Caves & Underground
Guilin’s karst landscape extends beneath the surface, creating a fascinating underground world of caves, rock formations, and hidden passages. This guide covers both scenic caves for sightseeing and more adventurous underground activities, with practical details such as time needed, how to get there, and useful tips for your visit.
Reed Flute Cave
Reed Flute Cave is located in Xiufeng District, about 5–7 km from central Guilin. This is a large karst cave extending about 240 meters into the mountain, filled with enormous stalactites, stalagmites, and other unusual rock formations. Colorful lighting highlights the formations inside the cave, creating a surreal landscape that is difficult to find elsewhere.
Suggested time: 1h
Tips:
- The temperature inside the cave is around 19°C (66°F). If you visit in summer, bring a light jacket to adjust to the temperature difference. The ground can also be slippery, so wear shoes with good traction.
- Admission includes a guided tour. There is also a small sightseeing train at the parking area, but it’s not necessary—the ride takes only 5–8 minutes, so walking is a better option.
Xiamo Village Underground Cave Exploration
Xiamo Village is located in Yangshuo County, about 30 minutes by car from West Street. This is a recently popular activity on social media rather than a traditional tourist attraction. Tickets cost RMB 52, including a headlamp, helmet, and a drink after the experience.
Inside the cave, simply follow the signs along the route, which takes around 20–40 minutes. Unlike commercialized caves with colorful lighting, this experience lets you see more natural cave formations and stalactites without artificial lighting, giving you a more authentic underground experience.
Tips:
- The cave stays at around 22°C year-round, and there is no lighting or mobile signal inside.
- Riding an electric scooter is recommended, as it takes around 20 minutes to get there. Taxis are easy to find for the trip there but can be difficult to get on the way back.
Caving
Caving has become a popular adventure activity in Yangshuo these years. Unlike a typical sightseeing cave, these are natural, undeveloped caves with no built-up viewing platforms or paved paths. Guided by a professional instructor, you’ll enter deep into the caves and encounter underground streams, towering stalactites and stalagmites, and hidden chambers. Depending on the cave and route, activities can include river trekking through underground streams, getting close to the cave formations, paddleboarding on underground rivers, and even rock climbing.
Swallow Cave（燕子岩） and Fishbone Cave（鱼骨洞） are two of the most representative caves for caving in Yangshuo, with the former being a dry cave and the latter a water cave. Different activities and routes require different levels of physical fitness, so choose one that suits you and always explore with a professional guide.
Caving offers a completely different experience from conventional sightseeing, with plenty of fun and a real sense of adventure. If you’re looking to do something truly different in Yangshuo, this is one experience you don’t want to miss.