7 Best Free Things to Do in Guilin - Guilin's Free Attractions
East or West, Guilin is the best. Here are some free attractions in Guilin; their attractive and unique features bring you the beauty of Guilin.
1. Strolling along West Street, Yangshuo
With 517 meters (1,696 feet) long and 8 meters (26 feet) wide and over 1,400 years of history, West Street has been the oldest and the most prosperous street in Guilin. It has old buildings with Chinese features, Chinese souvenir shops, paintings, and calligraphy stores. Moreover, you can see many foreign language schools, bars, cafes and large numbers of foreign visitors. You won’t be surprised to see old Chinese shopkeepers bargain with foreigners with fluent English. Believe it or not, come and see by yourself.
How to get there: Only one and a half hour by Bus from Guilin Long Distance Bus Station
2. Hiking along the Li River
It ranges 83 kilometers from Guilin to Yangshuo, clear water flank along green hills, which form an aesthetic picture. Visitors can walk along the Li River, watch fishing boats pass beneath Limestone Mountains, or they can go on a boat to ripple on the river and enjoy the beauty of nature. Recently, Li River is rated among the World’s 15 Best Rivers by CNN, and it’s the only one who won this honor in China. Read more on Li River
3. Exploring Daxu Old Town
Daxu old town was first built in 200AD, roughly18 kilometers far from central Guilin. Visitors can see Chinese ancient constructions include: the Gaozu Temple, the Hanhuang Temple, a well-preserved old house, straw sandal shop, herbal medicine store. Wandering along the path of Daxu Old Town, you can see old people are chatting, playing chess, playing the erhu, everything is in harmony. It seems you go through time and back to the past, and have the first-hand experience of the ancient civilization of China.
How to get there: 40 minutes Long-distance bus from Guilin Long Distance Bus Station
4. Walking along Two Rivers and Four Lakes
The Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area refers to the water loop consist of Li River, Peach Blossom River, Mulong Lake, Gui Lake, Rong Lake, and Shan Lake that enclose the downtown Guilin. In the Tang dynasty, the four lakes were the moat of Guilin. Up until the Ming dynasty, they gradually become connected. Taking a night walk along The Two Rivers and Four Lakes has been a daily activity for Guilin local people, When lights lit and traditional music played, as well as Guilin Opera Showed, let’s come and experience the lifestyle of Guilin people together.
5. Enjoying Your Time at Huixian Wetland
It’s called the kidney of Guilin. There is an intricate network of lakes, old temples, and high hills upon the rivers, karst landform in particular. It will be better for you to rent a boat to closely appreciate the scenery in the Huixian Wetland.
6. Guilin Yaoshan Mountain - let’s go hiking
Yaoshan Mountain locates in the northeast of Guilin, roughly 10 km far from the center of Guilin. The main peak is 909.3 meters in height; the relative altitude is 760 meters, which is the highest mountain in Guilin. Yaoshan Mountain originates from a Yao emperor temple, built in the Tang dynasty.
The Mountain presents us with different views in each different season. In spring, you will be glad to see azalea flowers blossom. In summer, it’s a perfect choice to go and appreciate the gentle rain and hazy beauty of Guilin. In autumn, red maples with falling leaves cover the mountains and make you a colorful day. In winter, snow on mountains is as beautiful as Snow White. In addition, if you are an avid mountain climber, Yao shan Mountain would be a good challenge for you. Read more on Yaoshan Mountain
6. Hiking/Biking along Yulong River
Yulong River features picturesque countryside scenery and karst landscape. By hiking along the river, you will see the beautiful rivers flowing among karst peaks, villages, and peaceful countryside. Read more information on Yulong River
7. Strolling the Evening Market
Located on the left of Zhongshan Zhong Road, Xicheng Road Evening Market is famous for its tasty food, interesting stuff, and decorative items, such as bamboo products, carving products, and Guilin Three Treasures-Sanhua Wine. In addition, Xicheng Road Evening Market is a “must go” place for eaters. You can try Guilin bear fish, barbecue, hot pots, and stinky tofu, and so on. In a word, go there and eat whatever you want to eat. Go there and buy what you want to buy.