Guilin tours
 

A friend and I are going to Guilin for three days in early September and we were looking at options to do tours in the area - there are some companies where we could prebook before we go (e.g. http://www.chinahighlights.com/guilin/ ) - are there any known issues, recommendations, or will pricing and options be more competitive if we leave it until we arrive? How easy is it to get around without the tours? We were thinking one day for going to Yangshao, one day for touring in the district, and a day just bumming around Guilin without doing tours....

Thoughts/advice welcome please! :)

We did a small tour in Guilin because we got a heck of a deal from Hong Kong that included air fare and hotel (the Sheraton, as I recall). However, I really don't think a tour is necessary -- the sites are easily seen on your own and you can arrange for a taxi to take you around.

Spending time in Guilin is a true waste of time--it's not even that nice of a city and has residents that are collectively some of the biggest Chinese lowlifes anywhere in the country. Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Rock, etc. are silly tourist traps that all tour agents use to waste your time. Use Guilin for a transport hub only, and get to Yangshuo toute suite. Avoid organized tours and avoid the Li River tourist cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. Just go to Yangshuo and set everything up there when you arrive--tons of local agencies can help you out and without the excessive markup. This area is very well set up for independent tourists and you can find a decent number of English speakers around. Yangshuo is quite small and walkable--the big draws are the small boats and rafts on the river, biking and hiking, nearby village markets, etc. You will easily find plenty to fill your available time, and then some.

I recommend booking accommodation in advance and having them pick you up at Guilin Airport and drive you directly to Yangshuo (1 hour or a bit more, excellent roads). You are not required to book tours or activities through the hotel, so don't allow yourself to be unduly pressured. At night, central Yangshuo can be rather boisterous until midnight so if you want peace and quiet, book a place somewhat outside the West Street area of town. Budget travelers can take the airport shuttle bus from Guilin Airport to Guilin City, then taxi 5-10 minutes to bus station and get a public bus to Yangxhuo (many, many every day). Cheaper but the extra transfer time will add another 1-1.5 hours to your arrival time in Yangshuo. Try this website for ideas to put together your own to-do list:
www.yangers.com

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Speaking from experience? :p:D I haven't been there, but will take you for your word.

BTW, is it Chinese touristy or foreigner touristy?

Yes, speaking from experience. Guilin is full of both kinds of tourists, including large groups. But that isn't the dealbreaker, as many other China locations I'd call worthwhile to visit also are full of large groups of both kinds of tourists. IMO, here's the crux of the deal with Guilin:

1) Guilin for centuries has been famous for its scenery. It might have been charming 500 years ago when the poets were writing, but now it's just a big city. In 2011, we have to work with what we've got now, and most of the REAL scenery and attractiveness in this area lies further away from Guilin city, such as Yangshuo area or the Longsheng Rice Terraces area. Guilin has just been very, very proficient at misleadingly marketing itself as the repository of somebody else's good stuff. The Li River Cruise on the big tourist boat is horribly overpriced and for a good part of the way to Yangshuo, doesn't have particularly great scenery, and traps you into a huge herd experience. Guilin tourism officials have been milking that one for years. Far better to get to Y and then arrange your own private boat or raft excursion to fit your time frame and spent only at the best parts of the river.

2) Guilin's own attractions are mediocre at best, and are geared to the flocks of Chinese tourists. Are you really so enamored of a rock formation that looks like an elephant that you want to pay RMB 100 for the privilege of gazing at it? A cave tarted up with Christmas-style lights? For foreigners with any sort of sense, Guilin city is both a time- and money-waster. Guilin doesn't have the historical sights that allow one to put up with the general unattractiveness of Xi'an City, nor the setting of someplace like Hangzhou.

3) An unusually high proportion of scammers and chiselers in the city. Both individuals on the street and organizational. There's just a mentality there, and it's not just limited to the tourism sector. You really have to be careful about taking anything at face value from locals there, so try to have advance data on activities and services from multiple independent sources who have no interest in profiting from your wallet.

4) Remarkably unfriendly natives, when compared to pretty much everywhere else in China that I've been. From the bus station staff, to the ordinary people in the park, to the internet cafe/gaming room I visited, it was just a weird sullen vibe all around. I felt most unwelcome, which is highly unusual for me in China. After all these years, I'm pretty good at Chinese "vibes" and Guilin's got one that makes you eager to move on. The nicest people I met were at the Air China office behind the Sheraton, where I needed to make a short-notice flight change. Yes, when Air China staff = a City's friendliest natives, you know it's bad. :eek:

None of this applies to the smaller towns outside of Guilin City, so use Guilin as your transportation entry/exit by air, rail, or bus...then head out asap on ground transport to the surrounding areas that have better scenery, better air, a relaxing vibe, and better people.

