More Things to Do & Places to Go in Guilin & Yangshuo
Beyond the Classic Guilin Itinerary
Guilin’s iconic sights are iconic for a reason. From cruising along the Li River between dramatic karst peaks and strange rock formations to drifting down the Yulong River on a bamboo raft, these are the landscapes and experiences that have made Guilin famous.
But if you’ve already experienced the classics and want something more off the beaten path, there are plenty of other places worth discovering. Maybe you’re looking for more unusual landscapes and experiences, or simply want to escape the crowds and overly commercialized attractions.
In this guide, I’ll take you beyond the classic itinerary and into a deeper, more authentic side of Guilin — exploring lesser-known karst landscapes in their more natural settings, quiet old villages steeped in history, and distinctive local cultural experiences that offer a closer look at the places and traditions behind the scenery.
More Places to Go
Guihai Qinglan
If you’re looking for a spacious, scenic place in the city where you can slow down and spend a relaxed afternoon, Guihai Qinglan is worth your time. Picture a wide green lawn and a calm lake surrounded by Guilin’s distinctive karst peaks, giving you plenty of open space to wander, have a picnic, take photos, or simply enjoy the scenery at your own pace. Beyond the landscape, you can also see alpacas and sika deer, or try a hot-air balloon ride for a different perspective over the park. Since most of the experience is outdoors, rainy days are best avoided. Taxis can also be difficult to find when you’re leaving, so it’s a good idea to arrange your ride back in advance.
Gudong Waterfall
Gudong Waterfall is a popular summer escape about 40 minutes from Guilin city center, and it’s known as the only multi-level waterfall in China that visitors can climb. The waterfall has six sections with different levels of climbing difficulty, so you can choose a route that suits you and make your way up through the rushing water. Besides climbing the waterfall and playing in the water, you can also try outdoor activities such as the zipline, suspension bridge, and alpine slide. When you want to slow down, there are tea houses and other spots where you can sit and relax.
Gudong Waterfall is especially popular with children, with easier sections available for younger visitors. There are safety measures in place and staff on hand around the main activity areas.
Driving yourself or joining a day tour is recommended. Gudong Waterfall is often combined with nearby Guanyan Cave or Daxu ancient town in one-day tour itineraries. If you’re taking a taxi, it’s best to arrange your ride back in advance, as finding one after your visit can be difficult.
Ruyi Peak
Ruyi Peak is the highest scenic area in Yangshuo and one of the best places to see Guilin’s karst landscape from above. From the top, layers of dramatic peaks stretch across the landscape, creating a wide panoramic view that is especially impressive on a clear day. You can take a cable car up instead of hiking, then explore the suspension bridge, glass skywalk, and forest trails around the mountain.
If you prefer enjoying mountain scenery without a long or strenuous hike, Ruyi Peak is a good choice. You can take in the views, walk along the trails, and try the attractions at your own pace.
It’s about a 20-minute drive from West Street, and taxis are generally easy to find. If you’re visiting in the afternoon, avoid leaving too late, as it can be harder to find a taxi after dark.
Longjin Village
Tucked away in Longshui Town, Quanzhou County, north of Guilin, Longjing Village is where natural scenery and centuries-old village life come together. Its clearest highlight is the crystal-clear, jelly-blue stream running through the village. Green plants line the water, while aquatic plants sway beneath the surface, and the clarity of the stream reflects the area’s well-preserved natural environment. At the foot of the surrounding mountains, natural caves open into the landscape, and you can paddle a kayak inside to explore them. Quiet, little-developed, and far from the usual tourist routes, Longjing feels genuinely wild and untouched.
The village has preserved traditional Ming and Qing dynasty buildings and a simple rural atmosphere. You can explore the old village, catch fish and shrimp in the stream, and enjoy a home-style meal at a local farmhouse restaurant.
The biggest drawback is getting there. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive from Guilin, so driving yourself or hiring a private car is the most practical option. Longjing Village works well as a day trip combined with Quanzhou County town nearby. If you have an extra day in Guilin and want to see a quiet, unspoiled mountain village away from the crowds, it’s well worth the detour.
Daxu ancient town
Sitting along the Li River just outside Guilin, Daxu Ancient Town is a quiet, well-preserved town with more than 1,800 years of history. The old streets still retain historic sites such as Wanshou Bridge（万寿桥） and traditional stone-paved lanes, with old shops and former banks lining the streets. The town also has the Thirteen Ancient Wharves（十三古码头） along the Li River, where you can take a walk and enjoy the riverside scenery. Daxu Ancient Town pairs well with Gudong Waterfall, so you can visit both in one day. It’s about a 30–40-minute drive from Guilin city center, and taxis are generally easy to find.
