From its intricate landscapes to its deep-rooted traditions, Guanxi has rich cultural layers to explore. Picture karst peaks, dragon legends, and maybe even a splash of zongzi and folk songs. Be ready to dive in! This is going to be a good one.
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Zhengyang Street
Zhengyang Street is a vibrant pedestrian zone that blends history, culture, and modern leisure – the main commercial center of Guilin, it is host to a wide variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. You can find everything from international brands to local souvenirs, as well as a wide selection of food and drinks. The 666-meter-long walkway is especially lively in the evenings when locals and tourists flock here. In the vicinity, you can also find the Zhengyang Bell Tower, a striking 17.5-meter red tower that serves as a central landmark, and the Lizongren Official Residence, a historic site that offers a glimpse into the life of Li Zongren, a prominent figure in modern Chinese history.
Yangshuo West Street
Often compared to Zhengyang Street for its charm and energy, Yangshuo’s West Street has a unique culinary character due to its strong cultural mixture that serves Chinese and Western cuisine. You can also find cafes, bars and eateries serving dishes from various parts of the world. The vibrant, tree-lined pedestrian zone blends traditional architecture with local cultural landmarks and offers a mix of street food, boutique shopping, and historical spots like the Bell Tower and Sanhua Liquor Museum. West Street exudes a more eclectic, international atmosphere with its 1,400-year-old cobbled path, thriving artsy cafés, bilingual signage, and a bohemian mix of Eastern heritage and Western influence. While Zhengyang is polished and rooted in local legacy, West Street feels like a cultural mosaic where global travellers meet Chinese traditions.
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Daxu Ancient Town
This beautiful old town with well-preserved traditional Chinese architecture is located on the banks of the Li River, surrounded by stunning karst hills and just 30 minutes away from Guilin. The beautifully preserved riverside settlement, with over 1,800 years of history, offers a tranquil, authentic atmosphere with flagstone streets, Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, and a sense of timelessness unlike more commercialized destinations. Highlights include the Wanshou (Longevity) Bridge, ancient docks from its trading heyday, and Maozhou Island, where visitors can enjoy farm-to-table meals and fruit picking. The town also features temples, traditional markets, and even a set of tombs aligned with the Big Dipper constellation. It’s a quiet, immersive escape for travellers seeking history, culture, and a slower pace along the Li River.
Xiaoloyou Scienic Spot
Xioyaolou Dongxi Scenic Spot is a relatively new and developing tourist area in Guilin. Xioyaolou Dongxi offers a unique combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational experiences. The area features restored Ming and Qing dynasty alleys, including Jiangnan Lane and Lanjing Lane. These historic lanes once bustled with merchants, officials, and cultural elites, and today they house traditional shops, tea houses, and local eateries. The area is split into two zones: a Traditional Culture Street above ground and a Fashion Style Street below, offering everything from heritage crafts to boutique shopping and gourmet dining. Towering nearby is the Xiaoyao Tower, originally built in 621 during the Tang Dynasty, offering panoramic views of the Li River and surrounding parks.
Xingping Ancient Town
This feels just like stepping into a Chinese ink painting—timeless, poetic, and full of quiet charm. Xingping is a beautiful old town with well-preserved traditional Chinese architecture, famous for its beautiful natural scenery as the Li River flows through the town and the karst hills surrounding the town create a dramatic backdrop. This 1,700-year-old riverside town is famed for its view which is featured on China’s 20-yuan banknote. Its cobblestone streets, blue-brick houses, and ancient temples preserve the soul of old Guangxi. You can stroll through Xingping Ancient Street, cruise the Li River on a bamboo raft, or visit the Fishing Village that once hosted President Clinton. Don’t miss the local treat—pine flower candy—or the chance to catch fishermen using traditional cormorant birds. Compared to the buzz of West Street, Xingping is more serene and steeped in authenticity.
Yulong River
The Yulong River is Yangshuo’s serene masterpiece—a quieter, more intimate counterpart to the Li River, often called the “Little Li River.” Flowing gently through lush countryside, it is framed by karst mountains, bamboo groves, and ancient stone bridges like Yulong, Xiangui, and Fuli. The best way to experience it? A hand-poled bamboo raft ride drifting past waterwheels, grazing buffalo, and farmers tending rice paddies that feels like floating through a living scroll painting. Beyond rafting, the area is perfect for cycling and hiking, with scenic trails connecting sleepy villages, caves, and temples. The river’s name “Yulong,” or “Meet the Dragon” comes from a local legend about a dragon so enchanted by the landscape that it chose to stay. It is a place to slow down, breathe in the countryside, and reconnect with nature’s poetry.
Elephant Trunk Hill
Elephant Trunk Hill is one of the most iconic landmarks in Guilin, China, the name taken from its shape which resembles an elephant drinking water from the Li River. This scenic spot features the moon-reflecting Water Moon Cave, the pagoda-topped summit with panoramic views, and the Yunfeng Temple rich with Buddhist and historical ties. Legend says the hill is a celestial elephant turned to stone out of loyalty to the people of Guilin, adding a mythic charm to its beauty. Whether explored quickly via a shortcut or fully hiked for a more immersive experience, it offers a unique blend of nature, culture, and folklore in the heart of the city.
Sun and Moon Pagodas
The Sun and Moon Pagodas (Chinese: 日月双塔; pinyin: Rìyuè Shuāngtǎ) are twin pagodas that stand majestically on Shanhu Lake (Fir Lake) in the center of Guilin city. The first has nine stories and is covered with bronze, while the Moon Pagoda has seven stories and is covered with glazed tiles, both connected by an underwater tunnel where you can walk beneath the lake and watch fish swim overhead—a surreal experience. By day, they reflect the harmony of traditional Chinese architecture and Buddhist symbolism. But by night, they truly dazzle: the Sun glows gold, the Moon shimmers silver, and their reflections ripple across the lake in a scene that feels almost otherworldly.
Longji Rice Terrace
Longji Rice Terraces, also known as Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, are a stunning landscape located in Longsheng, Guangxi. The name “Dragon’s Backbone” comes from the way the terraces resemble dragon scales, with the mountains looking like the dragon’s backbone. Located about 80 km from Guilin, spanning over 66 km2 and rising from 300 to 1,100 meters in elevation, these terraces ripple across the hills like scales on a dragon’s back. Built by the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups over 650 years ago, they’re not just scenic—they’re living history. There are two main areas to explore: Ping’an Zhuang Village and Jinkeng (Dazhai) Terraces. The latter is also home to a cable car and fewer crowds, making it a favourite for photographers and hikers. They offer a stunning view, changing with the seasons as the waterlogged terraces reflect the sky like a mirror in spring, are bright green in summer, golden with ripe rice in autumn and white from the snow in spring.
Silver Beach
Silver Beach in Beihai, Guangxi is also called Yintan Beach and is a stunning coastal stretch known for its unusually fine, silvery-white quartz sand that stays cool underfoot, even during peak heat. Spanning more than 24 kilometers along the Gulf of Tonkin, the beach boasts shallow, clear waters perfect for swimming, gentle waves ideal for family outings, and vibrant sunsets that paint the sky in gold and violet hues. Locals and travelers alike come here for a leisurely escape, enjoying beach sports, kite flying, or simply lounging in the coastal breeze. Just beyond the shore, seafood lovers are in for a treat with night markets and eateries serving up delicacies like spicy crab, grilled oysters, and Beihai-style clams.
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