Guilin, China is famous for its stunning karst landscape, with unique pointy hills perfect for hiking adventures. Hiking in Guilin offers everything from short, 45-minute city hikes to longer, scenic treks to nearby towns and villages, making it ideal for all skill levels. The best hiking experiences in Guilin start from three key towns: Guilin, Xingping, and Yangshuo, each offering access to unforgettable trails and outdoor activities.
Many hiking trails in and around Guilin are free, while some city hikes cost about 55 yuan each, with the renowned Longji rice terraces being the priciest option. Whether you’re seeking scenic Guilin hikes or budget-friendly outdoor activities, explore your options and find the best hiking experience that suits your interests.
The hike from Xingping to Shawan
Hiking in Guilin City
Hiking Diecai hill in Guilin
Hiking in Guilin City is accessible for all fitness levels, with many trails located in larger parks where non-hikers can enjoy the lower areas. These hikes offer great views of Guilin and allow you to combine outdoor activities with city sightseeing in one day.
Elephant Trunk Hill / Xiangshan
A classic and iconic Guilin hike, located near downtown and taking about an hour to complete. If you prefer to avoid multiple park fees, consider alternatives like Seven Stars Park, but Elephant Trunk Hill remains a convenient and popular hiking option in Guilin.
Cost: 55 yuan
7 Stars Park
Seven Stars Park / Qixing Scenic Area
Seven Stars Park (Qixing Scenic Area) is a spacious park near Elephant Trunk Hill, featuring a scenic viewpoint ideal for sunset hikes in Guilin. The park includes a temple, cave, areas for local games, and a “zoo” where you may spot wild monkeys, making it a versatile outdoor activity for visitors.
Pro Tip: You may want to choose between Elephant Trunk Hill or Seven Stars Park and go to just one.
Cost: 55 yuan
Views of Guilin from Diecai Hill
Diecai Hill
Diecai Hill, located in northern Guilin near Fubo Hill, is a smaller park with several hills to climb, offering some of the best panoramic views of Guilin and its karst landscape. It’s a top choice for those with limited time, as it can be explored within a few hours and is less crowded in the mornings.
If you only have time for one hike in Guilin city, I'd recommend this one.
Oddly enough, Google maps doesn’t show Diecai hill on their map, but it’s off of Deicai Road and near what’s called the “Fulong Continent.” (I highly recommend using Amaps and typing in the Chinese characters for diecaishan if you’re able to).
Cost: 25 yuan
The 4 Rivers, 2 Lakes path lit up at night
4 Rivers, 2 Lakes Path
Although maybe not a hike per se, I’d be remiss to not include the beautiful 4 Rivers, 2 Lakes path. The 4 Rivers, 2 Lakes Path is a scenic loop around Guilin, offering beautiful views of the city’s rivers and lakes, and is ideal for walking, running, or enjoying outdoor activities. Popular spots like Ronghu Lake are especially picturesque at night, while quieter sections lead to places like Liu Sanjie Garden and Xishan Park (continue west on the trail from Ronghu Lake). The path is in great condition in most areas, and provides you with some stunning views of Guilin’s many rivers and lakes. Just find the closest body of water to you and go down and find the path.
Route: Accessible from any nearby body of water; full circuit takes about 3 hours to walk.
Cost: Free
Hiking Outside of Guilin
Yao Mountain
Yao Mountain, about 10 km from Guilin, offers a more challenging hike with breathtaking views, and you can choose between hiking the trail, walking the main road, or taking a cable car for part or all of the journey. China Highlights provides a nice overview of hiking Yao Mountain.
Cost: 110 yuan for round-trip cable car.
How to Get There: The 13 or the 24 public bus (2 yuan), or taxi.
The Longji Rice Terraces
The Longji Rice Terraces are one of Guilin’s most famous hiking destinations, offering stunning views and the option to explore on a day trip or with an overnight stay. You can join a tour through local hostels and hotels or visit independently for a flexible experience. For more information, I’ll defer to Crawford Creation’s detailed post on hiking the Longji Rice Terraces.
Cost: 95 yuan entrance fee; bus is 50 yuan to get there.
Hiking in Xingping
Xingping, a nearby town from Guilin, offers a variety of free hiking options, making it a great destination for budget-friendly outdoor activities. One of my favorite hikes is to the village of Shawan, which features unique views, a peaceful atmosphere, and a bit of adventure in finding your way.
Hiking in Xingping is perfect for those seeking scenic, off-the-beaten-path trails near Guilin.
A view of the scenery from Xingping town
Getting to Xingping
By Train: High-speed rail is incredibly convenient to get to Xingping. High-speed trains leave from all three Guilin train stations (Guilin, Guilin West and Guilin North) to the Yangshuo Train Station. The Yangshuo Train Station is only around 6 kilometers from Xingping and the train ticket costs 24 yuan. There are convenient shuttle buses at the train station that take you to Xingping for only 5 yuan.
By Bus: Buses leave from the Guilin South Train Station to Xingping/Yangshuo frequently. Unfortunately, the buses stop first in Yangshuo and then swing back around to Xingping, as Yangshuo is more popular of a destination. The bus costs anywhere from 25 to 40 yuan, depending on the discrepancy of the bus ticket seller.
