Guilin for First-Time Visitors: Airport, Metro, Payments & Tickets (2026)

Short answer: The Li River cruise to Yangshuo is real-name: bring your original passport on the day. Boats run mornings only, so stay the night before in Guilin.

Visa-free entry and 240-hour transit

Guilin's airport is a designated port for 240-hour visa-free transit. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces (Tibet, Xinjiang and a few other regions are not included). In Guangxi only 12 cities count, including Guilin (so Yangshuo is in) and Nanning.

Not sure which rule applies to you? Check your passport in 10 seconds or see rules by country.

Airport to the city

Guilin Liangjiang (KWL)

Option	Time	Cost
Airport shuttle bus	40–60 min to the city	~¥20–25
Taxi / Didi To Yangshuo: ~1.5 h, ~¥300–350	~40 min	~¥100

Landing late, with luggage or kids? A pre-booked car meets you in arrivals with a name sign, at a fixed price: Guilin Liangjiang (KWL) transfer. (affiliate links)

Times and fares change. Check Amap or the airport's official site on the day. First time landing in China? Read arriving in China step by step.

Metro and taxis

Metro: Guilin has no metro. Buses take Alipay's QR code; for most trips Didi is easiest. Set up Alipay with your foreign card before you fly as a backup.

Didi: Didi works in Guilin and Yangshuo. For the cruise pier, allow 40 min from central Guilin (~¥40–50). See how to use Didi as a foreigner.

Hotels in Guilin

Check in with your passport: hotels register foreign guests with the police automatically at check-in, so there's nothing else to do. Compare hotels in Guilin on Trip.com (affiliate link): the site is in English, shows prices in your currency and takes foreign cards. Save the hotel's address in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers.

Top sights: do you need to book?

Li River cruise to YangshuoBooking: Real-name ticket, book ahead in peak season; mornings only, 4–5 hPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: 3-star boats leave Mopanshan pier, 4-star from Zhujiang pier · Book tickets

Reed Flute CaveBooking: Ticket at the gate or onlinePassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Bus or Didi from the city centre

Elephant Trunk HillBooking: Ticket at the gate; the view from across the river is freePassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Walk from the centre

Yangshuo West Street and Yulong RiverBooking: Free to walk; bamboo rafts are booked locallyPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Train to Yangshuo station (33 km from town) or bus, ~70 min

"Book tickets" links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Day trips from Guilin

Longji Rice Terraces: About 2 h by car or tour bus
Yangshuo: Li River cruise (one way), or bus ~70 min; the high-speed station is far from town

Where to go next

Guangzhou: 2.5–3 h by high-speed train
Shenzhen: 3–3.5 h by high-speed train

Booking trains: how to book China's high-speed trains as a foreigner. All cities: China city guides.

Next steps for your trip

1. Fill in the arrival cardOnline, free, within 72h before landing 2. Set up AlipayLink your Visa or Mastercard before you fly 3. Get a China eSIMGoogle, WhatsApp & Instagram keep working · affiliate link Stuck? Ask a real personWhatsApp / WeChat · paid help from $15

FAQ

Can I use 240-hour visa-free transit in Guilin?

Yes. Guilin Liangjiang airport is a designated port. You can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces, but in Guangxi only 12 cities count. Guilin and Yangshuo are included.

Do I need my passport for the Li River cruise?

Yes. Tickets are real-name and checked against your original passport when you board.

Should I take the train to Yangshuo?

Only if you don't mind a transfer: Yangshuo's high-speed station is about 33 km from West Street. The bus from Guilin (~70 min) drops you closer.

Last verified 24 October 2026. Sources: [1] [2] [3] . Rules, fares and booking windows change often — confirm on official channels before you travel.