Guilin Old Town: Top Ancient Town and Village in Guilin

Guilin not only has beautiful natural scenery, but also many ancient towns and villages full of charm. Visiting these towns and villages is the best way to get close to local life.

There are no modern buildings here and no city noise. All you can feel is the villagers' simple way of life and the peaceful atmosphere filled with the warmth of daily living.

Xingping Ancient Town

• Location: Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi
• Opening Hours: all day
• Ticket: free
• Visit Time: 2 to 3 hours
• Best Time to Visit: April to October

Located 25km from Yangshuo, Xingping is a fishing village and truly a valuable historical treasure. It witnessed big wars like the Sino-Japanese War and China's War of Liberation.

Built in 1506, Xingping now still retains lots of blue bricks and black tiles, flying eaves, horse headwalls, and wood carving windows. Along with historical meaning, it also boasts some of the best natural scenery in the Yangshuo area.

Highlights of Xingping Ancient Town

1. Xingping Ancient Street

The blue stone road is about 1,000 meters long, running from the southeast end of the old town to Rongtan Pier. Along both sides of the road are buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties and old shops. You can enjoy the ancient charm, visit handicraft stores, and pick out souvenirs you like.

2. Laozhai Mountain

This free viewing spot is less than 300 meters above sea level. It takes only about 10 minutes on foot from the foot of the mountain to reach the top. From the top, you can look down on the old town, the big bend of the Li River, and the Nine Horse Hill. The view is very wide and great for taking photos, especially at sunset.

3. Li River

From Xingping, take an electric raft from Banshan Pier to Fresco Hill of Nine Horses. The trip takes about 1 hour and costs CNY140. The rafts are electrically powered, so they are quiet and smooth.

It lets you experience the gentle beauty of the Li River up close. Along the way, you will pass famous spots like Yellow Cloth Reflection (the scene on the back of the CNY20) and Fresco Hill of Nine Horses.

How to Get to Xingping Ancient Town

Take a Taxi: After getting in the taxi, show the driver 请带我去兴坪古镇 (Please take me to Xingping Ancient Town in English).

By Bus: take a high-speed train from Guilin city to Yangshuo Station, then take a bus from Yangshuo Station to Xingping Ancient Town.

Da Xu Ancient Town

• Location: Wanshou Road, Lingchuan County, Guilin City, Guangxi
• Opening Hours: all day
• Ticket: free
• Visit Time: 2 hours
• Best Time to Visit: April to October

Located on the banks of the Li River, Daxu Ancient Town is ranked as one of the four famous ancient towns in Guangxi. It was founded in 200 BC and used to be a busy business center in the Qing Dynasty.

There are well-preserved ancient buildings, worn bluestone streets, and cultural traditions. Daxu is surely a paradise for lovers of history and antiquities.

Highlights of Daxu Ancient Town

1. The Longevity Bridge

Constructed during the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644, the Longevity Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge standing at the junction of the Ma River and the Li River. The bridge looks firm, steady, elegant, and has a quaint simplicity.

This rainbow-shaped bridge is one of the key cultural relics under the county government's protection. From the top, you can see the scenic views of the Li River, Millstone Hill, and Snail Hill.

2. Taiping Gate and Yongan Gate

As you walk into the ancient street, you will notice something interesting: every few dozen meters, there is a tall fire prevention wall and a heavy door frame. The most noteworthy ones are Taiping Gate and Yong'an Gate.

These are not just gates; they are a form of ancient wisdom. They protected the old town from several fires and kept it safe. Above the gates are stone plaques with names like Taiping Gate and Yong'an Gate.

The faded inscriptions on these plaques not only tell the story of a busy trading port from a hundred years ago but also carry people's deep wishes for peace and safety.

3. Maozhou Island

Mao Zhou Island is the largest island on the hundred's mile Li River, facing Daxu Ancient Town across the water. The island is surrounded by water, with shady trees and fruit orchards everywhere. You can take a ferry to the island for just CNY10 at Gulou Pier.

The island is known for its local rural scenery, courtyard farming, and specialty crops. Here you can enjoy a farmhouse meal and pick seasonal vegetables and fruits.

How to get to Daxi Ancient Town

Take a Taxi: After getting in the taxi, show the driver 请带我去大圩古镇 (Please take me to Daxu Ancient Town in English).

By Bus: Take Bus 306 and get off at Daxu Station.

Related Reading: Guilin Transportation

Longji Jinkeng Village

• Location: Longji Town, Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Guilin City, Guangxi
• Opening Hours: all day
• Ticket: CNY80
• Visit Time: 2 days
• Best Time to Visit: April and November

Jinkeng Dazhai is not only the highest point of the Longji Rice Terraces, but it is also known for its grand, sweeping views. Many classic promotional photos have been taken. So, if your goal is to climb high, look far, and feel the awe of seeing all the smaller hills beneath you, Jinkeng Dazhai is definitely the best choice.

Highlights of Dazhai Village

1. Jinfoding

You can take the cable car or hike up to Jinfo Summit, where the golden rice fields of the village spread out before your eyes. When you go up there during the rice harvest season (November every year), you can see the golden rice fields of the village spread out below.

During the season when the terraces are filled with water (April every year), standing at Jinfo Summit lets you look out over the shimmering water surface, and the view is especially beautiful at sunset.

2. Red Yao Village

Jinkeng Dazhai, where the Jinkeng Rice Terraces are located, is a village of the Red Yao people. The village has little commercial activity, and the local people are simple and warm. You can take a walk through the village and admire the unique stilt houses, giving you a deep feel for the minority culture.

3. Xishan Shaoyue

Xishan Shaoyue is the viewing platform with the highest altitude and the widest view. It is also a perfect spot to watch the sunrise. As the sun slowly rises and morning light spreads over the endless terraced fields, no matter what season it is, the view will warm your heart.

