Guilin Liangjiang Airport (KWL) to the City

From Liangjiang International Airport into town: two options

There are two main ways from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) into the city: take the airport bus to the Civil Aviation Building (民航大厦) stop and change to city bus 16 or 23, or go by taxi or car.

All times and distances in this post are to the Two Rivers and Four Lakes · Elephant Hill visitor center in the city. For other options, such as rail, check the official Guilin Liangjiang International Airport information before you go.

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Airport bus + city bus: change at the Civil Aviation Building

First, take the airport bus from the airport and get off at the Civil Aviation Building (民航大厦) stop. Walk 51 m, change to city bus 16 or 23, and get off at Xiangshan Park stop. The Two Rivers and Four Lakes · Elephant Hill visitor center is 150 m from the stop.

It takes about 2 hr 20 min to the visitor center, including the transfer. Check the airport's official information for airport bus routes, timetables and fares, and for city bus fares, before you go.

• Board the airport bus at the airport
• Get off at the Civil Aviation Building (民航大厦) stop
• Walk 51 m and change to bus 16 or 23
• Get off at Xiangshan Park stop
• 150 m to the visitor center

Taxi or car: about 30 km, about 55 min

From the airport to the Elephant Hill visitor center in the city is about 30 km, about 55 minutes by car. Taxis run on the meter; check the official information for fares before you go.

It's the handy option with heavy luggage or a late-night arrival. Have your hotel address ready in Chinese and show it to the driver.

At a glance

Here are the two options side by side. Times and distances are to the Two Rivers and Four Lakes · Elephant Hill visitor center.

• Airport bus + bus 16 or 23: about 2 hr 20 min (incl. transfer) · fares: check official information · change at the Civil Aviation Building (民航大厦) stop after a 51 m walk
• Taxi or car: about 30 km, about 55 min by car · metered (check official information) · handy with heavy luggage or a late-night arrival
• Other options such as rail: check the official information before you go

Once in town: getting your bearings

For a first visit, south downtown with Elephant Trunk Hill, Rong Lake and Shan Lake fits well. Here are Elephant Trunk Hill where the Li and Taohua rivers meet, Shan Lake with the Sun and Moon Pagodas, and Rong Lake with the Old South Gate; the night cruise piers (Riyuewan and Yuren) are nearby too. Lakeside paths link Rong Lake and Shan Lake, so they're easy to explore on foot.

Along the north bank of the Li River are Diecai Hill, Fubo Hill and Mulong Lake. Buses 2 and 203 serve Fubo Hill and Diecai Hill.

The Seven Star (Qixing) Scenic Area is on the east bank of the Li River, 1.5 km from the city center, home to Seven Star Cave, Flower Bridge (Huaqiao), the Guihai Forest of Steles and Camel Hill. Wild monkeys roam there, so don't tease them or take close-up photos.

Other options and what to check ahead

For other options, such as rail, check the official Guilin Liangjiang International Airport information before you go. If you plan to take the airport bus, look up its routes, timetables and fares in the same official information ahead of time.

Remember the names of your stops too: the Civil Aviation Building (民航大厦) stop for the airport bus, and Xiangshan Park stop for the city bus.

• Airport bus routes, timetables and fares: check official information
• City bus 16 and 23 fares: check official information
• Taxi fares: metered, check official information
• Other options such as rail: check official information

Arrival-day checklist

Once you're in town, see the Guilin one-day post below for how to cover Elephant Trunk Hill and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes in a day.

• Passport: needed for the Elephant Trunk Hill real-name booking and to swap your Two Rivers and Four Lakes cruise booking for a paper ticket
• Connection: some foreign apps and services may be restricted in China, so sort out roaming, eSIM or similar before you travel
• A Chinese map app and mobile payment: set them up before you travel
• Hotel address: have it ready in Chinese
• Visa and entry: rules, including visa-free entry, change often, so check the official information before you go

• Full Guilin travel guide →
• Guilin in One Day: Elephant Trunk Hill and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes →
• Guilin vs Kunming →

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