Choosing a base is simpler if you split the area in two. Guilin city suits Elephant Trunk Hill and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes area. Yangshuo and the countryside along the Yulong River suit cycling and bamboo rafts. This page compares the areas and lists 8 hotels whose own websites we read on 16 and 17 October 2026: three through Accor's English pages, one through the Shangri-La site and four on the hotels' own sites. We did not stay at any of them. The cards repeat what each site says, and we show no room prices and no review scores.
If you have not chosen your sights yet, see the Guilin and Yangshuo travel guide. Visa-free entry and payments are on the China hub.
Areas compared
| Area | Best for | Think about | Getting around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Guilin (Xiangshan district) | Walking to Elephant Trunk Hill, the Two Rivers and Four Lakes area, restaurants | Far from Yangshuo and the cruise piers, so you need transport to the pier | LiCLOUDS is at 2 Zhongshan Middle Road per its site. Wikivoyage puts Guilin railway station in the city on Zhongshan Nanlu |
| Li River bank, Guilin | Large riverside hotels, river views, families | Check the distance to the centre and the station on a map | Grand Link says it faces Elephant Trunk Hill across the river. Shangri-La says it is on the Li River, about 20 minutes from the railway station |
| Hi-Tech Zone, Guilin | Mid-range chain hotels, near a mall | The site gives no walking time to Elephant Trunk Hill | Mercure Hi Tech Zone says a 10-minute drive to Guilin railway station |
| West Street, Yangshuo | Restaurants, bicycle hire and the main tourist area | We did not check hotels on this street, so we name none | Wikivoyage says bicycle hire is around the head of West Street |
| Xingping | The stretch on the CNY 20 note and near the railway station | Away from Yangshuo town | Mercure Xingping says a 15-minute drive to Yangshuo railway station |
| Fuli, Yangshuo countryside | Resorts and rice fields | Away from the town; the site gives no distance | Banyan Tree Yangshuo is on Zhendong Street in Fuli. Wikivoyage says a bus from the south bus station passes Banyan Tree |
| Yulong River (Ten-Mile Gallery) | Bamboo rafts, cycling and a quiet stay | Away from town, simple rooms | Yangshuo Mountain Retreat says it has a 5 km riverside walk to the Chaolong raft pier |
| Moon Hill | Villages near the hill, cycling | About 15 minutes from town, per the hotel | Wikivoyage lists a Gaotian minibus from Yangshuo bus station at CNY 3 (old information) |
| Longji | Staying overnight for sunrise and sunset | We did not check hotels in Longji, so we name none | See the Longji page |
Guilin first, or Yangshuo?
Wikivoyage says most visitors go to Yangshuo straight away and use Guilin as a base for the surrounding area. Our suggestion (not official): with three nights, sleep one in Guilin and two in Yangshuo or by the Yulong River. With two nights, stay both in Yangshuo, because the cruise from Guilin ends in Yangshuo. Boats, tickets and times are on the Li River cruise page.
Getting to your hotel
From Liangjiang airport (KWL)
The official Li River site says the airport is about 28 km from the city centre, with airport buses, taxis and ride-hailing cars into town. The airport's site says there are intercity buses to Yangshuo. Shangri-La quotes about 40 to 45 minutes from the airport and Grand Link quotes 45 minutes. If you are going on to Yangshuo, ask the hotel about a pick-up before you book, because Wikivoyage gives the airport bus to Yangshuo as CNY 50 and about 90 minutes (unofficial).
From the railway stations
Yangshuo railway station is in Xingping, and Wikivoyage says it is about 36 km from Yangshuo town with a shuttle. Guilin has three main stations: Guilin station in the centre, and the north and west stations farther out. Check the station on your ticket before booking a hotel.