I agree with jiejie's take on Guilin and, particularly, about the attitude of the people there. It's the only place in China where my (Chinese) wife and I experienced overt hostility. I love China and have always been treated warmly and well by the Chinese people I encounter there -- with this one exception.

I’ve been to Guilin and Yangshuo about five years ago. I went with a person who used to live in Yangshuo.
Well the elephant rock is nothing much. I do not remember an admission charge.
The Reed Flute cave is” hokey” with lots of artificial lights. There is a zoo near the cave.

Guilin is famous for Guilin noodle soup Experience it at a local vendor. We had two bowls of soup and two cokes for the sum of 8 Yuan. Yes 8. The can spice up the soup to your liking. Took a night cruise around Guilin it was quite pretty with all the colored lights on the water. It was a nice evening.

The boat trip down the Li River is very commercial, but the scenery is nice to me. There are MANY boats going down the river. At the Guilin airport you can book the boat. I am sure there are many cheaper places to book the trip. It was well worth the trip. I would take the boat trip it was about 250 Yuan, so it’s little expensive. You can get some local cooked shrimp that they have for sale on the boat.
The boat will take down as far as it can go down the Li River (depending on the water level), then by bus to Yangshuo. I would get off at Yangshuo and not take the tour bus back to Guilin.
In Yangshuo there is the famous West Street with stalls of merchants selling everything you can think of. This is where you can bargain and bargain.
There are western style restaurants if you have not had a hamburger in a week.
Yangshuo is great for hiking and walking. They did not have taxis in Yangshuo, some mopeds. When you leave Yangshuo there are many buses that will take back to Guilin.

Yeah, I liked the scenery, also.

Great location, its free and no film permits required.

Worked for my buddy Rafi.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RafiAnte...10/CZGBDveXxgA

http://www.youtube.com/user/RafiAnte...11/hjk0PfVD1Ms

http://www.youtube.com/user/RafiAnte...14/HE52iwPUEIM

Large tourist groups? All Chinese? Oooo, my favorite. I can't tell you about how fun it was competing with the mobs running up Taishan.

Too bad about Guilin, I know historically it's supposed to be quite a charming place. Leave it to the Chinese to commercialize it.

BTW, great review so thanks! ^

Thanks for the additional information - we are kind of tied into our accommodation (points whores us, so I'll let you guess where we might be staying ;)) in Guilin, but we now know how to take steps to improve the experience. On reading up on Guilin, we'd realised that a lot of the stuff did seem pretty crap - like the Reed flute cave and the elephant thing, so had planned to skip those anyway, hence the question about tours, because the plan was to spend more time out of Guilin.

Realistically, there is a limit to what you can do if you want to stay in Guilin and do daytrips--the best experiences the area has to offer is simply not going to be easily doable. You have to make the decision as to whether using points which "forces" you to stay in Guilin is worth it. If it were a personal friend needing to make this decision, I would tell them either forego using points and pick independent accommodation in the Yangshuo area and make a visit to this area of China worth the effort, or just forget Guilin entirely and use the points in a different Chinese city that is more amenable to good daytripping. My 2 pence.

Consider Yangshuo instead
 

We are headed down there next month. I made a trip to Guilin many years ago and remember it as just another city in China. I plan on staying in Guilin for 1 night since we get in late afternoon and didn't want to subject my son to a long drive to Yangshuo right away. It is a good 1+ hour drive south of Guilin and there are plenty of outdoor things to do. Yangshuo is also much cheaper (simpler hotels) so no Shangri-La or SPG.

we're not using points, we're earning them and retaining status - added to that I believe our accommodation is already booked on a pre-paid rate - it's certainly booked, but I'm not sure whether it's refundable or not. Added to that, I have to say, my experience of Chinese accommodation (with the exception of the White Swan in Guangzhou) does not make me want to hurry to stay in Chinese hotels without some very clear recommendations as to what are good four and five star properties - I've always preferred staying at international chains in the hinterlands of China, in part because they are more used to catering to western, non-putonghua speaking visitors. Call me a wuss, while I love visiting China, but it is not the easiest tourist destination so I want an easy and comfortable hotel experience wherever possible, and not be struggling to find menus in english, staff who speak english and english language tv channels so I can relax when I am in the hotel. If that means my choice of holiday destination is not quite what you would recommend - and I do appreciate your thoughts on the subject, even though you chose to answer a different question from the question I originally asked, then so be it.

One more thing - just an alternate view really. If you have never experienced a Chinese regional city, then the first Chinese regional city you experience will still be worthwhile doing, won't it? I remember the first Chinese regional city I encountered (Qingdao actually, with Chongqing as my second - now there's a contrast!) and because they are very different from many other parts of Asia, and profoundly different from the UK, and even from Beijing/Shanghai, they are still worth experiencing. Even from the 'safety' of a western chain hotel ;)

You're the one who asked for "thoughts and advice" and that is what you got. Given the brevity of your original question and the information we had to go on at the time, your question was answered fairly clearly--set things up locally. Sorry if it wasn't the answer you wanted.