Yongfu Tiankeng
A tiankeng is a distinctive type of karst landform and one of the natural features that make Guangxi so unique. Yongfu Tiankeng（永福天坑）, located within Jinzhongshan Scenic Area（金钟山景区）, is the only tiankeng in the area that visitors can enter on foot from the bottom.
Once inside, you’ll find yourself surrounded by towering rock walls, with dense greenery covering parts of the cliffs. On sunny days, sunlight pours through the opening above, forming beams of light that reach down into the depths of the tiankeng. The combination of the enclosed cliffs, lush vegetation, and changing light makes the scenery especially striking.
The scenic area also includes caves, golf, and hot springs, so you can combine your visit with other activities. A sunny day is recommended, and driving yourself or hiring a private car is the easiest way to get there. It’s about an hour’s drive from Guilin city center.
More Things to Do
Rock Climbing
For outdoor and climbing enthusiasts, Yangshuo is a world-class rock climbing destination, with a huge variety of climbing areas set among its distinctive karst peaks. Swiss Cheese Cave, Bottle Mountain, and Bamboo Curtain Cave are three of the most representative crags, each offering different routes and scenery.
You don’t need to be an experienced climber to give it a try. Yangshuo has a well-established climbing community, with professional guides and climbing schools offering courses and guided climbs for different experience levels. Beginners can join a guided session and learn the basics while climbing on the limestone cliffs, while more experienced climbers have plenty of routes to explore.
If you’re looking for something new and a little more challenging outdoors, rock climbing is worth a try. Just make sure to book through a professional climbing club and climb with a qualified guide or instructor.
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.
Traditional Folk Experiences at Dongli Ancient Village
Dongli Ancient Village（东漓古村） is a developed folk culture park in eastern Guilin, bringing together traditional crafts, local customs, and hands-on experiences. You can try traditional crafts such as weaving grass dragons（编草龙）, making round fans（团扇）, botanical printing（植物拓染）, and pottery, or join activities like tofu making（点豆腐） and dried tofu making（腐竹）. The village also has immersive traditional wedding customs, lively bonfire parties, and carnival-style games where you can collect “silver tickets”（银票） and exchange them for small gifts.
The whole place is designed around participation rather than simply sightseeing, which makes it especially popular with families traveling with children. If you’ve already explored Guilin’s iconic landscapes and want to experience local traditions, handicrafts, and folk culture, Dongli Ancient Village is worth adding to your trip.
It’s about a 30–40-minute drive from Guilin city center and can be easily combined with a visit to Daxu Ancient Town（大圩古镇）.
Outdoor Experiences at Mao'er Mountain
Mao’er Mountain（猫儿山） is the highest peak in South China, rising to 2,141.5 meters above sea level, and it is also the source of the Li River and two other major rivers in the region. With large areas of original forest and abundant mountain streams, the water here is exceptionally clear, giving rise to the nickname “jelly water”（果冻水）. In summer, you can experience the mountain from the water with activities such as paddleboarding and “Wo Nang Piao”（窝囊漂）, a gentle form of floating where you simply relax and let the current carry you downstream rather than rushing through rapids. On clear days, the mountain is also known for its sea of clouds, while staying overnight offers the chance to see a star-filled night sky away from the city.
Despite its height, you don’t need to take on a strenuous hike to reach the summit. The scenic area has shuttle buses that take visitors up the mountain, and the easier route from the Research Center to the summit viewing platform is about 3 km and takes around 1.5 hours one way. For a more challenging hike, longer routes through the forest can take around 5–6 hours one way. From Guilin, Mao’er Mountain is about a two-hour drive, and another option is to take a direct bus from Guilin North Railway Station（桂林北站） to the scenic area.
The places and experiences in this guide are ideal if you have some extra time in Guilin, want to try something different, or are looking for alternatives to some of the more commercialized attractions. You can easily add them to your itinerary alongside the classics, or swap them in when you want a change of pace. Whether you’re exploring a quiet village, getting into the mountains, or trying a new outdoor activity, these experiences can make your trip feel more immersive, personal, and fun — and give you more opportunities to discover the side of Guilin that most visitors never see.