How to Travel to Guilin from Hong Kong
There are many options to get from Hong Kong to Guilin and vice-versa. Passengers can travel directly or via Guangzhou and Shenzhen. This article gives you all the transportation details you need to know to plan a tour from HK to Guilin, including the specific time schedule of buses, flights, high-speed trains, and travel tips.
Hong Kong to Guilin Quick Facts
- Distance: about 650 kilometers (404 miles)
- Time by Bullet Train: 3 hours and 20 minutes
Hong Kong to Guilin by Bullet Train (Recommended)
Bullet trains, or high-speed trains, enjoy the best popularity among all means of public transportation in China. They are convenient, fast, punctual, comfortable, and reasonably priced, covering 70% of the area of China. From Hong Kong to Guilin, you can travel by direct high-speed train, or have a layover in Guangzhou or Shenzhen according to your needs.
China Train Ticket Booking
Option 1: Hong Kong – Guilin
Guilin West Railway Station is the only railway station in Guilin that provides direct high-speed trains to Hong Kong.
| Departure Station to Arrival Station | Duration | Seat Type |
| 12:05 Hong Kong West Kowloon (香港西九龙) → 15:25 Guilin Xi (West) | 3h20m | Business Class Seat: 1138 CNY 1st Class Seat: 607 CNY 2nd Class Seat: 379 CNY |
| 14:53 Hong Kong West Kowloon (香港西九龙) → 18:07 Guilin Xi (West) | 3h14m |
Option 2: Hong Kong – Guangzhou – Guilin
Traveling from Hong Kong to Guangzhou and getting from Guangzhou to Guilin are both convenient. If your time is flexible, it would be a good idea to have a layover day tour in Guangzhou to try authentic Cantonese food and enjoy the Pearl River night cruise.
Section 1: Hong Kong to Guangzhou
- Railway Stations: Hong Kong West Kowloon → Guangzhou Nan (South)
- Departures: 8:05-22:50 (every 10-20 minutes)
- Duration: about 1 hour
- Ticket: 645 CNY (Business Class Seat), 344 CNY (1st Class Seat), 215 CNY (2nd Class Seat)
Section 2: Guangzhou to Guilin
| Departure Stations | Guangzhou Nan (South) Railway Station | Guangzhou Railway Station |
| Departures | To Guilin Xi (West): 7:00-18:10 (every 20-30 minutes) To Guilin Bei (North): 7:12-20:16 (every 20-30 minutes) To Guilin (South): 9:11, 13:13, 17:31 |
To Guilin Xi (West): 7:23, 9:44, 11:27, 12:50 To Guilin Bei (North): 19:28 |
| Duration | 2.5-3 hours | |
| Seat Type | Business Class Seat: 493-513 CNY 1st Class Seat: 263-274 CNY 2nd Class Seat: 164-171 CNY |
1st Class Seat: 276 CNY 2nd Class Seat: 172 CNY |
Option 3: Hong Kong – Shenzhen – Guilin
Shenzhen ranked Lonely Planet’s 2nd best city to visit in 2019. It boasts cutting-edge designs and tech innovation and is known as the “Silicon Valley” of China. Recommended: Guangzhou & Shenzhen Experience Tour
Section 1: Hong Kong to Shenzhen
- Railway Stations: Hong Kong West Kowloon → Shenzhen Bei (North)
- Departures: 7:03-22:50 (every 5-15 minutes)
- Duration: about 20 minutes
- Ticket: 226 CNY (Business Class Seat), 120 CNY (1st Class Seat), 75 CNY (2nd Class Seat)
Section 2: Shenzhen to Guilin
| Departure Station | Shenzhen Bei (North) Railway Station | |
| Departure Time | 7:21, 11:45, 13:05, 14:24 | 12:27, 14:49, 15:15 |
| Arrival | Guilin Bei (North) Railway Station | Guilin Xi (West) Railway Station |
| Duration | About 3 hours | |
| Seat Type | Business Class Seat: 694.5 CNY 1st Class Seat: 363.5 CNY 2nd Class Seat: 239.5 CNY |
Business Class Seat: 692.5 CNY 1st Class Seat: 362.5 CNY 2nd Class Seat: 238.5 CNY |
Hong Kong to Guilin by Flight
There is only one direct flight from Hong Kong to Guilin per day, which usually departs at 14:10 or 14:15.
- Travel Route: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) – Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL)
- Duration: roughly 1.5 hours
- Note: Travel information is subject to final confirmation due to the occasional delay.
Hong Kong to Guilin by Bus (Not Recommended)
There is no direct bus traveling between Hong Kong and the mainland of china, so if you want to get from HK to Guilin by bus, you need to get to Shenzhen or Guangzhou first, and then catch a bus to Guilin.
1. Guangzhou to Guilin by Bus
Guangzhou Bus Station 广州汽车站
- Address: 158 Huanshi West Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
- Address in Chinese: 广州市越秀区环市西路158号
- Getting there: Metro Line 2
- Departures (to Guilin): 17:33; 10 hours; 180 CNY
2. Shenzhen to Guilin by Bus
1) Shenzhen Bus Station 深圳汽车站
- Address: 2008 Shangbu North Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen
- Address in Chinese: 深圳市罗湖区上步北路2008号银湖大厦
- Getting there: Metro Line 9
- Departures (to Guilin): 9:20, 17:00, 20:30; 12 hours; 180 CNY
2) Shenzhen Futian Bus Station 深圳福田汽车站
- Address: 8003 Shennan Avenue, Futian District, Shenzhen
- Address in Chinese: 深圳市福田区深南大道8003号
- Getting there: Metro Line 1
- Departures (to Guilin): 18:40; 8.5 hours; 232 CNY
Guilin to Hong Kong by Bullet Train
| Departure Station to Arrival Station | Duration | Seat Type |
| 12:38 Guilin Xi (West) → 15:57 Hong Kong West Kowloon | 3h19m | Business Class Seat: 1138 CNY 1st Class Seat: 607 CNY 2nd Class Seat: 379 CNY |
| 13:36 Guilin Xi (West) → 16:57 Hong Kong West Kowloon | 3h21m |
Guilin to Hong Kong by Flight
There is only one direct flight from Guilin to Hong Kong per day, which usually leaves at 16:35 or 16:45.
- Travel Route: Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) – Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
- Duration: roughly 1.5 hours
- Note: Travel information is subject to final confirmation due to the delay occasionally.
Is A Day Trip Possible from Hong Kong to Guilin?
Unlikely, because time is limited. Given the above information, the earliest train from HK to Guilin arrives at 15:25, while the latest train to HK leaves Guilin at 14:53; the flight from HK arrives in Guilin at 15:40, while the flight to HK leaves at 16:35. Additionally, it takes more than 10 hours from Guangzhou/Shenzhen to Guilin by bus.
Travel Tips
Some western passengers may not be familiar with the rules of high-speed trains in China, so here are some travel tips:
1. Train tickets to/from big cities such as Hong Kong and Guangzhou are always in short supply, so book your tickets online or from a ticket agency as early as possible.
2. A Passport is needed for ticket booking and check-in.
3. You must pick up your ticket from the ticket office first, which usually involves waiting in line. Also, the railway station stops check-in 5 minutes before departure. So it is recommended to get to the station at least 30 minutes early.
4. Read carefully about the train number, departure time, ticket checking gate, and seat number on your ticket.
5. Keep your train ticket well because the ticket will be checked again to leave the station after you get off.
6. No smoking on bullet trains!
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