Guilin Transportation: How to Get to Guilin and Get around
Transportation in Guilin includes trains, planes, buses, taxis, and boats. For travel to and from other cities both inside and outside China, the main options are trains and planes.
If you are going to or coming from other Chinese cities, you can choose either a train or a plane, while international travel relies mainly on planes.
Once you arrive in the Guilin city center, getting around is mostly done by bus or taxi. If you are heading to Longsheng, you will need to take a long-distance bus. For Yangshuo, besides buses and trains, you can also take a boat.
| Tranportation | Train | Flight | Bus | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advantage | Punctual | Short Duration | Affordable | Higher Privacy |
| Disadvantage | Hard to get a ticket on a public holiday | Easily affected by extreme weather | Crowded | Expensive |
| Suitable for | Any Group | Businessmen and those on a generous budget | Backpackers and those on a tight budget | Those who have a lot of luggage |
By Train
When arriving in or departing from Guilin, you can choose between high-speed trains and regular-speed trains. It is recommended that you choose a high-speed train, as it is faster, more punctual, and the onboard environment is much better than that of regular-speed trains.
However, if you have plenty of time and a limited budget, taking regular-speed train is also a cost‑effective option.
Guilin has three railway stations: Guilin Railway Station, Guilin North Railway Station, and Guilin West Railway Station. When you arrive in Guilin by train from mainland cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, or Zhangjiajie, the train will usually stop first at Guilin North Station and then at Guilin Station.
Since Guilin Station is closer to the city center, it is recommended that you get off at this station. Likewise, when traveling from Guilin to these mainland cities, it is also recommended that you board the train at Guilin Railway Station. If you are traveling to or from Guilin by train from Hong Kong, the train will stop at Guilin West Railway Station.
When taking a train at the railway station, you need to arrive 1 hour before departure. Ticket checking usually begins 15 minutes before departure and closes 3 minutes before departure. When going through the gate, you must show the valid ID you used to purchase the ticket.
Guilin to Beijing Train
Trains from Guilin to Beijing depart from Guilin Railway Station and Guilin North Railway Station, and arrive at Beijing West Railway Station. The journey takes 8 hours, and a second-class seat costs USD140/CNY951.
| Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G310 | 12:45 | 20:49 | 8h04m |
| G321 | 14:38 | 22:42 | 8h04m |
Beijing to Guilin
Trains from Guilin to Beijing depart from Beijing West Railway Station and stop at Guilin Railway Station and Guilin North Railway Station. The journey takes 8 hours, and a second-class seat costs USD140/CNY951.
| Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G309 | 9:00 | 16:58 | 7h58m |
| G321 | 11:05 | 19:03 | 7h58m |
Guilin to Shanghai Train
Trains from Guilin to Shanghai depart from Guilin Railway Station and Guilin North Railway Station, and arrive at either Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station or Shanghai South Railway Station. The journey takes 7 hours and 42 minutes, and a second-class seat costs USD113/CNY774.
| Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G264 | 11:48 | 19:30 | 7h42m |
| G1506 | 13:31 | 22:56 | 9h26m |
| D198 | 19:16 | 10:53 | 15h37m |
| D196 | 20:25 | 11:24 | 14h39m |
Shanghai to Guilin Train
Trains from Shanghai to Guilin depart from Shanghai Hongqiao Station or Shanghai South Station and stop at Guilin Station and Guilin North Station. The journey takes 7 hours and 18 minutes, and a second-class seat costs USD113/CNY772.
| Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G1505 | 7:50 | 17:23 | 9h33m |
| G263 | 11:00 | 18:18 | 7h18m |
| D197 | 11:40 | 4:00 | 16h20m |
| D195 | 12:30 | 3:54 | 15h24m |
Guilin to Xi'an Train
Trains from Guilin to Xi'an depart from Guilin Railway Station or Guilin West Railway Station and arrive at Xi'an West Railway Station. The journey takes 9 hours and 39 minutes, and a second-class seat costs USD122/CNY839.
| Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G3740 | 10:50 | 21:48 | 10h38m |
| G2240 | 13:03 | 22:42 | 9h38m |
Xi'an to Guilin Train
Trains from Xi'an to Guilin depart from Xi'an North Station and stop at Guilin Station, Guilin North Station, and Guilin West Station. The journey takes 10 hours, and a second-class seat costs USD122/CNY839.
| Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2239 | 7:40 | 17:52 | 10h12m |
| G3739 | 8:07 | 18:23 | 10h16m |
Guilin to Zhangjiajie Train
The train from Guilin to Zhangjiajie departs from Guilin Railway Station and arrives at Zhangjiajie West Railway Station. The journey takes 7 hours and 28 minutes, and a second-class seat costs USD50/CNY344.
| Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G3968 | 14:38 | 22:06 | 7h28m |
Zhangjiajie to Guilin Train
Trains from Zhangjiajie to Guilin depart from Zhangjiajie West Station and stop at Guilin Station and Guilin North Station. The journey takes 7 hours, and a second-class seat costs USD50/CNY342.
| Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G3967 | 7:12 | 14:13 | 7h01m |
The train schedule above is for reference only. You can check more train options on China Train Booking.