Hotels compared, using only distances the hotels state
This table uses only distances and times that each hotel's website writes itself, checked on 16 and 17 October 2026. A dash means the site says nothing, not that the hotel is near or far.
| Hotel | Distance or time, per the site | Other facts |
|---|---|---|
| Mercure Guilin Hi Tech Zone | 5-minute walk to a mall, 10-minute drive to Guilin railway station | 24-hour fitness centre, breakfast buffet |
| Shangri-La Guilin | Home page says about 45 minutes from the airport, the About page about 40 minutes, and about 20 minutes from the railway station | 439 rooms, 300 sq m indoor pool |
| LiCLOUDS Hotel | A few steps from Xiangshan Park | Two outdoor pools, free parking |
| Grand Link Hotel | 45 minutes to the airport; the sentence on time to the city and station does not say where it counts from | 593 rooms, four-seasons garden |
| Mercure Guilin Yangshuo Xingping | 15-minute drive to Yangshuo railway station | 83 rooms, lobby bar |
| Banyan Tree Yangshuo | - | 141 villas and suites, pool overlooking the Li River |
| Yangshuo Mountain Retreat | A 5 km riverside walk to the Chaolong raft pier | Rooms without TV or phone, own raft pier |
| Yangshuo Village Inn | 15 minutes from Yangshuo town; a road crossing from the Moon Hill tourist zone | A restored rammed-earth farmhouse |
A note: if you want to cruise and then sleep in Yangshuo, look at the Yulong River or Moon Hill area and arrange a transfer into town. If you want to walk around Guilin, look at LiCLOUDS and Grand Link.
The hotels, checked against their own sites
The cards below show what we checked on each hotel's own site on 16 and 17 October 2026. They carry the headline claim and a caution, with no room prices and no review scores. Many sites use advertising language, so we keep only what we could check as a fact. The list has three Accor hotels, one Shangri-La and four independents. We could not open the sites of Hilton, IHG, Marriott or Hyatt hotels on the check day (the sites refused automated access), so none are listed. That does not mean they are poor.
Hand-picked places to stay
Examples of established Guilin hotels, spread across areas and budget bands. Every fact below was checked against the hotel's own website or a reputable source on 2026-10-16 and links to that source. We have not stayed at these places and give no ratings; we show no prices because rates change daily. The band is the property class (hostel or guesthouse, mid-range, upscale), not a live price.
| Hotel | Area | Band | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercure Guilin Hi Tech Zone | Guilin urban area (Hi Tech Zone) | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want a mid-range chain hotel in the urban area of Guilin with a short drive to the railway station. |
| Mercure Guilin Yangshuo Xingping | Xingping Ancient Town, Yangshuo | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want to stay near the Xingping stretch of the Li River and the Yangshuo high-speed rail station. |
| Banyan Tree Yangshuo | Fuli Town, Yangshuo countryside | Upscale | It suits travellers who want a resort-style stay in the Fuli countryside rather than in Yangshuo town. |
| Shangri-La Guilin | Li River bank, Guilin | Upscale | It suits families and travellers who want a large riverside resort in Guilin with children's facilities. |
| Yangshuo Mountain Retreat | Yulong River (Ten Mile Gallery), Yangshuo | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want a quiet riverside base on the Yulong River for walking, cycling and rafting. |
| Yangshuo Village Inn | Moon Hill Village, Yangshuo | Budget | It suits budget-minded travellers who want a village guesthouse near Moon Hill with Yangshuo town 15 minutes away. |
| LiCLOUDS Hotel (Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Xiangshan Park) | Zhongshan Middle Road, Xiangshan District, Guilin centre | Mid-range | It suits travellers who want to walk to Elephant Trunk Hill, the lakes and the city centre, and families who want pools. |
| Grand Link Hotel Guilin | Chuanshan Road, riverside Guilin | Upscale | It suits travellers who want a large garden hotel on the Li River bank facing Elephant Trunk Hill. |
Mercure Guilin Hi Tech Zone
- The page says the hotel is in the core area of Guilin, 5 minutes' walk to a shopping mall and 10 minutes by car to Guilin Railway Station. [Source]
- The page lists a restaurant, a leisure area, a meeting room, a 24-hour gym and laundry. [Source]
- The all-day restaurant serves a breakfast buffet. [Source]
- The lobby lounge text says complimentary high-speed WiFi is available. [Source]
- The address is 9 Huan Cheng Yi Lu, Guilin 541004. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a mid-range chain hotel in the urban area of Guilin with a short drive to the railway station.
Keep in mind: The page gives a walk time only to a shopping mall and a drive time to the station; it gives no walking time to Elephant Trunk Hill or the lakes, so check the map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Mercure Guilin Yangshuo Xingping
- The page says the hotel is in Xingping Ancient Town, a 15-minute drive to Yangshuo Railway Station. [Source]
- It lists 83 guest rooms, a buffet restaurant, a lobby bar, a 24-hour fitness center and a laundry room. [Source]
- The restaurant serves a buffet breakfast. [Source]
- The lobby bar text says it offers free high-speed WiFi. [Source]
- The address is No 12 Rongtan street, Xingping Town, Yangshuo. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want to stay near the Xingping stretch of the Li River and the Yangshuo high-speed rail station.
