I read not to bother trying to spend time in Guilin, and I actually was able to get off my bus in Yangshuo without going to Guilin and backtracking. However, when done, I had to get to Guilin for my next bus...and I hated it after about 10 minutes. There may be some good areas, but from what I gathered in a couple of hours there: more touts, more pollution, less hills and scenery, and more crowded. It was almost as crappy as a lot of Beijing.

As for a taxi in Yangshuo...I don't know where anyone would take it. The bus station is walkable for most everyone...and sort of on the edge of town. I walked a lot around town, and aside from the main drag, there wasn't much for an outsider to do except leave town for exploring the countryside and rivers...and then you'd probably just want to ride a bike.