Getting Around Guilin 2026
🚌 Getting Around Guilin
Guilin's attractions are spread across a wide area — the city, Yangshuo, and Longji Rice Terraces. Here's how to navigate between them.
The Three Zones
| Zone | Distance from Guilin City | How to Get There |
|---|---|---|
| Guilin City | — | Walk, taxi, bus |
| Yangshuo | 65km | Li River Cruise (4-5 hrs) or bus (1.5 hrs) |
| Longji Rice Terraces | 100km | Bus (2.5 hrs) or hired car |
Within Guilin City
Taxi / Didi
- Starting fare: ¥7
- Most trips: ¥10-30
- To train station: ¥15-25
Bus
- ¥1-2 per trip
- Routes in Chinese only
- Useful for getting to bus stations
Between Guilin and Yangshuo
Li River Cruise (Recommended)
- 4-5 hours, ¥216-320
- Scenic — this is an attraction in itself
- Book through your hotel
Bus
- From Guilin Bus Station, every 15 minutes
- 1.5 hours, ¥20
- Not scenic — highway the whole way
Between Guilin and Longji Rice Terraces
Bus
- From Guilin Bus Station → Longsheng (~2 hours, ¥30)
- Then local bus to terraces (~1 hour, ¥15)
- Total: ~3 hours one-way
Hired Car (Recommended)
- ¥400-600 for a day trip
- More flexible, can stop at viewpoints
- Can combine with overnight stay
Within Yangshuo
Bicycle (Recommended)
- ¥20-50/day for regular bike
- ¥80-150/day for e-bike
- The best way to explore the countryside
Scooter
- ¥80-150/day
- Covers more ground than a bike
- Requires confidence on Chinese roads
Taxi / Didi
- ¥10-30 for local trips
- Less useful than in cities — most attractions are in the countryside
Pro Tips
-
Guilin → Yangshuo by cruise, return by bus — take the scenic cruise down, and the fast bus back if you need to save time.
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Stay in Yangshuo, not Guilin — Yangshuo has better restaurants, nightlife, and cycling. Use Guilin only as a transit hub.
-
Hire a car for Longji — public transport is slow and infrequent. A car gives you flexibility and saves 2+ hours.
-
Download Amap — works well for Guilin's roads and shows real-time bus locations.
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Written by Bobby, living in Chengdu since 2023
