Its karst limestone spires tower high above the calm waters of the Li River, painting an otherworldly landscape that has left visitors breathless since the dawn of Chinese civilization. No wonder that Guilin in China PRC has become one of the nation’s most beloved tourist sites, receiving over 7.5 million visitors during 2024’s Spring Festival holiday alone.
Located near Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi Province, China.
If you’re feeling crushed by the crowds at hotspots like Yangshuo West Street and the Longji Rice Terraces, take a detour to these Guilin hidden treasures, ready for you to check out the next time you visit. Choose one or more of the activities we’ve listed below:
Image by wirestock on Freepik
Hiking Along the Li River
The Li River, originating from the Mao’er Mountains in Xing’an County, stretches over 400 kilometers, and offers a gorgeous view of its distinctive karst peaks and lush bamboo forests.
Most tourists to Guilin embark on a river cruise to see the karst spires. Hiking along the riverbanks offers a quieter perspective: consider the 15.3-km Huangluo hiking route, which requires a moderate level of physical fitness and takes about 4.5 hours to finish. The scenery just hits different from a hiking trail: you’ll better appreciate the local landscape that inspired poets and artists for centuries.
Visiting the “Long Hair” Huangluo Village
Located in the Longji Scenic Area on the way to the similarly-named rice terraces, Huangluo Village is a village populated by the Red Yao ethnic community. The local culture is world-renowned for the women’s exceptionally long hair of—some tresses measuring over a meter.
This tradition, tied to ideas of longevity and prosperity, involves cutting their hair only twice: once when they are infants at 100 days old, and again at their coming-of-age ceremony.
Visiting the village is an opportunity to learn about the Red Yao culture, which is unique to the region. Performances here feature women letting their hair down, singing, dancing, and showing aspects of daily life.
Photo credit: China Odyssey Tours
Exploring Yangshuo’s rural routes
Many tourists converge on Yangshuo West Street for its kitschy shopping and dining, but quieter countryside experiences can be found not far from the usual tourist haunts.
Instead of just visiting West Street’s cafés and shops, consider cycling along the Yulong River or hiking through nearby villages. The Yulong River route takes in old stone bridges, paddy fields, and small communities that offer a slower pace.
Hiking or a gentle bamboo raft ride along the Yulong reveals local life at its most authentic: farmers working in fields, traditional bridges dating back centuries (the biggest single arch stone bridge in Guangxi, Yulong Bridge, was completed in 1412 CE), and scenes of rural Guangxi that contrast sharply with the busier areas.
These destinations around Guilin provide insights into Guangxi’s natural, cultural, and historical richness, while avoiding the crush of tourists. With Guilin on the upswing, these detours can give you a more authentic look at Guilin’s countryside charm.