By Flight
Guilin Liangjiang Airport is the only airport in Guilin and is located 30 kilometers from the city center. Most flights at Liangjiang Airport are domestic, but there are also a small number of international flights.
You can take a taxi or a bus between the airport and the city center. The travel time is about 1 to 2 hours.
Domestic Flight
You can take domestic flights between Guilin and 34 cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong.
| Route | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilin to Beijing | 16:40 | 19:35 | 2h55m |
| 21:15 | 00:15 | 3h | |
| 12:00 | 14:55 | 2h55m | |
| Beijing to Guilin | 8:00 | 11:15 | 3h15m |
| 12:55 | 15:55 | 3h | |
| 18:00 | 21:00 | 3h | |
| Guilin to Shanghai | 10:40 | 13:15 | 2h35m |
| 14:30 | 16:50 | 2h20m | |
| 20:25 | 22:50 | 2h25m | |
| Shanghai to Guilin | 8:20 | 11:00 | 2h40m |
| 15:30 | 18:05 | 2h35m | |
| 21:20 | 23:55 | 2h35m | |
| Guilin to Xi'an | 7:05 | 9:05 | 2h |
| 10:00 | 11:45 | 1h45m | |
| 11:50 | 13:50 | 2h | |
| Xi'an to Guilin | 8:55 | 10:20 | 2h05m |
| 10:10 | 12:25 | 2h15m | |
| 8:05 | 10:20 | 2h15m | |
| Guilin to Hangzhou | 13:10 | 15:15 | 2h05m |
| 17:35 | 19:35 | 2h | |
| Hangzhou to Guilin | 10:05 | 12:25 | 2h20m |
| 16:40 | 18:55 | 2h15m | |
| Guilin to Hong Kong | 21:00 | 22:40 | 1h40m |
| Hong Kong to Guilin | 8:05 | 9:35 | 1h30m |
International Flight
You can take international flights between Guilin and 7 cities outside of China, including Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Busan, Cheongju, Daegu, and Ho Chi Minh.
| Route | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilin to Seoul | 2:20 | 7:05 | 3h45 |
| Seoul to Guilin | 22:20 | 1:20 | 4h |
| Guilin to Kuala Lumpur | 12:02 | 16:10 | 4h05m |
| Kuala Lumpur to Guilin | 7:15 | 11:20 | 4h05m |
| Guilin to Hanoi | 11:30 | 12:00 | 1h30m |
| Hanoi to Guilin | 13:00 | 15:25 | 1h30m |
By Boat
Unfortunately, there are no boats from Guilin to other cities in China, nor from other cities to Guilin. However, you can take a Li River cruise from the city to Yangshuo. The journey takes about 4 hours.
3-star boats depart from Mopanshan Pier, while 4-star boats depart from Zhujiang Pier. Both types of boats eventually dock at Longtoushan Pier in Yangshuo.
| Cruise | Route | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3-star Cruise | Mopanshan-Longtoushan | CNY215 |
| 4-star Cruise | Zhujiang-Longtoushan | CNY360 |
By Bus
There are two main types of buses in Guilin. One is the public bus, which operates within the city center. The other is the long-distance bus, which runs between Guilin city and places such as Yangshuo, Longsheng, and the airport.
Public Bus
You can reach most of the scenic spots, railway stations, and bus stations by public bus. The fare for all bus routes is CNY2. You can pay with cash or by scanning a QR code.
Guilin Station: Take Bus 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 16, 19, 22, 81, 88, 91, 100, or K99 and get off at Guilin Station Bus Stop.
Guilin North Station: Take Bus 1, 32, 83, 100, or 303 and get off at Guilin North Station Bus Stop.
Guilin West Station: Take Bus 22, 303, or K307 and get off at Guilin West Station Bus Stop.
Guilin Qintan Bus Station: Take Bus 1, 12, or 23 and get off at Qintan Bus Station Bus Stop.
Elephant Trunk Hill: Take Bus 2, 16, or 23 and get off at Xiangshan Park Bus Stop.
Two Rivers and Four Lakes: Take Bus 2, 16, or 23 and get off at Xiangshan Park Bus Stop.
Daxu Ancient Town: Take Bus 306 and get off at Daxu Bus Stop.
Zhujiang Pier: Take Bus 9 and get off at Qifeng Road Stop, then walk 1 kilometer.
Mopanshan Pier: Take Bus 9 and get off at Qifeng Road Stop, then walk 3 kilometers.
Long Distance Bus
You can take a long-distance bus from Guilin to Yangshuo, Longsheng, and Liangjiang Airport. Tickets for Yangshuo and Longsheng can be purchased through the Qintan Bus Station WeChat mini-program, while tickets for the airport bus can be bought on the Guilin Airport WeChat mini-program.