Keep in mind: Xingping is not Yangshuo town; the page gives no distance to West Street, so allow transport time for evenings in town.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Banyan Tree Yangshuo
- The page counts 141 villas and suites with views of the mountain range and the Li River. [Source]
- It lists a swimming pool overlooking the Li River. [Source]
- The hotel notice says the heated outdoor pool is open seasonally. [Source]
- The address is 168 Zhendong Street, Fuli Town. [Source]
- The notice says pets are allowed in designated villa rooms. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a resort-style stay in the Fuli countryside rather than in Yangshuo town.
Keep in mind: The page does not give distance to Yangshuo town or the railway station, and the hotel notice says guests must match booking details with names and IDs, so read the notice before booking.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Shangri-La Guilin
- The home page lists 439 rooms including terrace mountain-view and family rooms. [Source]
- The page describes a 300 square metre indoor heated swimming pool. [Source]
- The page says it is not only a hotel but also a mini amusement park, mini zoo and mini botanical garden. [Source]
- The page says the hotel is on the bank of the Li River. [Source]
- The home page gives about 45 minutes by car from the airport. [Source]
Suits: It suits families and travellers who want a large riverside resort in Guilin with children's facilities.
Keep in mind: The home page says about 45 minutes from the airport while the About page says about 40 minutes (and 20 minutes from the railway station), so treat both as approximate.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
- The page says the hotel has been on the Yulong River since 2001. [Source]
- The page says guestrooms have no telephone, no TV and locally made furniture. [Source]
- The page describes a 5 km walking path from the hotel up the river to Chaolong Village and the bamboo raft jetty. [Source]
- The page says the hotel has its own bamboo raft landing. [Source]
- The sister hotel's page gives 32 rooms. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a quiet riverside base on the Yulong River for walking, cycling and rafting.
Keep in mind: The page does not give a distance or transport time to Yangshuo town, and guestrooms are described as simple with no TV or telephone.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Yangshuo Village Inn
- The page says it is in the heart of Moon Hill Village, 15 minutes from Yangshuo town. [Source]
- The page says it is a family-run guesthouse. [Source]
- The page says rooms are in a restored mud-brick farmhouse. [Source]
- The page says breakfast is taken in a pomelo grove and Moon Hill Scenic Area is just across the road. [Source]
- The page says the Moon Hill park ticket office charges RMB 14 per person, good for the day. [Source]
Suits: It suits budget-minded travellers who want a village guesthouse near Moon Hill with Yangshuo town 15 minutes away.
Keep in mind: The RMB 14 Moon Hill ticket quoted on the hotel page is the hotel's own statement; Wikivoyage gives 15 yuan and a closure in May 2025, so check the park status.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
LiCLOUDS Hotel (Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Xiangshan Park)
- The page says it is in the heart of Guilin at No. 2 Zhongshan Middle Road. [Source]
- The page says it overlooks the Two Rivers and Four Lakes and is steps from Xiangshan Park. [Source]
- The page lists free parking, two outdoor pools including a rooftop infinity pool, and English-speaking staff. [Source]
- The page describes a breakfast buffet of Chinese, Western and Asian dishes. [Source]
- The address is No. 2 Zhongshan Middle Road, Xiangshan District. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want to walk to Elephant Trunk Hill, the lakes and the city centre, and families who want pools.
Keep in mind: The wording on the hotel's site is promotional; check room type and view in the booking page rather than relying on the descriptions.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Grand Link Hotel Guilin
- The page says the hotel faces Elephant Trunk Hill across the river. [Source]
- The page says the hotel has 593 deluxe guestrooms and suites. [Source]
- The page describes four gardens around the hotel. [Source]
- The page gives 45 minutes to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport. [Source]
- The address is No. 42 Chuanshan Road, Guilin. [Source]
Suits: It suits travellers who want a large garden hotel on the Li River bank facing Elephant Trunk Hill.
Keep in mind: The page's ride time to the city centre and station is given in a sentence with an unclear start point, so check the route on a map.
Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-16
Choosing by trip type
| Trip type | Look first at | Why, from the checked sources |
|---|---|---|
| Walking Guilin | LiCLOUDS, Grand Link | The sites say a few steps from Xiangshan Park, and facing Elephant Trunk Hill |
| Families who want pools and activities | Shangri-La, LiCLOUDS | The sites state a 300 sq m indoor pool and small amusement area (Shangri-La) and two outdoor pools (LiCLOUDS) |
| Cycling and rafting | Yangshuo Mountain Retreat | The site states a riverside path and its own raft pier |
| Near Moon Hill on a tighter budget | Yangshuo Village Inn | The site says near Moon Hill and 15 minutes from town (we did not check rates) |
| Arriving by high-speed train | Mercure Xingping | The site says a 15-minute drive to Yangshuo station |
| A luxury country resort | Banyan Tree Yangshuo | The site states 141 villas and suites with a pool overlooking the Li River |
Check before you book
- Open a map and trace the route from the railway station or the pier to the hotel, especially outside Yangshuo town.
- Check check-in times, cancellation terms and fees on the real booking page.
- If you stay outside town, ask about transfers and the return schedule. Wikivoyage says Yangshuo taxis do not use meters, so agree the price first.
- Banyan Tree Yangshuo has a notice on its site that the guest name and card must match the booking. Read it before you book.
- For the cruise, Longji or Reed Flute Cave, see the Li River cruise, Longji and Reed Flute Cave pages.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay in Guilin and Yangshuo?
For Elephant Trunk Hill and the city, stay in Guilin. For cycling and rafts, stay in Yangshuo or by the Yulong River. See the area table above.
Which hotel is near Elephant Trunk Hill?
Grand Link says it faces Elephant Trunk Hill across the river, and LiCLOUDS says it is in central Guilin a few steps from Xiangshan Park. Check the real map before you book.
Which hotel suits arriving by high-speed train?
Mercure Guilin Yangshuo Xingping says it is a 15-minute drive from Yangshuo railway station, and Mercure Hi Tech Zone says a 10-minute drive to Guilin railway station. Check the station on your ticket.
Where can I stay on a budget?
The list includes Yangshuo Village Inn, a guesthouse near Moon Hill. We do not show prices, so enter your dates in the check-price link and compare.
Are there hotels on West Street, Yangshuo?
We did not check hotels on West Street, so we name none. If you want to be near the street, check each hotel's own site.
Is there somewhere to stay in Longji?
We did not check hotels in Longji, so we name none. Yangshuo Mountain Retreat's site recommends Li-An Lodge for an overnight in Longsheng, but that is a statement on another hotel's site and we have not checked Li-An Lodge's own site.
Does this page show room prices?
No. Prices change by day and room. Enter your dates in the check-price link.
How this page compares
We read the 'Where to stay in Guilin' section of Travel China Guide's Guilin page. It suggests staying near Zhengyang Pedestrian Street for one or two nights, since it is very close to Elephant Trunk Hill, and homestays along the Yulong River or on the Longji hillsides for a rural stay, but names no hotels and gives no hotel-site-checked distances. China Highlights' Li River page has almost nothing on accommodation. This page gives an area table, distances stated by the hotels themselves, and an honest list of what we did not check (West Street and Longji). It has no prices and no scores, which is a weakness against sites that show both; the money path is the check-price link on each card.
Links on this page and our earnings
The check-price buttons on this page open the providers' own destination search pages as of 17 October 2026. We have no registered affiliate link for Guilin hotels and have earned no commission. They open the providers' search pages, and we have not compared prices for you. You can also book direct from the official sites named in the cards. Our disclosure page explains how affiliate links work and what we never do.
Official sources and further reading
- Accor: Mercure Guilin Hi Tech Zone
- Accor: Mercure Guilin Yangshuo Xingping
- Accor: Banyan Tree Yangshuo
- Shangri-La Guilin
- Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
- Yangshuo Village Inn
- LiCLOUDS Hotel Guilin
- Grand Link Hotel Guilin
- Guilin Li River Scenic Area official site: transportation (airport 28 km, stations)
- Wikivoyage: Yangshuo (access and areas; not official)
- Wikivoyage: Guilin (stations and buses; not official)
- Travel China Guide: Guilin travel guide, "Where to stay" section (benchmark)
- China Highlights: Li River, 5 ways to enjoy the scenery (benchmark; almost no accommodation advice)
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