On the China forum, many of the regular contributors have found that other readers have similar questions and concerns to those of the Original Poster. However, experience in China of these readers varies all over the map. So in an effort to get additional information and context out there, China threads often are answered rather expansively rather than narrowly focused to just suit the Original Poster. Again, sorry if this offends you. Have fun in Guilin.

None of this offends me - but you have diminished the joy and excitement I was feeling about my trip by rubbishing my holiday choices in pretty strong language, because you assumed that my options were flexible/changeable, and you didn't try to find out if your assumption was correct before deciding to offer me unasked for advice. If I'm disappointed that the question I sought the answer to - which thanks to PTravel was actually answered at least once - was lost in the 'DON'T GO TO GUILIN!!!!!' responses on this thread, then I would hope you would realise that is a rather human reaction, and a normal response. I understand you tried to help me - I am trying to be grateful - but someone who dismisses my question as being 'narrowly focussed to just suit the OP' kind of misses the point of why I, and many others start threads - strangely, it is to find the answers to the questions we ask, not necessarily to find the answers to the questions we don't ask.

I'm sure others may find this thread useful - sadly, it's utilty to me, as the person who actually started the thread to find out experiences of tours in and around Guilin, has been limited to the most basic answer I could wish for. We know that we are better to get them there now. And that's about it. Oh yes, and our holiday choice is rubbish, it's the worst place in all of China (althuogh I retain optimism it will be better than Shenzen, which you would have to pay me quite a large sum of money to return to) and we're going to hate it :( :( :(

You can still fly to Guilin; just spend more time in Yangshuo. I actually kind of liked jiejie's edgy post. She wants you to have the best trip possible.

When my folks have "talked" about Guilin, I have always sensed they were being nostalgic. --China keeps growing and changing at a fast pace. When and if I get to Guilin, I'll be focusing on the rice noodles.:p --

From the few trips I've made to China, I have come to dread the "tarted up" rock formations. Also was startled to see in the middle of nowhere/farm lands/ rice paddies, a water-world complex. Hmm, thinking about it, I haven't been back to Florida and its myriad of theme parks. Then again I can't discount those "Great Malls"/ factory outlet complexes that dot California. All in all, we Americans are still lucky to have nice national parks. Oh and blue skies!

Check out the shoppers now at the outlets. Mainly Chinese:)

It has been awhile since I've headed to the malls. That many Chinese!...I won't need to visit China and I'll save on getting a visa. :D It has crossed my mind to go grocery shopping and "trinket" souvenir cruising in SF Chinatown before an Asian trip for acclimation to "jostling crowds." :D

Very useful read.
Am arriving on the latenight CZ flight from WUH (planning on taking the HSR for some 300km/h goodness from CAN) so thinking first night at Sheraton Guilin, then based on the above maybe move to Yangshuo.

A few questions.
1. Would you book boat tour in advance or when I arrive (noting I won't get to Sheraton till near midnight and want to travel the next day)
2. Can you take luggage on the boat tour (ie use it as the transfer from Guilin to Yangshuo)
3. Any recommendations for accomodation in Yangshuo
4. What is best transport Yangshuo to Guilin Airport.

The scenery on the boat ride to Yangshuo is quite pretty.
I like it.
Lots of boats on that Li river and on warm summer days, locals and tourists can also swim in it.

If u take the bigger boats to Yangshuo, u can probably bring your luggage onto the boat.

We took a boat ride to Yangshuo and cycled back to Guilin.

I feel that the Guilin people are not hostile and they are just as friendly as any other people in China.
When I was there, I didnt feel any hostility at all.

There is a nice river/lake in Guilin that is quite pretty and u can walk along the river banks.

Yangshuo is more touristy and geared more towards the western tourists.
It is also prettier than Guilin city itself.

Guilin mifen(rice noodles) is yummy and cheap!

We stayed at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat. It's very basic but we had a room with a balcony and the view was spectacular. The lodge arranged for drivers to the airport and elsewhere; I think most of the Yangshuo area lodges can readily do this for you. There may be a better or cheaper way, but we were short on time and it worked for us.

OP: you might consider a day trip to the Longsheng Rice Terraces (you can get a driver to take you to Ping An and wait for you). We enjoyed our hike there. There's also a hiking or biking trail along one segment of the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo that we heard about but didn't do. In addition to the big boat trip to Yangshuo, you can arrange for much smaller boats on shorter segments of the Li (we took a small boat from Yangdi to Xingping and loved it).

Unless you are really compressed on time, best to do Lonsheng or Longji for at least 1 overnight. That way you enjoy a great treat for the eye, that being the sunset and sun rise scenes.

