Xianggong Mountain:

Once you reach the location, you need to hike about 20 minutes up the mountain, where there are 4 viewing terraces. I left the hotel around 5:00am, and arrived around 5:30am, with the sunrising fully peaking at around 7:30am. I was lucky enough to get a front corner view on the second-tallest terrace, and set up a timelapse. Make sure to bring enough clothing and layers, as it definitely gets cold in the mornings.

Ruyi Peak:

There is a gondola that brings you from the base of the park right into the center. It is super accessible, and anyone can make it up here, something I think China has done an amazing job at all around it's parks.

From the gondola, there's a red-ribbon bridge that crosses between two karst mountains, a scene from a literal movie. While it was stunning during broad daylight, I can imagine it would be even better with moodier lighting.

The stormy weather added an enjoyable ambiance during the ride, although it was a bit cold because of the splashing water when the raft moves down each small dam. Make sure to lift your legs and protect your cameras/phones.

Yangshuo Silver Cave:

There was also a fully blown cafe in the cave system, which was quite the find for the day.

Guilin Romance Show:

It was structured around a love story and the history of Guilin, showcasing their famous noodles, mountains, and ethnic minorities.

There was also a ton of extra shows after the main show that were around the surrounding complex, including the famous Chongqing face-swapping, a circus clown (who was actually entertaining), and a fire display at the very end. I'd definitely recommend this if you have the time.

Mountain Cafe:

This one's pretty self explanatory. Guilin is covered in these mountain cafes, places that offer a nice warm cup of coffee with a view. I don't remember the exact name of the one I went to, but work with your hotel receptionist or your driver to find one that fits your schedule. It was a amazing last stop for me.