Guilin's city emblem: ticket price, hours, how to get there, photo spots, and an honest is-it-worth-it.
Bottom line: Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan) is Guilin's city emblem - a karst peak whose base arches into the Li River like a trunk drinking water. Entry is ¥55, allow 1-2 hours, and go early for fewer crowds and better light.
The hill is the single most recognized symbol of Guilin, printed on local badges and postcards for generations. The formation is a limestone cliff worn by the river into a rounded arch that reads, from the right angle, like an elephant lowering its trunk to the water. It is an easy, central stop rather than a half-day expedition.
The name comes from the shape: a massive rock column with a round opening at its base where the Li River flows through, so the whole mass looks like an elephant standing at the water's edge. Inside the hill is a small cave (the "eye" of the elephant in local lore) that you can walk through. The surrounding park has landscaped paths, a riverside promenade, and a few pavilions with framed views back at the peak.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Ticket | ¥55 per adult |
| Discounts | Children/seniors may be free or reduced with ID |
| Opening | Around 7:00 - 21:30 |
| Last entry | About 1 hour before close |
| Best light | Early morning or after dark |
Buy at the gate or through major Chinese ticketing apps. Prices and hours shift on holidays, so confirm the day you visit. The park is lit at night, which makes the evening a surprisingly good - and crowd-free - window.
The park is on the south side of Guilin city center, roughly 15 minutes by DiDi from the main drag. Public buses stop within a short walk. If you self-drive, use one of the paid lots nearby and walk in - the core is not car-friendly. It pairs naturally with the Two Rivers Four Lakes waterfront, which begins a short stroll away.
The classic sequence: enter, follow the path to the riverfront for the head-on "trunk in the water" shot, then loop up through the small cave and the hillside pavilions for elevated frames of the city and river. The most famous photo is taken from across the water at a low angle so the arch mirrors in the Li River. At night, the lit hill against the dark river is the postcard image.
Budget 1-2 hours. A relaxed walker does the loop, the cave, and the photo stops in about 90 minutes. If you are tight on time, 45 minutes still gets you the main viewpoint and a couple of photos. It is an easy add-on to a Guilin city day rather than a destination on its own.
Elephant Trunk Hill sits at the edge of the Two Rivers Four Lakes system, so a natural half-day is the hill in the late afternoon followed by the lakeside walk or night cruise. The Guilin city guide maps other central sights like East-West Alley (food and shops) within reach. For a first visit, our 3-day itinerary builds the city day around exactly this cluster.
Honestly: it is a quick, pleasant landmark stop, not a wilderness experience. If you are already in Guilin city and enjoy iconic viewpoints, the ¥55 ticket and 90 minutes are well spent, especially at opening or after dark when it is quiet. If your trip is Yangshuo-focused and time is short, skip it without regret - the dramatic karst is better seen from the river and countryside farther south.
Source & verification: Ticket price and hours reflect typical 2026 on-site information and may change on holidays; verify at the gate.
The standard entry ticket is ¥55 per adult. Children and seniors may get discounted or free entry with valid ID; confirm at the gate.
The park generally opens around 7:00 and closes near 21:30, with last entry about an hour before closing. Hours shift slightly by season.
If you are already in Guilin city and like iconic landmarks, yes for a short 1-2 hour stop. It is not worth a long detour if your time is tight and focused on Yangshuo.
Plan 1-2 hours: a slow walk around the hill, the riverside photo spots, and the cave if you include it. Pair it with Two Rivers Four Lakes for a half-day.
It sits inside Guilin city, about 15 minutes by DiDi from the center, or a short bus ride. Self-drivers can use nearby paid parking and walk in.
Early morning for soft light and fewer crowds, and at night when the hill and riverfront are lit. The classic frame is the trunk arching into the water.
Pair the hill with the lakeside walk for a relaxed half-day.
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