By Cruise/Bamboo Raft: Cruises and rafts stop either at Mural Hill or at Xingping, but cost significantly more than the train or bus. The rafts leave from the Yangdi Pier and, from my understanding, costs between 110 to 250 yuan for the trip.
Watching the sunset from Laozhai Hill
Laozhai Hill
Laozhai Hill in Xingping is a 45-minute hike with a well-marked but occasionally rough path, ending with a ladder climb to reach the summit and enjoy stunning sunset views.
Travel Tip: If you’re looking to catch the sunset at Laozhai Hill (which is absolutely stunning), make sure to bring a good flashlight, as the way down is difficult without light.
Disclaimer: The above photo was not taken at the pavilion at the top, so you have to climb some rocks to get this view. The signs advise against this for obvious reasons, so be careful.
Cost: Free
How to Get There: From Xingping town, head to the river and Xingping ferry area, go past the ferry, turn right up the steps, and look for labeled signs—there’s only one clear route up.
Hiking to Shawan Town and the Monastery
One part of the path to get to Shawan
My favorite hike, the hike from Xingping to Shawan takes about 2 hours each way, starting with a flat section and followed by a more challenging uphill climb. Along the way, you can visit a monastery and enjoy scenic views of the river, mountains, and farmlands; however, Shawan itself is quiet with little to do, so the journey is best for those who appreciate the hike and scenery.
Cost: The hike is free, but you’ll need 10 yuan for the ferry both ways
How to Get There: Read my separate post on Hiking to Shawan Town to see the step-by-step directions.
Hiking to Fishing Village
For a less intense option, the Xingping to Fishing Village hike is a flat, 2-hour walk each way—Teacake Travels provides some great detailed directions on how to hike to Fishing Village.
Cost: Free
The 20 Yuan Note Spot
Although not a hike, the 20 Yuan Note Spot in Xingping is a famous viewpoint featured on the back of the 20 yuan bill, just a 10–15 minute walk from town across a bridge. It also serves as a pick-up and drop-off point for river cruises, making it a convenient and scenic stop to add to your Xingping hiking itinerary.
Cost: Free
Hiking in Yangshuo
A rooftop view of the old downtown Yangshuo
Yangshuo, located near Guilin, offers accessible hiking options for all fitness levels and is a great destination for outdoor activities, including cycling along 10-Mile Gallery Road.
Getting to Yangshuo
See the above directions on getting to Xingping, which are similar to arriving in Yangshuo from Guilin. You can take high-speed rail and then take a bus to Yangshuo, which costs 10-15 yuan, or take a bus directly there from Guilin South Bus Station.
From Xingping, buses leave every 15 minutes until 18:00 from Xingping Bus Station, ticket costs 10 yuan, and the ride takes about 30 minutes (pay on the bus).
Yangshuo is easy to reach and makes a perfect addition to your Guilin hiking itinerary.
The main bike lane on Kangzhan Road to get to Moon Hill
Related Article: Yangshuo Cycling: 10-Mile Gallery Road
Moon Hill
Moon Hill, located on Yangshuo’s Cycling 10-Mile Gallery Road, features a 40-minute climb to its iconic arch and offers additional rock climbing options for those seeking a challenge.
Cost: 15 yuan
The TV Tower Hike
The TV Tower hike is situated in Yangshuo town and, while a bit challenging to find, rewards hikers with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. For detailed directions, refer to the thorough guide on how to hike the TV tower in Yangshuo.
Admiring the view from Laozhai Hill
Hiking in Guilin Conclusion
Hiking in Guilin offers well-developed city parks with stair climbs and more rugged trails in areas like Xingping, so be sure to bring proper hiking shoes for the best experience. The scenery in Guilin and its surroundings is truly breathtaking, making it a top destination for outdoor activities in China. Besides hiking, consider cycling in Yangshuo or biking to Daxu for even more ways to enjoy Guilin’s natural beauty.
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Thanks so much! Appreciate the love. Hope you enjoy hiking in Guilin, if you ever go there!!
I LOVE this kind of karst landscapes. <3 Although I have never visited an area with it on such an epic scale! I would looooove to visit some of these trails in both Guilin and Xingping.
If the hiking infrastructure is so good, does that mean hiking is quite a popular pastime in this part of China?
Yes, you should definitely visit Guilin & surrounding area! Hiking is more popular there than in other areas (it’s a vey artsy place, so it had a completely different vibe than most other places I’ve been to in China – a lot of musicians, painters, etc). Some of the “trails,” however, are more just trails for local villagers. The hike from Xingping to Shawan was one of those – I really only saw some villagers transporting goods and a few runners on the trail.
I have never seen rocks/mountains like these! How fun they would be to explore. I love the photos of the paths that seem to beckon hikers into the mountains. Also, there’s something about mountain hikes with views of cities, towns, and villages that get to me. Sounds like there are lots of great hikes to explore around Guilin!
Aren’t they fun? Super pointy mountains, they’re bizarre but so cool. There are certainly a ton of options, it’s one of my favorite spots in China! (at least for now)