How much does it cost to travel to Guilin?
You should plan to spend around $67 (¥483) per day on your vacation in Guilin. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $22 (¥163) on meals
- $5.77 (¥42) on local transportation
- $69 (¥498) on hotels
A one week trip to Guilin for two people costs, on average, $936 (¥6,767). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Guilin has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Guilin expensive to visit?
Guilin is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in China, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Asia, Guilin is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Dewa Sanzan or Kunming.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Guilin Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Guilin?
The average Guilin trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Guilin travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
¥498
($69)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
¥42
($6)
|
|
Food 2
|
¥163
($22)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
¥201
($28)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
¥21 -
62
($3 - 9)
|
Accommodation Budget in Guilin
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Guilin is $34 (¥249). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Guilin is $69 (¥498). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Guilin? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Guilin
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Guilin is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.77 (¥42) per person, per day, on local transportation in Guilin.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$5.77
¥42
How much does it cost to go to Guilin? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Guilin will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Guilin are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Guilin, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Food Budget in Guilin
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Guilin can vary, the average cost of food in Guilin is $22 (¥163) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Guilin should cost around $8.99 (¥65) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Guilin is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$22
¥163
Typical prices for Food in Guilin are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Guilin, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Guilin
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Guilin typically cost an average of $28 (¥201) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$28
¥201
Typical prices for Entertainment in Guilin are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Guilin, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Entrance to the Caves
¥120
Alcohol Budget in Guilin
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $5.73 (¥41) on alcoholic beverages in Guilin per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$5.73
¥41
Guilin On a Budget
Guilin, China
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
Sights
With a landscape cut by the winding Li River around jagged mountain scenery, Guilin is most famous for its natural scenery. A cruise along the river brings visitors past displays of karst topography worthy of an art gallery. With stark mountains, traditional villages, bamboo groves, and local farmers at work in the fields, the sights along the river are beautifully picturesque. The mountainous surroundings also make for some of the most mysterious caves, open for visitors to explore a large number of stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock formations. Reed Flute Cave is perhaps the most notable. A natural limestone cave gleaming with multicolored lights, the cave has been a popular attraction for more than a millennium.
Neighborhoods
Yangshuo is a county of Guilin, located about 65 km south of Guilin's center. It is well known for West Street, one of its oldest and most bustling neighborhoods. It is a place where east meets west and cultures collide to create an environment of eclectic activity from souvenir shopping by day to dining by night. The road is completely laid in marble with a simple courtyard-like setting and has opportunities to try flavors from all walks of the world. Attracting more tourists than natives, it is sometimes referred to as the "foreigner's street" or the "global village." A popular local dish of the village is the beer fish. Caught fresh from the Li River and prepared with a delicate sauce it is said to taste great with beer. Some popular cafes include MeiYou Cafe, Anne's Art Cafe, and Paris Cafe. Visually, culturally, and flavorfully, West Street is a neighborhood of the world.
Also nearby is
Longsheng, known for similar mountain scenery and its beautiful rice terraces carved into the surrounding hills.
Activities
In addition to cruising by boat along the Li River to take in Guilin's renowned scenery, it is also common to enjoy the region along the Li on foot. Hiking trails along the river offer great opportunities to see the gorgeous Li River scenery and the life of riverside farmers. Nature and wildlife tours are also available for those who prefer a more guided activity.
The Lijiang Folk Customs Garden is another popular place to visit in Guilin for an experience of culture, art, folklore, dance, food and beverage, plus beautiful views of the Lijiang River. The park hosts traditional performances of the local culture as well as recreated dwellings from the villages of the indigenous Miao, Yao, Dong and Zhuang peoples. It is a wonderful opportunity to engage in the traditions and culture that have long been established in the region.
The Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park is another hot spot of Guilin. It sits as a large leisure park in the heart of the city, with two symbolic towers (Sun Tower and Moon Tower) standing in the middle of Shan Lake. The towers are beautifully lit at night with panoramic views of the city from the top.
Other popular attractions of the region include Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin Yaoshan Mountain Scenic Resort, Guilin Botanical Garden, and Guangxi Guilin Forest Park.
Food and Dining
Guilin cuisine is known for its small bites and spices, especially chili. The city boasts Three Treasures: Guilin chili sauce, Guilin Sanhua Jiu (a liquor distilled from rice), and Guilin pickled tofu. The chili sauce is used widely in local cooking and consists of fresh chili, garlic, and fermented soybeans. Beyond the Three Treasures, Guilin rice noodles have been a local breakfast staple since the Qin Dynasty, traditionally served with horse meat, though you can have without as well. Another popular dish in Guilin is zongzi-a dumpling made from glutinous rice and mung bean paste wrapped in a bamboo or banana leaf. Any of these dishes, characterized by a subtle sweetness and delicate use of spices, can be found just about anywhere in the city. Most eateries are located on Binjiang Road, Jiefang West Street, Putuo Road, Meishi Cheng (Cate City, left of the bus station), and Zhishan Road with a popular one located near the bell tower in the Center Square.
Transportation
The main airport of the area is Guilin Liangjiang International Airport. It is located in Liangjiang and offers both domestic and international flights.
By train, Guilin Main Train Station and Guilin North Train Station are on the Hunan–Guangxi Railway and Guiyang–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, which are the main railways connecting Guangxi with central and southern China. High-speed trains are available at North Station between Guilin and Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Guiyang, Shanghai, and Beijing.
Public transportation is available by taxi and double-decker bus, as well as on sightseeing boats on the city's canals and lakes.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.