Guilin is beautiful but I won’t come back because honestly…
Guilin is beautiful, but I won’t go again😭 seriously don’t recommend! My honest travel experience
Just got back from Yangshuo, Guilin, and here’s my most honest thought:
Guilin’s landscape is truly world-class! Seeing it with my own eyes moved me to tears!
Green mountains stretch endlessly, clear water surrounds the city, karst peaks look like paintings, and misty rain blurs the view.
The gentle Li River, the healing Yulong River, the vast terraced fields,
Every snapshot looks like wallpaper-worthy scenery.
Everyone must see the textbook Guilin landscape in person at least once in their lifetime!
But! Honestly: the scenery is perfect, but the travel experience is exhausting.
After one visit, I completely see through it and won’t make a special trip again!
I’ve compiled a comprehensive real experience + pitfall guide. Sisters planning to visit Guilin, please read this before you go!!
🌿 First, huge praise! Guilin’s beauty is truly unmatched
No exaggeration or bashing, purely natural scenery—Guilin beats most popular cities hands down!
✅ Li River | textbook-level natural scenery
Taking a boat on the Li River is incredibly soothing!
The karst peaks on both sides are scattered, the clear water winds through, and mountains and water complement each other.
Seeing the RMB 20 yuan scenic spot in person is truly breathtaking!
On sunny days, the green mountains and clear water are transparent and clean. On rainy days, the misty Li River looks magical.
Every frame is like an ink painting, healing all your fatigue.
✅ Yulong River | the gentlest hidden paradise on earth
They say “Yulong River is the soul of Guilin.”
The bamboo raft drifts slowly on the emerald river, with rice fields, ancient trees, and small bridges with flowing water on both sides.
The breeze is super relaxing. Floating slowly feels like entering a fairyland.
Gentle, quiet, and healing, it’s the most worthwhile experience in all of Guilin!
✅ Longji terraced fields | stunning and healing rural mountain sea
The terraced fields layer from the foot to the top of the mountain.
In spring, the water sparkles; in summer, the green stretches endlessly; in autumn, golden waves cover the fields.
Standing on the viewing platform overlooking the whole mountain area is magnificent and healing.
Photos come out amazing, the atmosphere is simply legendary!
✅ Elephant Trunk Hill | city landmark full of romance
Guilin’s city card!
Mountains and water embrace, Elephant Hill stands by the river, and you can see stunning scenery right in the city.
Free to visit, wide views, and the evening light is gentle and romantic.
✅ Silver Cave | dreamy karst cave
A magical natural cave with stalagmites, stalactites, and stone curtains in countless shapes.
Under the lights, it’s crystal clear, like entering an underground fairyland.
The whole visit is novel and impressive.
Putting aside all the pitfalls, Guilin’s landscape is truly worth everyone’s journey!
❌ Why won’t I come back? Honest reasons to reconsider (all true)
1. Too many hidden traps! You have to be cautious the whole time, which is exhausting
Guilin is a city with stunning scenery but many tricks!
❌ The worst tip trap on bamboo rafts
Many raft workers on Yulong River hint at tips.
If you don’t tip: they row fast, don’t stop for photos, avoid prime photo spots, and act indifferent.
They may even rock the raft on purpose or rush you off!
Many tourists feel forced to pay, ruining the whole mood.
❌ Don’t book cheap day tours
Roadside and hotel front desks push 99 or 128 yuan cheap Guilin day tours.
They look like a great deal but are full of shopping stops, rushed sightseeing, and constant hurrying.
You only get about ten minutes at real attractions, spending most time in shops!
❌ Black-market taxis are rampant at the high-speed rail station and West Street
Crowds of people solicit passengers with low prices.
They add fees after you get in, take detours, and force you to visit shops.
Tourists unfamiliar with the area are easy targets!
❌ Electric bike rentals have many traps
Renting an electric scooter in Yangshuo is a must, but roadside private rentals:
Overstate battery life, refurbish old bikes, run out of power mid-trip, and charge unfair fees on return.
Many people end up pushing the bike or paying extra unexpectedly, which is very frustrating!
2. Attractions are very spread out! You spend the whole trip rushing
Traveling in Guilin is really tiring.