You can also buy tickets directly at the boarding point. It is recommended that you purchase your tickets one day before departure so you can choose the bus that best fits your schedule.
| Route | Departure Time | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Aviation Hotel to Liangjiang Airport | 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, | 50 minutes | CNY20 |
| Guilin Railway Station to Liangjiang Airport | 9:10, 9:40, 10:10, 10:40, 11:10, 11:40, 12:10, 12:40, 13:10, 13:40, 14:10, 14:40, 15:10, 15:40, 16:10, 16:40, 16:50, 17:50, 18:50, 19:50, 21:10 | 50 minutes | CNY20 |
| Guilin North Railway Station to Liangjiang Airport | 9:30, 10:20, 11:20, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30 | 60 minutes | CNY25 |
| Guilin West Railway Station to Liangjiang Airport | 9:50, 10:40, 11:40, 12:50, 13:50, 14:50, 15:50, 16:50, 17:50 | 1h10m | CNY25 |
| Liangjiang Airport - Civil Aviation Hotel | 9:05, 9:30, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:35, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30 | 50 minutes | CNY20 |
| Liangjiang Airport - Guilin North Railway Station | 9:00, 9:45, 10:30, 11:30, 12:40, 13:20, 14:40, 15:50, 16:40, 17:40 | 60 minutes | CNY25 |
| Qintan Passenger Station to Yangshuo | 6:55, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:20, 13:10, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 19:30, 20:30, | 1h36m | CNY30 |
| Yangshuo to Qintan Passenger Station | 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 5:15, 8:30, 8:45, 9:00, 9:25, 9:50, 10:15, 10:50, 11:00, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40, 12:00, 12:25, 12:50, 13:15, 13:30, 13:50, 14:15, 15:00, 15:15, 15:30, 16:00, 16:20, 15:40, 17:10, 17:25, 17:40, 18:00, 18:40, 19:10, 19:50, 20:30, 21:10, 21:50 | 1h36m | CNY30 |
| Qintan Passenger Station to Longsheng | 6:25, 7:00, 7:50, 8:10, 8:30, 8:50, 9:20, 9:40, 10:00, 10:40, 11:20, 11:40, 12:02, 12:20, 12:45, 13:20, 13:40, 14:05, 147:25, 15:00, 15:30 | 2h30m | CNY60 |
| Longsheng to Qintan Passenger Station | 7:10, 7:40, 8:00, 8:40, 9:00, 9:40, 10:40, 11:00, 11:40, 12:40, 13:00, 13:40, 14:40, 15:00, 15:40, 16:40, 17:00 | 2h30m | CNY60 |
By Taxi
Taxis in Guilin charge by the kilometer, and the rates vary depending on the time of day. Although taxis are more expensive, they offer more personal privacy.
However, most drivers do not speak English, so you should have the Chinese name of your destination ready on your phone in advance and show it to the driver after getting in the taxi.
| <=2km | >=2km | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime | At Night(23:00-6:00) | Daytime | At Night(23:00-6:00) |
| CNY9 | CNY11 | CNY1.9/km | CNY2/km |
The following list of common destination names may be helpful for you.
- In Chinese: 请带我去桂林两江国际机场
- In English: Please take me to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
- In Chinese: 请带我去桂林站
- In English: Please take me to Guilin Railway Station
- In Chinese: 请带我去桂林北站
- In English: Please take me to Guilin North Railway Station
- In Chinese: 请带我去桂林西站
- In English: Please take me to Guilin West Railway Station
- In Chinese: 请带我去阳朔西街
- In English: Please take me to Yangshuo West Street
- In Chinese: 请带我去平安大寨
- In English: Please take me to Ping'an Dazhai
- In Chinese: 请带我去金坑大寨
- In English: Please take me to Jinkeng Dazhai
- In Chinese: 请带我去象鼻山
- In English: Please take me to Elephant Trunk Hill
By Private Transfer
The private transfer provided by China Travel can take you to any location in Guilin. Compared to public transportation, it makes no stops along the way, saving you a lot of time. Compared to a taxi, it offers more space for luggage. We will flexibly arrange the right vehicle based on the number of passengers and the amount of luggage you have.
Booking Your Guilin Tour
China Travel is a travel agency based in Guilin, with a professional team of travel advisors and guides. They are all local to Guilin and know the area's attractions very well, so they can lead you on a wonderful Guilin tour.
All of our tours include a private transfer service. Before departure, the driver and guide will wait for you downstairs at your hotel. They will take you directly to the scenic spots after picking you up. At the end of the day's tour, they will bring you safely back to your hotel. When you are ready to travel to the next city, we will also arrange a vehicle to take you to the train station or airport.
6-day Guilin Tour from Hong Kong
5-Day Guilin Tour from Guangzhou
4-Day Classic Guilin & Yangshuo Tour
7-Day Guilin, Yangshuo, and Longsheng Tour