Bump this thread instead of starting a new one.

My wife and I are not into hiking, long walks into wilderness and to convene with nature but we want to see the scenery in Guilin/Yangshou.

We are looking for a full service hotel with good restaurants in walking distance. If it has a great view - great but not essential. More important is a good bed and international TV and a nice bathtub.

What would be our options? Shangrila or Sheraton in Guilin? Many have suggested to stay in Yangshou but they also all highlight how quiet it is, beautiful scenery waking up and how they have to bicycle everywhere. Not sure we are the bicycling type of people. It sounds rustic and that is not what we want.

The Sheraton has a reasonably restaurant across the street. We did not have good luck with local restaurants when we were there -- our off-the-beaten-path selection gave us a pretty good case of food poisoning that hit us when we returned to Hong Kong. As for seeing the scenery, take a river cruise -- relaxing, great views and opportunity to sample she jiu (snake wine). Hmmmm. Meaty!

We will be arriving Guilin by train from Guangzhou end January. From above posts it seems most interesting exploration is to connect directly to Yangshou by bus. (avoid Guilin)
1) Does anyone have the bus schedule website in English?
2) If I do not ride a bike or moped and prefer no taxis, is seeing the Yangshou area doable ourselves or must we book a tour?
3) Dont mind renting a car in Guilin and driving to Yangshou, (or renting in Yangshou) using car there. But I dont see any international car rental agencies in Guilin. Dont trust local Chinese car rental company. Any recommendations?
4) Any hotel recommendations in Yangshou, nice hotel or resort with local color and location based on above parameters (no bike, moped, taxis if possible). Doesn't have to be luxurious but adequate amenities, 2 beds, nice view. Luxury ok too. Price not an issue.

Any updates on Yangzhou and things to do welcomed as well.

Thanks in advance.

Not sure how you can hire/rent a car on your own without a valid Chinese drivers licence, as the PRC does not recognise the IDP.

A lot car rental companies, especially in places like Guangxi, don't seem to care.

From my experience car rental agencies are typically not that concerned whether you really have the right to drive. Half of them fail to turn the licence over to check the vehicles I am permitted to drive or dates of validity for vehicle types, and I have never been asked for a sharing code so they can look up if I have points on my UK licence.

The desk agent typically justs want to rent their car, and make money, provided they know who is liable for any damage or a missing vehicle.
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Much as love driving and have driven in some fairly crazy places China is not one I have been tempted to try. Not because of the local driving customs, but more because I feel a foreigner would be an easy target for traffic police, and if you really don't have the right to drive I figure that's a whole lotta trouble to get out of in China

Guilin is past Yangshuo from GZ. Why not just get off the train at Yangshuo? Or book a ticket to Yangshuo

Great idea! Having trouble finding a good English Chinese train site that lists the interim stops. Could you recommend such train booking website?
How far is Yangshou train station from town and what is best method to get into town?

Ctrip is okay for researching tickets and booking too, but I think they tack on a modest service charge.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e9dc5e1220.jpg

Thank you moondog. Most of the trains on my preferred date are indicating sold out. Is that actual inventory of the train or their allocation of seats or just a game they play to entice you to book something asap?

Is there an official Chinese site in English which shows more accurate inventory levels?

I use an English version of the 12306 app on my phone; real name verification might be a bit of an obstacle for you though, and I'm pretty sure ctrip gets access to the same inventory.

What’s your date of travel? Trains are only sold 2 weeks in advance.

if outside China, use trip.com to purchase.

if desired day is sold out, just keep an eye on tickets, availability will change throughout the 2 weeks in the lead up to travel date. Change policies are fairly good, can be easier to cancel and rebook instead of changing.

Yangshuo train station is about 45 minutes away from Yangshuo city. Didi or taxi will be easiest. $14 didi. Guilin train station is about 75 minutes from Yangshuo, $32 didi.

Another option is to do a river cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo which is a classic choice, usually during lunch time. 4-5 hours. Very scenic including seeing the image on the back of the 20 RMB bill

Thanks.
Planning to go approximately Jan 25 or 26. Jan 26 a Friday so likely that's why so booked up already. My travel partner is traveling standby From USA to Guangzhou so our date would be determined by when he arrives G. Was planning on asking G hotel concierge to help me buy the tickets but I dont arrive to G until Jan 19 so likely that will be too late. From everything I've been reading Guilin seems over touristed so I'm considering 2-3 days only Yangshuo. Any feedback appreciated, including hotel recommendation in Yangshuo ($ not an issue). I'm feeling a bit lost and dont have a lot of spare days in China for errors. thanks in advance.

Guangzhou to Yangshuo on 1/25 or 1/26?

yes, likely one of those days depending upon my partner’s arrival to guangzhou.