Guilin city: Elephant Trunk Hill, Two Rivers and Four Lakes
Yangshuo: Yulong River, Ten-Mile Gallery, West Street, Li River
Longsheng: Longji terraced fields (1.5+ hours one way on mountain roads)
The three main areas are very far apart!
You spend most of the day on the road with little actual sightseeing time.
Constantly rushing, transferring, and traveling, there’s no relaxing vacation vibe!
Non-driving travelers have it even worse:
Slow buses, many transfers, expensive taxis, many black-market cars.
Independent travel here is exhausting to the point of questioning life!
3. Summer rainy season is a terrible experience! Weather is brutal
Visiting Guilin in July–August is really a matter of luck.
☀️ Sunny days are scorching and humid
Southern sauna weather is extremely humid!
You sweat after a few steps, sticky and hot, makeup melts, and photos suffer.
Climbing, hiking, and bamboo rafting are all under intense sun, with a high risk of heatstroke.
🌧️ Rainy days ruin your plans
Guilin’s rainy season has frequent showers!
Sudden downpours, fog on the river, gray mountains and water.
Bamboo rafts may stop running, terraced mountain roads get slippery, and photos are ruined.
After traveling so far, you might get nothing but gray skies and no beautiful views!
Mosquitoes are everywhere! The mountains and riversides have poisonous mosquitoes, and without repellent, you can’t enjoy the trip.
4. Food and lodging are overpriced with a high risk of disappointment
❌ Be cautious eating on West Street!
The whole street is very repetitive,
All beer fish and trendy snacks taste average and are overpriced.
Many are pre-made dishes aimed at tourists; locals don’t eat them!
✅ Authentic food is in the old town and local alleys
Shijiayuan and Tiexi Old Street have truly affordable and delicious options!
❌ Huge differences in lodging quality
Popular homestays use deceptive photos!
Prices double in peak season, poor soundproofing, damp and moldy, many mosquitoes, and reduced services.
Cheap homestays have poor conditions, and expensive ones offer low value.
5. Many ineffective trendy spots, easy to get bored
Guilin is selective!
If you love landscapes, slow walks, and photography, you’ll love it.
If you want lively entertainment and immersive experiences, it feels dull.
Many trendy check-in spots are heavily artificial and not fun.
Mostly just photo ops with no interaction or entertainment.
After two days, it feels repetitive and boring.
✅ Suitable and unsuitable groups
✅ Very suitable
Landscape lovers, photographers, laid-back travelers, couples relaxing, those who like quiet healing scenery, and long-term deep travelers.
❌ Not suitable
Lazy vacationers, those who hate heat and mosquitoes, dislike tricks, hate rushing, seek high value, want easy short trips, or family-friendly easy travel.
📝 Complete Guilin pitfall guide (must-save for beginners)
1. Only buy official tickets for Yulong River bamboo rafts! Ignore and record video to complain if asked for tips.
2. Don’t book any cheap street tours or cheap boat rides!
3. Rent electric bikes only from official stores in Yangshuo! Check battery on the spot, take photos of the bike, and keep the receipt.
4. Only take official buses or ride-hailing cars at the high-speed rail station. Reject all soliciting black-market cars.
5. Navigate to Gate 3 at Elephant Trunk Hill! Enter directly for the best photo spots. Don’t go to Gate 1 by mistake.
6. Avoid eating on West Street’s main street. Eat in local residential areas for cheap and authentic food.
7. Visit Longji terraced fields early. The mountain road is far and time-consuming. Reserve a whole day.
8. Bring umbrella, sun protection, mosquito repellent, and change of clothes during rainy season. Weather is unpredictable.
💛 Final honest summary
Guilin’s landscape is truly a gift from God!
Green mountains and clear water, misty Jiangnan, poetic and picturesque.
Everyone must see it once in their lifetime. It’s truly stunning, healing, and unforgettable.
But! Too many tricks, harsh weather, exhausting travel, and tiring experience.
It’s really only suitable for a “once-in-a-lifetime check-in.”
The scenery is irreplaceable, but the travel experience makes it hard to come back for a second time😭