How to Get to Dazhai Village

Take a Taxi: After getting in the taxi, tell the driver 请带我去龙脊梯田 (Please take me to Longji Rice Terraces).

By Bus: Take a long-distance bus from Qintan Bus Station to the Longsheng Rice Terraces scenic area.

Longji Ping'an Village

• Location: Longji Town, Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Guilin City, Guangxi
• Opening Hours: all day
• Ticket: CNY80
• Visit Time: 1 day
• Best Time to Visit: April and November

Ping'an Zhuang Village is the earliest developed and most established rice terrace scenic area. Because its altitude is relatively low, standing on the highest viewing platform, Nine Dragons and Five Tigers, you can look down over the whole village.

The terrace lines are not only beautiful, but the village is also home to the famous Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon spot. The overall atmosphere feels more like daily life, and it is relatively less tiring to visit.

Highlights of Longji Ping'an Village

1. Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon

There are seven small terraced fields. Their arrangement looks like the shining Big Dipper in the night sky, surrounding a round terraced field in the middle. It's like stars accompanying the moon.

There is a legend that these seven small terraced fields are seven small hills left since the beginning of the world. They represent the reverence and infinite wisdom of the Zhuang ancestors towards nature.

2. Nine Dragons and Five Tigers

Nine Dragons refers to the main mountain range of Longji, branching outwards and extending nine ridges that resemble the bodies of giant dragons. As for the Five Tigers, they are five slightly raised small hills surrounded by layers of terraced fields.

It looks like a huge dragon bending down to drink water, with several fierce tigers crouching steadily there.

3. Diaojiaolou

Diaojiaolou are three-story wooden houses with a high-footed ganlan (a kind of structure with stilted floors) design. They are well-ventilated, moisture-proof, and full of ethnic charm. The stone-paved roads and bluestone bridges in the village fully display the Zhuang farming culture.

When staying in a stilted building homestay, you can also eat bamboo-tube rice and stir-fried bamboo shoots with bacon, participate in bonfire parties and fireside chats, and feel the hospitality of the Zhuang people.

How to Get to Longji Ping'an Village

Take a Taxi: After getting in the taxi, tell the driver 请带我去龙脊梯田 (Please take me to Longji Rice Terraces).

By Bus: Take a long-distance bus from Qintan Bus Station to the Longsheng Rice Terraces scenic area.

Fuli Ancient Town

• Location: The eastern part of Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi
• Opening Hours: all day
• Ticket: free
• Visit Time: 2 hours
• Best Time to Visit: April to October

It lies on the east bank of the Li River and between Yangshuo and Xingping, which is 5 miles from Yangshuo Town. You can admire traditional houses, pagodas, and temples, many of which have a history of more than 1,000 years. Fuli is also famed for its painted fans, which are crafted by locals with bamboo and tissue paper.

Highlights of Fuli Ancient Town

1. Painting Fan Old Street

Fuli Ancient Town is the birthplace of the Yangshuo Painting Fan, a national intangible cultural heritage, and is known as the Home of Chinese Folk Art. Walking along Painting Fan Street, you can watch skilled craftspeople paint beautiful fan surfaces right before your eyes.

You can also visit the Intangible Cultural Heritage Classroom and try making a one-of-a-kind painted fan yourself.

2. Fuli Pier

Fuli Ancient Pier is one of the best-preserved old piers on the Li River. It was also an important filming location for the 1961 classic movie "Liu Sanjie."

As you step onto the bluestone steps, smoothed by years of use, you can almost picture the busy scene of trading boats gathering and goods being loaded and unloaded.

3. Donglang Mountain

Donglang Mountain is the most unique natural wonder in Fuli Ancient Town. Its most amazing feature is how the view changes as you move.

Looking from three different directions-southeast, due south, and northeast-you will see a gentle lady, a slow-moving old man, and a brave warrior.

How to Get to Fuli Ancient Town

Take a Taxi: After getting in the taxi, show the driver 请带我去福利古镇 (Please take me to Fuli Ancient Town in English).

By Bus: Take a high-speed train to Yangshuo Station, then take a bus or taxi to Fuli Ancient Town.

Jiuxian Village

• Location: Baisha Town, Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi
• Opening Hours: all day
• Ticket: free
• Visit Time: 2 hours
• Best Time to Visit: April to October

Jiuxian is famous for its old grey brick buildings, and there is no commercialization. You can visit the most romantic house, named Fenyulou, the ancient bridge called Xiangui Bridge, and a Secret Hotel built in the Ming Dynasty. The way to get there is by bike, which takes about 40 minutes.

Highlights of Jiuxian Village

1. Li Family Ancestral Hall

This ancestral hall was built in memory of Li Xingshu, a general who fought against the Japanese invasion. It carries the family's honor and glory, and has become an important place for later generations to remember their ancestors. When you step inside, a solemn and respectful atmosphere greets you, making you feel deep admiration.

2. Secret Garden Inn

This building was transformed from a run‑down old house by a South African architect. It is a great example of how an ancient village can be renewed and reused. Inside, there is an artistic mix of Chinese and Western styles. And the courtyard itself is already a beautiful sight worth seeing.

How to Get to Jiuxian Village

Take a Taxi: After taking a high-speed train to Yangshuo Station, take a taxi and show the driver 请带我去旧县村 (Please take me to Jiuxian Village in English).

Booking Your Guilin Tour

China Travel is a travel agency based in Guilin. Our travel advisors and guides are all locals. Our advisors will arrange the ancient town that best suits your needs, and our guides will tell you the stories behind the town, giving you a deeper understanding of it. Share your idea with us!

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